Foundation’s 2020 Fall Grants Round Opens August 1st
JULY 24, 2020
(Pictured in photo is Pentwater Public School Assistant Principal, Lisa Wagner, holding the school’s new therapy dog, Theo. Theo’s training was funded by multiple Foundation donors in the spring application round).
The Community Foundation for Oceana County is pleased to announce another competitive grant round is open for application starting August 1. The application deadline is September 30. During the spring grant round, nearly $40,000 in grants were approved. With the partnership of multiple donor advisors to leverage grant dollars, all eligible applications were fully funded. “Understanding Oceana’s greatest needs and how we can be a catalyst for change definitely guides our work. We have become much more active in promoting economic development activities in the last couple of years, including post-secondary education attainment, workforce development, and capital investments in community projects. The support of our donors and their eagerness to partner continue to enable significant impact,” said Foundation CEO Tammy Carey. The Foundation ended 2019 with $14.1 million in assets and began operations as an independent community foundation on January 1, 2020.
CFOC is currently comprised of 175+ funds, as created by individuals and organizations with many of them actively involved in deciding which nonprofits and community projects are supported. Some fund creators entrust the CFOC board to manage the contributions as part of CFOC’s competitive application process. The primary funding source of our biannual grant rounds is the Community Investment Fund, which supports critical, unmet needs that suddenly arise or to respond to community projects and opportunities as they develop. Other grant resources come from CFOC’s Field of Interest Funds focused on youth, health, parks and environment needs.
The Foundation continues to manage a side-by-side abbreviated grant application process for our Urgent Needs Fund, established in March. This Fund is meant to provide fast support to area nonprofit organizations, schools and governments serving those most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, over $41,000 in grants has helped 25 different community response programs. For those who would like to help expand our Community Investment or Urgent Needs Funds to support more programs and projects, we encourage you to make a gift online or checks are welcome too. Mail to CFOC, P.O. 902, Pentwater, MI 49449. Please note the fund name on the memo line.
The Foundation envisions an Oceana where everyone has access to resources to thrive. It receives and manages contributions from citizens and organizations and has provided nearly 7 million in grants and scholarships back to the community since 1989.
More information can be obtained by calling Tammy Carey at 231-869-3377, following the Facebook page or our web site at www.oceanafoundation.org.