30 years of IMPACTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

Our mission is to inspire a philanthropic culture with our community to promote a thriving place to live, work and play.

The role of a Community Foundation is to provide for the FUTURE needs of the community by accepting donations to establish permanently endowed funds, and using the interest from these invested funds to benefit the community through grants for projects.

The Chippewa County Community Foundation serves as a community leader to improve the quality of life by building permanent endowments, promoting effective grantmaking, fostering philanthropy, stimulating community dialogue, and helping donors achieve their charitable goals.

SET UP A FUND

The Community Foundation offers a wide variety of charitable giving options to help donors maximize their impact including Donor Advised Funds, Scholarship Funds, Designated Funds, Field of Interest Funds, and Legacy Funds.

APPLY FOR A GRANT

In 2023, we distributed more than $300,000 and the majority of funds remained right here in Chippewa County. Those funds supported programs for children, families, education, scholarships, arts, culture, community engagement, and development.

A LEGACY OF IMPACT

 To leave a local and lasting impact, we must band together. That’s how the Community Chippewa County Community Foundation came to be — it was created by, and for, the people in Chippewa County. This is your Community Foundation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CCCF

Established in 1994, the Chippewa County Community Foundation is one of more than 700 community foundations in the United States today.

We serve Chippewa County, offering people a variety of ways to touch our community through philanthropic giving.

Board of Trustees

Steve Habusta, Executive Director
Kelly Freeman – Chair
Joshua MacDonald – Vice Chair
Alex Prater – Treasurer
Joshua Billington
Carl McCready
Wilda Hopper
Dan Dasho
Francene Barbro-Meiners
Ruth McCord
Derric Knight
Jessica Dumback
Whitney Gravelle

Financial Statements

The Chippewa County Community Foundation annually appoints an independent auditor to conduct an audit of the combined financial statements of the Foundation.

Our latest Audit Reports.

2017 Audit Report

2018 Audit Report

2019 Audit Report

2020 Audit Report

2021 Audit Report

2022 Audit Report

Also available, our yearly
990 IRS Tax Returns:
View at GuideStar

Policies

Investment Policy

The purpose of this Investment Policy Statement is to establish a clear understanding of the philosophy and the investment objectives for the Chippewa County Community Foundation (hereinafter, “CCCF”). This document will further describe the standards that will be utilized by the Finance Committee in monitoring investment performance, as well as, serve as a guideline for any financial manager retained.

Spending Policy

This Spending Policy Formula is applied against the net asset value of all endowed funds at the calendar year end of each year. Net asset value is after the investment and administrative fees have been paid.

 HEAR OUR STORIES OF IMPACT

At the Chippewa County Community Foundation, we are committed to leaving a legacy of impact with in our community. 

Click on any of the links below to learn mor about some of the impact we are having throughout Chippewa County because of donors like you!

Blue Devil Hockey Alumni Games with a Purpose

In 2023 The Chippewa County Community Foundation welcomed back hockey alumni from the Sault Area High School varsity hockey team for games celebrating 50 rich years of Blue Devil Hockey.  The day of fun however was more than just a get together, it was an opportunity to raise money for three CCCF scholarships in honor of three great Blue Devil alumni we lost far too soon.

Want to know more? Click here

Sault Splash Pad

In 2019 a group of mom’s and their children partnered with the Chippewa County Community Foundation with the hopes of bringing a splash pad to Sault Ste. Marie.  After years of hard work and fundraising the project was completed in 2023 much to the joy of community children and their families.

You can learn how the splash pad project started here

EUP Foster Care Enrichment Fund

The EUP Foster Care Enrichment Fund was set up to impact the lives of children in our local foster care system as well as the families who support them.  This Fund supports family engagement opportunities and provides much needed funding to help foster families and foster children take part in some of the amazing activites throughout our community.

Want to know more? Click here

Investing in Local Housing

At the Chippewa County Community Foundation, we strive to help meet some of the challenges facing our local communities.  Recognizing our region mirrors the national crisis of a shortage in affordable housing, CCCF teamed up with partners to convert an unused historic school house building into affordable housing.  This project is slated to be completed in 2024 and will bring a total of 36 new residential units to our community.

Hear more about the Garfield Landing Housing Project, by following the link here

Celebrating where we live through RIVERFEST!

The Eastern Upper Peninsula is a fantastic place to live, work, and play.  One of the things that makes it so great, is our location on the St. Mary’s River.  At CCCF, we celebrate that each year through our annual Riverfest.  this family friendly event is truly a great way to get out and enjoy life on the water!

Learn more about Riverfest here

Movies at Dusk

In the Summer of 2023 the Chippewa County Community Foundation partnered with the Downtown Development Association, Nicolet Bank, and Lake Superior State University to bring outdoore movies to downtown Sault Ste. Marie.  Providing family friendly entertainment and supporting our downtown district is an important part of the Community Foundation values.

Learn more about Movies at Dusk here

Helping donors do good work – FOREVER

The Chippewa County Community Foundation is a nonprofit, community corporation created by and for the people of Chippewa County. We are here to help our donors make a positive impact on their community.

Three special features of Community Foundations

  1. Personalized Service. We make giving easy and effective, accepting a wide variety of gifts and providing donors a number of charitable options. You can contribute cash, stocks, property, and bequests. You may also establish a fund in your name or in the name of a loved one. In most cases, your gift qualifies for maximum tax advantage under federal law
  2. Local Expertise. Our professional staff has an in-depth understanding of the issues, opportunities, and resources that shape our community. They monitor all areas of community need- including human services, education, the environment, healthcare, the arts, and economic development. We can help you learn more about local organizations and programs that make a difference in areas you care about most.
  3. Community Leadership. We invest in the long term and bring people and organizations together, convening diverse voices to address local issues and opportunities. Our business is building community.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Mon – Thurs

10am to 4 pm

Other Hours by Appointment

 

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