Berrien Community Foundation "For Good" Grants Total $117,900

The Berrien Community Foundation recently awarded "For Good" Grants of over $117,000 to 24 Berrien County nonprofit organizations.  "This round of "For Good" Grants was particularly diverse," said Lisa Cripps-Downey, Berrien Community Foundation President. "We could really see the needs throughout our county and respond. We are so thankful for the philanthropic gifts made to the Community Endowment held at the Berrien Community Foundation which allows us to provide that community support." 

 

Grants were made to organizations throughout Berrien County. The grants supported everything from environmental projects in Harbor Country to rebuilding school music programs in Eau Claire. There was a grant for library renovations in Niles, a literacy program in Benton Harbor and a suicide prevention initiative in Coloma. 

 

Community members make grant decisions. "It is the community's foundation," Cripps-Downey said. "Volunteers are reading and reviewing grants. That is one of the reasons it is so important for us to have volunteers from all over Berrien County. We also have a youth grant making committee making grant decisions for youth centered programs.  We try to get students from each school district to represent their area."

Smaller organizations took the opportunity to apply for the new and easier "For Good" Minor grants of up to $1,000 to support smaller projects. The second round of "For Good" grant applications are due September 10 and can be found on the Berrien Community Foundation website at www.berriencommunity.org/grants