M&M Area Community Foundation

06/19/2026

Flashback Friday 🌊

Have you ever noticed these forever-swimming children on Stephenson Island?

Well, MMACF had a hand in making this art possible over 20 years ago — and it's still one of our favorite spots on the river.

Back in 2002, "The Young Swimmers" by artist James F. Hoffensperger was installed, thanks to dozens of community donors (MMACF included) who believed public art belongs to everyone.

Two decades later? Still diving. Still standing. Still loved.

We even keep a mini version in our office — business card for scale, because yes, it's that small. 🩷

Want to learn more about how you can help fund projects like this that you are passionate about? Give us a call. Let's chat.

Where Giving Grows. 🧡

06/02/2026

🌟 Meet our June speaker!

This month, we're welcoming Lindsay Kralovetz, Youth Services System Navigator with Foundations Youth Services to the M&M Area Community Collaborative.

Lindsay will be sharing an overview of their agency and the collaboration opportunities available right here in our community. If your organization works with youth or the families and systems that support them, you won't want to miss this one.

📅 June 10, 2026 | 10 AM CDT

📬 Read the full June Collaborative newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/2feb94bb69c1/collaborative-june-2026-newsletter

🤝 Not yet a member? Join the Collaborative: https://mailchi.mp/mmacf/community-collaborative-landing-page

05/17/2026

The numbers from our 2025–2026 scholarship season are in — and they tell quite a story. 📊

136 applications in 2023. 484 this spring.
$108,000 awarded in 2023. $195,045 this year.
12 funds unawarded in 2023. Just 1 this year.

79 scholarships. 56 named funds. 14 schools. One community that shows up for its students.

Interested in adding your name to that list of fund holders? A named scholarship fund starts at $10,000 and becomes a permanent part of our portfolio. Reach out to learn more.

📋 Want to help review applications next year? Email [email protected].

05/15/2026

What a year. 🎓

This spring, the M&M Area Community Foundation awarded 79 scholarships totaling $195,045 to students across 14 schools in Marinette, Menominee and Oconto Counties — the most we've ever awarded in a single season.

But here's what makes that number feel extraordinary: in 2023, we received 136 scholarship applications. This year? 484. Students are showing up. And because of the 56 generous donors and families who have established named scholarship funds at MMACF, we're able to show up for them.

In 2023, 12 of our scholarship funds went unawarded. This year, just one did. That's the difference that happens when a community leans in.

We're also thrilled to share that thanks to new grant funding, we'll be launching a universal scholarship application for the 2026–2027 school year — meaning students will complete one application and be matched with every fund they qualify for. More access. Less paperwork. More students served.

Want to be part of what comes next?

📋 Volunteer as a scholarship reviewer — It's one of the most rewarding ways to invest your time in local students. Email Kaitlin at [email protected] to apply for next year's cycle.

💛 Establish your own scholarship fund — Named funds can be created with a minimum $10,000 gift and customized entirely around your values. Contact us to learn more.

Where Giving Grows. 🌱

05/06/2026

There's something special about our Philanthropy Fund — and today we want to tell you why. 💛

Our Board of Directors established this endowment in 2015 with one beautifully practical idea: every donation should support our community forever AND right now.

So they made it half-and-half.
✅Half of every gift is endowed — invested to support our community forever.
✅Half is granted out THIS YEAR — to meet today's needs in real time.

Will you donate today? Every dollar shows up twice — once for our neighbors right now, and once for our community forever. Click the link below to give. 💛

Will you donate today? Every dollar shows up twice — once for our neighbors right now, and once for our community forever. Click link below to give. 💛

https://www.mmacf.org/donate/

05/04/2026

Our work is about so much more than grant checks. ❤️

It's about supporting the leaders in our communities who show up every day for the most vulnerable — with tiny teams, tight budgets, and a whole lot of heart.

Last month, our Executive Director, Ashley Berken, and Program and Operations Director, Kaitlin Deschane, presented Tiny Teams, Strong Foundations at the sold-out UW-Green Bay Nonprofit Conference — and the room was FULL. 💪

After years of watching small nonprofit leaders juggle everything at once, they built a practical bootcamp to help tiny teams get back to basics. The big message? It is OKAY to say NO. Saying no is leadership.

