Sturgis Area Community Foundation is pleased to announce that we have recently received re-accreditation with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations®. This is the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.

“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Randy Royster, board member of the Council on Foundations. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates Sturgis Area Community Foundation demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity and accountability as it carries out its mission.”

The process of earning National Standards accreditation is arduous. The program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking and administration. With over 500 community foundations already accredited nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors.

“This is critically important to our donors,” said Lindsay Aguilar, Executive Director of Sturgis Area Community Foundation. “When people make a charitable bequest or establish a fund, they are putting their trust in us. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely and honor their charitable wishes. The National Standards accreditation says our house is in order.”

Sturgis Area Community Foundation works to meet critical community needs and support local causes that help improve the quality of life for all who live here.

Sturgis Area Community Foundation offers a range of charitable funds, allowing donors to advance a cause, support an individual organization, provide flexible support for community needs or recommend individual grants. In addition to affirming the organization’s philanthropic services, the accreditation validates Sturgis Area Community Foundation’s grantmaking practices for the nonprofit community.

“Grantmaking is a lot like investing,” said Mike Frost, Sturgis Area Community Foundation board chair. “We need to assess risks, weigh potential gains, diversify assets, monitor performance and operate fairly. With our National Standards accreditation, you can be assured that we’re doing just that.”

Through philanthropic services, strategic investments and community leadership, Sturgis Area Community Foundation Foundation helps people support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come. For more information on grants or donor services, email sacf@sturgisfoundation.org.