Manistee County Community Foundation logo

Manistee County Community Foundation

Public charity · Grantmaker Manistee, MI EIN: 38-2741723 Website

Manistee County Community Foundation is a public charity based in Manistee, Michigan, formed in 1987. It builds community endowment, awards grants and scholarships, and provides leadership to support quality of life in Manistee County.

Manistee County Community Foundation at a glance

In short: Manistee County Community Foundation gave $722K across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in Michigan. 44% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$721,964
-3.0% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
29
+61.1% vs 2024
Average grant
$24,895
-39.8% vs 2024
Median grant
$10,876
Total assets
$48,200,107
+19.8% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
44% first-time grantees (11 of 25, 2025)
Primary geography
Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Manistee County Community Foundation

How to Apply

Submit a Grant Inquiry Form; eligible applicants are invited to complete the online Common Grant Application and provide a Project Budget Form.

Review Cycle
The listed Spring 2026 deadline was March 1, 2026, and the listed Fall 2026 deadline was September 15, 2026; both have passed. The program listing also describes rolling consideration for recreational projects of $5,000 or less, with decisions within 45 days.
Deadline
The listed Spring 2026 deadline was March 1, 2026, and the listed Fall 2026 deadline was September 15, 2026; both have…
Contact

Mailing address: 400 River Street 50, Manistee, MI 49660
Phone: (231) 723-7269
Website: https://manisteefoundation.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Manistee County Community Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

City of Manistee: $190K across 2 grantsCity of Manistee$190K · 2 grantsVillage of Bear Lake: $99KVillage of Bear Lake$99KManistee Area Public Schools: $66K across 2 grantsManistee Area Public Schools$66K · 2 grantsArcadia Township: $61KArcadia Township$61KUnited Way of Manistee County: $40K across 2 grantsUnited Way of Manistee County$40K · 2 grantsPleasant Valley Community Center: $40KPleasant Valley CommunityCenter$40KManistee County Council on Aging: $25KManistee County Council onAging$25KGrand Valley State University: $22KGrand Valley State University$22KUnited Way of Northwest Michigan: $20KUnited Way of NorthwestMichigan$20KKaleva Historical Society: $20K across 2 grantsKaleva Historical Society$20K · 2 grants

The largest 2025 recipient was City of Manistee ($190K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $583K.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($8,000), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

107 grants across all recorded years

87<$50K11$50–100K7$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 87 grants of 107 (81%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s website says projects generally must be located in Manistee County, Michigan, and benefit county residents, unless pre-approved by the foundation. Its 2025 filing lists all grant dollars as going to Michigan recipients.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.

States

Cities

ManisteeTraverse CityBear LakeOnekamaKalevaArcadiaBrethrenLansingLudingtonThompsonvilleCopemishPleasantonScottvilleAllendaleBrethernEastlakeGaylordIronsMarquetteSpringdale

Is Manistee County Community Foundation open to new grantees?

44%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 11 of 25 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $42K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $23K repeat.

  • 28% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving fell 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M17 grants2019 22 grants2020 17 grants2021 20 grants2022 23 grants2023 18 grants2024 29 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $364K (2019) to $1.1M (2022). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $722K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
City of Manistee Manistee, MIManistee's veterans memorial park - north riverwalk boardwalk renovation project$184,600
Village of Bear Lake Bear Lake, MIHopkins Park Playground Inclusion Project$99,180
Arcadia Township Arcadia, MIArcadia Township Recreation Development Initiative$61,200
Manistee Area Public Schools Manistee, MIFiscal Year 2024 - 2025 Pac Expenditures$55,003
Pleasant Valley Community Center Arcadia, MIPVCC Campus and Building Plan Discovery Process$40,000
United Way of Manistee County Manistee, MIGeneral Operating Support$25,000
Manistee County Council on Aging Manistee, MIWagoner community center - commercial kitchen range hood project$25,000
Grand Valley State University Allendale, MITo examine the use of edna techniques for conducting a standardized evaluation of 2025 arctic grayling reintroduction stocking efforts in the upper manistee, boardman and maple watersheds$21,775
United Way of Northwest Michigan Traverse City, MIMi Tri-Share Accelerator Project$20,000
Shoreline Cycling Club Ludington, MINon-Motorized Trail Park Grooming Sled and Shed$19,490
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Manistee County Community Foundation?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$48,200,107$5,678,235$1,522,680$721,96429$2,001,447
2024$40,230,535$2,252,887$1,456,939$744,00618$2,031,308
2023$36,752,931$1,552,480$1,372,187$515,07023$878,322
2022$32,748,618$1,456,058$2,021,282$1,110,85220$960,017
2021$39,672,045$2,355,778$1,673,450$761,00217$2,006,231
2020$35,509,024$1,594,172$1,256,090$529,50822$1,073,807
2019$31,431,953$3,911,859$1,047,436$364,31417$814,067

