Established in 1991, the Wayne County Community Foundation was formed by a group of community-minded individuals, seeking to create a charitable organization with deep roots in their own community.  The Foundation serves the needs of the entire county, forming a space where a multitude of long- and short-range causes can be met, as well as a place where donors can create specific gifts to highlight their own concerns and interests. The Foundation strives to create a community pooling of assets that has the potential to benefit Wayne County for years and years to come; gifts that will give back forever.

Over these past three decades, individuals, families, businesses, and organizations have created a variety of permanent charitable funds that help the county meet the constantly evolving challenges of changing times.  The Foundation invests and administers these funds, using the returns to award grants, scholarships, and promote programs to a wide range of humanitarian, educational, and cultural organizations.

The Foundation is listed as a charitable organization under 501c(3) of the Federal Tax Code. EIN 23-2656896.

Why Choose Us?

When you choose to invest in the future of Wayne County, you want to work with people who can see its needs and know how to address them. That's where we shine.  We’re members of the County’s organizations and clubs, we send our children to its schools, we vote in its elections, and we help out our neighbors. The Board and Staff have long-standing ties to Wayne County, and have devoted many, many years of community service. Here are some ways we can work together to help serve our community's needs:

We make set-up and administration easy.  Establishing a fund can be done in less time than it takes to open a bank account.  We take care of all the administrative and grantmaking activities, eliminating the need for you to set up a separate institution, formulate policies, file innumerable forms, and monitor the status of grant recipients.  We save you precious time and money.

We can help you achieve tax benefits.  Since the IRS considers us a public charity, contributions are eligible for the highest available tax deductions.  In most cases, these tax benefits outweigh using your assets to establish your own private foundation.

We share your interests.  We are here to help you become connected to the issues you care about most.  Your charitable interests and priorities are important to us because committed, caring citizens are so important to our community’s well-being.

We care about the future.  By setting up a fund, you have the ideal opportunity to create a legacy for yourself, your loved ones, and for our county.