News

Thank you for your generosity and for supporting the work of Washtenaw County nonprofits! We are proud to be your philanthropic partner and we are here to assist you. (734.663.0401 / info@aaacf.org). Before the year ends, make sure you have considered opportunities and plan now for deadlines!

The 2019 CED "In Our Neighborhood" grant program is now open! There are countless groups and connections between individuals that together make up our community in Washtenaw County. These "neighborhoods" that we live in are both literal (defined by geography) and figurative - some of us might be members of "neighborhoods" that are based on our vocation or social identity. "Arts and Culture" form the connective tissue that makes these neighborhoods thrive, allowing us to access our individual creative spirit, meaningfully connect with others, support economic activity, and give voice to our many and diverse experiences.

Although we have widely shared news of Helmut Stern’s amazing $16.2 million estate gift—the largest gift in AAACF’s history from an individual, Friday the 13th of September provided an auspicious opportunity to celebrate and share more of his background and lasting legacy with the community!

The Senior Community Investment Officer leads key strategic grantmaking programs, oversees other ongoing grantmaking activities, and supports community leadership initiatives. Works with and supports the Vice President of Community Investment on the development, direction, and implementation of AAACF’s core grantmaking initiatives. Leads internally and externally with humility and a service-oriented mindset...

Where was an 18-inch diameter ball, perfectly spherical within 50 millionths of an inch for use in the Satellite Motion Simulator, used to acquaint astronauts with spacecraft control, produced? The gold standard for the tiny spherical ball used by Papermate was created and produced in the millions annually where? What corporation was ahead of the curve regarding reclamation and associated environmental concerns? What Ann Arbor company was among those that helped create Bell Telephone Systems' Telstar Satellite, which launched in 1962—and among other things transported the first television images through space?

This grant program is comprised of numerous Field of Interest Funds with an array of funding priorities, each Fund having its own dedicated purpose. We will distribute over $34,000 in competitive grants to local nonprofits delivering program and services in Washtenaw County aligned with each Fund's purpose.

AAACF is pleased to announce a new grant program focusing on senior needs in our community! On behalf of the Glacier Hills Legacy Fund, AAACF is seeking opportunities to invest funds in new, creative, and pilot projects serving older adults. We are seeking ideas and interventions will meet an emerging need in the community and/or address capacity issues at the agency, collaborative, or sector levels. We are particularly interested in ideas and interventions that make the case for why now is the time for this project, is strategically designed to serve a key population of vulnerable seniors, and articulates a feasible budget of resources and timeline for implementation.

In this issue see our new Trustees, read about the Community Scholarship Program Luncheon and Annual Trustee Leadership Dinner, get updated on Youth Council's Year-End Reception, and learn about the Sister Yvonne Gellise Fund Match Opportunity!

At a luncheon sponsored by Dykema on June 12, AAACF gathered scholars, donors, supporters, volunteers, and partners who make the Community Scholarship Program a true “community” initiative. A unique model among community foundations, the program concept borne here is attracting attention for potential replication across Michigan and beyond.

Many thanks to the hundreds who joined us for the 2019 Annual Community Meeting on May 6th! We're grateful for the many new & returning friends join us for networking and a program of performances, announcements, and community data. Read on to see this information & more, and check out photos on Facebook to see (and tag!) yourself & friends. Missed the event? Watch the video below or check out the slides to hear the news!