We’re honoring the life and legacy of Jim Acheson, a dedicated and longtime champion in philanthropy. Community Foundation of St. Clair County shared a message that Jim passed away last week at the age of 87. The community foundation honored his many contributions to the St. Clair County community, our state and philanthropy. 

Jim’s father, Howard, was one of the founding fathers of the Community Foundation of St. Clair County (then known as the Port Huron District Foundation) in 1944 and was one of its longest-serving board members. 

Jim carried on his father’s legacy of philanthropy and served as a trustee of the community foundation from 1972 to 1990.  In the late 1990s, Jim began a decades-long period of giving back that is unprecedented in the foundation’s 79-year history. 

A devoted member of our CMF community, Jim was honored with the Dr. Russell G. Mawby Award for Philanthropy in 2004. Established by CMF and the Michigan Nonprofit Association, this award honors an individual or family who has encouraged private action for the public good through philanthropy and demonstrated leadership in championing collaborative solutions for communities. 

In 2009, he received the Distinguished Service Award (DSA) from the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, which honors extraordinary lifetime achievement in philanthropy.

He and his team, led by Donna Niester, vice chair of the James C. Acheson Foundation and CMF trustee, began an intentional and deliberate plan to dramatically bolster the capacity and professionalism of the community foundation. They were a driving force behind recruiting and hiring the first full-time professional CEO, Randy Maiers, in 2002.  Jim also made significant gifts to grow the foundation’s operating funds and its operating endowment. 

“We would truly have to argue with Jim to put his name on something. He just always wanted to do it quietly and sometimes he did it in somebody else’s name. He truly was a humble man,” Niester said.

The Community Foundation of St. Clair County shared that Jim's support and generosity were responsible for community assets that will endure for generations to come, such as Desmond Landing and the Maritime Center, the Performing Arts Centers at each high school in Port Huron, the Blue Water River Walk, Studio 1219, the Youth Home, Community Renaissance Program and Community Capital Club. 

“Jim grew up on the southside of Port Huron, which is why it has been the focus of so much of what he’s donated. He’s done things to help the schools and (in) health care. He truly was a visionary of what Port Huron could look like,” Niester said.

He was also passionate in his support for McLaren Port Huron Hospital, Port Huron Police Department, Blue Water YMCA, Port Huron Museum, SONS, Mid-City Nutrition and the Tall Ship Festival.

The community foundation is honoring Jim’s life and his passion for giving back through gifts made to the James C. Acheson Fund to support the programs, projects and organizations he cared about.