Fremont Area Community Foundation logo

Fremont Area Community Foundation

FREMONT, MI EIN: 38-1443367 Website

Fremont Area Community Foundation is a community foundation established in 1951 in Fremont, Michigan. The organization is one of the largest community foundations in the United States on a per capita basis, serving a population of approximately 50,000 with net assets exceeding $200 million. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and manages over 700 charitable funds ranging in size from $10,000 to $30 million.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$306.7M

+14.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$8.8M

+17.8% YoY

Grant Count

137

+5.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$64K

+11.8% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission Statement: To promote philanthropy through grants to nonprofit organizations providing charitable services that benefit the people of Newaygo County and the surrounding area of western Michigan.

The foundation enhances the quality of life for all people in Newaygo County and surrounding communities by connecting community needs with the passions of families, businesses, and individuals.

Primary Program Areas:

  • Community Development – Decreases unemployment in Newaygo County by distributing grants to charitable organizations focused on education, certifications, training, employment of skilled workforce, small business development, and entrepreneurship development.

  • Education – Decreases the impact of poverty by increasing education levels in the community. Grants support kindergarten readiness, STEAM, literacy, remediation assistance, educational scholarships, and tuition assistance for students in Newaygo County and West Michigan.

  • Poverty to Prosperity – Reduces the impact of poverty by providing grants to charitable organizations focused on self-sufficiency development.

Grantmaking

The foundation manages six types of funds:

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily serves Newaygo County and surrounding areas of western Michigan. For over 20 years, the foundation has supported three geographic affiliate foundations: Lake, Mecosta, and Osceola community foundations. The foundation manages assets for these affiliates while advisory boards from each respective community review grant proposals and recommend funding.

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Cities

AdaAllendaleArlingtonBaldwinBig RapidsBitelyByron CenterCadillacComstock ParkConklinDetroitEast LansingEvanstonEvartFremontGrand RapidsGrantGreenvilleHerseyHesperia

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of December 31, 2023:

  • Total Assets: $269 million
  • Total Liabilities: $4.98 million
  • Total Revenue: $14.9 million
  • Total Expenses: $10.7 million
  • Investment Income: $9,807,996
  • Program Service Revenue: $339,016

As of December 31, 2024:

  • Total Assets: $306,738,307
  • Total Revenue: $15,175,959
  • Total Expenses: $12,858,682

Staffing: The foundation employs 20-24 staff members and engages approximately 200 volunteers.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$6M$12M$18M$24M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$306,738,307$268,983,898$241,936,076
Revenue$15,175,959$14,863,634$14,536,377
Expenses$12,858,682$10,675,286$11,767,007
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income$12,289,920$9,807,996$12,718,637
Distributable Amount

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$4M$8M$12M$16M109 grants2020101 grants2021274 grants2022130 grants2023137 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Arts Center for Newaygo …$459KFremont Public Schools$326KCounty of Newaygo$248KCity of Fremont$227KFeeding America West Mic…$179KBellwether Harbor Animal…$153KFrey Management LLC$150KFremont Christian School$136KCatholic Charities West …$104KCamp Henry$93K

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

176<$50K29$50–100K26$100–250K17$250–500K1$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

18 open opportunities from Fremont Area Community Foundation

Show all 18 →

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation was founded in 1951 by local attorney William J. Branstrom, along with Frank Gerber, Horace Loomis, Dick Pikaart, Herman Schuiteman, and Bessie Slautterback. They gathered charitable funds established by donors including Harry Williams and J. Andrew and Mattie Gerber.

The organization has 15 voting members serving on its governing body, all of whom are independent members.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

SHELLY KASPRZYCKIPRESIDENT AND CEO$248KKATHYRN POPEVICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FIN…$158KLINDSAY HAGERVICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF PHI…$135K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
KEN DELAATVICE CHAIR STARTING 6/13/241
LORI TUBBERGEN CLARKCHAIR part-year through 6/13/20241
MIKHAIL SALACINASECRETARY THROUGH 6/13/24 TREASURER STARTING 6/13/241
SUSAN WENTESECRETARY STARTING 6/13/241
WILLIAM ALSOVERTREASURER THROUGH 6/13/24, CHAIR STARTING 6/13/241
CHARLES CHANDLERTRUSTEE1
CHRIS WRENTRUSTEE1
DENISE SUTTLESTRUSTEE1
DOROTHY PARISTRUSTEE STARTING 6/13/241
JULIE BURRELLTRUSTEE STARTING 6/13/241
JULIE TATKOTRUSTEE1
MICHEAL ANDERSONTRUSTEE THROUGH 6/13/241
PEGGY ROSSLERTRUSTEE1
TODD DEKRYGERTRUSTEE1
TRAVIS BULLTRUSTEE1
KATHYRN POPEVICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER35$158,290
SHELLY KASPRZYCKIPRESIDENT AND CEO35$247,848
LINDSAY HAGERVICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF PHILANTHROPY OFFICER35$135,061

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2025

The foundation announced the awarding of $2 million and $3 million in grants to nonprofits and community projects. The foundation released a 2025 annual report highlighting donor and organizational partnerships making a difference in Newaygo County.

FACF awards grants to nonprofits, projects | Fremont

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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