$658,824 Awarded in 1st Grant Cycle
$658,824 Awarded in 1st Grant Cycle at Bay Area Community Foundation This year, Bay Area Community Foundation received record amounts of dollars requested during the first cycle of granting season. In response, we awarded more than $650k in grant funding. It is thanks to you, our generous donors, that we are able to provide this support […]
Here for Our Nonprofits: COVID-19 Response
Dear Nonprofit Partners, From closed offices and cancelled fundraising events to adapting programming for the digital landscape, we know that our local nonprofits are feeling the effects of COVID-19 in varying ways, both big and small. Perhaps operations have already shifted, or perhaps you’re only starting to experience the longer-term implications. Here at the Community […]
Bay County ARPA Nonprofit Grant Program
The Bay Area Community Foundation (BACF) is partnering with the County of Bay to provide critical funding to nonprofits negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), up to $750,000 will be available for Bay County, Michigan 501(c)3 and 501(c)19 nonprofits through BACF. Organizations interested in applying are encouraged to […]
Give Local Bay is Tuesday, May 3: Here’s How You Can Help
What is Give Local Bay? As life returns to normal post-pandemic, there are many reasons to celebrate…and Give Local Bay is one of those reasons. Join us on Tuesday, May 3, as Bay Area Community Foundation hosts a 24-hour online giving day at www.givelocalbay.org to raise funds for nonprofits in Bay and Arenac counties who […]
Supporting the People of Ukraine
When a call for help is heard, our community answers. The generosity of those within our community stretches far beyond our Bay and Arenac County borders. Daily news headlines continue to share the atrocities occurring in Ukraine due to Russian invasion on February 24. Ukrainians are being forced to flee their homes and the land […]
Being BOLD: Shara Klenk
Shara Klenk, a resident of Arenac County and mother of two, searched for a local center for children to gather for fun and recreation after school. She found there wasn’t such a center, and waiting lists for quality daycare were long. Shara wasn’t well-known in the community. She wasn’t wealthy, and she didn’t have a […]
Being BOLD: Richmond Brothers
Imagine working sunup to sundown as a farmer. You’re exhausted from harvesting season, but then on top of your own crop for your business, you’re growing an additional five acres of food to donate to those in need. This is the life of Mike and Ken Richmond and their families. Primarily soy bean and sugar […]
A New Way to Give
Being a part of the Women’s Philanthropy Circle or the Men’s Philanthropy Group is an incredible way to get involved in giving back for someone who is “community-minded and wants to go about giving in a slightly different way,” says Lee Miller, financial advisor. Barb Engelhardt, an insurance agent/owner, adds that the Women’s Circle is […]
Assessing Health in Arenac County
Arenac County is a beautiful place with many recreational opportunities. It also faces many health challenges. “There are resources available, but they need to be used,” says Bobbe Burke, member of the Arenac Community Funds Committee and Arenac County Board of Commissioners. She has noticed that obesity, poverty, and smoking are some of the bigger […]
A Safe Space for a Home-cooked Meal
The Bay Area Women’s Center strives to make its emergency shelter feel as much like a home as possible. But after 15 years of constant use from families, the residential style kitchen was no longer the safest and most efficient option. BACF granted $10,000 from the Community Initiative Fund and $15,000 from the Herzog Family […]