Company Profile

Company Overview

BERRIEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
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About the Berrien Community Foundation

The Berrien Community Foundation celebrated its 60th year in 2012. Giving through the Berrien Community Foundation provides donors with the true joy of being philanthropists. That joy is the essence of the Berrien Community Foundation. Anyone can be a philanthropist through the Foundation.

Mission
The mission of the Berrien Community Foundation is to promote philanthropy, to build a spirit of community, and to enhance the quality of life in Berrien County through its stewardship of permanently endowed and other funds.

BCF was founded in 1952 by William Vawter who led a group of caring community leaders. Through wonderful donors and volunteers such as Trustees, Members, and committee members, it accomplishes its mission by:

• Building permanent endowments and other funds and providing a broad range of flexible and cost-effective donor services

• Investing and managing funds prudently and professionally

• Providing grants to support a broad range of projects and programs that address community needs, with a focus on building a spirit of community/arts & culture, nurturing our children, and youth development and leadership

• Serving as a facilitative leader, catalyst, and resource for its communities

The types of funds available to donors include Non Profit/Exempt, Advised (by individuals, couples, families, businesses), Field of Interest, Scholarship, and Undesignated. As of December 2012 assets were about $26 million, the highest in the Foundation’s history, 70 percent of which were endowed.

Gifts received in 2012 were $3.5 million, a record in the Foundation’s history. Grants of $2.7 million were distributed. The administrative budget was 1.2% of assets.