Community Foundation for Mason County - MI

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Community Foundation for Mason County - MI We collaborate with donors, grantees, advisors and individuals to identify issues that are most important to the people of Mason County.

When you think about charitable giving, do you think of writing a check or making an online donation?Those are great way...
10/14/2026

When you think about charitable giving, do you think of writing a check or making an online donation?

Those are great ways to support the nonprofits doing important work throughout Mason County. But did you know there are other ways? You might have options that offer financial benefits while making an even greater impact on a nonprofit.

Donating appreciated stock, making a gift from your IRA, or establishing a Donor Advised Fund are just a few ideas worth exploring.

No matter what you are passionate about – education, the arts, community development, or helping neighbors in need – understanding your giving options can help you make thoughtful decisions about how to support the work that matters most to you.

We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor or tax professional about your charitable goals. Or feel free to contact the Community Foundation for Mason County at 231.845.0326 or [email protected] to explore ways we can work together to strengthen the place we get to call home.

10/13/2026

Our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) had a busy Sunday reviewing 23 teacher mini-grant applications. These young philanthropists met at State & Main Coffee in Scottville to decide which projects to fund. Stay tuned for an announcement!

10/12/2026

🎥 What happens during KickStart to Career (K2C) Deposit Days? Take a look back at this video from last spring!

On Deposit Days, students can bring in coins, bills, or a check — any amount they’ve saved — to deposit into their individual K2C child savings accounts.

The special days are about more than deposits, though. Students in grades K-1 and 3-7 receive financial education in their classrooms from K2C volunteers, while second graders get a special behind-the-scenes look at local financial institutions through visits to Safe Harbor Credit Union and West Shore Bank.

Deposit Days give students a hands-on way to practice saving, learn about financial planning, and build habits that can help prepare them for future college or career training.

Our next Deposit Days are coming up November 17, 18, and 19 — so now is a great time to start saving that spare change!

Learn more about K2C at https://mason-foundation.org/kick-start-to-career/

Happy fall, and happy Sunday, Mason County! Photo courtesy of ToddandBradReed.com.
10/11/2026

Happy fall, and happy Sunday, Mason County!

Photo courtesy of ToddandBradReed.com.

In honor of UACJ Automotive Whitehall Industries being named the 2026 Business of the Year by the Chamber Alliance of Ma...
10/10/2026

In honor of UACJ Automotive Whitehall Industries being named the 2026 Business of the Year by the Chamber Alliance of Mason County, we’re revisiting the story of the company’s commitment to Mason County and the fund it established at the Community Foundation.

The UACJ Automotive Whitehall Industries Community Fund was created to provide sustainable, long-term support for local needs and opportunities.

Read the full story and learn more about the fund: https://mason-foundation.org/taking-care-of-its-own-whitehall-industries-partners-with-community-foundation-for-mason-county/

Our community partner, the Optimist Club of Ludington, is having its annual Optimist Northwoods Pasty Sale. These authen...
10/09/2026

Our community partner, the Optimist Club of Ludington, is having its annual Optimist Northwoods Pasty Sale. These authentic, homemade Upper Peninsula-style pasties are $10 each, and only 800 will be made this year. The deadline to order is Friday, October 16.

Your purchase helps the Optimist Club of Ludington support children right here in Mason County. Funds raised help provide scholarships, support the Oscar reading program for third-grade students, and make other youth programs possible throughout our community.

Want to order? Visit the Optimist Club of Ludington’s page for more information or send them a message there to place your order. Pasty pickup will be at Community Church, 109 N. Harrison St. in Ludington, on Thursday, October 22, from 4–6 p.m., and Friday, October 23, from 1–5 p.m.

Sometimes, the Community Foundation’s role starts with a simple phone call.A while back, a community member reached out ...
10/09/2026

Sometimes, the Community Foundation’s role starts with a simple phone call.

A while back, a community member reached out with an idea: How might they help bring Jim Gill — musician, author, and child development specialist — to local schools? We’re grateful to be an organization people feel comfortable turning to with questions and ideas like this, and we were happy to help provide some guidance.

