Manistee County Community Foundation

06/23/2026

Last week, Nolan represented the Manistee County Youth Advisory Council at the Youth Grantmakers Summer Leadership Conference, an annual event for YACs and other Michigan philanthropy youth leaders.

Presented by the Council of Michigan Foundations and the Michigan Community Foundations Youth Project Committee, the conference helped youth explore their YAC's mission, build community with students from across the state, and develop leadership skills in philanthropy. Additionally, our YAC Advisor, Kelsey Rhodes, received opportunities to deepen capacity, network, and engage in trainings and workshops.

Nolan and Kelsey left with lots of ideas to bring to Manistee County's YAC and foster youth philanthropy as a whole in Manistee County.

06/18/2026

Watch until the end for an unforgettable moment! ⚾️

Meet Eric Thuemmel, executive director of the Manistee Recreation Association. As the weather gets warmer and the days get sunnier, we learn how a MCCF grant helped the MRA acquire new equipment for their youth baseball and softball programs. This included USA Baseball-certified bats, catcher’s gear, baseballs, and safety bases.

Thank you, Eric, for shining a light on the value of youth sports in Manistee County!

06/11/2026

In 2026, the Manistee County Community Foundation (MCCF) awarded 36 scholarships totaling commitments of up to $151,300 and renewed 24 prior awards to assist area students with continuing and persisting in their education after high school.

Supporting and investing in area youth has always been at the core of the MCCF's mission to enhance the quality of life for Manistee County residents.

With generous support from donors who share a passion for education, MCCF includes more than a dozen scholarship funds that support the postsecondary goals of Manistee County students. Scholarship funds vary in their eligibility and selection criteria. Most scholarships require demonstration of financial need and may be used at accredited colleges, universities, or vocational (trade or technical) schools. Various scholarship advisory committees recommend recipients for consideration by the foundation’s Board of Directors.

“The Foundation is proud to continue to invest in area students through the continued expansion of our scholarship program. Through the generosity of our donors we are able to provide support to more students, including renewable awards, which assist students with persisting and completing their degree or certificate program,” said Laura Heintzelman, President & CEO of the MCCF.

View the full list of scholarship recipients here:https://manisteefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MCCF-2026-Scholarships-Awarded-Chart.pdf

06/08/2026

We are excited for Lakeshore Keepers and these two new webcams showing off Lake Michigan and the pier! Enjoy the sight from Manistee North Pierhead Light wherever you are at: https://lakeshorekeepers.org/manistee-north-pierhead/

Y’all ready for this? 🥳 You can now access the two cameras at the Manistee North Pierhead Light. No longer will you miss sunsets, wonder what the lake conditions are before boating, or wish you could see the views from the light but not be physically able to.

This free access to the cameras will be available annually from mid-May to the end of September. This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Manistee County Community Foundation.

View the cameras here: https://lakeshorekeepers.org/manistee-north-pierhead/

06/02/2026

Roll up your sleeves… a new playground is coming soon! 👷‍♂️

Meet Dan Young, park supervisor at Orchard Beach State Park and with the Parks and Recreation division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. In today’s impact story, we get a look at construction underway for a future, universally accessible playground at Orchard Beach State Park. A MCCF grant helped leverage state and other funding for the project, which has been in the works since 2019.

Thank you, Dan, for your time and for showing us the hard work currently being done on site!

06/01/2026

Applications are still being accepted for the 2026-2027 Leadership Learning Lab!

The LLL is a 10-month program beginning September 2026 that combines adaptive and collaborative leadership, time management, and a suite of nonprofit and cross-sector capacity-building skills. LLL invests directly in leaders as a way to strengthen their organizations and the communities they serve.

Apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5iQ6E8FklNGTP1lDtJs_LCIdFSYAlbLvrbZJQ4JrnMbdqOg/viewform
Deadline: June 15, 2026.

Participants will have the opportunity to build and deepen relationships with leaders in their own community and connect with leaders across northern lower Michigan. Thirty-five Manistee County leaders and over 300 leaders across the region have participated in the transformational program over the past several years.

The Manistee County Community Foundation, in collaboration with Rotary Charities of Traverse City, the Frey Foundation, and other northern lower Michigan community foundations, welcomes you to apply!

Participation is open to leaders at all levels from nonprofit organizations, businesses, government agencies, and Tribal Nations. The cost to participate in LLL is $300 and is supported by the program’s partners to keep tuition low for leaders like you.

05/15/2026

Over HALF A MILLION DOLLARS in grant funding!


The Manistee County Community Foundation (MCCF) is pleased to announce 16 recipients of our 2026 Spring Grant Cycle and other recent grant awards, totaling $545,462.

The grants support projects and programs that will enhance the quality of life for Manistee County residents as well as enhance and expand recreational opportunities across Manistee County.

We are so thankful to the incredible generosity of our donors that make these community investments possible, as well as the grant recipients that are working hard to enrich Manistee County!

List of 2026 Spring Grant Awards here:https://manisteefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/MCCF-Spring-2026-Grant-Cycle-Chart.pdf

05/14/2026

Wow! 🛥️

This time of year, our team stays busy as we prepare to make announcements across all fronts: from funding decisions for the Spring Grant Cycle, to scholarship awards to local high school students.

But getting to watch the Great Republic make its way outside our window reminds us to take a step back and think: what an amazing community we get to live in.

We’re grateful for all of the parts that make Manistee County what it is and we look forward to continuing to serve this community, now and for years to come.

05/11/2026

Congratulations to Andrew Hybza of Onekama Consolidated Schools! 🎉

Andrew Hybza, a graduating senior of the MCCF Youth Advisory Council, will be attending Michigan State University.

When asked how participating in YAC impacted him as an individual, Andrew said, "It made me realize the importance of the youth community. [YAC] strengthens leadership skills which are really important in life."

The MCCF Youth Advisory Council serves as a local panel of experts on the needs and issues of Manistee County youth. Made up of high school students from across Manistee County, they are YOUR local youth philanthropists.

Congratulations again to Andrew!

05/08/2026

Congratulations to the YAC!

In the final meeting of their program year, our YAC met at the Spirit of the Woods Conservation Club (SWCC) to clean up debris left in the aftermath of recent storms and flooding in the area.

They worked with SWCC Vice President, Gene Lagerquist, who was able to provide additional insight on the organization's history, mission, and work. In a full circle moment, we learned more about their summer Kids Field Camp, which received funding from the Youth Endowment Fund in 2025. It even turned out that one of our YAC members grew up attending this camp, making for a nostalgic reunion.

Finally, we celebrated our YAC seniors: Caleb Forward, Hailey Hart, Andrew Hybza, and Mackenna Wardie. They have worked so hard this year and have been a valuable voice for our YAC and our community. The next chapter begins, and the MCCF is cheering them on every step of the way.

It was a joy to get outside and assist cleaning up the area as we celebrate all that the YAC has done. See you in the fall!