2007 Year in Review

For the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF), 2007 was a year of change - in outreach, economic landscape, grantmaking strategies, financial management and investment strategies, donor engagement, staffing, and leadership. Our 2007 Annual Report focuses on ways in which we are meeting the challenge of change, now and for the future.

Click here to download a copy of our 2007 Annual Report and on each of the following links for more details.

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

In fiscal year 2007, the Community Foundation made 375 grants and scholarship awards totaling approximately $1.7 million, a seven-percent increase over 2006.

DONORS

In fiscal year 2007, individuals, businesses, and foundations contributed $5.5 million in gifts and pledges, and total assets grew from $45.5 million to $53.2 million, helped by a solid 9.1 percent return on investment. In 2007, Fund the Future - AAACF's initiative to increase resources for flexible, responsive, and forward-looking grantmaking - made great strides toward its five-year goals of $15 million in current gifts and $10 million in bequests. As of December 31, 2007, Fund the Future donors had committed $11.3 million in current gifts and pledges and $21.1 million in planned gifts through their estates.

As a way to commemorate the lives of community members, our Book of Memory lists individuals who have been memorialized by family and friends through gifts to the Community Foundation. The Book of Memory can be viewed in its entirety at the AAACF office and at special events.

FUNDS

As of December 31, 2007, AAACF managed a total of 352 funds, including unrestricted, field of interest, scholarship, designated, donor advised, and temporary funds.

Thirty new funds were established in 2007:

Linda Bennett & Robert A. Bagramian Fund

John W. Blackwell III Fund

Don & Betts Chisholm Fund

The Civic Innovation Fund

Clauw Family Fund

Community Financial Scholarship Fund

Albert J. & Margaret H. Coudron University of Michigan Museum of Art-African

Collection Fund

Hal & Ann Davis Fund

James H. Flinn, Jr. Endowment Fund

Randy & Donna Friedman Fund

Robert A. Gotro Fund

Hahn Family Fund

Hall Charitable Fund

George M. Hull Memorial Fund

Huron Alumni Hockey Association Fund

Huron Valley Catholic School Endowment Fund

James R. & Anita Horne Jenkins Fund

Paul R. & Carolyn R. Lichter Fund

Martin Family Fund

John Martin & Molly Resnik Fund

Moy-Sarns Family Fund

Nisson Family Fund

Phipps-Jabara Fund

Pioneer Field Hockey Fund

John W. & Dorothy F. Feed Fund

Julia Segall-Derfler Fund for Understanding & Sharing Diversity

Sons of Sunshine (S.O.S.) Fund

Trigon Scholarship Fund

Welcome Home Fund

Robert & Sandra White Fund

DONOR SOCIETIES

AAACF donor societies recognize individuals, businesses, and foundations who share a strong commitment to supporting programs and non-profit organizations that help to improve the quality of life for all our residents.

The Founders Society

Established in 1972, the Founders Society recognizes donors who have made outright endowed gifts and pledges of $10,000 or more.

The 21st Century Society

Established in 1990, the 21st Century Society recognizes donors who have contributed a  minimum of $25,000 toward endowment.

The Legacy Society

Created in honor of James and Clarice Foster whose gift of family assets established the first endowed fund at the Community Foundation, the Legacy Society was formed in 2003 to recognize individuals who have pledged gifts to the Community Foundation in their estate plans. Such commitments include bequests by will or trust, gifts of life insurance and retirement assets, life-income vehicles such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are the heart of your Community Foundation. More than 300 individuals currently serve on our Board and committees, including the advisory committees for Plymouth and Ypsilanti.

AFFILIATE FUNDS

Community Foundation of Plymouth

CFP was established in 2005 with the goal of building endowment in support of youth, seniors, the arts, human services, the environment, and others areas of need in the greater Plymouth community. In 2007 CFP saw the establishment of four new named funds as well as the Mayflower Circle of individuals and businesses that provide administrative support for CFP operations.

Ypsilanti Area Community Fund

Now in its seventh year of operation, YACF welcomed two new named funds in 2007 and continued its focus on building endowment and increasing membership in its 1825 Founders Society. YACF’s grants program is developing broad community awareness of the benefits of the Community Fund for all residents.