William J. Deputy Endowment Fund

The William J. Deputy Endowment Fund, established in 2008, is a community-centric grant initiative aimed at fostering development and improving quality of life within Harbor Country, Michigan. Named in honor of Bill Deputy—a committed member of the New Buffalo Yacht Club and New Buffalo Harbor Commission—the fund reflects his passion for supporting both waterfront and broader community projects. Mr. Deputy was recognized for his quiet philanthropic efforts and deep commitment to his region, and the fund serves as a legacy of his enduring vision for inclusive, localized support. The fund is administered by the Berrien Community Foundation (BCF), a regional philanthropic organization known for managing and distributing charitable assets to support local needs. Through this endowment, BCF provides annual grant opportunities to municipalities within the Harbor Country area. These include the communities of Grand Beach, Harbert, Lakeside, Michiana, New Buffalo, Sawyer, Three Oaks, and Union Pier. Eligible municipalities may propose community projects that improve the lives of their residents, whether directly through infrastructure, services, or collaborative ventures. Grants are awarded annually, and each eligible municipality may submit only one application per funding cycle. Collaborative applications between municipalities and community organizations are allowed and encouraged, but must still adhere to the one-application-per-municipality rule. This encourages strategic planning and thoughtful selection of priority projects each year. Applications must be submitted online through BCF's grant application portal. First-time applicants are required to register their organization, undergo approval by BCF, and complete an email verification process before gaining access to the application system. Once registered, applicants can locate active funding opportunities under the “Opportunities” tab. Draft applications can be revisited by navigating to “Submissions” and selecting “In Progress.” The application requires submission of a completed BCF budget worksheet, which must be uploaded at the end of the application form. The program is straightforward in its requirements, but access to the system and proper registration are critical first steps. The foundation emphasizes the importance of saving login credentials and verifying email addresses promptly due to the limited validity of the verification link. The deadline for applications is October 1 each year. While the fund does not indicate recurring dates in the narrative, its annual cadence and established history since 2008 suggest a regular cycle. There is no indication of rolling applications or multi-phase evaluations. Award decisions and notification timelines are not explicitly detailed in the source material. No minimum or maximum funding amounts are provided, and the number of awards or historical recipients is not listed publicly. The fund is region-specific and not available to organizations or municipalities outside the designated Harbor Country communities.

Applicants must register and verify their organization account before gaining access. The email verification link expires after 24 hours.