2008 Year in Review

2008 marked the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation's 45th year.  Since our founding in 1963 as a community trust, AAACF has invested more than $18.5 million in our community through grants and scholarships.  AAACF's portfolio has grown to include 376 funds that were valued at $39.7 million at year's end.   

2008 was also a year of tremendous challenges and opportunities.  The Community Foundation's Board of Trustees, staff, and community of volunteers went above and beyond in supporting our mission in terms of their time and commitment.  Their hard work and the continued generosity of our donors are reflected in a wealth of good news and stories that are shared in the 2008 Annual Report.   

Click here to download a copy of our 2008 Annual Report and on each of the following links for more details.

GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS

In 2008 the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation invested $2.26 million in our community through grants and scholarships.  It was the first time in our history that AAACF awarded more than $2 million in grants in a single year which supported a wide variety of community projects, programs and initiatives to address a broad spectrum of community needs.

AAACF awarded $134,000 in scholarships to 133 students.                                               

Pfizer Foundation's $1 million gift to our community

In January, 2008, the Pfizer Foundation presented AAACF with a $1 million gift that was to be invested in our community by the end of 2009.  Throughout 2008 AAACF met with hundreds of community members across all sectors of the community to assess and evaluate community needs, explore the entire continuum of options, and gauge public opinion and priorities.  Based upon the breadth of community input, AAACF developed a strategy that focused on three strategic priorities and established an open grant process to solicit "Big Ideas" from the nonprofit sector.  These grant decisions were made in early 2009.

DONORS

In 2008 the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation received $4.17 million in gifts from more than 1500 donors.  We are deeply appreciative and grateful for the generous and continued support from our community of donors who make the Community Foundation's work, and "For good. For ever." possible.

Through AAACF's Fund the Future initiative to increase AAACF's Unrestricted and Field of Interest Funds, the Community Foundation has received over the last five years, more than $15 million in current gifts and more than $22 million in planned gifts.  These gifts will support AAACF's grantmaking capacity and its flexibility to respond to emerging community needs well into the future.

In 2008 AAACF welcomed a new generation of philanthropists to our community of donors.  Two groups of young philanthropists pooled their resources to form giving circles that support a collaborative grant process.  Two initiatives - The Next Generation Philanthropists and The Ann Arbor Social Capital Fund focus on youth, the arts, the environment and youth at risk.   

FUNDS

As of December 31, 2008, AAACF managed a total of 376 funds including Unrestricted, Field of Interest, Scholarship, Designated (Agency Endowments), Donor Advised, and Special Projects funds.

DONOR SOCIETIES

AAACF donor societies recognize individuals, businesses, and foundations that share a strong commitment to supporting programs and non-profit organizations that help to improve the quality of life in our region for all residents.

The Founders Society

Established in 1972, the Founders Society recognizes donors who have made endowed gifts or pledges to the Community Foundation of $10,000 or more.  The Founders Society currently includes 275 members, some of whom wish to remain anonymous.

The 21st Century Society

Established in 1990, the 21st Century Society recognizes donors who have contributed a minimum of $25,000 toward endowment.  The 21st Century Society currently includes 113 members, some of whom wish to remain anonymous

The Legacy Society

Created in 2003 in honor of James and Clarice Foster whose gift of family assets established the first endowed fund at the Community Foundation, the Legacy Society recognizes donors who have pledged gifts to the Community Foundation in their estate plans.  Such commitments include bequests by will or trust, gifts of life insurance and retirement assets, life-income vehicles such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts. 

Community Foundation of Plymouth's Mayflower Circle

CFP's Mayflower Circle recognizes donors who have made a $5,000 commitment to ensure the success of the Community Foundation of Plymouth. 

Ypsilanti Area Community Fund's 1825 Founders Society

The 1825 Founders Society recognizes donors who have made a commitment of at least $1,825 to support YACF's work in the Ypsilanti area.

VOLUNTEERS

Since the Community Foundation's founding in 1963, more than 725 community volunteers have supported AAACF's work.  More than 250 volunteers currently serve on the Community Foundation's Board of Trustees, the Advisory Committees for the Community Foundation of Plymouth and the Ypsilanti Area Community Found, AAACF's Youth Council, and various working committees.  

AFFILIATE FUNDS

Community Foundation of Plymouth

Please click on CFP 2008 Donors  for a list of  individuals, companies, and organizations who generously supported the Community Foundation of Plymouth in 2008.

CFP's Mayflower Circle recognizes donors who have made a $5,000 commitment to ensure the success of the Community Foundation of Plymouth.  CFP's Mayflower circle currently has 26 members.

Ypsilanti Area Community Fund

In 2008, the Ypsilanti Area Community Fund continued to build its endowment as it welcomed two new funds and 31 members to the 1825 Founders Society, which recognizes donors who have made a commitment of at least $1,825 to support YACF's work in the Ypsilanti area.  Since 2001, YACF has raised more than $790,000 to provide support to local agencies and programs that serve the greater Ypsilanti area.  Please click on YACF 2008 Donors for a list of individuals, companies, and local organizations who generously supported the Ypsilanti Area Community Fund.

In 2008, YACF awarded $15,000 in grants to support programs and projects that promise to make a lasting difference for Ypsilanti's community.