Berrien Community Foundation (BCF) awarded $280,000 in grants at their 74th Annual Meeting & Celebration on October 7 at The Mendel Center’s Grand Upton Hall at Lake Michigan College. Along with the grants, BCF announced $100,000 for a community challenge match to help support crucial and struggling nonprofit organizations.
“Right now is a challenging time for our nonprofits,” said BCF President Lisa Cripps-Downey. “Escalating demand for services is being combined with declining revenue. Our board of directors asked ‘how can we help?’ And then asked, ‘how can YOU help?’ With this challenge, BCF will match donations of up to $100,000 for dollars the community raises.”
The first part of the community challenge will focus on two essential agencies that have experienced drastic funding cuts. BCF announced a $40,000 challenge match for Caring Connection’s Empowerment Center – the domestic violence shelter and sexual assault services. The Foundation also announced a $30,000 challenge match for the Children’s Advocacy Center’s operations that provide services for abused children.
An additional $30,000 in matching funds was set aside for other nonprofit partners in 2027.
To give to the community challenge, donors can go to www.berriencommunity.org/CommunityChallenge or reach out directly to the organizations.
In addition to the challenge, BCF presented $280,000 in grants at the annual celebration: Stephen E. Upton Love Your Community Grant, Carolyn’s Kids, Alamar Nonprofit Sustainability and Golden Acorn Volunteer Award and Golden Acorn Excellence Award.
Stephen E. Upton Love Your Community Grant:
Mosaic CCDA received the $50,000 Stephen E. Upton Love Your Community Grant for their Resource Wednesdays and Feel Good Fridge program. The Love Your Community Grant is presented each year to a Berrien County nonprofit organization that addresses a crucial community need and makes a positive impact on the lives of Berrien County residents.
“The expanded (Feel Good Fridge) program is expected to directly serve approximately 150-200 Berrien County households per week, including seniors, families and individuals experiencing food insecurity,” said Andrew Robinson, Mosaic’s executive director. “Particular attention will be given to vulnerable residents and individuals who have challenges accessing traditional food assistance because of mobility barriers.”
Carolyn’s Kids:
Three $50,000 Carolyn’s Kids grants were awarded. Carolyn’s Kids is awarded through the Carolyn Hanson Fund at the Berrien Community Foundation to reflect Carolyn’s love for children and her desire to make sure children have what they need to succeed.
The recipients were:
Children’s Music Workshop – for children’s arts education and skills development.
“(CMW) is at a critical inflection point,” said Erika Osborn, CMW executive director. “Grant funding for our expansion programming and a dedicated facility will directly serve the community by eliminating our capacity barriers, enabling us to directly serve our community and ensure all youth have meaningful opportunities to experience the performing arts.”
Corewell Health Foundation – for equipment to help children with physical challenges to communicate with providers and in their environments.
“There is a wide array of measurable benefits that will be derived from (AAC) and adaptive switch use with our pediatric patients,” said Morgan Bramlett, speech-language pathologist for Corewell. “The acquisition of (these devices) will increase opportunities for our patients with complex communication needs and physical disabilities to authentically express themselves and participate more independently in educational, therapeutic and daily living activities.”
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Southwest Michigan – to support volunteer recruitment, training and mileage reimbursement as they work with children who are in the court system through foster care.
“A CASA volunteer is important to a child as they ensure a child’s voice is heard during their time in (foster) care and that their needs are not forgotten,” said Trish Conroy, CASA of Southwest Michigan’s executive director. “National studies have shown that a child with a CASA volunteer is more likely to do well in school, less likely to be expelled … and is more likely to find a safe, permanent home.”
Alamar Nonprofit Sustainability Grant
The $75,000 Alamar Nonprofit Sustainability Grant was awarded to Water Street Glassworks to create the Education Program Development Manager position to allow the organization to grow and become self-sustaining. The Alamar Nonprofit Sustainability Grant is a grant of $25,000 per year for three years and invests in the nonprofit as they explore innovative ways to care for their employees and achieve organizational sustainability.
“For more than 20 years, Water Street Glassworks has responded to the evolving needs of the community through innovative educational programs and public engagement,” said Donna Sauers, WSG’s executive director. “The Education Program Development Manager will lead the development and coordination of WSG’s educational programming, ensuring classes and experiences align with community interests, organization priorities and long-term sustainability.”
Golden Acorn Volunteer Awards
Berrien Community Foundation honored the group Women Helping Women of Southwest Michigan with the 2026 Golden Acorn Volunteer Award. Along with the recognition, the group was awarded a $1,000 grant to direct to a nonprofit of their choice.
“This year, Women Helping Women brought together volunteers to support local needs, from sorting food during the SNAP pause and clothes for people in need at a domestic violence shelter to packing food for pantries,” said Elizabeth McCree, a BCF board member. “They also supported Benton Harbor High School seniors with scholarship applications through the ‘BCF App Squad,’ helping more than 30 students and quadrupling application submissions. They are a dynamic group of women who lead with generous hearts and a deep commitment to serving their community.”
Golden Acorn Excellence Award
Berrien Community Foundation awarded the 2026 Golden Acorn Excellence Award to the Berrien County Youth Fair.
“Each year we recognize an organization that goes above and beyond to serve our community,” said BCF board member John Guinness. “From being a place to gather, to helping our youth find their passion and develop their skills, to partnering to feed the community – whenever we call and say, ‘would it be possible to …”, they are willing to try and figure out how to make it happen.”
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