History

After a year of exploration and organization, the Big Rapids Area Fund was established in February 1990 as an affiliate of the Fremont Area Community Foundation. Shortly thereafter, the Mecosta County General Hospital sub-fund became the first sub-fund of the BRACF. It was followed by a number of designated and scholarship funds.

Today

Today there are 40 funds designed for specific purposes as well as scholarship funds. The first general grants were awarded to community organizations in 1993. Currently almost $20,000 per year is available for community grants. In 1998, the name was changed to the Mecosta County Community Foundation and the assets of the foundation exceeded $1,000,000. As the Foundation completes its seventeenth year, the net worth of the Foundation’s assets has passed $3,000,000. It is vibrant organization that provides almost $90,000 annually in grants and scholarships for the community in order to strengthen the community forever.