News & Events

What is a community foundation?*

You may have heard the term “community foundation” before, but what does it actually mean? Simply put, a community foundation helps people give back to the place they call home. It connects generous donors with local needs, supporting nonprofit organizations, public projects, and schools. It often offers scholarships to high school graduates, as well as adult and college students.

A lasting way to give

One of the most important tools a community foundation offers is an endowed fund. An endowed fund is designed to last forever. The original gift is invested and remains in the fund, while a portion of the earnings is used each year to support grants, scholarships, or other charitable purposes. Think of it like planting an apple tree. The original gift is the roots and trunk, growing stronger over time. The yearly support is the fruit, shared season after season to benefit the community.

How the fund supports the community

Every year, the Community Foundation determines how much of each endowed fund can be used for charitable purposes. This amount is based on a spending rate approved by our Board of Trustees. Currently, up to 6% of a fund’s average market value may be used annually, which includes grants, administrative support, and investment costs.

To keep support steady over time, we look at the fund’s average value over 16 quarters, or four years. This helps smooth out market ups and downs and provides more reliable support for the community and causes donors care about.

The heart of a community foundation is helping today’s generosity grow into tomorrow’s opportunity.

*The information used to create this post was thoughtfully provided by our Senior Director of Finance, Renee Hanshue.

The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) of the Community Foundation is comprised of high school students representing Fremont, Grant, Hesperia, Newaygo, and White Cloud public high schools as well as the homeschooling community.

YAC members—casually known as “YACers”—advise the board on issues affecting local youth and evaluate YAC grant applications. Students meet at the Community Foundation to learn about philanthropy and the nonprofit sector, prepare for grant reviews, develop leadership skills, and have fun!

Since our YAC began in 1994, 250 youth have served on the committee, awarding over $1.5 million to support local youth initiatives.

During the 2025-2026 school year, YAC students had the opportunity to learn about philanthropy, service, and nonprofit organizations with a variety of presentations. YAC welcomed Community Foundation staff members, Kathe Scott from Newaygo County Autism Community, Stephanie Kooistra and Jenn Kurnat from Corewell Health, Shelly Klochack and Tyler Wigent of the Headway Coalition, and Community Foundation trustee and donor Peggy Rossler.

After studying the grant review process throughout the year, students reviewed grant applications in March and April and notified recipients of their awards. They awarded $69,400 to 9 programs for local youth.

The YACers also traveled to Lansing in April to attend the Michigan Prevention Association’s 2026 Advocacy Day, held in partnership with Tobacco Free Michigan. They learned about recent developments in tobacco and alcohol prevention and legislation, the differences between lobbying and advocacy, and how to effectively communicate with legislators about issues that matter to them. They also met with State Representative Joseph Fox and State Senator Rick Outman and toured the Capitol.

Finally, we said goodbye to nine seniors who graduated this year. Congratulations to Cayman Ramsey, Lauryn Campbell, Lillian Vanmeter, Olivia Gerard, Ana Doctor, Kaelyn Stephens, Porter Slominski, Zander Trapp, and Olive Weller!

We are incredibly grateful to our YACers for their dedication and contributions to the Community Foundation!

This month, meet our Philanthropic Services Associate, Rose Brannigan. Rose began serving in her role a little over two years ago. Her work focuses on designated and agency endowments and aims to build and maintain strong relationships with the Community Foundation’s agency partners. In 2025, Rose was named as one of Michigan Works! West Central’s 20 Under 30. Read more about her story, featured on page 25, here!

After graduating with a bachelor of arts in communication, Rose felt this position would be a natural fit for her skills and personality. Although she knew very little about community foundations or the nonprofit sector before joining our staff, she said, “The opportunity to collaborate with people and communicate in meaningful ways immediately drew me in. I am beyond grateful to have this role and do this type of work.” She describes her efforts as rewarding and meaningful.

Rose grew up in West Michigan and loves knowing that her role makes an impact in her hometown. “Endowments are truly a gift that keeps giving. The philanthropic history of this community allows us to make incredible improvements today,” she explained. Rose expressed her passion for supporting the growth and development of such a giving community.

When asked what Rose enjoys most about her job, she responded, “I enjoy the relational aspect. Working with and meeting directly with people, understanding their needs, and helping them navigate their endowments is the most engaging and exciting part of the work I do.”

“I am honored to be connected to the communities of Newaygo, Lake, Mecosta, and Osceola counties through my position. I am proud of the work we accomplish at Fremont Area Community Foundation,” said Rose.

Rose, we are honored to have you as part of our team and are so thankful for your dedication and contribution to the Community Foundation!

This month, meet the chairman of our board, Bill Alsover. Bill began serving as a member of the Community Foundation’s Investment Committee over 10 years ago and began working as a trustee on our board shortly after. We are so grateful for his dedication and contribution to the Community Foundation and to the community!

