The Berrien Community Foundation is making some changes in the operation of the 2015 Fall competitive grant cycle.

Non-profit, school or government organizations that may be seeking funding from the Berrien Community Foundation are invited to one of three information sessions to learn about these changes and ask questions.

The sessions will be held at:

• 4 p.m. on June 3 at the Niles District Library, 620 E. Main St., Niles

• 8 a.m., June 4 at the Area Agency on Aging, 2900 Lakeview Ave., St. Joseph

• 4 p.m., June 8 at the Area Agency on Aging, 2900 Lakeview Ave., St. Joseph

“Along with changing to an electronic process, we have also made some changes to the focus areas,” said Berrien Community Foundation President Lisa Cripps-Downey. “We wanted to make sure non-profits in our community had the opportunity to get the information they needed to present a great grant application for committee review.”

The Berrien Community Foundation will seek funding opportunities in the following fields of interest:

• Community Development & Special Needs

• Excellence in Education

• Environment/Animal Protection

• Health

• Nurturing our Children

• Senior Empowerment

• Youth Leadership & Development

The 2015 grant application deadline is

Aug. 27, 2015.

Committees of Berrien Community Foundation members who are community volunteers come together to read and review the grant applications. “Our volunteers are making critical funding decisions,” Cripps-Downey said. “They rely on the non-profit organizations to help clearly define the needs in the community and to present the proposals in a way that helps them make the best funding recommendations. The volunteers really put a lot of work into the decision making process.”

The Berrien Community Foundation was established in 1952 as an innovative means by which any concerned individual could put charitable dollars to work for the benefit of Berrien County and beyond. For more information about the Foundation call (269) 983-3486 or visit www.berriencommunity.org.