The Garnett and Elmie Compeau Challenge

When you give to or create an unrestricted fund, you’re directly helping our area by providing dollars for grantmaking to respond to our community’s most challenging needs and promising opportunities. Thanks to the generosity of Garnett and Elmie Compeau, we are excited to offer $50,000 in matching funds for you to create your own named fund—or add to an existing one—and amplify the change you create.

Gifts to these funds from people like Garnett and Elmie—and you—mean we have the flexibility to do more to support our friends and neighbors to build this community we love!

Garnett and Elmie Compeau

Garnett and Elmie Compeau were known as kind and giving individuals by those who knew them best. Inspired by travel, education, and learning, they cared about their community and the people in it.

Elmie got her master’s degree in library science from the University of Michigan in the 1940s, and Garnett owned an auto shop for many years in Bay City. Both were active in volunteering and giving back to their community.

Through their estate, a gift was ultimately made to Bay Area Community Foundation to further support their love of Bay City. The Garnett and Elmie Compeau Family Fund will now inspire other doctors as well as make positive and lasting change in our community through grant awards.

How Your Fund Changes Everything

Unrestricted funds at Bay Area Community Foundation go toward awarding grants each year to our local nonprofits to support the arts, build community assets, keep our families and neighbors fed and safe, and provide new opportunities for Bay County to thrive. When you create an unrestricted fund, you’re directly contributing to positive change in our community.

Challenge Details

Give $4,000 to establish an unrestricted fund (or add to an existing one) and receive $1,000 for your fund from the Garnett and Elmie Compeau Family Fund. Each additional gift of $4,000 will receive $1,000 (up to $10,000 maximum).

  • You’ll receive a professional photograph of yourself, family, or business.
  • We’ll tell your short story in a video to help inspire others.
  • You can have up to 3 years to complete your pledge.
  • Match dollars are added to your fund after total qualifying gifts of $4,000 are made.
  • Prefer to be a quiet giver? You can still participate through anonymous giving.

Ready to Get Started?

Call us at 989.893.4438 or email President & CEO Diane Fong at dfong@bayfoundation.org.