Berrien Community Foundation Inc
Berrien Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation established in 1952 by William Vawter and a group of concerned businesspeople in Saint Joseph, Michigan. The foundation serves as a philanthropic vehicle through which donors can direct charitable giving to benefit Berrien County residents. BCF holds funds for local nonprofits, donor-advised funds, and field of interest funds, with total assets exceeding $100 million as of 2024.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$109.5M
+19.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.4M
+24.7% YoY
Grant Count
193
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$38K
+24.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To connect the power of people who care with causes and organizations that strengthen our communities.
Vision: To build strong, vibrant, and sustainable communities.
Core Values: Caring, integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, and leadership.
The foundation supports a wide range of community needs including education, human services, philanthropy and grantmaking, food security, and youth development. Specific initiatives include Food For Good (supporting local food pantries), Backpacks For Good (providing school supplies to students), Senior Care Kits, and BCF Scholar Urgent Needs (supporting at-risk college students).
Grantmaking
Recent grants include $580,000 to The University of Toledo Foundation for the Senior Design Clinic Program and $387,854 to Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra Association for multiple music programs and educational initiatives. The foundation announced nearly $240,000 in For Good Grants and $145,000-$190,000 in community project awards in recent announcements.
Review Cycle
March 1 and August 1
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Berrien County, Michigan, with some giving extending to Indiana and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $109,491,825 (2024)
- Total Revenue: $22,676,067 (2024)
- Total Expenses: $10,043,260 (2024)
- Annual Giving: $6,757,625 (2023); approximately $6.8 million
- Total Liabilities: $362,000 (2023)
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since April 1958 (EIN: 38-6057160)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $109,491,825 | $91,887,707 | $80,848,791 |
| Revenue | $22,676,067 | $10,568,745 | $11,315,608 |
| Expenses | $10,043,260 | $8,202,775 | $8,264,365 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $4,949,074 | $3,264,523 | $2,085,517 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
11 open opportunities from Berrien Community Foundation Inc
Alamar Nonprofit Sustainability Grants
BERRIEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
Amount
US $75,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
BCF- For Good Grants
BERRIEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Up to US $15,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Carolyn’s Kids Grant
BERRIEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
Amount
US $50,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Blanchard Valley Health Foundation ($250,000), Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan ($141,000), Citadel Dance & Music Center Inc ($112,096).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 100 WOMEN STRONG INC ST JOSEPH, MI | EMERGENCY NEEDS FOR WOMEN IN BERRIEN COUNTY, GENERAL SUPPORT, GENERAL SUPPORT - OUTSIDE OF BH/SJ | $21,500 |
| 4KIDS OF SOUTH FLORIDA INC FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| ACEER FOUNDATION UNIONVILLE, PA | ACEER FOUNDATION - CONSERVATION LEADERS | $25,000 |
| ACORN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS THREE OAKS, MI | THREE-DAY JAZZREACH MUSIC EDUCATION RESIDENCY AT THE ACORN, OPERATIONS SUPPORT, ACORN LOCAL ARTIST AND COMMUNITY PROGRAM INITIATIVES, GENERAL OPERATIONS | $20,250 |
| ADVANCE BENTON HARBOR BENTON HARBOR, MI | PROJECT PONY IS AN INITIATIVE TO ADD A FIELD MAINTENANCE STORAGE FACILITY TO UNION PARK. | $8,000 |
| ALANO HOUSE OF SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN STEVENSVILLE, MI | RENOVATION FUND | $20,000 |
| ALPHA USA CAROL STREAM, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY-DETROIT DETROIT, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,807 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION GRAND RAPIDS, MI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $14,862 |
| AMERICARES FOUNDATION INC STAMFORD, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT, 3X MATCHING CHALLENGE | $7,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lisa Cripps-Downey – President
- Susan Matheny – Program Director
- Sharnae Hudson – Grants & Scholarships Coordinator
- Morgan Callahan – Finance Director
- Maureen Bradford – Special Projects
- Kelly Gampel – Communications Manager
- Tanya Hagen – Office Administrator
- Greg Brenner – Finance Associate
- Pam Dolezan – Finance Associate
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHIL MAKI | CHAIR | 5 | — |
| SARAH JOLLAY | VICE CHAIR | 5 | — |
| ALEXIS HARRIS | TREASURER | 5 | — |
| RAY LIPSCOMB | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| GLORIA ENDER | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| KELLY FERNEAU | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| JOHN GUINNESS | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| CAROLYN HANSON | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| CHRISTINA HARDY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| HON TOM NELSON | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ELIZABETH MCCREE | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| PHILIP MOLLOY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| KAREN YTTERBERG | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| LISA CRIPPS-DOWNEY | PRESIDENT | 60 | $157,369 |
| MORGAN CALLAHAN | FINANCE DIRECTOR | 40 | $104,500 |
Contact Information
Address: 2900 S. State Street, Suite 2E, Saint Joseph, MI 49085
Phone: 269-983-3304
Fax: 269-983-4939
Website: berriencommunity.org
Email: bcf@berriencommunity.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Berrien Community Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission:** To connect the power of people who care with causes and organizations that strengthen our communities. **Vision:** To build strong, vibrant, and sustainable communities. **Core Values:** Caring, integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, and leadership. The foundation supports a wide range of community needs including education, human services, philanthropy and grantmaking, food security, and youth development. Specific initiatives include Food For Good (supporting local food pantries),…
How do I apply for a grant from Berrien Community Foundation Inc?
**Grant Programs:** • **For Good Grants** (Rolling program with two cycles annually) • Application deadlines: March 1 and August 1 • For Good Minor: Up to $1,500 • For Good Major: Up to $15,000 • Online application through portal • Decision time: 1-4 months (varies by program) • **Specialized Grant Programs:** Carolyn's Kids Grant, Frederick S. Upton Foundation Big Idea Grant, Frederick S. Upton Foundation Grants, Golden Acorn Classroom Mini-Grants, Heart of Cook Grants, and Howard Facilities P…
Where does Berrien Community Foundation Inc make grants?
Berrien County, Michigan, with some giving extending to Indiana and Florida.
What size grants does Berrien Community Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Berrien Community Foundation Inc awarded 193 grants totaling $7.4M — an average of about $38K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Berrien Community Foundation Inc's EIN?
Berrien Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6057160. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Berrien Community Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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