Community Leadership in Action: How BCCF Helps Our Community Thrive

When most people think of a community foundation, they picture grantmaking and philanthropy. And while that’s a big part of what we do at the Branch County Community Foundation (BCCF), it’s only one piece of the puzzle.

At BCCF, we see ourselves as more than a funding organization, we are also a community leader. That means showing up, listening, connecting people and ideas, and helping to turn shared challenges into collaborative solutions.

But what exactly does community leadership mean?

Community leadership is the act of bringing people together to identify challenges, align goals, and create solutions that improve quality of life for everyone. It’s about convening, collaborating, and coordinating efforts across sectors, so that no one organization or group must work in isolation.

At its core, community leadership is about stewardship: of relationships, of knowledge, and of the common good. It requires trust, patience, vision, and a deep commitment to making positive changes. And at BCCF, we embrace that role every day.

How BCCF Leads

We lead by bringing people to the table, especially when the issues are complex and require many voices. From housing and homelessness to childcare and youth mental health, BCCF serves as a convener and connector, helping ensure that community solutions are community-driven.

Branch County Community Network (BCCN)

BCCF convenes the Branch County Community Network (BCCN), our county’s primary community collaborative. BCCN exists to enhance community development by offering a space for leaders, organizations, and residents to connect, share, and co-create. Through this network, we help foster creative thinking and collective action, allowing us to leverage the diverse strengths of our community to address pressing issues.

Local Planning Body (LPB)

We also convene the Local Planning Body (LPB), which coordinates Branch County’s efforts to address homelessness. The LPB oversees local planning, evaluation, and coordination of services to ensure that homelessness is rare, brief, and one time. Through this work, BCCF helps align housing resources and service providers with a shared goal: ensuring every resident has a safe, stable place to call home.

Child Care Leadership

Childcare is another area where we’ve stepped up. Back in 2018, BCCF was instrumental in convening the first round of community conversations about the local childcare shortage. Most recently, we helped form and support the Child Care Implementation Team, which is working to turn those conversations into real, lasting solutions that support families and strengthen our workforce.

Collaboration Creates Better Solutions

In addition to leading our own initiatives, BCCF serves on numerous community boards, taskforces, and committees, staying connected to the pulse of our region. We believe that collaboration leads to a deeper understanding of community issues, and ultimately, to better, more comprehensive solutions.

By working with partners across sectors, nonprofits, schools, businesses, local governments, and residents, we help make sure that resources are used wisely, ideas are shared openly, and action is taken collectively.

Strong communities don’t happen by accident. They’re built through intentional connection and shared leadership. At BCCF, we are proud to play that role in Branch County. We don’t just fund great ideas, we help grow them, support them, and guide them through collaboration.

Together, we’re not just solving problems, we’re building a community where everyone has the chance to thrive.