Now is the moment we've been waiting for. With new treatments emerging in the fight against Alzheimer’s and all other dementia, now is the time for hope. NOW IS THE TIME FOR ACTION. Help us keep the momentum going by donating to the Traverse City Walk to End Alzheimer’s through Dec. 31, 2025.
give northern michigan are a portal through which local nonprofits choose to partner with us to share their stories with our readers in hopes of reaching those who align with their missions. I hope that they nudge you to appreciate the diversity and breadth of organizations here, whether they align with your vision or not, and inspire you to find your own cause to champion in a way that’s meaningful and leaves the world a little softer and kinder. As always, thank you for loving this place.
A Place of Hope and Healing p. 49
Helping Young Parents Thrive p. 51
Where Imaginations
Soar p. 55
A Place to Grow and Connect p. 57
First behavioral health center in Michigan 100% for kids.
pinerest.org/childhood
Preserving the Forgotten Places, Too
THE NONPROFIT: Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy
THEIR MISSION: Protecting significant natural, scenic and farm land while advancing stewardship now and for future generations.
RECENT SUCCESS STORY: Last year, thanks to more than 700 donors, the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) was able to raise nearly $20 million in less than six months to secure the acquisition of dunes and shoreline on Lake Michigan and Betsie Lake in Elberta. “We are still raising the phase two funds needed for the project, but that was quite a feat,” says GTRLC Director of Communications and Engagement Jennifer Jay.
CURRENT CHALLENGE: Drawing attention to more remote, under-the-radar land protection efforts that are crucial for the region’s water quality and habitat protection. Raising
funds for these rural projects is a bit more difficult, Jay says.
One project in particular is the “Excelsior,” the Perch Lake addition to the Upper Manistee Headwaters Preserve. GTRLC efforts aim to add 342 acres and another lake to the property, bringing the preserve to 1,700 acres.
“This is a property that must be protected and that everyone should care about, but it has been a heavy lift to complete the fundraising,” Jay says.
THE SOLUTION: If you love Northern Michigan, Jay says, think about the whole region as your backyard. Even those remote locations that you never visit provide myriad benefits to the overall health of our environment.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Get in on the J.A. Woolam Foundation dollar-for-dollar challenge grant. The foundation is matching any gift of up to $260,000 and, if the entire challenge amount is met, the “Excelsior” land and lake will be forever protected. gtrlc.org
Supporting Rural Businesses
THE NONPROFIT: Grow Benzie
THEIR MISSION: To serve as a rural prosperity incubator, accelerating the impact of grassroots projects, small-scale nonprofits, and food and farming enterprises by providing essential services like bookkeeping, grant writing and communications.
RECENT SUCCESS STORY: Grow Benzie’s four-acre campus offers an event center, coworking offices and a fiber makerspace. Its incubator kitchen now supports several growing food businesses: Cold Creek Farm opened a retail storefront in Frankfort for their hot sauces, spices and graband-go items; Roll Model purchased a food trailer to take their vegan spring rolls and bowls on the road; and the owner of Off the Hook Tacos helped expand Frankfort’s Menus on Main food-truck court to six trucks this summer.
CURRENT CHALLENGE: Since launching in 2008, Grow Benzie has been revered for its food and farming initiatives. Now, Executive Director Josh Stoltz says, it’s time to amplify
the work of smaller nonprofits by helping them tap into backbone resources.
“These smaller initiatives are starting to knock on our doors because they need substantial help with bookkeeping, marketing and growth,” Stoltz says. “Smaller nonprofits can’t scale because rural resources are scarce and competitive.”
THE SOLUTION: Funders who can see the bigger picture and commit to a long-term community vision, rather than one-off, short-term programs. Investments in kitchen upgrades, bookkeeping and dedicated program staff means Grow Benzie can incubate and provide shared services for more organizations.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Make a first-time gift or become a monthly donor. Book the Grow Benzie event center, which provides revenue for the program, or simply spread the word. Shop from incubator businesses to keep dollars in Benzie County and introduce Grow Benzie to corporate partners interested in long-term community investment. growbenzie.org
A Little Love Ca
Up A Room
Cherryland members can light up their community and help those in need by rounding up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar.
Investing your small change into the Cherryland Cares program, shines a light on our community.
Transforming schools, courts, and communities with the SCBF Beyond Trauma Toolkit™—our neuroscience-backed, SEL-aligned, expressive arts-based model recognized as the gold standard in trauma-informed care.
We go beyond trauma-informed to uncover and heal the root causes of challenging behaviors. Our holistic, evidence-based programming empowers youth and equips professionals with the tools to create safe, healing-centered environments.
THE SCBF BEYOND TRAUMA TOOLKIT™ INCLUDES:
Professional Development
“Their training has made a significant difference in our district.” — Kristin Goethals, Ed.S., Kingsley Elementary Principal
Learning Management System (LMS)
“Their research-based model is making a real impact in our region.” — Dave Mengebier, President, Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation
Expressive Arts Programming
“SCBF equips professionals with tools to foster healing and resilience.” — Taylor Riddle, 13th Circuit Court
18 Years. 30,000+ Lives Transformed.
A 4-year case study across 5 schools, 540 students, and 150 educators revealed: 100% graduation rate among participating students • 90% reduction in aggressive behaviors 80% decrease in school-wide disciplinary actions • 80% increase in educator job satisfaction
photo by Dave Weidner
Connecting People to Wild Places
THE NONPROFIT: Grand Traverse Conservation District
THEIR MISSION: To lead, facilitate and inspire exploration, appreciation, conservation and restoration of our natural world.
RECENT SUCCESS STORY: Coming off a banner year for engagement, GTCD welcomed 133,330 visitors to the Boardman River Nature Center since its opening in 2008. Education programs and events saw more than 12,000 participants last year, including 2,265 visitors as part of the Nature Education for Students and Teachers (NEST) Field Trip program.
CURRENT CHALLENGE: In 2018, the Sabin Dam, within Grand Traverse County’s Natural Education Reserve, was removed. The dam served as a highly-trafficked footbridge connecting miles of trails on the east and west sides of the Boardman-Ottaway River, allowing anglers, hikers and
visitors access to 525 acres. Without a way to cross the river, visitors must drive either north or south to access trails on the other side of the river.
THE SOLUTION: GTCD is working on a 160-foot pedestrian bridge that spans the Boardman-Ottaway River where the Sabin Dam formerly sat on Grand Traverse County’s Natural Education Reserve. With more than 15,000 visitors to the reserve each year, the Ottaway Crossing will provide the missing connection between miles of popular recreational trails.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Help close the $217,000 funding gap to construct the $1.5 million Ottaway Crossing Footbridge that will link 40-plus miles of regional trails and provide access to high-quality recreational opportunities minutes from downtown Traverse City. To contribute, visit natureiscalling.org/ottaway-crossing.
Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve
Everybody wins when kids read and write.
Everybody wins when kids read and write.
When you support PoWeR! Book Bags, you’re helping children thrive in three powerful ways:
When you support PoWeR! Book Bags, you’re helping children thrive in three powerful ways:
Literacy Skills
Literacy Skills
Every child gets books and materials to grow as readers and writers.
Every child gets books and materials to grow as readers and writers.
Healthy Interactions
Healthy Interactions
Activities that build confidence, empathy, and social connection.
Activities that build confidence, empathy, and social connection.
Lasting Impact
Lasting Impact
Stronger children = stronger families, communities, and generations to come.
Stronger children = stronger families, communities, and generations to come.
Give today at powerbookbags.org or by scanning the QR code here.
Give today at powerbookbags.org or by scanning the QR code here.
Harnessing the Power of Reading
THE NONPROFIT: PoWeR! Book Bags
THEIR MISSION: PoWeR! stands for Play, Write and Read. When this dynamic trio collides, children better understand themselves and connect with the world. PoWer! Book Bags provide kiddos of all ages, especially birth to age five, with literacy bags containing finger puppets, crayons, writing booklets, a development milestones bookmark and ageappropriate books.
RECENT SUCCESS STORY: The L ower Northern Michigan volunteer organization currently partners with literacy advocates at more than 120 sites in 27 counties, including food and baby pantries.
“I’ve had parents stop me at the post office, who say, ‘oh, we love PoWeR! Book Bags; my kids have been writing all summer long, creating their own books,’” says Founder and Executive Director Kara Gregory.
CURRENT CHALLENGE: Michigan literacy scores are lagging and language arts skills have dropped to a 10-year
low. The cost of books has jumped in the last three months, from $4 to $5 or more a book. And, Gregory says, there’s a silent crisis happening when parents stick kids under five on phones and tablets or plop them down in front of a TV.
“We have to have social interactions,” she says. “The worst thing to do is to put kids on a screen. When we can open up the door for children to be a part of literacy, they can see how other people in the world live, they can travel to new places, the world is opened up for them.”
THE SOLUTION: Increased donations and volunteers. PoWeR! Book Bags is 100 percent funded by donations and grants, and volunteers do everything from prepare bags to make deliveries.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Become a monthly donor, lend a hand at the beautiful new Traverse City volunteer center and spread the word about PoWeR! Book Bags. Most important, Gregory says, “Put down the phone, put down the tablet and play with kids and read with them. The children are truly our future, and they need our investment of time and energy.”
PROTECT AN ECOLOGICAL TREASURE
Known for abundant freshwater, vibrant forests and stunning landscapes, it’s no wonder the Grand Traverse region consistently ranks among the most desirable places to live and visit. Yet as our community grows, pressure is mounting on the natural places that make this region so special.
GTRLC.ORG
MISSION STATEMENT
Protecting significant natural, scenic and farm landsand advancing stewardshipnow and for future generations.
With much of our shoreline already developed, attention has turned to landscapes like The Ridge, a 312-acre forested ridgeline in East Bay Township that is one of the region’s highest priorities for protection. This property features panoramic views of Grand Traverse Bay, over 7,000 feet of stream frontage and a mix of wetlands and upland forests. In addition to its diverse habitat, this property plays a crucial role in filtering runoff and safeguarding water quality in Grand Traverse Bay, the area’s primary source of drinking water.
Thanks to the swift action of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC), we now have a chance to protect this irreplaceable landscape. When the property went on the market in 2023, it was targeted for a proposed development that could have resulted in over 1,000 housing units. With just 48 hours to act, GTRLC secured a $5.1 million shortterm loan from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, giving the Conservancy three years to raise the funds necessary to protect the land.
Plans for the proposed nature preserve include roughly four miles of hiking trails, designed to minimize ecological disturbance while offering public access to ridgetop views and a connection to the nearby TART trail network. At the same time, GTRLC is working with partners to thoughtfully allocate a small portion of the land for housing to address community needs.
Over $6 million has been raised toward the roughly $11.1 million goal, and a $4.8 million grant request is pending with the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. If awarded, GTRLC will need to raise approximately $1.6 million to protect this critical landscape. Thanks to the generous Benton and Hepler families, every dollar you contribute can be matched up to $200,000, effectively doubling the impact of your gift.
Join in safeguarding this ecological treasure at GTRLC.org
8,000LBS
1,500 families and people helped with access to SHELTER AND HOUSING each year
A Place of Hope and Healing
THE NONPROFIT: Eagle Village
THEIR MISSION: With God’s help and love, they serve, value and equip children and families for success. Eagle Village believes in the potential of all people, regardless of their story. For 57 years Eagle Village has had a positive impact on thousands of lives. They currently offer trauma assessments, prevention and intervention programs, residential services, foster care and adoption services, day treatment, camps and retreats, Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Independent Living Plus program to children and families of Michigan.
SUCCESS STORY: One resident, Michael, shares his story of being shuffled around between foster homes, juvenile detention centers and residential facilities after he was removed from his birth parents’ home as a toddler.
“The instability and abuse I experienced made my life feel chaotic, and my mental health suffered,” he says. “I felt lost and unsupported—until I came to Eagle Village.”
Michael is gaining skills for adulthood through the Eagle Village Independent Living Plus program while earning his high school diploma, and says he plans to
attend college to study social work and help kids who are going through similar experiences.
CURRENT CHALLENGE: Eagle Village welcomes additional gifts for the Eagle Fund. This fund directly supports scholarships for access to all of their programs, the therapeutic environment, and offers first time opportunities to youth they serve. Many youth did not experience a traditional childhood. This fund supports trips to the zoo, an athletic event, or seeing Lake Michigan for the first time.
THE SOLUTION: Through financial donations and volunteer opportunities, supporters will make an impact on their mission that ensures youth know they have value, potential and opportunities to heal and grow.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Take a tour of the 681-acre Hersey campus. Volunteer to teach kids a new skill, like a cooking lesson, or help by raking leaves. Make a financial gift, or select a gift from the online wish list. Eagle Village also invites organizations who want to make a real impact to volunteer or schedule a retreat on our campus. eaglevillage.org
Generations Ahead empowers teen parents to finish school, gain independence, and build strong, healthy families.
This year we’re supporting over 72 teen parents— twice as many as in years past.
Your gift keeps critical programs and resources available to every young parent who needs them.
Proudly supported by
Scan to donate and help young families thrive.
Helping Young Parents Thrive
THE NONPROFIT: Generations Ahead
THEIR MISSION: Gener ations Ahead empowers young parents to become resilient by building positive relationships, strengthening family stability, and raising healthy children.
RECENT SUCCESS STORY: A year ago, a timid, anxious mother approached Generations Ahead. At the time, she was living in a rural, isolated area without a car or family support while she was raising her young son. In the past year, this young mom graduated high school, found support through the Generations Ahead mentorship program, got her driver’s license, budgeted for and purchased a car, moved into her own apartment and held down a full-time job.
“She continues to amaze us with her resilience and growth,” development coordinator Emmy Schumacher says. “Our vision is that all children and their families are thriving in their community. She is our vision in action.”
CURRENT CHALLENGE: Generations Ahead doesn’t charge for services and no one is turned away. The organization’s caseload has doubled from 35 to more than 70 teen mothers and fathers in the past year. The cost of serving those clients has increased as long-standing federal programs, like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), are being reduced.
“We have twice the number of parents and twice the need,” says Generations Ahead executive director Marjie Rich. “Not only are the parents’ needs greater, but their children are also being hurt by federal cuts.”
THE SOLUTION: More donations and hands-on help. Generations Ahead is hoping to hire another case manager in 2026 and to increase the number of volunteer mentors.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Volunteer to assist with child care during a Generations Ahead parent education event. Help organize the baby pantry. Sign on for the four-week training to be a mentor. The easiest way: Click the donate button on the Generations Ahead website. generationsahead.org
Photo by Jacqueline Southby
Interlochen
Heather Boivin, CFP®, AAMSTM
Financial Advisor
Heather Boivin, CFP®, AAMS™ Financial Advisor
3285 South Airport Road West Traverse City, MI 49684 231-933-5263
3285 South Airport Road West Traverse City, MI 49684 231-933-5263
Yancy Boivin, AAMSTM Financial Advisor
Yancy Boivin, AAMS™ Financial Advisor
Jamie Keillor Financial Advisor
Jamie Keillor
4110 Copper Ridge Dr, Bldg D, Suite 202 Traverse City, MI 49684 231-252-3561
Advisor 4110 Copper Ridge Dr, Bldg D, Suite 202 Traverse City, MI 49684 231-252-3561
Jon Lamb Financial Advisor
Traverse City Interlochen
3285 South Airport Road West Traverse City, MI 49684 231-933-5263
Justin Liptak
Justin Liptak Financial Advisor 513 S. Union Street Traverse City, MI 49684 231-933-0881
12935 S. West Bay Shore Dr. Suite 355 Traverse City, MI 49686 231-947-1123
Alysia Boynton-Fisher
Advisor 12935 S West Bay Shore Dr Suite 355 Traverse City, MI 49686 231-947-1123
Bill Collin, ABFPTM Financial Advisor 9672 US Highway 31 Suite 400 Interlochen, MI 49643 231-276-1355
3285 South Airport Road West Traverse City, MI 49684 231-933-5263
John W. Elwell, AAMSTM Financial Advisor
John W Elwell, AAMS™ Financial Advisor
3588 Veterans Dr Traverse City, MI 49684 231-947-0079
3588 Veterans Dr. Suite 2 Traverse City, MI 49684 231-947-0079
Advisor 513 S Union Street Traverse City, MI 49684 231-933-0881 Jim Mellinger
Andrew Weaver Financial Advisor 125 Park Street Suite 250 Traverse City, MI 49684 231-947-3032
Jim Mellinger
Financial Advisor
12935 S. West Bay Shore Dr. Suite 355 Traverse City, MI 49686 231-947-1123
Joel Leipprandt Financial Advisor
806 S Garfield Ave Suite B Traverse City, MI 49686
231-932-1290
Bill Collin, ABFP™ Financial Advisor 9672 US Highway 31 Suite 400 Interlochen, MI 49643 231-276-1355
The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is thriving, welcoming more than 40,000 visitors each year. Now we are preparing for the next chapter— Museum 3.0—a permanent home with impactful exhibits and expanded STEM outreach.
