September 09, 2026

Coming Together to Celebrate Community Impact

Since 1963, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF) has worked to enrich the quality of life across Washtenaw County and strengthen the communities it serves. As a permanent endowment, AAACF connects donors, nonprofits, civic leaders, and residents to address pressing local needs, support meaningful community initiatives, and build sustainable, long-term solutions that create lasting impact for generations to come.

One of the primary ways AAACF shares progress and vision with the region is through its Annual Community Meeting (ACM). This gathering serves as an opportunity to connect with neighbors, celebrate the partners and residents who make local progress possible, and see community-centered philanthropy in action. AAACF acts as a connector, investor, and convener, but the true story is the collective impact driven by the community itself.

This year’s meeting centers around three primary pillars shaping our region:

  • Celebrating 10 years of the Community Scholarship Program (CSP) and its long-term effect on educational access and economic mobility.
  • Highlighting expanding partnerships and investments across rural Washtenaw County.
  • Exploring AAACF’s ongoing countywide work, priorities, and strategic direction.

Celebrating 10 Years of the Community Scholarship Program

2026 AAACF Community Scholarship Program Cohort

A decade ago, AAACF unveiled a bold new effort at its Annual Community Meeting: the Community Scholarship Program. Originally launched in 2016 to address persistent equity gaps facing first-generation college students, CSP was designed to provide more than financial aid. Made possible in part by an anonymous donor gift, AAACF established a comprehensive support structure built around mentorship, persistence, and holistic scholar success.

Over the past ten years, CSP has demonstrated that educational access is a direct engine for economic mobility and generational wealth. Supporting one scholar creates a ripple effect that extends to their family, neighborhood, and the broader local workforce. What began as an intentional single cohort has grown into a powerful model of long-term community investment.

Since launching in 2016, CSP has supported 152 students and awarded more than $3 million in scholarships. To date, 56 students have graduated with an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or both, and CSP scholars have attended 33 colleges and universities across Michigan and beyond. These numbers reflect more than educational access; they represent a decade of investment in students and their long-term economic mobility.

What makes the CSP model distinctive is its focus on sustained connection, combining financial resources with dedicated success coaching to walk alongside students throughout their academic journeys. At this year’s ACM, a dedicated "Celebrating CSP" segment will honor this 10-year milestone through dynamic video storytelling and live engagement. Attendees will hear directly from scholars, alumni, and leadership, including insights from early cohort members and trailblazers like Shawtae Harris-Mintline, CSP’s first College Success Coach, celebrating a decade of student achievement and looking ahead to the future of the program.

Growing Impact Across Rural Washtenaw County

AAACF is dedicated to serving all of Washtenaw County, ensuring that residents in every municipality and township have equitable access to resources, opportunity, and investment. A central focus of the Foundation's ongoing work is intentionally listening to and partnering with rural communities, ensuring funding supports locally identified priorities rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions.

AAACF Team Members with KABOOM! Team Members at the Manchester Play Space Build Day & Ribbon Cutting, August 27, 2026.

Through dedicated leadership from team members like John Paul Williams-Soriano (pictured in blue shirt, middle right), AAACF continues to deepen its connections with rural communities and local residents. With strategic support from partners like the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, this work strengthens AAACF’s community presence and ability to respond thoughtfully and effectively to evolving local needs. Together, these efforts create new opportunities for collaboration, growth, and meaningful connection across the region.

These hyper-local initiatives demonstrate what is possible when community knowledge, local relationships, and strategic philanthropic backing align.

 

A Look at AAACF's Impact and What's Ahead

So far this year (2026), AAACF has distributed and invested approximately $3,744,815.36 throughout Washtenaw County to support frontline nonprofits, fuel civic initiatives, and build long-term opportunity.

This work operates within AAACF’s broader commitment to equity, economic mobility, and community resilience, reinforced through strategic frameworks like the S.E.E.D.S. initiative. Beyond traditional grant making, the Foundation is continuously evolving its philanthropic toolkit, exploring new avenues like impact investing to leverage donor capital for sustainable, long-term returns in the region.

Our commitment to youth leadership also remains a cornerstone of this work through the AAACF Youth Council, which has empowered young grantmakers to distribute $148,413 so far in 2026 and $2,709,282 since the program's inception, directly into local youth-focused or community projects.

Central to all of these efforts are community voices. Initiatives like President & CEO Shannon Polk’s "Chat with Shannon" sessions and her ongoing nonprofit drop-in visits ensure that Foundation priorities remain directly informed by the real-time needs of local leaders and residents. At the ACM, attendees will gain a direct look at how these community insights are shaping AAACF’s strategic path forward, including exciting updates on regional journalism efforts like the Press Forward initiative.

What Attendees Can Expect

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Connection & Community Experience

  • Networking & Collaboration: Gather with neighbors, nonprofit leaders, donors, and partners from across the county. Enjoy complimentary refreshments while connecting with local changemakers.
  • Fearless Photos: Have snapshot memories captured with friends and fellow attendees. All photos captured during the event will be shared after the ACM!

Money Machine
The fan-favorite Cash Grab Air Money Machine is returning this year! Guests can step inside and grab as much cash as they can while every dollar caught becomes a donation to a Washtenaw County nonprofit of their choice, making the experience both fun and meaningful.
 


5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Main Program

  • Celebrating CSP: A dedicated 10-year retrospective honoring scholars, alumni, and coaches.
  • Philanthropy Today & Tomorrow: An exploration of how community-led giving is shifting to meet future challenges.
  • Countywide Impact & Video Storytelling: Dynamic feature stories presenting youth leaders, rural partners, and community changemakers through a journalistic lens.
  • Looking Ahead: Remarks from AAACF President & CEO Shannon Polk on the Foundation's strategic direction and a highlight on the Press Forward local journalism project.

Event Details

We invite you to register today to be part of this annual celebration of community impact. Encourage your neighbors, family, and friends who live in Washtenaw County to attend; the more voices and connections in the room, the stronger our collective future becomes!

  • Date & Time: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 | 4:00–6:00 PM EST
  • Location: Washtenaw Community College, Morris Lawrence Building
  • Who Should Attend: Donors, nonprofits, civic and business leaders, residents; anyone who cares about the future of Washtenaw County
  • Registration Questions: philanthropy@aaacf.org

Together, we build what's next. We hope you’ll join us for this inspiring afternoon of connection and celebration!

 

AAACF Announces the 2026 Annual Community Meeting

Check out the full press release about AAACF's 2026 Annual Community Meeting HERE. To share this press release through your publication channels, please access any of the following: