Do you want to be part of a group that is making a positive impact in our community today, tomorrow and forever?

Is your time limited?
Are you willing to commit to one hour and $100 every year?
Do you want 100% of your donation to go directly to local charities?

Stay turned for details on the next 100 Men Who Care.

If you would like to become a volunteer ambassador

for this event please contact Karin Beyer

karin@otsegofoundation.org

Here’s How it Works

One (1) time per year our members show up with a $100 check in hand to give BIG.
Each member has the opportunity to nominate a local organization. There are eligibility requirements (below) and nominations must be approved by August 15th.
At each meeting, three (3) nominated and approved organizations will be randomly drawn “from the hat”. The nominating member will be asked to make an informal presentation, of up to five minutes, to the group about their organization’s mission and why it is deserving of the members’ vote (no PowerPoint or collateral materials, please). If a nominating member is not in attendance another organization will be drawn.
Members will have the opportunity to ask questions after each presentation.
After the presentations and Q&A, an anonymous ballot is held and the organization with the most votes will be the recipient of a $5000* grant.
Each member writes a $100 check made out to the Otsego Community Foundation (OCF). Members who are not in attendance must send a check with a trusted friend or mail their check to the OCF before the meeting. There is no proxy voting.
All of the checks are collected by the OCF and a grant for $5000* is given to the selected charity within two (2) weeks of the meeting; the remainder is put into the Community Fund.
The selected charity is then invited back to the next meeting to share with members the BIG impact their donations have made.
Still have questions? 100 Men Who Care FAQ below.

*Or half of the money raised that morning.

Eligibility Requirements

Only members of 100 Men Who Care are eligible to nominate a charity. Nominations must be submitted by August 15th. These requirements help ensure that the charity has a solid foundation and is trending in the right direction fiscally, after all they could be the recipient of a $5000 grant made possible because of you and 99 other philanthropic men.

Charities must be:

Local and based in the Otsego County Area.
Must have 501(c)(3) status for a minimum of two (2) years, be active and in good standing with the State of Michigan and Federal Government.
Charities must have two (2) years of 990 tax returns on file and be willing to share that information with us if not readily available on their website or GuideStar. In the case of smaller non-profits (annual gross receipts up to $50,000) who file an e-Postcard (Form 990-N), those organizations must be willing to share two (2) years of year-end financial statements with us.
Charities must be actively engaged in the community and executing their mission statement.
Guide Star and Charity Navigator are helpful websites to verify information on charities.
National or international charities, programs or organizations will not be considered at this time as the focus is on contributing to our local community. Organizations with a national link may be nominated provided the request is for a project to be delivered in the Otsego County area. The funds must stay in our community.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Become A Member?
If you would like to become a member, please complete the Membership-Commitment-Form.

What commitment am I making by becoming a member?Membership includes making an annual tax deductible donation of $100 to Otsego Community Foundation of which $5000* will be granted to the winning organization and the remainder put into the Community Fund. Members commit to fulfilling that donation amount even if they did not vote for the selected charity. If a member is unable to attend the meeting they will give their check to another member to deliver on their behalf or mail their check in advance or within three (3) business days following the meeting. Attendance at meetings is not mandatory but the donation is.

Membership is for a one (1) year period of time and will renew automatically unless notice is given. Members may withdraw at any time.

I’m a new member, what should I expect at a meeting?
Expect to be greeted by a Committee member and asked to sign-in at the check-in table. There will be time for mingling with other fabulous, like-minded men.

Generally, our meetings will go as follows:

7:30 am – Check-in, write your check and mingle

8:00 am – Meeting begins

Opening remarks
The charity that received the funds from the previous meeting will be asked to say a few words of thanks and tell the group how their donations were/will be used and what the impact their donations made on the organization.
An explanation of the charity selection and voting process is given.
Three (3) nominated charities will be selected at random from the hat.
The nominating member from those three (3) charities will each have five (5) minutes to present their charity to the group (no PowerPoint or collateral materials, please). A brief Q&A will follow each presenter.
Members will submit their anonymous ballot and the votes are tabulated.
The charity with the most votes is announced.
You just did something amazing and impactful.

9:00 am – Meeting is adjourned

How long do the meetings last?
Meetings will take no more than an hour. We aim to start promptly at 8:00am. If you wish to come earlier there will be opportunities to socialize before the formal part of the one-hour meeting.

What if I cannot attend a meeting?
If you cannot attend the meeting you should do one of the following:

Give your $100 check to a trusted friend who is attending the meeting.
Mail your $100 check before the meeting to the OCF
Absent members cannot vote by proxy

Can I bring a friend to a meeting?
Yes! We are always looking for men who want to GIVE BIG. Please invite your friends, neighbors, sons, co-workers to become a member today.

Is membership limited to 100 men?
Absolutely not! If we can make a BIG impact with 100 men, why not grow and make an even BIGGER difference? The more the merrier we say, as long as we have room at the venue we will continue to take members. If we exceed capacity at the venue we will start a priority list for the next event. The winning organization will not receive any more than $5000*. Based on final numbers there may be additional grants awarded.

What do you do with my personal information?
The OCF collects your personal information (including name, email address, phone number, and mailing address) strictly for the purpose of keeping in contact with our members. Our database is used for administrative purposes only.

We will not sell, give, or otherwise share your personal information with any third party. Ever. We may occasionally recognize our members via social media and other media. If you want to remain anonymous you must let us know at the time of joining.

How do I nominate a charity?
Once you join the group you may nominate a charity by completing the Nomination Form and submitting it prior to the deadline. An organization may only be nominated by a member.

If a member has an affiliation with a charity, i.e. they are an officer, board member, employee or volunteer, they are allowed to nominate that charity and present on its behalf.

Do I have to nominate a charity?
No. Many men like to just show up and give. While all members have the opportunity to nominate a charity, it is not a requirement of membership.

Can a charity be nominated more than once?
Each member can only nominate one charity per meeting, however multiple members can nominate the same charity, increasing the charities chances to be one of the three charities drawn. The name of the member on the drawn nomination form will give the presentation. However, the same charity may not be drawn more than once to present.

Is my donation tax deductible?
Yes. Tax receipts will be mailed to you with in one month of the event, which is why we collect your current address. If you have not received your tax receipt within a reasonable amount of time, please contact us.

Can I just send the donation to the charity myself?
Sorry, no. The goal is to make one BIG donation on behalf the group. To make a BIG impact, we want to give thousands of dollars at the end of each meeting. The only way to do that is to make each member’s donation part of the larger donation. This is the power of being a member. We also need to be able to track your donations so you get credit for the donation and remain in good standing. Only members in good standing can nominate and vote.

How much of my donation goes to the administration costs of the program?
Absolutely zero! Our operating expenses are offset by generous sponsor donations. $5000* of the funds donated at the meeting goes directly to the selected charity and the remainder goes to the Community Fund.

*or half the money raised that morning.