The Frankenmuth Community Foundation is a special kind of charity which has been created by the community – many donors coming together to make a difference in Frankenmuth. The Foundation was designed to last forever, building permanent support for philanthropic work that improves the lives of Frankenmuth residents. We’re pleased to offer a variety of options for donors who share this goal.

A community foundation is a union of many gifts, bequests, estates or parts of estates; contributed by people of the community as endowments for charitable purposes. These endowments are built and maintained to respond to community needs and to sustain existing organizations and institutions through grants for recreation, education, leadership, economic growth and community good.

At the Frankenmuth Community Foundation, we have many funds, each with its own purpose determined by its donor. There are several types of charitable funds available to support the philanthropic goals of our donors and meet the needs of the community at the same time. The assets you give and the form your giving takes can be customized to meet your individual desires.

Like any organization, our donors' reasons for giving are as diverse as the individuals themselves. Many appreciate the philanthropic expertise offered by a community foundation. Others are primarily interested in tax or estate-planning advantages. Some just want to know their charitable donation is being used wisely.

Donations to the unrestricted fund of the Frankenmuth Community Foundation are not specifically designated for use by a particular agency, cause, or area of interest. Our Board of Governors oversees the use of these funds, setting priorities for their use and determining how grants will be distributed to support the charitable needs of our community. Grants provided through the Frankenmuth Community Foundation Unrestricted General Fund and Palmer Fund enhance the community and often serve as a catalyst for local groups and organizations to develop new projects and programs to enrich the lives of residents. Grant spending is determined by the 9 member FCF Board of Governors and are focused on: recreation, education, leadership, economic growth and community good.

Since its inception in 1976, grants have been awarded to support a wide variety of special projects including: Cass River Clean Up, Frankenmuth Emergency Task force to help with the COVID-19 pandemic, Youth Sports Association land purchase for all-sports complex, Gateway Arch project, Frankenmuth Farmers Market, Frankenmuth High School Weight Room and Band uniforms, City Beautification, Frankenmuth Parks & Recreation, Frankenmuth Jaycees for the Spray Park and Heritage Park improvements, Junior Achievement, Frankenmuth Rotary Club, technology upgrades in Frankenmuth Public Schools and St. Lorenz Lutheran School, equipment for local first responders, Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce for educational seminars, the Bronner Performing Arts Center and many more!

Endowed Funds are ones in which the principal donated remains in the Frankenmuth Community Foundation in perpetuity and generates income which can be distributed according to the donors' philanthropic wishes. Our advisors provide strong investment oversight and services and manage all of the administrative details of the endowment. The Frankenmuth Community Foundation can establish a fund that allows the donor to be involved in the grant distribution process at the level they desire. 

The creation of a scholarship fund is attractive to many donors and can be structured to benefit students at any education level, or for a specific institution. A scholarship fund can be established to honor a loved one. Some donors choose to stay involved through advisory relationships, while others name advisory committees to assist in the selection of recipients. Either way, our advisors will handle the necessary paperwork and ensure that scholarships are distributed in a timely and equitable manner.

A pass-through fund is like a charitable checking account. The fund provides a conduit through which charitable contributions flow toward a specific project, program, or area of interest. A pass-through fund offers donors the opportunity to give directly to one or several charitable organizations. These fund are generally short term and support a specific project.

Anyone can make a gift to the Foundation. Donors come from many different backgrounds but have a common commitment to the quality of life in Frankenmuth. Whether contributing to an existing fund, making a gift in memory of a friend or loved one, or making an unrestricted gift to the Foundation's Endowed Fund, every person in the community can make a difference.

For more information on establishing a fund or donating to an existing fund please contact us.