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization states its mission is “to facilitate, promote, and serve philanthropy and permanent endowments to enhance the quality of life in Manistee County.” Its website describes support for all aspects of community life, including youth, education, human services, arts, environment, recreation, community development, and placemaking.

The foundation’s 2025 filing describes approximately 146 grants and scholarships to nonprofits, governments, and educational institutions. Its 2025 grants included support for local parks and recreation, schools, community services, and environmental research. Among the grantees, United Way of Manistee County describes its mission as improving lives by mobilizing the caring power of the county; the Manistee County Council on Aging says it provides services to senior citizens, including people with limited resources or who are homebound; and Munson Healthcare Manistee says it exists to deliver comprehensive quality care to patients in partnership with physicians.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 29 itemized grants totaling $721,964. Grant amounts ranged from $5,052 to $184,600, with a median of $10,876. The filing lists 100% of grant dollars as going to recipients in Michigan.

Among the largest 2025 grants were $184,600 to the City of Manistee for the Veterans Memorial Park–North Riverwalk boardwalk renovation project; $99,180 to the Village of Bear Lake for the Hopkins Park Playground Inclusion Project; $61,200 to Arcadia Township for a recreation development initiative; and $55,003 to Manistee Area Public Schools for fiscal year 2024–2025 PAC expenditures. Other grants included $40,000 to Pleasant Valley Community Center for a campus and building plan discovery process and $25,000 to United Way of Manistee County for general operating support.

The foundation’s website says applicants begin with a Grant Inquiry Form. The foundation responds within two weeks to indicate whether a project meets its guidelines; eligible applicants receive access to the online portal and submit a Common Grant Application. A completed Project Budget Form is required. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, school districts, and units of government, including federally recognized tribes; support may also be considered for religious institutions. Projects generally must be located in Manistee County and benefit its residents, unless the foundation pre-approves an exception. Requirements may vary by fund.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Rosalind Jaffe as chair, Shannon Westgate as vice chair, Jim Thompson as treasurer, and Patrick Bentley as secretary. Directors listed are Geoffrey Paine, Richard Anderson, Brooke McIsaac, Rose Fosdick, Frank Beaver, John Mooney, Pete Finch, and Katie Gruenberg.

Manistee County Community Foundation is led by Laura Heintzelman, President & CEO on every filing since 2019; 1 of 13 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Laura Heintzelman

    President & CEO

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $90K (2019) → $132K (2025)

  • Rosalind Jaffe

    Chair

    Treasurer Starting → Treasurer, 2022

    Treasurer → Chair, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Geoffrey Paine

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Richard Anderson

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brooke McIsaac

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Frank Beaver

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rose Fosdick

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Mooney

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Pete Finch

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Katie Gruenberg

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shannon Westgate

    Vice Chair

    Director → Secretary, 2022

    Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jim Thompson

    Treasurer

    Director → Secretary, 2023

    Secretary → Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Patrick Bentley

    Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2024

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (11)
  • Former: Beth McCarthy (2019–2024) — Director
  • Former: Charles N. Chip May III (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Steve Brower (2021–2023) — Treasurer
  • Former: Leann Burger (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Steve Parsons (2019–2022) — Vice Chair
  • Former: David Mix (2019–2021) — Secretary
  • Former: Robert Carson (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Brad Hopwood (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Kathryn Glancy (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Timothy Ervin (2019–2020) — Treasurer
  • Former: Robert Evans (2019) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Laura Heintzelman — President and CEO: $132KLaura HeintzelmanPresident and CEO$132K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $132K, to Laura Heintzelman (President and CEO).

