Celebrating the 2026 Bay Commitment Scholars!
The Bay Area Community Foundation was proud to celebrate 73 outstanding students this week as they each received a $2,000 Bay Commitment Scholarship.
Gretchen’s Giving Journey, Supporting Community Through the Friends of the Foundation Fund
For Gretchen, community is not an abstract concept. It’s a lived experience. GivingTuesday resonates deeply with Gretchen because it embodies the values she holds close.
Press Release – Bay Area Community Foundation Launches GivingTuesday Campaign Threads of Community – Weaving a Tapestry of Generosity
The campaign highlights the power of giving, both financial and personal, to strengthen the fabric of Bay and Arenac Counties. Through the Friends of the Foundation Fund, donations will directly support BACF’s ability to respond to urgent local needs, ensuring resources reach individuals and nonprofits making a difference in the community.
Press Release – Emergency Food Insecurity Community Response, Pause SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infant, Children) Benefits
Amid rising concerns about the pause of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infant, Children) benefits, a coalition of philanthropy, government, educational, and business partners have come together to provide a coordinated response to support our neighbors struggling with food insecurity.
Press Release – Bay Area Community Foundation Receives $20,000 Grant to Support Community Foundation Access and Opportunity Grant Program
Bay Area Community Foundation has received a $20,000 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation supporting United Way of Bay County’s Little Voices, Big Challenges: Lifting the Experiences of our Youth. This is a simulation activity created to engage education professionals with an opportunity to see through the lens of a student experiencing hardship.
Press Release – Bay Area Community Foundation Hosts Launch Your Future at Delta College Planetarium to Support Students and Adults Pursuing Post-Secondary Education
“At the Bay Area Community Foundation, we believe that post-secondary credential attainment is a powerful driver of personal and community transformation,” said Shawna Walraven, President & CEO of the Bay Area Community Foundation.
Celebrating the Jr. and Kaye Hausbeck Fund 2025 Award Recipients
On August 11, two outstanding students were honored and recognized, one each from the Bay County and Saginaw County Boys & Girls Clubs, to receive this year’s awards. Both recipients exemplify leadership, kindness, and a strong commitment to their futures.
Honoring Our Mission, Evolving Our Communications
We are encouraging our partners to update their communication preferences and consider choosing email. Electronic communications will aid us in reducing costs and our environmental impact; while ensuring you receive fund statements, updates, and announcements conveniently and consistently.
Join us for our upcoming Nonprofit Workshop!
The Bay Area Community Foundation, in partnership with the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce and Bay Future, Inc., invites you to join us on Thursday, November 13, 2025, for an in-person Nonprofit Workshop focused on Board Fundamentals.
Celebrating the 2025 Bay Commitment Scholars!
The Bay Area Community Foundation was honored to celebrate 69 incredible students from Bay and Arenac counties as they each received a $2,000 Bay Commitment Scholarship to begin their college journeys at Delta College or Saginaw Valley State University.
I am proud to serve my community through my role at BACF. As a Program Officer, I collaborate with nonprofit, government, church, and school partners in Bay and Arenac counties to navigate our grant opportunities and find the right funding alignment. From project conception to post-award, I am your main contact for all things grants. Connecting organizations and donors who share the same vision and passion is at the heart of my work.
