Priority Areas (2019-2021)
Mission
The Community Foundation addresses our region’s opportunities and challenges while helping donors achieve their goals by connecting them with like-minded donors and partners striving to improve our quality of life and increase our regional vibrancy and prosperity.
Vision Statement
We enhance the spirit of philanthropy within our community and identify opportunities for collaboration which help transform our community - both the people and the place - by compounding the resources of our donors and the efforts of the “doers”.
Through the creation, management and administration of permanently endowed funds along with project specific funds, the Foundation supports the efforts of our donors, volunteers, friends and partners to work for the common good of the residents of St. Clair County.
Our goal is to help transform our communities and the lives of our residents by collaborating to tackle big challenges facing our region – as well as seizing upon new opportunities.
We bring together the doers and donors from among our constituents, our residents, other nonprofits, business, government and other sectors—the people who care about our community and know how to get things done.
We take a big-picture view of tough challenges – education, the economy, the waterfront, our unique downtown assets – so we can respond to community needs, leverage resources, and create lasting change.
Our Strategic Priorities
During this next three-cycle the Foundation will continue to focus its discretionary and competitive financial and organizational resources in two areas:
Community & Economic Growth & Prosperity
- Placemaking
- Our downtowns – their vitality and continued revitalization
- Waterfront development and utilization
- Connected trailways
- Regional collaboration and planning
- Entrepreneurism
- Small Business
- Mission (aka “Impact”) Investing; true profit-making investments within our region
- Nonprofit capacity building
- Re-engaging seniors and early retirees into the workforce
- Childcare and housing as it impacts working class parents/families and employers
College, Career & Life Success
- Programs & projects to re-engage students who do not complete a college degree in a traditional timeframe or who leave college to explore other options
- Exploration & preparation for career and lifetime success after K-12
- Emphasis on skilled trades and apprenticeship programs
- Robotics programs and related facilities, workshops, labs, competition space, etc.
- Pathways to career options and exploration with an emphasis on non-traditional students and young adults
- Hands-on learning and training programs for youth and adults alike, including under-educated or under-trained adults looking for new career options
- Employer Resource Networks that address life needs of working class residents, including issues such as daycare, substance abuse, transportation, short-term loans, access to services, etc.
Note: : These priorities apply only to those funds owned and managed by the Community Foundation for which the donors have given the Foundation complete discretion in the spending of available funds. The Foundation manages multiple other field of interest funds, donor advised funds, and specifically designated funds that may continue to support a wide range of other programs, projects and initiatives outside of these priority areas, including arts, culture, parks & recreation, college awareness and preparation, scholarships, etc.
Other Areas of Interest
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The hundreds of endowed funds and our 1,000+ annual donors have a wide and diverse range of interest areas. The majority of the Foundation’s assets have pre-determined goals, objectives and focus areas.
We will always strive to help our donors achieve their individual goals and objectives. Therefore, we will continue to support and accept grant requests in the areas of;
- Early childhood issues and challenges
- Food, housing, clothing, medical care and basic necessities for those disadvantaged members of our community
- Year-round access to healthy foods and necessities
- Coordination of efforts aimed at providing basic necessities to school-aged children and a more systematic effort at aiding these support systems year-round
- Programs, projects and initiatives targeting the entire family: their well-being and their success in life and their ability to contribute to our region’s growth and prosperity
In addition to making outright grants, the Foundation is currently engaged in the following key initiatives:
- Douglas R. Austin Center
- Studio 1219
- Women’s Initiative
- Youth Advisory Council (YAC)
- Blue Water River Walk
- Blue Water Land Fund