Your gift will ensure that every child in Northern Michigan has the chance to imagine, explore, and discover.
Together, we will spark lifelong learning and build the leaders of tomorrow Give today at GreatLakesKids.org
Where Imaginations Soar
THE NONPROFIT: Great Lakes Children’s Museum
THEIR MISSION: To provide a foundation for lifelong learning through play-based exploration.
RECENT SUCCESS STORY: The Great Lakes Children’s Museum is thriving in its move to their temporary location “The Curiosity Place” at the Grand Traverse Mall. In just one year, the Museum has welcomed more than 40,000 visitors— families coming together to play, explore, and learn. One parent shared, “The Museum is a safe place where my children can imagine, play and grow—where I know my 4-year-old can be a helicopter pilot one minute, a pirate or boat captain the next, and then a superhero dashing from one end of the museum to the other with the biggest smile on his face.”
CURRENT CHALLENGE: In our screen-focused world, children have fewer opportunities for open-ended, selfdirected play—an essential tool for problem-solving, creativity and resilience. This is elevated in Northern
Michigan’s ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) households and rural communities.
THE SOLUTION: More impactful exhibits and a future permanent location. Through rotating hands-on museum exhibits, portable STEM outreach classroom exhibits, and a new forever home, Great Lakes Children’s Museum will spark lifelong learning throughout Northern Michigan.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Donors can sponsor a program and inspire wonder for thousands of children and families each year. Join as a member and enjoy year-round access while supporting playful learning. Help with underwrite outreach to bring hands-on STEM learning to rural schools across northern Michigan. Give monthly to provide steady, reliable support that sustains play and learning all year long—your gift will help shape Museum 3.0, a future permanent location. Ask if your employer offers a matching gift program, or consider a planned gift or legacy donation to ensure future generations have access to wonder.greatlakeskids.org
PATHWAYS TO GROWTH BEGIN HERE
YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps are everything summer should be. Our adventure-filled overnight camps and wilderness expeditions give campers the opportunity to unplug, grow, and thrive. Through intentional programming, meaningful relationships, and outdoor challenges, campers build confidence, develop resilience, and create memories that last a lifetime. We also run a Day Camp at the Torch Lake location for children ages 5 to 10, perfect for families looking for a local day-only experience.
Wilderness Trips That Build Confidence
More Than a Camp — A Community
Whether it’s a camper’s first summer or their fifth, they leave with far more than great memories. They gain courage, character, leadership skills, and a sense of belonging that stays with them long after the summer ends.
Every moment is a step along their Pathway to Growth— and the journey lasts a lifetime.
Our Pathways to Growth wilderness expeditions are at the heart of what sets our camps apart. These journeys are intentionally designed to match a camper’s age and experience, guiding them to step outside their comfort zone and discover what they’re truly capable of.
