Midland Area Community Foundation E-Media Kit

About Midland Area Community Foundation

The vision of the Midland Area Community Foundation (MACF) is to promote and enable philanthropic giving to enrich and improve the lives of the people in our communities.  The Foundation accomplishes this vision through a three-tiered mission:

1. Attracting and holding permanent endowment funds from a wide range of donors 
2. Identifying and addressing community needs through a strong grantmaking program
3. Providing leadership as a collaborator/convenor on important community issues and project

Reviewing the Foundation's early beginnings in 1973, it becomes apparent that the Midland Area Community Foundation has truly come of age.  One can see the impact the Foundation has made through the people who have committed time, vision, leadership, and dollars to make the community foundation concept a success in the Midland area.  These individuals have cared enough about the future of the community to make a truly lasting impression.  

Covering both Midland and Gladwin counties and supporting the Clare County Community Foundation as its affiliate, the Midland Area Community Foundation is the 8th largest of the community foundations in the state of Michigan.  At the end of 2005, the Foundation had $55,817,605 in total assets.  This number has grown to $65,187,246 at year-end 2007.  Investment in local projects has been significant; from the Tridge to the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail--from Washington Woods to Riverside Place--from Whiting Overlook Park to Thrune Park and more. Students have been the recipients of over a million dollars in scholarships.  The Foundation has over 350 different funds providing for a large variety of different community needs.

There are programs and projects that started with the support of the Foundation years ago--still present and touching the lives of many, many citizens and visitors.  The Midland Area Community Foundation has provided assistance and support in all areas of need within Midland and Gladwin counties:  arts and culture, community development, education, environment, health, human service, recreation.

Date Incorporated

The Midland Area Community Foundation was incorporated on October 1, 1973 by James A. Kendall, Danielle M. Keith, and Jeffrey B. Larkin. 

Key Facts

Incorporated  -- October 1, 1973
Asset Market Value -- $65,187,246 (as of December 31, 2007)
Number of Funds -- 360
Dollar Amount of Grants Paid in 2007 -- $1,391,249
Scholarships Paid in 2007 -- $245,070

General Information About Community Foundations

Community foundations connect people who care with causes that matter.  As 501(c)3 organizations, community foundations act as convenors and play a key role in meeting the needs that a community may have. 

There are more than 700 community foundations in the United States, 528 of which are members of the Council on Foundations. Some 514 community foundations in the United States have agreed to comply with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, which were launched by the Council in 2001. The community foundation model has spread throughout the world, including the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, Canada and Mexico, Eastern and Western Europe, Russia and the former Soviet Republics and is rapidly expanding across Africa. The 2005 Community Foundation Global Status Report, published by Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS), estimates that there are at least 1,175 community foundations in 46 countries outside the United States, with at least another 154 in development around the world.