Confirmed in Compliance with National Standards

for U.S. Community Foundations

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2900 South State Street, Suite 2 East
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Phone: 269.983.3486
Fax: 269.983.4939
Email: bcf@BerrienCommunity.org

Hours:  8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. M-F

Appointments much appreciated

Foundation Staff

Nanette Keiser, Ed.D., President, leads our team of professional staff members who carry out activities on behalf of our communities to achieve the Foundation's mission to enhance the quality of life and build a spirit of community in Berrien County. She has 32 years in the for-profit (10 years) and nonprofit sectors (22 years) with past work with the Kalamazoo Community Foundation (Chief Financial & Administrative Officer), the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the Council of Michigan Foundations before joining the Berrien Community Foundation in 2003. 

Our recently appointed Finance/Program Director Lanette Sanford has a B.S. in Accountancy and MBA and joined the Foundation in 2010. Lanette assumed all the responsibilities of Program Director Anne Mc Causland who recently retired from the Foundation. Additionally Lanette continues to have several responsibilities in the Foundations’ finance area. A part-time Finance Program Assistant will be added to the team in the near future.

We believe our donors, volunteers, grantees, and community partners will greatly appreciate this reconfiguration of our team. The Foundation also relies heavily on volunteers who serve on various committees.

History

The Berrien Community Foundation was established in 1952 by William Vawter and a group of concerned business people, much like the rest of the community foundation movement that started in the Midwest. The Foundation is an innovative means by which concerned citizens could put charitable dollars to work for the benefit of Berrien County residents.

The Foundation is a union of numerous gifts, bequests, and other contributions that form endowments and other funds. The spendable portion of the Foundation's endowments is used to make grants to qualified agencies and institutions serving the residents of Berrien County. Grants from donor advised funds may be distributed anywhere in the United States. The Foundation responds to emerging community needs by funding programs that enhance the quality of life. Since 1952, the philanthropic dollars committed to the Foundation have touched every community in Berrien County.

The Foundation also continues to offer a wide variety of charitable giving opportunities that can help any concerned individual invest in the future of our area and beyond. From totally undesignated funds to organizational funds (e.g., nonprofits, schools) to personalized donor advised funds, prospective donors can shape gift agreements to meet both their financial objectives and charitable aspirations. For more information about the role the Community Foundation can play as a partner in your philanthropy, please call the Foundation office at 269-983-3486. Our hours are 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday, appointments much appreciated.

Organizational Governance and Financial Activities Information

The Foundation strives to be as transparent as possible, while honoring donor privacy where needed. The following information is related to the Foundation's governance and financial activities. For additional information on any of these items, please contact Nanette Keiser, Ed.D., President, 269-983-3486 or NanetteKeiser@BerrienCommunity.org.

To view, print, and/or download a copy of any of the items, click on the link below.

*  Audited Financial Statements for 2010  (pdf)

These statements cover the Foundation's financial activities from January 1-December 31, 2010. The unqualified opinion letter provided by our auditors (best possible), Schaffer & Layher, LLP, the statement of financial position, and the statement of  financial activities are included.

*  990 for Year Ending 2010 (pdf)

This is the current federal tax return provided to the IRS.

*  Articles of Incorporation (pdf)

*  Bylaws (pdf)

These are the governance documents.

*  Conflicts of Interest Policy (pdf)

*  1023/1024 Application Equivalent (pdf)

Recently the IRS required that a nonprofit organization make available its original application (i.e., 1023/1024) for nonprofit status. When the Foundation went through this process in the 1950s, this form didn't exist. We have provided the equivalent supplied to the Foundation by the IRS when we made this request. 

A Snapshot of Developments in 2011

• Building permanent endowments and other funds, providing a broad range of flexible and cost-effective donor services (262 and growing no. of funds, Gifts of $2.8 million in 2011, a record in our history), and adding several members to our Legacy Society. 
• Investing and managing funds prudently and professionally ($23 million in assets under management, maintaining highest in our history), reaching out to professional advisors through educational services, and providing financial services for the Southwestern Michigan Estate Planning Council
• Providing grants to support a broad range of projects and programs with an emphasis on building a spirit of community/arts & culture, nurturing our children, and youth development and leadership ($2.3 million in 2011).  
• Serving as a leader, catalyst, and resource for our communities via many collaborations including the 2900 Lakeview/PACE project, Lakeland's Community Room and counseling room at the new cancer center, Lake Michigan College's Leadership Academy, Southwest Michigan 2-1-1, Southwest Michigan Community Action's Agency Poverty Simulation Workshops, Sustaining the Future:  The Planned Giving Education Program of Berrien County, Southwestern MI Estate Planning Council, Volunteer Center of SW MI, among others.

Jane Marohn, a past Trustee from 2003-2011, with

Greg Vaughn,  Joanne Sims, and Sharon Vargo, Honorary Trustees,

at BCF's 59th Annual Celebration in 2011