A Place to Grow and Connect
THE NONPROFIT: YMCA Hayo-Went-Ha Camps
THEIR MISSION: To help boys and girls unlock their best selves through immersive overnight camp and wildernessbased experiences rooted in nature, challenge and community. Says CEO John Carlson: “Childhood today unfolds in a world that is fast-paced and disconnected. What used to be hours spent outdoors, building friendships or taking on real challenges are now spent scrolling, gaming and consuming digital content. Experiences that once shaped confidence, empathy and resilience are disappearing.”
SUCCESS STORY: Immersive, unplugged wilderness adventures nudge kids out of their comfort zones, encouraging them to work together to overcome physical and mental challenges as a team.
“Camp is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and it has truly helped me to grow to be the person I am today,” says return camper Zoe S. “The memories I have made here will last forever. It has shown me how to enjoy life to the fullest, be my toughest self, and just be the overall best version of myself.”
CURRENT CHALLENGES: Among the 130 families in need
of scholarship support each year, Zoe’s parents did not think they were going to be able to send her to camp last summer.
“It broke our hearts,” they wrote in a letter to Hayo-WentHa Camp administrators. “She was so excited to see everyone all year long; it was going to be her sixth year at camp.”
Staff encouraged Zoe’s family to apply for a camper scholarship and, through generous donors, they were able to help Zoe go to camp.
THE SOLUTION: More donors and funding are needed for the campership program so that no child is turned away, and for trip center renovations that will help equip kids with tents, stoves, food and fuel. The camp is also seeking leadership-level support for two transformational capital projects—a new Beachhouse and a new Dining Hall. Naming opportunities are available for those who want to leave a legacy.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Visit hayowentha.org to make a gift and consider a leadership gift that ensures camp remains accessible, relevant and life-changing for generations to come. To explore other giving opportunities, contact Amanda Macaluso, Director of Development and Alumni Experience, at amacaluso@hayowentha.org.
3 Ways to Practice Tax-Smart Gifting
Give even more generously with these tips from the advisors at Hemming&.
by MEAGAN FRANCIS
Giving to charity feels good, but it feels even better when combined with smart tax planning.
Wealth Management Advisors Dawn Hemming, Tanelle Budd and Autumn Soltysiak of Traverse City wealth management firm Hemming& explain how donor-advised funds, appreciated stock and even IRA distributions can make a big difference for donors and the causes they care about.
“We’re seeing new opportunities for people who want to give in ways that are both generous and tax-efficient,” says Soltysiak. “It’s exciting to help clients align their charitable goals with strategies that allow them to maximize impact for the organizations they love—without necessarily increasing their out-of-pocket giving.”
1. CONSIDER A DONOR-ADVISED FUND
Think of a donor-advised fund (DAF) as a charitable investment account. You put money or other assets into it, take an immediate tax deduction and then recommend grants to charities over time. “A DAF gives you the flexibility to separate the timing of your tax deduction from the timing of your giving,” Hemming says. For example, she explains, you could contribute a lump sum this year—maximizing your deduction—while spreading actual donations to nonprofits over the next several years. Some key advantages of DAFs include:
• Immediate tax break: You can deduct contributions in the year you make them, even if grants go out later.
• Capital gains savings: Donating appreciated assets directly avoids capital gains taxes.
• Tax-free growth: Investments inside the account grow tax-free, which can mean more dollars available for charities.
• Flexibility: You don’t need to decide right away which nonprofits to support.
As Budd puts it, “Any growth—like interest, dividends, or appreciation—remains inside the DAF account, which grows tax free. That money compounds over time, leaving more available for charitable grants.”
2. DONATING APPRECIATED ASSETS
While writing a check is always an option, donating investments like stock, bonds or mutual funds that have increased
in value can provide an extra tax edge.
“If you sell first, you’d pay capital gains taxes,” says Hemming. “But if you transfer the asset directly to a charity or DAF, you avoid the tax completely and may be able to deduct a fair amount of the market value from your taxable income.” The charity can sell the stock tax-free to receive the full value. It’s a win-win: the nonprofit gets more, and you get a bigger deduction.
