OTSEGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

What OTSEGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION does

Otsego Community Foundation (OCF) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) community foundation headquartered in Gaylord, Michigan, that serves as the primary philanthropic infrastructure for Otsego County. Founded in 1994 (firmographic data lists 1999; the 1994 date is supported by multiple first-party references), the foundation manages more than 100 charitable funds established by individuals, families, and local businesses and has awarded over $6.7 million in grants and scholarships since inception. Its core products span grantmaking (Community Grant Program, Adapt Grants, Community Choice Grants), scholarship administration, multiple donor fund vehicles (donor-advised, designated, field-of-interest, unrestricted community funds), a Legacy Society for planned giving, a Youth Advisory Committee, a Corporate Partner Program, and three place-based initiatives — the Otsego Career Access Network (OCAN), the Otsego Housing Task Force, and the START Collaborative for disaster preparedness. OCF granted approximately $1.54 million in 2023 and works with roughly 80 local nonprofit partners annually.

The foundation operates on a community-led, event-driven go-to-market model rather than a commercial sales motion. Grants and scholarships are free to recipients; the foundation's "revenue" consists of charitable contributions from individuals and businesses, multi-year campaign pledges (notably the $2.5 million Way Forward Campaign in 2022 and the $1.6 million Tornado Response Fund raised from 1,800 donors across 37 states after the May 2022 EF-3 tornado), Corporate Partner commitments billed annually, and implicit administrative fees on managed funds. Fundraising and engagement are driven by flagship events — Extreevaganza (~$200,000 raised in 2023 with 400+ attendees), 100+ Women Who Care ($125,000+ awarded since 2016), and the Sip. Share. Connect. coffee series — alongside email newsletter, Facebook/Instagram, and content on otsegofoundation.org.

OCF's technology stack is intentionally lightweight and outsourced. Application workflows run on Akoyago's GOapply platform (universally applied scholarships, Community Grant Program, Adapt Grants); online donations run on Akoyago's GoDonate; the Find It Otsego resource hub aggregates social-service information; Microsoft Teams hosts the monthly Nonprofit Exchange; and Google Analytics tracks website traffic. The foundation holds Platinum-level accreditation under the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, has a four-to-six-person core staff headed by long-tenured Executive Director Dana Bensinger, and is governed by a volunteer board. Following the 2022 tornado it expanded into active disaster-response convening, and in 2026 it deployed an AmeriCorps NCCC team in partnership with the Michigan Community Service Commission to support 2025 ice-storm recovery.

Name

OTSEGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Legal name

Otsego Community Foundation

Website

https://otsegofoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Otsego Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation serving Otsego County, Michigan. It manages 100+ charitable funds, has awarded over $6.7 million in grants since 1994, and provides grantmaking, scholarships, donor services, and disaster-response coordination for 80+ local nonprofits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAI)

Keywords

• Community foundation services
• Charitable grantmaking programs
• Scholarship administration services
• Donor advised funds
• Planned giving programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Gaylord

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations and Contributions: Foundation receives donations from individuals, families, and businesses. Donors can contribute to existing funds, establish new funds, or make planned legacy gifts. For 30 years helping people make the most of charitable giving.
2. Fund Management and Administrative Fees: Manages over 100 charitable funds established by donors. Provides professional program staff services, investment management oversight, and administrative support for donor advised funds, designated funds, and field of interest funds.
3. Corporate Partner Program: Annual corporate partnerships where local businesses contribute to support community programming initiatives. Partners gain brand visibility and alignment with foundation mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Otsego Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation that administers over 100 charitable funds on behalf of individual, family, and corporate donors and redistributes those funds as grants and scholarships to benefit Otsego County, Michigan. Its core offerings include multiple grant programs (Community Grant Program, Adapt Grants, Community Choice Grants), a Scholarship Program, several donor fund vehicles (Donor-Advised Funds, Designated Funds, Field-of-Interest Funds, Funds for the Community), a Legacy Society for planned giving, and collaborative community initiatives including OCAN, START Collaborative, the Otsego Housing Task Force, and the Youth Advisory Committee.

Product overview

OTSEGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION is a nonprofit organization that serves as a philanthropic platform for Otsego County, Michigan. The foundation offers a portfolio of grant programs (Community Choice Grants, Community Grant Program, and Adapt Grants), scholarship services, and multiple fund types (Donor-Advised Funds, Designated Funds, Field-of-Interest Funds, and Funds for the Community). The foundation also operates community initiatives including OCAN (career access network), the START Collaborative (disaster preparedness), and the Otsego Housing Task Force. Services are delivered through external platforms (GOapply for grants/scholarships and Godonate for donations) and include a Legacy Society for planned giving. The foundation facilitates grantmaking for over 100 charitable funds established by donors, responding to community needs across arts, conservation, health, education, and other focus areas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OCAN (Otsego Career Access Network): A collaborative effort focused on connecting Otsego County residents with access to advanced training and education opportunities. OCAN has four main goals including increasing enrollment in post-secondary education and increasing attainment to 50% by 2030.
• START Collaborative
• Community Grant Program
• 100+ Women Who Care
• Extreevaganza

