For Donors

  • The Community Foundation for Oceana County (CFMC) currently oversees over 175 charitable funds created by individuals, families, companies, and organizations, for the benefit of charitable causes and organizations causes throughout Oceana County and beyond. To learn more, visit our About Us page.

  • We offer a variety of fund options, including: unrestricted funds, designated funds, scholarships, donor advised, committee advised, field of interest, organization endowment, community project and Build A Fund.

  • Although some donors want to give directly to a particular organization, many are more comfortable giving through us because of our permanence, professional investment management, and oversight role in ensuring that their wishes are met by the recipient organizations.

  • You can recommend a grant to any organization that falls within the broad mission of the Foundation and is qualified as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. We ensure that groups recommended for a grant meet this requirement. Due to federal tax laws, we must reject grant recommendations that would benefit a specific individual, fulfill a personal obligation or support a political campaign or private foundation.

  • We are focused on the needs of Oceana County, but we allow grants from donor advised and designated funds to any 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the U.S.

  • In most cases, the minimum for establishing a fund with us is $5,000. Scholarship funds require a minimum gift of $10,000. You can also create a Build A Fund and make periodic contributions up to 5 years until your fund reaches the desired amount.

  • We accept a range of assets including: cash, stocks and bonds, real estate, personal property such as jewelry and artwork, life insurance policies and IRA assets. Contact us for a copy of our Gift Acceptance Policy.

  • Nothing. Starting a fund is free of cost. Our administrative fee structure depends on the type of fund and ranges from 1.0% to 2%. Fiscal sponsorship for campaign/project funds are 2-4%. We use these fees to support our overall operations.

  • Our fees are highly competitive with commercial gift funds and considerably less expensive than starting a private foundation. We handle all administrative tasks, including filing annual tax returns, performing due diligence on grants, and all details associated with processing and tracking grants—and there are no setup fees. We offer you all the options of your own private foundation, but without the hassle or extra cost. We are also the “local experts” on community organizations, projects & development and connecting community needs to resources.

  • Gifts to  the Foundation are irrevocable. The decision to partner with us is a serious one and we encourage potential fundholders to discuss their intent with their financial or legal advisors.

  • We offer several opportunities to make life income gifts and we’re happy to work with you and your professional advisors to determine which type is right for you.

  • If you choose a donor advised fund, you may name co-advisors and successor advisors to continue guiding the fund now, and in the future.

  • Donor information is highly confidential. The Foundation does not share donor names, addresses or fund-related financial information with any individual or organization without express permission from the donor.

For Professional Advisors

Some of the questions most frequently asked by professional advisors are answered for you here.

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For Grant Applicants

Some of the questions most frequently asked by our grant applicants are answered for you here.

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Where and how is up to you.

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