Bill’s connection to Newaygo runs deep, with memories going back to childhood summers spent on Pickerel Lake. One of his neighbors was William Branstrom Sr., one of the founders of Fremont Foundation, later renamed Fremont Area Community Foundation. The Branstrom family was a big part of the Newaygo County community, and their legacy shaped Bill’s early experiences.

After graduating from business school at MSU, Bill went on to work as everything from stockbroker to regulator for over 40 years. He returned to Newaygo County to live here permanently over 10 years ago. After receiving the Community Foundation’s annual report, he reached out to Carla Roberts, then-president and CEO. One shared lunch later, Carla invited Bill to become a member of the Investment Committee. Not long after joining the committee, he was asked to become a trustee. Bill recalls seeing the portrait of his neighbor William Branstrom Sr. and many of the early executives on the walls of the boardroom and feeling a connection to them and to the community.

When asked what Bill feels the role of the Community Foundation is in the community, he responded, “To bring positive change to Newaygo County and the surrounding communities. We’ve learned the power of working together with other stakeholders to multiply the effect of our investment. It’s impossible to address all the critical needs of Newaygo County by ourselves, but working together, we’ve made major progress.”

Bill expressed his enjoyment of feeling part of the community. He said, “The Community Foundation has found a diverse group of people to represent our area. I think we work well together and accomplish so much more together.”

In addition to serving the Community Foundation board, Bill works with the Pickerel Kimball Lakes Improvement Board and collects antique radios and midcentury modern quartz clocks.

It’s Community Foundation Week (November 12-18)! This annual celebration was created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush to recognize the important work of community foundations and their collaborative and innovative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sector.

In honor of Community Foundation Week, here are some facts about our sector:

• Community foundations are grantmaking public charities that are dedicated to improving the lives of people in a defined local geographic area.
• Nearly half of the community foundations in the U.S. are located in the Midwest and 36% serve rural areas, like ours!
• We got our start as a private foundation in 1951, but in 1972 we reorganized to become a public charity and community foundation.
• Our Community Foundation is one of more than 500 US community foundations that has achieved accreditation through the Community Foundations National Standards program. Accreditation is a voluntary and rigorous evaluation process that ensures an organization meets high levels of accountability, transparency, and excellence.
• Education, children, and human and social services are the three most common program priorities among community foundations.
• Giving by foundations has tripled over the past 15 years.

This month’s blog was written by Shelly Kasprzycki, president and CEO, and Lola Harmon-Ramsey, director of impact and engagement. Shelly and Lola reflect on the importance of civility.

Here at Fremont Area Community Foundation, we have a goal of promoting the common good. One particular area of focus is civility and goodwill. Civility is more than mere politeness; it encompasses respect, consideration, and an active commitment to the well-being of others. It is the essential element of a stable and productive society.

We see examples every day of people’s kindness and concern for one another through volunteering, supporting those in crisis, and serving on boards and committees. But we also see the destructive path of contempt. Social media and its anonymity exacerbate contempt without direct consequences to the person sharing vitriol.

The Community Foundation recognizes that we can play a role in supporting civil society. Our trustees and staff took part in training on civil discourse. And we’ve launched a pilot project in White Cloud called the Goodwill Project. The concept is relatively simple: bring together a group of citizens with varying backgrounds and experiences, train them in civil discourse, and ask them to lead a project with $10,000 to improve the quality of life for their community.

The results of this work are fascinating. When tasked with exploring what core values they felt exemplified their community, the group chose the words home, connection, and relationships. These core values will be utilized to inform the group’s final project, a community gathering spot in the downtown corridor. The goal of the gathering spot is to welcome you home to White Cloud and provide a way to connect with each other while building relationships and expanding friendships.

To learn more about our work, please contact us. We will be expanding our efforts in the coming year. Every moment of patience, listening before judging, and every thoughtful gesture contributes to a culture where trust and respect are the norm.  Join the Community Foundation in working toward more mutual understanding, resilience, and hope.

This month’s blog was written by Becky VanHaften, the newest member of our marketing and communications team. Becky reflects on some of the best parts of the summer season.

As I look out my window at the beautiful sunshine, looking forward to today’s swim, I can’t help but be thankful for the amazing Michigan summer season and all the festivities that come along with it.

Only weeks ago we celebrated Memorial Day and those who willingly gave their lives for our country. We made plans with family and friends for Independence Day celebrations when we commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. We anticipate summer’s final three-day weekend on Labor Day which honors American workers and their contributions.

Here, at Fremont Area Community Foundation, we are grateful for these meaningful commemorations, for Michigan summers, and the opportunity to participate in the special events each community in which we serve promotes and enjoys.

In Newaygo County, festivities include the Hesperia Family Fun Fest, National Baby Food Festival, Newaygo County Fair, Gus Macker Tournament, Grant Festival, and the Logging Festival. Luther Days and Idlewild Summer Soul Festival are celebrated in Lake County. Mecosta County boasts the Summer Antique Farm & Power Club Show as well as the Summer Fest. Finally, guests look forward to the Pocket Park Concert Series and the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show in Osceola County. Happy summer!