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About the MVC Fund

The Michigan Vegetable Council’s primary mission is to advance vegetable production, particularly through the support of vital research and education programs. To help assure the Council will continue fulfilling its primary mission into the future, the Council started an endowment — the Michigan Vegetable Council Fund — with a $50,000 investment in 2003. Since it was started, the endowed fund has grown to over $428,525 (at 12/31/2017) and is already being used to fund beneficial research. All gifts to the fund are tax deductible on federal tax returns.

The Michigan Vegetable Council Fund is invested with the Fremont Area Community Foundation (FACF). FACF manages more than 400 endowed funds with assets in excess of $200 million. FACF has an excellent record of careful and effective funds management. Over the life of the Michigan Vegetable Council Fund (through 12/31/2017), investment gains, dividends and interest, net of investment and administrative fees, totaled $190,262.

As the Michigan Vegetable Council Fund grows, it will generate on-going funding to support research and education programs intended to benefit the production and marketing of vegetable crops in Michigan. It may also be used for educational scholarships. It will be used for these purposes only.

Growing the Michigan Vegetable Council Fund

The Michigan Vegetable Council will match all gifts. Since the MVC Fund was started, the Michigan Vegetable Council has helped grow the fund by matching ALL gifts made by individuals and businesses. In 2018, the Council has committed up to $50,000 to match gifts by individuals and businesses.

Memorial gifts will be matched by FACF. The Fremont Area Community Foundation has a special matching program to encourage memorial gifts to the MVC Fund. FACF makes a dollar-for-dollar match for memorial gifts up to $500 per donor household or organization per year. This is in addition to the matching gift from the Michigan Vegetable Council. Any gift given in memory of a person who died during the past year will be matched. Over the life of the fund (through 12/31/2017), FACF has contributed $43,938 to the MVC Fund through its memorial gift matching program.

Grants from the Michigan Vegetable Council Fund

FACF will make grants from the Michigan Vegetable Council Fund based on the recommendation of the Council’s Board of Directors. FACF will follow the advice of the Council’s board, provided the grant requests adhere to the fund’s purposes. This assures that the Council’s board at some future date cannot change the fund’s stated purposes.

The first grant was made from the Michigan Vegetable Council Fund in 2008. To date, research grants totaling $65,731 have been made from the fund. This funding has been used to leverage other grant funding for the projects approved. Since the Council is committed to growing the fund, it has also made matching contributions to the fund to replace the monies used for grants.

The following research projects have been funded to date:

  • 2008: Effects of Brassica Cover Crops on Pickling Cucumber and Summer Squash Production in a Site Naturally Infested with Phytophthora. Principal investigator: Mathieu Ngoajio.
  • 2008: Detection and Quantification of Phytophthora Capsici in Soil by Using Real-time PCR. Principal investigator: JianJun Hao.
  • 2010: Sustainable Aster Yellows Phytoplasma and Associated Leafhopper Vector Management in Michigan. Principal investigator: Zsofia Szendrei.
  • 2010: Combining Strip-tillage and Cover-cropping for Improved Insect and Weed Management in Michigan Cole Crops. Principal investigator: Dan Brainard.
  • 2011: Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) Program for Spotted Wing Drosophila and Brown Marmorated Stinkbug, Two Potential New Pests of Michigan Vegetable Crops. Principal investigator: Zsofia Szendrei.
  • 2012: New Herbicide Labels for Pre- and Post-emergence Weed Control in Vegetable Crops. Principal investigator: Bernie Zandstra.
  • 2013: Development of an Integrated Pest Management Program for Two Celery Insect Pests in Michigan. Principal investigator: Zsofia Szendrei.
  • 2014: Cover Crops, Compost and Polymer-coated Urea for Nitrogen, Nematode and Weed Management in Processing Carrots. Principal investigator: Dan Brainard.
  • 2015: Testing Mustard Cover Crops for Susceptibility to Phytophthora Capsici. Principal investigator: Mary Hausbeck.
  • 2016: Integrated Soil and Weed Management in Snap Beans. Principal investigator: Dan Brainard.
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Download the MVC fund brochure or 
contact the MVC at 517-663-6725 / gbird@michiganvegetablecouncil.org to make your 
tax-deductible contribution. 
*The brochure has an old phone and email for the council on it, please use what is listed above.


Making Contributions to the Michigan Vegetable Council Fund

Cash gifts can be made by completing the form in the Michigan Vegetable Council Fund flyer and mailing it with a check to:
Fremont Area Community Foundation
4424 W 48th Street
Fremont, MI 49412

***The above address is correct.  The downloadable flyer address is not correct.  As of 12/13/2019 we are working on updating flyer)
​The form includes what is needed to designate a contribution as a memorial gift. Checks should be made payable to FACF. An official confirmation letter will be sent by FACF for each contribution.

In addition to cash contributions, gifts can be made to the MVC Fund in other forms, including appreciated property, stock, life insurance and charitable gift annuities. FACF can provide professional assistance in explaining giving options. 

Michigan Vegetable Council | 6835 S Krepps Rd, St Johns, MI 48879 | Phone & Fax: 517-663-6725 | Email
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