About Us

Mission Statement

The Marquette Community Foundation and its Affiliate Funds, the Greater Ishpeming Area Community Fund, the Negaunee Area Community Fund, and the Gwinn Area Community Fund, encourage philanthropic investment in the future of our area by attracting permanent endowment funds from a wide range of donors to provide charitable grants that enhance quality of life.

History of Marquette Community Foundation

In the late eighties, Thomas Baldini, Robert Berube, Robert Bordeau, Michael Coyne, David Higley, Ellwood Mattson, Craig Stien and Joseph VanDine, had a vision for the future of the Marquette.  They knew they could build and sustain a better community for generations to come by encouraging its residents, friends, and businesses to invest in the future of our area.  Through their vision of the future, the Marquette Community Foundation was incorporated June 27, 1988. 

In 1994, this vision expanded to the west end of the county with the establishment of the Greater Ishpeming Area Community Fund and the Negaunee Area Community Fund.  In 2002, members of the Gwinn-Sawyer Area, through a benefit by the Gwinn-Sawyer Area Chamber of Commerce, established an advisory committee to support the establishment of the Gwinn Area Community Fund.  Affiliates of the Marquette Community Foundation, they helped grow the foundations assets by exposing the vision to residents who wanted their donations to specifically benefit their own communities.  Starting with a mere $1400, the foundation’s assets grew through contributions and investment income to over $8 million at the end of 2006.

With income generated from the investment of contributions to the corporation the Foundation distributed its first grants in 1996 totaling $14,287.00.  Since then, grants & scholarships totaling $1.4 million have been distributed to students to further their education and non-profit organizations seeking ways to improve the quality of life for all its residents. 

Staff

2007 - 2008 Board of Trustees

Marilyn Andrew

Stu Bradley

Mark Canale
Martha Conley
Robert Cowell

Maura Davenport

John Maki
John Marshall
Al Nelson

Mike Roy

Brenda Salisbury

Mike Smock
Craig Stien

Carole Touchinski
Roger Zappa

Date last updated 10/04/2007