Our Purpose

Mission Statement

We are a local nonprofit that helps people invest in the future of Marquette County. Their gifts do good work within the community, forever. Our mission is to enrich the lives of all people in Marquette County, by:

Connecting donors with community needs
Building permanent funds for charitable giving
Distributing scholarships and grants
Leading and collaborating to address community opportunities

Core Values: Community First

Our community includes all residents of Marquette County. Our focus is forever and we promise to constantly discover, cultivate and promote new opportunities to help all people within our community reach their full potential.

Dependability

We preserve donor intent and hold ourselves accountable to those who place their trust in us and collaborate with others to build a better tomorrow;

Service

We nurture lifelong relationships with our donors across generations by being flexible and responsive to the changing needs within our community;

Passion

We take our job seriously and are committed to showing through our appreciation and enthusiasm to donors, grantees, volunteers and staff that we are all in this together to create maximum community impact.

What do Community Foundations do?

Provide a simple, powerful and highly personal approach to giving. We offer custom solutions designed to meet your charitable goals. Through your community foundation, you can give a variety of assets to causes you care most about and that strengthen our community.

Looking for ways to integrate your financial and estate planning with charitable giving? We can work with your professional advisors. Your community foundation is here to help you make a lasting difference in the community. Contact us to learn more.

Personalized Service

We make giving easy and effective. We offer a number of great giving options, and we accept a wide variety of gifts. You can contribute cash, stocks, bonds, property and bequests. You may establish a fund in your name or in the name of a loved one. In most cases, your gift qualifies for maximum tax advantage under federal law.

Local Expertise

Our in-depth understanding of the issues, opportunities and resources that shape our community is at your service. We monitor all areas of community need—including human services, education, the environment, healthcare, the arts and economic development. We can help you learn more about local organizations and programs that make a difference in areas you care about most.

Community Leadership

We bring diverse people and organizations together to address local issues and opportunities. We invest in the long term. Our business is building a strong community.

History

The Community Foundation of Marquette County was established in 1988 by a small group of philanthropic community leaders and a gift of $30,000. The Foundation provided the opportunity to give back and support charities within the community, while focusing on creating individual funds. These funds are then pooled together for a greater return on investment.

Over time the Community Foundation began to expand within the County and created four affiliate funds that help serve the following communities: Negaunee, Marquette, Gwinn and Greater Ishpeming.

Through charitable giving of funds and time, the Foundation distributes grants and scholarships within Marquette County. Growing endowed funds for the future of Marquette County, and addressing current community needs through community leadership projects are some of the ways in which the Foundation aims to enrich the lives of all people in Marquette County.