The feedback has been incredible — leaders are already making changes and boards are having long-overdue conversations.

This toolkit now lives in our office and will be part of every capacity-building conversation we have with local nonprofits going forward.

Leading a nonprofit in Marinette or Menominee County with 0–5 staff? We want to meet with you. Reach out — we mean it. 🤝

Thank you, UW-Green Bay, for always championing the nonprofit leaders of Northeast Wisconsin. 💛

04/22/2026

One of our 2025 Women's Giving Circle grants went to Rainbow House Domestic Abuse Services, Inc for a program called Look Good Feel Good — and we just got the update that the funding has been fully spent out.

The idea was simple: pair survivors with personal shoppers at TJ Maxx so they could find something to wear to a job interview, a court date, a fresh start. And for their kids — a new outfit for the first day of school, a band concert, a dance.

Executive Director Courtney Olsen put it better than we could: "There aren't enough of these sorts of feel-good moments in domestic violence work."

These two sisters who put on a fashion show with their new 'fits would probably agree. 👒🕶️

Thank you to Rainbow House for bringing this to life, and to TJ Maxx for volunteering their time to make every shopping trip feel special.

This is exactly what the Women's Giving Circle Fund is for. 💛

If you'd like to donate to the Women's Giving Circle Fund to support women and children in Marinette and Menominee Counties, please visit our website and click on the Donate button or mail a check or money order to 833A 1st St, Menominee, MI, 49858.

04/09/2026

Are you a nonprofit, school, business, or government agency serving the M&M area?

The M&M Area Community Collaborative is a free monthly network of 140+ local organizations — and we'd love for you to be part of it.

Every month, we come together virtually to share updates, resources, funding opportunities, and more. It's one of the easiest ways to stay connected to what's happening across Marinette and Menominee Counties.

📬 Sign up for our monthly newsletter using the link below and stay in the loop all year long!

The M&M Area Community Collaborative is a free monthly network of 140+ nonprofits, schools, businesses, and government agencies serving Marinette and Menominee Counties. Each month we share updates, resources, funding opportunities, and more — all in one place. Sign up below to stay connected!

04/09/2026

Proud to support such a wonderful community collaboration!

Thank you, M&M Area Community Foundation, for your sponsorship of the 10th Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser Event!! Your generosity is helping bring this community event to life, and we thank you for your support! For more information on this community event, visit www.tcunitedway.org/emptybowls

03/26/2026

🎓 Still time to apply — deadline is March 31st!

Several of our scholarship funds have not yet received applications. If you or someone you know meets the criteria below, please apply before it's too late!

💙Al & Denise Odette Memorial Scholarship
Menominee, Peshtigo, Marinette, Stephenson, or STAA graduate
GPA 2.5–3.25
2- or 4-year program
Community/volunteer involvement or employment
Financial need

💙Alan Kozikowski Scholarship
Menominee High School graduate
GPA 3.0+
Studying Chemistry

💙Barbara Perry Campbell Scholarship
Menominee High School graduate
Studying Literature or Music

💙Bea Ennis Memorial Music Scholarship
Marinette or Menominee County high school graduate
Participated in a school or community music program
Studying Vocal Music

💙Orlin & Nancy Herrild Veterinary Medicine Scholarship
Lived in Marinette or Menominee Counties during high school
4-year program, entering 2nd or 3rd year
Attending UW-Madison, Michigan State, or the University of Minnesota vet program
Studying Veterinary Science

💙Otis & Agnes Knuth Scholarship
Marinette, Menominee, or St. Thomas Aquinas graduate
GPA 2.75+
Attending NWTC Marinette Campus
Financial need

💙Robyn Ryan Brandt Scholarship
Marinette, Menominee, Peshtigo, Crivitz, or Gillett graduate
Priority given to female applicants
GPA 2.7+
4-year program
Studying Engineering

👉 Visit mmacf.org/scholarships to apply. Questions? Call or message our office — we're happy to help! Know a student who qualifies? Tag them or share this post!