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Midland Area Community Foundation
The Midland Area Community Foundation was established on October 2, 1973, by a group of 25 civic leaders, including Dow Chemical executives Carl and Esther...
Midland Area Community Foundation
The Midland Area Community Foundation was established on October 2, 1973, by a group of 25 civic leaders, including Dow Chemical executives Carl and Esther Gerstacker, Midland Daily News publisher Norman "Slim" Rumple, and pediatrician Roy M. Goethe. The founding group drew structural inspiration from the Cleveland Foundation, the nation's first community foundation, and built the organization to pool philanthropic capital from Midland residents and businesses. Key early donors included the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation and the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, both products of Dow-linked wealth. The Foundation deploys capital across four focus areas: economic development and infrastructure, talent and education, community enrichment through arts and recreation, and health and human services. Its strategy relies on a permanent endowment model — over 700 individual funds, each with a unique purpose, generate annual grantmaking of more than $2 million alongside scholarship disbursements that have totaled over $8.5 million since 1978. The portfolio includes direct ownership of real assets such as the Tridge, the Fun Zone, the Rail Trail, the Midland Area Santa House, and a collection of public sculptures through the Art Builds Midland initiative. Grant applications are reviewed four times annually, with distributions targeting Midland County nonprofits and projects exclusively. Sharon Mortensen has served as President and CEO since 2012, overseeing a staff that includes communications, grantmaking, and community impact professionals. The Foundation operates from its headquarters at 76 Ashman Circle in Midland and maintains active memberships in the Council of Michigan Foundations and the Midland Business Alliance. In May 2026, the Foundation opened nominations for the Lloyd Osborn Memorial Award and continued its first-quarter grantmaking cycle, reflecting the operational cadence of a mature community foundation. The board of trustees includes professionals from the banking, legal, and corporate sectors, with several members holding historical ties to Chemical Bank (now Huntington Bank) and Dow Chemical Company. What sets the Midland Area Community Foundation apart structurally is its hybrid role as both a grantmaker and a direct property owner. It does not merely fund community projects — it holds title to some of the region's most iconic public spaces, including the Tridge, a three-legged pedestrian bridge that has become a civic symbol. The organization's governance and funding remain deeply intertwined with the corporate and philanthropic infrastructure built by Dow Chemical and the Gerstacker family foundations, creating a concentrated local endowment model that is unusual for a community of Midland's size.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1973
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Midland
Corporate office
76 Ashman Circle, Midland, MI 48640, United States
Principals
Sharon Mortensen
President & CEO
Bill Garchow
Board Chair
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment and grantmaking decisions at the Midland Area Community Foundation?
Sharon Mortensen has served as President and CEO since 2012 and leads the organization's operations alongside the board of trustees, currently chaired by Bill Garchow. Grant applications are reviewed four times annually by the Foundation's grants committee, with final decisions made in alignment with the four focus areas established by Midland's Community Success Panel: economic development, talent, community enrichment, and caring for people.
How does the Midland Area Community Foundation fund its operations and grantmaking?
The Foundation relies on a permanent endowment model composed of over 700 individual funds, including donor-advised funds, field-of-interest funds, and unrestricted funds. Investment income from these endowed assets generates more than $2 million annually for grants, while additional contributions support scholarship programs. The organization also accepts gifts as low as $5 and encourages estate-plan contributions.
What real assets does the Midland Area Community Foundation own or manage?
The Foundation holds ownership or stewardship responsibilities for several civic landmarks in Midland County, including the Tridge pedestrian bridge, the Midland Area Santa House, the Fun Zone, the Rail Trail, and public sculpture installations through the Art Builds Midland program. These properties represent a direct community investment strategy distinct from its grantmaking activities.
How is the Midland Area Community Foundation connected to Dow Chemical and the Gerstacker family?
Carl Gerstacker, a former Chairman and President of Dow Chemical, and his wife Esther Schuette Gerstacker were instrumental in founding the Foundation in 1973. The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation and the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, both products of Dow-linked wealth, have been major supporters. Multiple board members and trustees have held executive roles at Dow Chemical or Chemical Bank (now Huntington Bank), creating a governance structure closely tied to Midland's corporate base.
Does the Midland Area Community Foundation make grants outside of Midland County?
The Foundation's mission and grantmaking are focused exclusively on Midland County, Michigan. All four strategic focus areas — economic development, education, health and human services, and community enrichment — are directed toward improving quality of life within the county's boundaries. There is no indication of grantmaking activity outside this geographic scope.
How does the Foundation's scholarship program operate?
The Midland Area Community Foundation has awarded over $8.5 million in scholarships since 1978. It accepts scholarship applications annually and recruits volunteer reviewers to evaluate candidates. The program is funded through designated scholarship endowments within the Foundation's 700-plus fund structure, providing educational support for students pursuing post-secondary education.
What is the relationship between the Midland Area Community Foundation and the Council of Michigan Foundations?
The Foundation maintains active membership in the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF), a professional network for foundation leadership and best practices. This membership connects the Midland Area Community Foundation with peer community foundations across Michigan and provides access to operational guidance, regulatory updates, and collaborative funding opportunities.
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