The Berrien Community Foundation had a banner year in 2024.
BCF President Lisa Cripps Downey tells us the non-profit that backs a wide range of efforts in the community passed $100 million in assets this year. She says just ten year ago, the BCF’s assets totaled $32 million, so it’s seen some rapid growth.
“We’ve had a great market,” Cripps Downey said. “We’ve also had really faithful donors and people who’ve worked with us. So that’s very exciting.”
The Berrien Community Foundation was started in 1952, Downey says, as a simple conversation between some people looking to improve the community.
“It was people sitting around the living room who said, ‘We should have a savings account for our community and be able to support this long-term.’ And so we work through these endowments that can grow and give every year, year over year over year.”
And look how it’s grown.
Downey says the BCF’s endowment has been growing as intended, noting support for the endowment lives on as the fund grows. She reminded everyone even small contributions to the BCF, or any non-profit, make a big difference, adding some smaller donations have gone down in recent years due to changes in the tax code. However, she says the BCF remains strong and is supporting more people than ever.
Cripps-Downey says the Berrien Community Foundation awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships in 2024.
