* Thank you for your patience as we redesign our website. Please contact us if you need assistance. Email jcf@jacksoncf.org or call (517) 787-1321.
WHAT WE DO
ABOUT
Since 1948, The Jackson Community Foundation has been helping donors make the most of their charitable and philanthropic goals. We are a tax-exempt, grantmaking public charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and leading positive change for the citizens of Jackson County, Michigan. We support effective nonprofits doing the “boots on the ground” work to provide real solutions to the issues facing our community. We carry out this broad mission by building permanent endowment funds and using a portion of the annual income to support a variety of local non-profit organizations and students through grants, special projects, and scholarships. Most of our assets are held in separate funds established by local individuals, families, businesses, or charitable institutions. When you are ready to make a lasting impact on your community, we are here to help!
We connect people and resources to causes that strengthen and build our community. For Jackson. For good. Forever.
Our vision is a thriving community where all people have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.
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Act with Integrity & Transparency
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Embrace Diversity & Inclusion
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Advance Equity
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Inspire Partnerships, Collaboration & Collective Impact
HOW DOES A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION WORK?
IT STARTS WITH A HEART FOR COMMUNITY
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DONOR
Anyone can be a donor and make a gift of any size. Some donations are pooled together to make a greater impact like the Community Needs Fund.
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DONOR ENGAGEMENT
We work with our donors to help them realize their philanthropic goals. Maybe you're are passionate about pets or maybe you're undecided. We are here to help! We continually monitor the emerging needs in Jackson County.
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND LEADERSHIP
JCF staff supports the following organizations by providing leadership and support through their participation:
ADVOCATES AND LEADERS FOR POLICE AND COMMUNITY TRUST (ALPACT)
The purpose ALPACT is to examine issues affecting police and community relations and ensure equitable enforcement of laws.
EMERGENCY NEEDS COALITION
Is an informal group of nonprofits, government, and faith that discuss needs in the community and the ever changing sources of assistance that is available for those in need.
HUMAN SERVICE COORDINATING ALLIANCE (HSCA)
is Jackson County's only director level collaborative among social service organizations. Leaders of the community gather together regularly to discuss how to provide and deliver the best human services possible to our community with the belief that we are stronger and more effective working together.
STAFF
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Since 1948, JCF has had the pleasure of being served by countless individuals who have given of their time, talents, and knowledge to create a foundation that continually gives back to its community.
We sincerely thank our Our Emeritus Trustees for their generous contributions to making the Jackson Community Foundation what it is today! OUR EMERITUS TRUSTEES
OUR HISTORY
YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE
YAC is a youth-focused and youth-administered grant committee within the Jackson Community Foundation (JCF). The YAC program was established in 1989 through a challenge grant from the Michigan Community Foundation Youth Project funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Kellogg’s intent was to establish youth as philanthropists and build permanent endowment funds to meet youth-related needs within each community. YAC addresses the needs of youth in Jackson County by awarding grants to community organizations that benefit youth. At the same time, it provides the students involved in the program an opportunity to volunteer their time and talents to better their community while developing philanthropic leadership skills and valuable experience. Since YAC's inception, they have distributed over $1 million dollars to projects that impact the youth of Jackson County!
WHAT WE DO
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Grant annually approximately $20,000 for:
-Youth Mental Heath
- Mini-grants for small classroom projects
- Grants for youth related programs
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Volunteer in Jackson County
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Develop Leadership Skills
WHO
Approx 30 students, 8th-12 graders in Jackson County
WHY
Make a difference! Be a part of a fun, diverse, youth-led leadership group impacting our community by funding youth supported programs and volunteerism.
WHEN
Meetings are typically twice a month on Monday evenings during the school year
FINANCIALS
The Jackson Community Foundation is a public foundation established to aggregate funds created by individuals, families, corporations and nonprofit organizations to benefit programs and services primarily for people in Jackson County, Michigan.
The accounting policies of the Foundation conform to generally accepted accounting principles as applicable to nonprofit organizations. Any information regarding the investment of charitable dollars and any associated fees is also available upon request.
*Meets the Council on Foundations National Standards for Community Foundations
JCF VOLUNTEER AND COMMITTEE MEMBER INTEREST APPLICATION
VOLUNTEER
Thank you so much for your interest in applying to become a volunteer or committee member of the Jackson Community Foundation! As we work to advance our mission, we recognize that our team must be equipped to reflect the people in our community. This is the first time JCF is utilizing an open application process for prospective members. We hope that through this process, we engage applicants who bring a diverse set of identities and lived experiences, to allow us to better serve our community. As we consider applications, we commit to a transparent process throughout. Thank you again for your interest and we look forward to learning more about you.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ PRIOR TO APPYING FOR A VOLUNTEER POSITION
Embracing diversity and inclusion and advancing equity are values we hold dear, are connected to our mission, and critical to ensure the well-being of the community we serve. Please review our Equity Statment, Mission and Values prior to applying for a volunteer position.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
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Audit Committee - CLOSED
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Board Development Committee - CLOSED
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Finance Committee - 2 openings; must have accounting experience
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Grant Committee - CLOSED
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Scholarship Committee - Open
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Youth Advisory Committee - CLOSED