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Mission Statement
History
Staff
Officers, Trustees, Members
 

Mission Statement: The mission of the Bryan Area Foundation is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of our area now and for generations to come by building community endowment, addressing needs through grant making, and serving as a leader, catalyst and resource for charitable giving.

To further this mission, the Bryan Area Foundation will...
• Honor the spirit and intent of each donor’s gift
• Meet emerging community needs through effective, visionary and sensitive grant-making
• Assist donors by serving as a permanent resource for receiving and administering charitable gifts
• Perform as a responsible and prudent manager of the assets entrusted to our care
• Exercise leadership and promote partnerships that build better communities and enhance the quality of life
• Develop, promote and encourage philanthropy

History:
In 1969, two men conceived the idea of a community foundation that would serve the Bryan area.  Lemuel L. Hawk, director and senior vice president of The Aro Corporation, and John B. Dwyer, III, attorney and president of Citizens National Bank, called together a close group of associates and formed what would become the Bryan Area Foundation.

Prior to 1969, there was a need for a community foundation in the Bryan, Ohio area.  As the county seat of Williams County, located in the northwest corner of Ohio, Bryan has a strong agricultural and industrial base.  It is the home of several large, privately held companies that do business worldwide.

Early in 1969, the Bryan Chamber of Commerce appointed a committee of citizens to determine whether or not a community foundation was feasible for the Bryan area and, if feasible, the best way to effect such a community foundation.  This committee met on a number of occasions; contacted the Council on Foundations, Inc., talked with many persons familiar with community foundations; wrote to other community foundations; and visited the nearby city of Van Wert, Ohio, which had operated a community foundation since 1925.  This committee reported that a community foundation for the Bryan area was feasible, and suggested that it be effected through a non-profit corporation.  The attorneys of the community prepared and approved the Articles of Incorporation and a Code of Regulations for the “Bryan Area Foundation.”

The Articles of Incorporation of the Bryan Area Foundation, a non-profit corporation under the Law of Ohio, were executed on December 9, 1969, and were filed with the Secretary of State (Corporation Number 391919) on December 12, 1969.  The member-trustees held their first meeting on December 18, 1969 and elected officers and an executive committee.  On the same day, the foundation filed an application with the District Director of Internal Revenue applying for an exemption from federal tax under Section 501(c)(3) as an organization to be operated exclusively for charitable purposes.

On February 27, 1970, the District Director of Internal Revenue determined that the foundation was exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  He further stated that contributions made to the foundation are deductible by donors as provided in Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.  Gifts for the use of the foundation are deductible for Federal and Estate Gift Tax purposes under the provisions of Sections 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the Code.

On December 14, 1971, the Internal Revenue Service classified the Bryan Area Foundation as a public charity.  This classification allows donors to the foundation to take the maximum charitable deductions for their gifts.

The Bryan Area Foundation provides services to donors and charitable organizations.  Donors give through, not to, the foundation.  Donors may establish named funds within the foundation to meet their philanthropic goals.  These funds may be restricted in nature or unrestricted. There are various types of funds within the foundation:  Community Funds, Field of Interest Funds, Designated Funds, Endowment Funds, Scholarship Funds, Project Funds, and Donor Advised Funds.  There are over 255 named funds in the foundation.  The Bryan Area Foundation also serves as the administrator of the Edon, Montpelier and Milcreek-West Unity area foundations.

During the foundation's history, the following people served as president: Lemuel Hawk, 1969-1975, Theodore Spangler, 1975-1981, Bruce Benedict, 1981-1986, Richard Reed, 1986-1991, Wayne Shaffer, 1991-1996, Thomas Herman, 1996-2001, C. Gregory Spangler, 2001-2004, Kay Jackson, 2004-2006 and James Bard, 2006-2008. The Bryan Area Foundation is governed by nine trustees and has a professional staff including its executive director, Mitchell S. Owens.

The foundation regularly accepts gifts of cash, publicly traded securities, and insurance policies.  Donors may make bequests to the foundation through their wills.  Special types of gifts such as Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, gifts of closely held stock or real estate require special attention.  Donors are encouraged to contact the foundation when contemplating gifts of these types.

The trustees made the first deposit of $200 in the name of the Bryan Area Foundation on December 24, 1969.  From that day to the present, the Bryan Area Foundation has never spent the principal of any endowment gift.  Only the income that a gift generates is available for grant making.

Staff:
Mitchell S. Owens, Executive Director
A native of Bryan, Mitchell came to the foundation after nearly 15 years serving the nonprofit sector.  After spending over 10 years in arts management, Mitchell was serving as the president/CEO of NOCK, a national organization dedicated to providing assistive technology to special needs kids, before taking his current position as the foundation’s executive director.

Dedicated to the community in which he grew up, Mitchell is actively involved in Rotary, community theater, United Way and other efforts that benefit and enhance the Bryan area.  Additionally, he serves as President on the board of directors for NOCK.

Mitchell and his wife Rhonda have a daughter, Autumn Faith.


Pamela R. “Pam” Lanius
Pam joined the foundation staff on April 1, 2004. She serves as the foundation’s data management assistant.

Her background includes service in the United States Army and human resource work with the L.E. Smith Company. She is a graduate of Bryan High School and holds an associates degree from Northwest State Community College. Pam also has a certificate in accounting and tax preparation.

Pam and her husband currently reside in Bryan.

Jody A. Freeman
Jody joined the foundation staff in February of 2006.  She serves as the foundation’s administrative assistant.

Jody’s background includes over 18 years as a medical secretary for the Archbold Medical Group in Archbold, Ohio.  She received an A.A. in childhood education from Siena Heights University.  Jody currently resides with her husband Michael in Stryker.

Officers, Trustees, Members
Term Expires in 2010

Julie A. Brown, President
Dean L. Spangler, Vice President
Michael A. Shaffer, Secretary
George H. Gardner, Treasurer

Trustees
Trustees are elected to three-year terms and may serve no more than two consecutive terms. Trustees are also members of the foundation.

Term Expires 2009
William Pepple
Beth Hollabaugh
Constance M. Tipton

Term Expires 2010
Philip L. Ennen
Mary A. Harvey
Michael Culler

Term Expires 2011
David C. Newcomer
Carol Schreder
James C. Wood, III

Members

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