The Thornapple Area Enrichment Foundation (TAEF) has become the first geographic affiliate of the Barry Community Foundation (BCF). Geographic affiliates are component funds of community foundations that are dedicated to serving a specific geographic area or community. This affiliation will allow TAEF to operate as the community foundation for the Thornapple area, serving the Thornapple-Kellogg School District. The TAEF board will continue its role in local decision making and grantmaking, ensuring that dollars invested for the Thornapple area remain within the Thornapple area. TAEF will also be able to take advantage of BCF’s established polices, professional staff and investment pool. “The Barry Community Foundation and the Thornapple Area Enrichment Foundation are both optimistic that the formal affiliation of these two entities will be a win-win agreement for both parties and the residents of Barry County,” says BCF President Bonnie Hildreth.

“This exciting development has been nurtured, carefully considered, and determined a necessity because of the growth and success of the Thornapple Area Enrichment Foundation,” states Diane Weatherhead, TAEF Board Chair. Since inception, in 1992, TAEF has grown from managing one fund to currently handling twenty-two funds. There has never been paid staff for TAEF; the foundation is supported entirely by the generosity of many volunteers’ time and efforts. “A formal affiliation will allow TAEF to continue to address the unique needs of the Thornapple area community and continue to involve local community leaders who have a passion for their hometown charitable organization,” adds Weatherhead.

TAEF will be able to expand their grantmaking focus to include community grants as well as educational grants. TAEF was established as an education foundation and thus the organization has been limited to education based grantmaking. The affiliation with the Barry Community Foundation now allows TAEF to expand their horizons and generate grants for the entire Thornapple community.

In joining with the Barry Community Foundation, the Thornapple Area Enrichment Foundation will also be more accessible to its patrons. In efforts to keep operating costs low in the past, TAEF has been administrated by volunteer time which is often limited. The new collaboration will allow for regular office hours that will provide a convent and steadfast manor for TAEF supporters to attain resources and to reach support staff while reducing operating costs. Through the affiliation, BCF will also provide technical support, training and educational opportunities, national and state level affiliations in the community foundation arena including the Council on Michigan Foundations, and expertise about charitable legislation.  

In addition, supporters of TAEF will now be eligible for the Special Michigan Tax Credit for community foundations. This credit allows for a 50% return on contributions up to $200.00 per individual that are made to permanently endowed funds. This means that if a married couple donates $400.00 to a community foundation, they will receive $200.00 in return from the State of Michigan. This tax credit is in addition to Federal charitable deductions, allowing for a gift of $400.00 to cost as little as $60.00.

“The Barry Community Foundation is enthused that this formal affiliation will continue the Foundation’s mission to develop and manage permanently endowed funds for helping and involving the people of Barry County to make a positive difference in their lives while also meeting the Foundation’s goal of providing servant leadership. The affiliation will also increase community awareness of the Barry Community Foundation among the Thornapple area community. Together this merger will help each organization grow, expand, increase community impact, and promote positive change,” states Hildreth.

Please watch in next weeks edition for continued information about the TAEF and BCF affiliation or call the Barry Community Foundation at 269-945-0526.