Products and services

• Community Grant Program
• Adapt Grants
• Community Choice Grants
• Scholarship Program
• Donor-Advised Funds
• Designated Funds
• Field-of-Interest Funds
• Funds for the Community
• Legacy Society / Planned Giving
• Otsego Career Access Network (OCAN)
• START Collaborative
• Otsego Housing Task Force
• Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)
• Corporate Partner Program
• Sip. Share. Connect.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% of working age population has training beyond high school (2025), up from 33% when OCAN launched in 2022
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Michigan Community Service CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Partnership to submit application for AmeriCorps NCCC team to support 2025 ice storm recovery efforts. AmeriCorps team deployed for seven weeks in Otsego and Montmorency Counties, consolidating over 35,000 pounds of storm debris.
• Michigan College Access Network (MCAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level support for OCAN (Otsego Career Access Network). Provided initial grant to establish community-wide collaborative effort focused on post-secondary education. Multi-year grant leveraged additional external funding.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner in Community Grant Program, contributing to collaborative grantmaking alongside other local funders. Each partner makes own decisions about projects to support.
• Drzewiecki Agency/Meemic FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner in Community Grant Program supporting local nonprofits.
• Kiwanis Club of GaylordcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner in Community Grant Program for collaborative nonprofit support.
• Otsego County United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner in Community Grant Program. Partner in START Collaborative managing fiscal sponsorship. Joint long-term recovery efforts after 2022 tornado.
• Otsego Wildlife Legacy SocietysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner in Community Grant Program.
• Rotary Club of GaylordcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding partner in Community Grant Program supporting local nonprofits.
• Gaylord Long Term Recovery GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative body of faith-based, nonprofit, business, government organizations formed to provide long-term tornado recovery assistance. OCF invested $560,000 in recovery efforts through this partnership.
• Otsego Antrim Habitat for HumanitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in building new home with special accommodations for tornado-affected family. Joint commitment with OCF and United Way.
• Council of Michigan FoundationssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided disaster grantmaking guidance immediately following 2022 tornado. Shared new Disaster Grantmaking and Operations guide.
• Midland Area Community FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresident Sharon Mortensen provided guidance on disaster response based on experience with 2020 floods.
• Otsego County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with OCAN through student representatives on Youth Advisory Committee and collaboration on Summer Melt program and College Success Coaching.
• After the StormsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNonprofit specializing in disaster response that OCF connected with to research solutions and answers for tornado recovery needs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Midland Area Community Foundation: Michigan community foundation experienced in disaster philanthropy following 2020 floods. Already an informal mentor/partner to OCF on tornado response, making it a strong comparable peer.
• Otsego County United Way: Local partner in START Collaborative and Community Grant Program. Competes for and pools community charitable dollars in the same Otsego County service area.
• Grand Rapids Community Foundation: Michigan-based community foundation providing donor-advised funds, grantmaking, and scholarship programs. Directly comparable mission and structure, though operating in a much larger Grand Rapids metro market.
• Kalamazoo Community Foundation: Established Michigan community foundation with similar grantmaking, scholarship, and donor fund programs. Operates Youth Advisory Committee and community initiatives paralleling OCF's structure.
• Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation: Michigan community foundation offering donor-advised funds, competitive grant rounds, and scholarship administration. Comparable operating model at larger scale in a different Michigan region.
• Traverse City Community Foundation: Northern Michigan community foundation serving a similar rural/seasonal economy with grantmaking, scholarships, and donor services. Closest regional peer given geography, climate, and county-level service model.

Emerging players

• Otsego Antrim Habitat for Humanity: Local housing nonprofit partner of OCF's Housing Task Force. Operates in the same county on overlapping affordable housing issues but as a direct service provider rather than grantmaker.

Others

• Community Foundations National Standards Board: Accrediting body that awarded OCF Platinum National Standards status. Sets the operational and governance benchmarks that OCF and similar community foundations must meet.

Broad incumbents

• Council of Michigan Foundations: Statewide membership association for Michigan foundations. Provides disaster grantmaking guidance to OCF and represents the broader category of philanthropic institutions OCF belongs to.

Regional players

• Michigan Community Service Commission: State-level partner that facilitated AmeriCorps NCCC deployment for ice storm recovery. Comparable regional-scale convening role, but as a government commission rather than private foundation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PL5udkgYPbxyqFcCu7zv4869ewk3-sDJUO
• Facebookfacebook.com/Otsego-County-Community-Foundation-104865386279821
• Instagraminstagram.com/otsegocommunityfoundation2020
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/otsego-county-community-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OTSEGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION