Peninsula Point Lighthouse, Stonington Peninsula, 1866
Delta County's Mission is to better the lives of area residents, now and in the future. The Foundation will provide leadership including growing and managing permanent endowments from a wide range of donors and making grants to meet changing community needs.
The Community Foundation for Delta County came into existence in 1989 as a result of a bequest of $350,000. A local banker had assisted the woman donor who wanted her estate to "benefit the community."
As a result of the bequest, the banker was instrumental in starting the Community Foundation For Delta County, an IRS approved 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For several years the foundation was in name only. Nothing much happened.
In 1991, another local banker provided seed money for the articles of incorporation, etc. An active search for new board of trustee members was initiated and the "new board" started its work of growing and managing endowments and making grants to worthwhile community projects and organizations. The first grant of $100 was made in 1992. With each successive year, the total of grants made has grown. Through November of 2008, the Community Foundation For Delta County has made over $2,600,000 in community grants to all areas of Delta County. As of December 31, 2007, our audited net assets were approximately 12 million dollars.
As a result of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Youth Matching Grant Program, the youth of Delta County, through our Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) a permanent and important part of our foundation that has permanently endowed youth funds from which they can make grants – forever.
Today, the community foundation has a nineteen (19) member board from all areas of Delta County; a full-time Executive Director and support staff. It manages over 135 separate funds and continues to grow.
Because the mission and purpose of the community foundation is broad, it is able to change to meet the ever changing needs of the community.
