News
Focusing on Student Success
In communities across Charlevoix County, schools provide students with a nurturing place for learning and growing. In addition to engaging activities, challenging concepts, and valuable extra-curricular experiences, schools are increasingly providing food and clothing or support navigating post-secondary career paths. With dedicated school personnel as our partners, the Community Foundation can help donors just like you to remove barriers to learning as well as increase opportunities for students to achieve.
C3F Endowments for Student Success can be enriched or established to support students by providing engaging opportunities and encouraging students to become successful community citizens.
The Community Foundation partners with school leaders to offer strategic support to make a difference where tax support can't. Our staff is in regular contact with pre-K through 12 educators who understand issues families, students, and schools are facing today. By gathering superintendents together annually, Community Foundation staff can learn from these leaders and the leaders themselves can benefit from building peer relationships. Grant funds provided once per year must be used intentionally, and the Community Foundation requires accountability for use of those funds. School partners are also given the flexibility to put the dollars to best use as needs change over time.
For example, recent Student Success grants funded projects such as purchasing snowshoes for students to stay active, purchasing and installing new outdoor playground equipment suitable for preschool students, funding youth mentoring programs, upgrading library facilities and media centers, purchasing new equipment to support STEM programs, improved signage and security at school, and helping to fund both science and Spanish language field trips. These are programs that may not have happened without grants from C3F.
C3F established funds to support schools in Beaver Island, Boyne City, Boyne Falls, Charlevoix, and East Jordan. Gifts of all sizes can make a difference for local students by supporting any of these Endowments for Student Success. These are combined with Student Success Funds sponsored by our donors. For a minimum of $10,000, any donor can establish a named Endowment for Student Success that will provide resources annually to an area school district.
To find out more, or to make a donation, visit our Giving Hub.
Rooted in Community - The C3F Founders
Seated: John Frey, Joyce Herbert, Mike Stowe, Vel Kammermann
L-R: Steve Weber, Scott Beatty, John Dixon, Gen Varnum, Bill Lorne, Lou Hollow, Cal Diller
In 1992, a group of eager volunteers led the charge to start a community foundation in Charlevoix County. Preliminary work began thanks to generous support from the Frey Foundation, the Council of Michigan Foundations, the Malpass Foundation, East Jordan Iron Works (EJ), and the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. The Charlevoix County Community Foundation officially opened for business on August 12, 1992.
“In the beginning it was slow going because the concept of a community foundation was new to most people,” remembers Bill Lorne, a founding trustee. “People connecting with other folks in their communities was what helped keep us moving forward. Early trustees helped local business-owners and other decision-makers understand what a community foundation could mean for our community.”
Burnette Foods, East Jordan Plastics, Industrial Magnetics, Lexalite and others also helped the young organization: “We had office space provided for no cost in a building in downtown East Jordan,” remembers Laura Hansen, the Community Foundation’s first employee. “We often walked through fitness classes in order to reach it, which is pretty funny to look back on.”
Today, C3F is still about helping local people make a difference close to home. The vision of a vibrant community where friends and neighbors can thrive remains the focus. We work to connect people who care to needs and opportunities in Charlevoix County. With years of strong leadership from the Board of Trustees and dedicated staff, C3F has developed from a big idea to a credible, trusted, and people-focused organization serving our community’s present and future.
Continuing Education Scholarships
Are you a new or returning student in the Nursing or Medical Field? Don't miss our special 2025 C3F Nursing & Medical Field Scholarships application round just for you! Deadline to apply is June 30th.
Community PRiorities Grant Cycle
Our Community Priorities grant cycle is now open! This cycle responds to a wide variety of needs in Charlevoix County and the organizations that make that work posible. All proposals from eligible nonprofit partners are welcome. We are accepting applications from eligible nonprofit partners (501c3 organizations, government entities, and schools) until May 1, 2025. All applications begin with a phone call with Ashley Cousens, our Community Grantmaking staff.