Marc Bickford’s journey that led him to the Community Foundation is one of perseverance, problem-solving, and a deep commitment to keeping resources within the community. For him, it all began as a young lawyer in Wautoma, fresh out of law school and eager to help those in need. Little did he know, he was about to find himself at the center of an overwhelming number of requests.
“Back then, it seemed like I was a target for everyone who had a club,” Marc recalls. “Marc! Marc! Can you help us? We need a 501c3 status!”
His first few experiences were far from easy. He remembers the countless challenges like helping organizations with missing addresses on filings, the frustration of untangling legal issues, and the pressure of trying to make things work within the legal framework. “First, there’s a $600 filing fee, but they don’t have the correct addresses, so they would lose their filing.” Despite these early hurdles, Marc remained determined to help his community thrive.
But it wasn’t long before Marc realized that there had to be a better way. The challenges of navigating the maze of legal paperwork and the constant flow of requests led Marc to ask a critical question: “How can we make this easier, more sustainable?”
This eventually led him to the idea of establishing scholarship funds at the local schools. Even once the scholarships were set up, Marc found himself facing more obstacles, with funds unable to gain traction or grow as needed. “I was getting 100 emails a day,” he remembers, “and these scholarships couldn’t gain any interest. The money would eventually run out.”
Through these challenges, Marc’s journey eventually led him to the Community Foundation, where he found the relief he had been seeking. “I can make scholarships happen now. I can show people the way now through the Community Foundation,” Marc says. “There’s so much relief in telling people that, despite all the barriers to get here, we are finally here with sustainable solution dedicated to supporting the community in the long-term”.
Marc’s passion for the work of the Foundation is clear. He’s not just about paperwork and legal jargon; he’s about keeping the money here, in the community, and ensuring that the hard work of individuals doesn’t go to waste. “CFCWI takes care of the paperwork, the process, and the weight. This keeps the money here!”
For Marc, being 100% committed to the Community Foundation isn’t just being a board president, it’s a cause, one that makes him proud to lead and endorse. “The journey has been a lot of lefts and rights, but I’m happy to be here now. And that’s why I’m 100% in.”
Thank you, Marc, for your dedication, your resilience, and for ensuring that our community continues to thrive. Your commitment is an inspiration to us all.
