What began as a $5,000 donation in 1952 is now an organization that supports a wide range of nonprofit organizations throughout Berrien County and beyond.

The Berrien Community Foundation was established as an innovative means by which concerned citizens could put charitable dollars to work for the benefit of Berrien County residents. Today, the Foundation is a union of numerous gifts, bequests, and other contributions that form many  endowments and other funds.

A steady stream of spendable distributions in the form of grants from the Foundation's endowments and other funds makes it possible for the Foundation to support many agencies and institutions serving Berrien County residents. Our advised funds also provide support to nonprofits throughout the U.S.

Since 1952 the philanthropic dollars committed to the Foundation have touched every community in Berrien County and beyond. The Foundation offers a wide variety of charitable giving opportunities to help concerned individuals invest in the future of our area. Donors can shape gift agreements to meet both their financial objectives and charitable aspirations.

Ways to Give Through the Foundation

There are many opportunities for individuals, couples, families, and businesses to make gifts -- small to large -- to the Foundation:

Give Now

You can give to any one or combination of the funds held by the Foundation (complete list under Fund Information on Home Page).

You can also create a fund at the Foundation to support the charity or charities you now support. Many donors contribute assets to a donor advised fund regularly and suggest periodic distributions to charitable organizations of their choice.

For gifts to existing funds, please make the check payable to

BCF/name of fund

and send it to the mailing address below

For gifts to existing funds by credit card, click on the following link

Please be aware that 5.00% of the gift is

charged to the receiving fund(s) for using this service

For questions or to establish a new fund, please contact

Nanette Keiser, Ed.D., President at 269-983-3486

Planned Giving--Creating a Legacy Fund

After providing for your loved ones, consider creating a fund or adding to the one you already have established at the Berrien Community Foundation. Estate taxes can be saved, and the charitable causes you supported during your lifetime can continue to benefit through such a fund.

• Wills and Bequests. The Berrien Community Foundation accepts gifts by bequests in several forms (a specific sum or asset; a percentage or residual of the estate, or a contingent bequest) to establish or add to an existing fund to benefit the community.
• Planned Gifts. There are many attractive arrangements for giving in the future. Some deferred gift arrangements offer you the benefit of a current tax deduction in exchange for the commitment of funds to a charitable purpose or purposes at some later date, often after life end. The result may be an increase in current spendable income for you and your family and, at a later date, a fund established at the Berrien Community Foundation.

The following deferred gift arrangements can be used to create funds in the Foundation:

• Various Trusts
• IRAs
• Gifts of Life Insurance

For more information, contact

Nanette Keiser, Ed.D., President

NanetteKeiser@BerrienCommunity.org

269-983-3486 or 269-983-3304, ext. 1

BENEFITS OF GIVING TYPES OF FUNDS WHY WOULD I WANT TO CREATE A FUND?   WHAT ASSETS CAN I GIVE?

HOW WILL MY FUNDS BE INVESTED? WHEN CAN I GIVE? WHERE CAN I FIND ASSISTANCE?