Founded in 1988, the Cadillac Area Community Foundation is dedicated to creating a permanent philanthropic endowment for the Cadillac Area. It aims to serve the community by receiving gifts from various sources to support charitable activities through grants and technical assistance. The Foundation emphasizes philanthropy, stewardship, and leadership to enhance community resources to meet citizens' needs. It seeks to develop endowments for future challenges, offer expertise to donors, manage philanthropic funds, support local nonprofits, and act as a catalyst for philanthropy in the community.
The Cadillac Area Community Foundation grants support various causes across six general areas: culture and the arts, economic development, education, environment and recreation, health, and human services. Their grantmaking aims to improve quality of life through creative and innovative programs. Priority is given to proposals that demonstrate significant potential impact, an imaginative approach to problem-solving, local volunteer support, collaboration to avoid duplicating services, fiscal responsibility, and the potential to attract additional or ongoing funding. The Women’s Giving Circle, an affiliate of the foundation, focuses on promoting economic self-sufficiency and well-being for women and girls by providing grants, education, and encouraging philanthropy among them.