History
In 1983, The Community Foundation of South Montgomery was organized at the suggestion of The Woodlands founder and developer, Mr. George Mitchell. The foundation was established to provide a permanent fund to support new and ongoing charities that would enhance the quality of life in South Montgomery County, Texas. The Mitchell Corporation provided the seed money for this community “safety net” in its first two years. The fledgling foundation was then renamed The Community Life Foundation in 1984, a tax exempt 501c3 corporation.
A Board of Directors was formed, composed of a cross-section of community leaders. The Reverend Don Gebert was named as the first Executive Director of the foundation. By mid-1985, the foundation housed 12 funds. When the Texas economy took a downturn in the late 80’s, funding for the foundation diminished. In 1987, the entire project was put on hold. At that time, several of the foundation’s funds were withdrawn, some funds were given to The Woodlands Hospital, and four funds totaling $8,000, remained in the foundation’s corpus.
In 1997, a group of interested persons representing the entire area of Montgomery County, Texas, formed an ad hoc committee to explore the possibility of establishing a county-wide community foundation, formed from the remnants of the ten years’ dormant Community Life Foundation. A new Board of Directors was formed, and the reconstituted foundation was renamed The Montgomery County Community Foundation. A temporary office was established in The Woodlands, Texas. Temporary Board Officers were elected. Various committees were formed, including a Finance Committee, a Board of Trustees Nominating Committee, and a Distribution Committee. Each committee formulated policy statements.
In early 1999, the Montgomery County Community Foundation Vision and Mission statements were written. That same year, a Strategic Plan was initiated, Bylaws were revised, and an application for membership to Council on Foundations was submitted. In December of 1999, the first Montgomery County Community Foundation grants were distributed to five area nonprofit agencies.
In July 2000, Frankie Alexander was named as the foundation’s first part-time Executive Director. Three years later, Nancy Dossey, then MCCF Board Secretary, assumed the position of part-time Executive Director and served until April 2007. In December 2007, the foundation’s corpus passed the $3,500,000 milestone, and foundation distributions to Montgomery County nonprofit agencies totaled more than $170,000 for the combined years. Early in 2007, Woodlands attorney Shannon Kidd was named the foundation’s part-time Executive Director.
After 10 years of growing the foundation, Ms. Kidd retired and Julie Martineau was hired by the board to build on the legacy created by its prior executive directors. Currently, MCCF administers 52 permanently endowed funds, including scholarships, and the Long Term Disaster Recovery Fund for disaster survivors in Montgomery County. The endowment corpus totals over $7.8 million. To date, the Community Foundation has given over $2 million to 497 Programs at local nonprofit agencies and 149 high school seniors and Lone Star College Montgomery students in efforts to enrich the lives of Montgomery County residents.
Montgomery County Community Foundation Timeline
1983
The Community Foundation of South Montgomery was organized at the suggestion of The Woodlands founder and developer, Mr. George Mitchell who provided seed money for this community safety net.
1984
The fledgling foundation was then renamed The Community Life Foundation, a tax-exempt 501c3 corporation. The Reverend Don Gebert was named as the first Executive Director of the foundation.
1985
The foundation housed 12 funds. When the Texas economy took a downturn in the late 80’s, funding for the Community Foundation diminished.
1987
The entire project was put on hold. At that time, several of the Community Foundation’s funds were withdrawn, some funds were given to The Woodlands Hospital, and four funds totaling $8,000, remained in the foundation’s corpus.
1997
A group representing Montgomery County, Texas, explored establishing a county-wide foundation, from the remnants of the dormant Community Life Foundation. A new Board of Directors was formed, and the reconstituted foundation was renamed The Montgomery County Community Foundation.
1999
The first Montgomery County Community Foundation grants were distributed to five area nonprofit agencies.
2000
In July 2000, Frankie Alexander was named as the Community Foundation’s first part-time Executive Director.
2002
Nancy Dossey, then MCCF Board Secretary, assumed the position of part-time Executive Director and served until April 2007.
2007
At the end of 2007, the Community Foundation’s corpus passed the $3,500,000 milestone, and foundation distributions to Montgomery County nonprofit agencies totaled more than $170,000 for the combined years. Woodlands attorney Shannon Kidd was named the foundation’s part-time Executive Director.
2017
Julie Martineau was hired by the board to build on the legacy created by its prior executive directors. Hurricane Harvey prompted board members to organize the Long Term Disaster Recovery Fund for disaster survivors in Montgomery County which began distributing funds to survivors in late 2018.
Today
Today, the endowment corpus totals over $7.8 million. Since 1999, Montgomery County Community Foundation has given over $2 million to 497 programs in local nonprofit agencies and 149 high school seniors and Lone Star College Montgomery students in efforts to enrich the lives of Montgomery County residents.
About us
The Montgomery County Community Foundation was established by Reverend Don Gebert and George Mitchell in 1983 to build a permanent fund that would provide for the present and future well-being of our community.