Fast forward to last week's rainy Thursday morning at Ludington Elementary School, where we had the joy of seeing that idea come to life. Jim and his banjo filled the room with music, movement, stories, and laughter, creating an experience that had students and educators alike engaged and smiling. Later that day, he brought the same enthusiasm to Baldwin.

It was a wonderful example of what can happen when people share ideas, organizations work together, and a community rallies around something meaningful. As Jim wrote in the book he shared during his performance, May There Always Be Sunshine, “The joy of life is in thinking, creating, and doing.”

Want to learn more about what guides our work at the Community Foundation? Explore the values that shape how we serve Mason County: https://mason-foundation.org/about/vision-values/.

The Community Foundation for Mason County welcomes 14 new participants to the Leadership Learning Lab (LLL) as part of t...
10/07/2026

The Community Foundation for Mason County welcomes 14 new participants to the Leadership Learning Lab (LLL) as part of the 2026-2027 Cohort at Site 1!

LLL is a 10-month leadership program made possible through a collaboration between Rotary Charities of Traverse City, the Frey Foundation, and northern lower Michigan Community Foundations, including the Community Foundation for Mason County.

Through monthly sessions, learning pods, and hands-on practice, participants strengthen their leadership capacity, build cross-sector relationships, and develop strategies for resilience and adaptation.

Cohorts are organized across five regional sites, with Site 1 including participants from Manistee, Mason, and Oceana counties. Members of the Site 1 Cohort (pictured) are as follows:

Top Row (left to right): Amanda Babcock (Development and Communications Specialist, Benzie Area Christian Neighbors), Bethanie Dean (Clinical Supervisor, District Health Department #10), Claire Wittlieff (Academic Advisor, West Shore Community College), Jack Boitel (Academic Advisor, West Shore Community College), and Lindsay Brown (Economic and Community Development Coordinator / Utility Billing Clerk, City of Hart).

Middle Row (left to right): Amber Valentine (Collections Manager, Mason County Historical Society), Emelee Drier (Clinical Services Supervisor, Centra Wellness Network), Jodie Lynch (Planner, Manistee County Planning Department), Nate Markham (Activities Director, Manistee County Council on Aging), and Tyler Dula (Executive Director, Manistee Conservation District).

Bottom Row (left to right): Amy Stone (Youth Worker, Staircase Youth Services), Quran Griffin (Community / Adolescent Health Coordinator, District Health Department #10), Mara Davidson (Vice President, Feed Your Soul Food Pantry), and Stacey Smith (Operations Manager, Old Kirke Museum).

Learn more about LLL here: https://www.rotarycharities.org/learning/leadership-learning-lab.html

💡 Did you know Mason County has its own group of youth grantmakers? The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) began in 1989 as pa...
10/07/2026

💡 Did you know Mason County has its own group of youth grantmakers?

The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) began in 1989 as part of a statewide initiative launched by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to create opportunities for young people to learn generosity and leadership while helping build stronger, more caring communities.

YAC brings together 20+ students representing area schools to learn about philanthropy, identify issues affecting their peers, and help decide how charitable dollars can make a difference for local youth.

Learn more at https://mason-foundation.org/youth-advisory-council/

Pictured: YAC members created posters at a February meeting to promote youth mental health resources in local high schools.

10/06/2026

💙 No child should have to worry about where their next meal will come from.

This year, West Shore Bank's Spirit of Giving initiative supports the Lakeshore Food Club's MCC Spartan Food Club Pantry, helping keep local students fed outside of school hours with nutritious food when they need it most.

Throughout October, you can make a difference by donating nonperishable food items at our Ludington East, Ludington Main, and Scottville branches, or by joining us at our Spirit of Giving Food Drive on October 15th from 1-6 PM at Family Fare in Ludington.

Every can, box, and bag donated helps ensure local children and families have food on the table beyond the school day.

👉 Donate today or learn more about Spirit of Giving and the impact we're making across our communities at https://bit.ly/3SXzbhs

Address

119 S. Rath Avenue
Ludington, MI
49431

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12318450326

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