3. COMBINE GIFTING WITH TAX-LOSS HARVESTING
Hemming notes that you don’t have to choose between selling investments at a loss and donating winners. “Consider selling the losers to enjoy a tax break, and donate the winners for a capital gain break,” she suggests. That way, you can balance your portfolio and maximize your tax efficiency at the same time.
GIFTING FROM YOUR IRA AFTER 70½
Older donors can consider another tool: the qualified charitable distribution (QCD). In 2025 the IRS allows single filers to donate $108,000 or married filing joint $216,000 from your Traditional IRA directly to a charity, once you turn 70½.
Normally, pre-tax IRA withdrawals count as taxable income. But with a QCD, the money goes straight to the charity and never shows up on your tax return. This is especially helpful when you reach a certain age and are required to take a minimum distribution (RMD). By gifting your RMD or a portion of it, you can avoid increasing your adjusted gross income, which can also prevent increasing taxes on Social Security benefits or paying surcharges on Medicare premiums.
Like most tax-savings strategies, working with a qualified financial advisor is the best way to ensure that you’re following all the relevant rules, including staying within IRS deduction limits. “At the heart of it, charitable giving is about expressing what matters most to you,” says Soltysiak. “We love helping clients create a legacy of generosity by supporting organizations that have touched their lives.”
GIVING DIRECTORY
ACME CHRISTIAN THRIFT STORE & FOOD PANTRY
8925 M72 E, Williamsburg, MI 49690
231.938.2990 •acmechristian.org
Find out more on page 48
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION MICHIGAN CHAPTER
414 E. Eighth St., Unit 201, Traverse City, MI 49686
800.272.3900 •alz.org/gmc
Find out more on page 34
CHERRYLAND HUMANE SOCIETY
1750 Ahlberg Rd, Traverse City, MI 49696
231.946.5116 • cherrylandhumane.org
Find out more on page 48
CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES OF NORTHWESTERN MICHIGAN
3785 Veterans Dr, Traverse City, MI 49684
231.946.8975 • cfsnwmi.org
Find out more on page 60
EAGLE VILLAGE
4507 170th Ave., Hersey, MI 49639
231.305.6511 •eaglevillage.org
Find out more on page 49
GENERATIONS AHEAD
3962 Three Mile Road North, Traverse City, MI 49686
231.883.0117 • generationsahead.org
Find out more on page 50
GOODWILL NORTHERN MICHIGAN
2279 South Airport Rd W, Traverse City, MI 49684
231.922.4805 • goodwillnmi.org
Find out more on page 48
GRAND TRAVERSE CONSERVATION DISTRICT
1450 Cass Rd., Traverse City, MI 49685
231.941.0960 • natureiscalling.org
Find out more on page 42
GRAND TRAVERSE REGIONAL LAND CONSERVANCY
2846 3 Mile Rd N, Traverse City, MI 49686
231.929.7911 • gtrlc.org
Find out more on page 37 & 46
GREAT LAKES CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
3200 W South Airport Rd Suite 420, Traverse City, MI 49684
231.932.4526 • greatlakeskids.org
Find out more on page 54
GROW BENZIE
5885 Frankfort Hwy, Benzonia, MI 49616
231.882.9510 • growbenzie.org
Find out more on page 38
LITTLE TRAVERSE BAY HUMANE SOCIETY
1300 W Conway Rd #9582, Harbor Springs, MI 49740
231.347.2396 •ltbhs.org
Find out more on page 40
PINE REST CHRISTIAN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
700 E Hammond Rd Suite 200, Traverse City, MI 49686
231.947.2255 •pinerest.org
Find out more on page 36
POWER! BOOK BAGS
PO Box 533, Suttons Bay, MI 49682
231.866-6199 •powerbookbags.org
Find out more on page 44
ST. CLAIR BUTTERFLY FOUNDATION
PO Box 224, Traverse City, MI 49685
248.330.4164 •scbf.org
Find out more on page 41
THE FATHER FRED FOUNDATION
826 Hastings St, Traverse City, MI 49686
231.947.2055 • fatherfred.org
Find out more on page 36
YMCA HAYO-WENT-HA CAMPS
919 N. East Torch Lake Drive, Central Lake, MI 49622
