History

One of these seeds is now known as the Frankenmuth Community Foundation. An idea that originated over 45 years ago has quietly grown into an asset for all of Frankenmuth. The organization was formed in July of 1976 as part of the town’s bicentennial celebration with the original goal of serving as a perpetual tribute to our American freedom and heritage.

The Frankenmuth Community Foundation was begun by a core group of people with vision, leadership, and an abiding commitment to their community: Don Bruns, William Achenbach, Leone Koester, Marvin Neuchterlein, Don Mahlmeister, Tom Veitengruber and Richard Rummel. The mission of the Foundation from the start was to provide a vehicle for giving, not just for the present, but for decades to come. The first meeting was held in January of 1977 and the initial amount on deposit was $630.00.

From those humble beginnings the Foundation has grown to encompass over 70 funds including over 30 scholarships and has disbursed over $6.5 million to a wide variety of community projects and deserving students since giving its first grants in the early 1980s. As more and more people began to realize the advantages of managing their philanthropic efforts through the Frankenmuth Community Foundation, the assets have grown to more than $16 million. Through the Foundation’s spending policy, grant distributions are given back to the community every year to qualified organizations. Focusing on its key areas of interest: recreation, education, leadership, economic growth and community good; the Frankenmuth Community Foundation serves as a vehicle through which grants are made to indefinitely help the community.

Since its inception in 1976, grants have been awarded to support a wide variety of special projects including: Cass River Clean Up, Frankenmuth Emergency Task Force to help with the COVID-19 pandemic, Youth Sports Association land purchase for all-sports complex, Gateway Arch project, Frankenmuth Farmers Market, Frankenmuth High School Weight Room and Band uniforms, City Beautification, Frankenmuth Parks & Recreation, Frankenmuth Jaycees for Heritage Park improvements, Junior Achievement in our schools, Frankenmuth Rotary Club for Scout Building upgrades, technology upgrades in Frankenmuth Public Schools and St. Lorenz Lutheran School, Frankenmuth Police and Fire Departments, Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce for educational seminars, defibrillators for schools, and many more!

Today, the Frankenmuth Community Foundation continues to provide local donors with the easiest and most effective opportunities to achieve their current and future charitable goals with maximum tax advantages.