Herman Gundlach Fund - Supporting Our Community's Needs

 

Herman “Winks” Gundlach smiling.

The Herman Gundlach Fund is one of KCF’s longest-standing and largest funds! Each year, this fund grants tens of thousands of dollars to local organizations and initiatives that align with the vision of Winks and his family. From food security to housing and childcare, this fund and its advisors have our community’s needs and interests at its core.

Fund History

Before his death at 91 in 2005, Herman Winks Gundlach gave his daughter instructions on continuing his legacy of giving back to the community where he grew up, worked, and that he cared so much about. In an email to his daughters (typed in all capital letters, and using two fingers!) Winks outlined his wish that they continue giving after his death. His daughters were tasked with setting up a foundation in his name using a list of charities he had supported in the Upper Peninsula. Finally, the Herman Gundlach Fund was created at the Keweenaw Community Foundation.

2023 Granting

For the 2023 fiscal year, the Herman Gundlach Fund awarded over $55,500 to local organizations and initiatives to fund projects addressing community needs. The individual grants ranged from $100 to $2,500.

2023 Grant Recipients:

  • 31 Backpacks

  • Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter

  • Bay Cliff Health Camp

  • BHK Child Development Board

  • Calumet Theatre

  • CLK Council of Churches

  • Copper Country Humane Society

  • Copper Country Intermediate School District

  • Copper Country Senior Meals

  • Copper Country Suzuki Association

  • Copper Shores Community Health Foundation

  • Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes

  • The Joe Freed Empowerment Fund at KCF

  • Keweenaw Outdoor Recreation Coalition

  • Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

  • Let's Eat Community Meals

  • Let's Rebuild Community

  • Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly

  • Pine Mountain Music Festival

  • Saints Peter and Paul Lutheran Church

  • Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Hancock

  • The Salvation Army Hancock

  • Trinity Episcopal Church - Food Bank

  • U.P. Kids

  • Western UP Food Bank

Learn More

To learn more about the Gundlach’s legacy, explore the website dedicated to Herman “Winks” Gundlach and his wife, Barbara Kettle Gundlach: www.hermangundlach.com

This website was created to preserve the legacy of Herman “Winks” and Barbara Kettle Gundlach, maintain the history of our community, and to inspire the next generation of activists, feminists, and philanthropists.

Review the Herman Gundlach Fund webpage to learn more about donating to the fund, and how you can get involved in supporting our community!

Thank you to Herman Gundlach and his family! We’re honored to continue charitable giving in his name to the community he so loved and cherished.

 
Keweenaw Community Foundation