The heart and soul of a Community Foundation is its ability to improve the lives of its communities through granting funds for constructive projects and events. The funds come from earnings of a Foundation’s endowment. At present, the endowment of the M&M Area Community Foundation is invested with local trust departments and totals over $6,000,000. Since 1997, more than $1,100,000 in grants and scholarships from the earnings of that endowment have been given back to the twin counties.

Grants are made from a number of different funds contained in the Foundation’s endowment. In the past, the Foundation has called for grant applications once a year and made grants annually. In future, grants may be made more often throughout the year. Grants come from funds where donors may or may not express a preference for where they are given, or from designated funds, which support specific organizations. The Foundation also makes grants from Field of Interest funds directed to causes such as Youth, Community Health, and Drug & Alcohol Abuse.