Frequently asked questions about Manistee County Community Foundation

How much does Manistee County Community Foundation give each year?

Manistee County Community Foundation gave $722K across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $744K across 18 grants.

What is Manistee County Community Foundation's typical grant size?

Manistee County Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,876, and its average grant was $24,895, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Manistee County Community Foundation that year got $12K on average.

Where does Manistee County Community Foundation give grants?

Manistee County Community Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Manistee, MI (10 grants), Bear Lake, MI (3 grants), Traverse City, MI (3 grants) and Arcadia, MI (2 grants).

Does Manistee County Community Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 10% of Manistee County Community Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 29) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Who are Manistee County Community Foundation's largest grantees?

Manistee County Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include City of Manistee ($189,685 across 2 grants), Village of Bear Lake ($99,180) and Manistee Area Public Schools ($66,003 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($8,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Manistee County Community Foundation?

Manistee County Community Foundation reported $48.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.7M.

What does Manistee County Community Foundation fund?

The organization states its mission is “to facilitate, promote, and serve philanthropy and permanent endowments to enhance the quality of life in Manistee County.” See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Manistee County Community Foundation?

Submit a Grant Inquiry Form; eligible applicants are invited to complete the online Common Grant Application and provide a Project Budget Form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Manistee County Community Foundation's EIN?

Manistee County Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2741723. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 19, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 22, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 29, 2020)
  7. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 15, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Manistee County Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

Consumers Energy Foundation

Jackson, MI

Consumers Energy Foundation funds Michigan projects focused on basic needs, education and workforce readiness, environmental protection, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and arts and culture, mainly in Lower Peninsula communities served by Consumers Energy. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $5,000; its 2026 Community Impact program offers up to $20,000 per project. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Assets

$67.1M

Grants

296

Total Given

$7.5M

Community Foundation for Muskegon County

Muskegon, MI

The Community Foundation for Muskegon County funds education, health and human services, arts and culture, and community and economic development in Muskegon County, Michigan. Its 2024 median grant was about $16,754, though awards varied widely; it lists several specific grant programs with application information, but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests generally.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$250.5M

Grants

202

Total Given

$12.4M

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

Traverse City, MI

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation funds community programs, general operations, and capital needs across youth, arts and culture, education, the environment, health and human services, and other regional needs. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,120 to $342,944, with a median of $13,460, and it serves Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. It uses application processes for listed grant opportunities; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.

Assets

$120.9M

Grants

116

Total Given

$3.2M

Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation

Petoskey, MI

The Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation funds nonprofit and community work in Emmet County, including housing, education, health and human services, the environment, arts and culture, and youth programs. Its 2026 grants had a median of $15,000 and ranged from $5,113 to $312,750; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$70.2M

Grants

98

Total Given

$3.7M

The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation

Traverse City, MI

The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation funds charitable organizations, with preferences for work that supports children’s well-being, economic opportunity, and the community’s moral or spiritual life; it has also funded health, education, arts, youth, and conservation projects. It primarily serves the greater Grand Traverse region but may consider organizations elsewhere in or outside Michigan; 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $6,400. It accepts applications from 501(c)(3) organizations year-round and reviews them in two cycles.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$7.1M

Grants

38

Total Given

$523K

Oleson Foundation

Traverse City, MI

The Oleson Foundation funds sustainable, collaborative nonprofit projects in the arts, community development, education, environment, and health and human services, primarily in six Northwest Michigan counties. Its 2025 grants ranged from $850 to $77,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts applications through its online portal; the annual application period opens February 15 and closes April 1.

Assets

$22.8M

Grants

88

Total Given

$1.6M

More similar funders

More Funders in Michigan

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Manistee County Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/manistee-county-community-foundation-morg_44c449e387af452798aeb9b698cad181

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382741723_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Manistee County Community Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/manistee-county-community-foundation-morg_44c449e387af452798aeb9b698cad181},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Manistee County Community Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

Manistee County Community Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?