Best Calhoun County Grants for Nonprofits in Michigan

Nonprofit public charities, faith institutions, public entities, and schools serving youth and seniors in Calhoun County, Michigan can seek up to US $1,000 for health and wellness programs in the greater Albion area. With a mission to strengthen the greater Albion community, Albion Community Foundation supports projects that promote wellbeing for local young people and older adults.

The Old National Bank Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations for community impact initiatives across Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Focused on four key areas—Affordable Housing, Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Financial Empowerment—the foundation prioritizes programs that support underrepresented communities. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status and align with the foundation’s funding priorities to qualify for grants, which can be applied for every two years.

The MI Forest Legacy Grant Program, managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, aims to protect vital forest lands from conversion into non-forest uses. It promotes conservation through funding for projects like fee transactions and conservation easements, ensuring long-term stewardship and public access. Eligible projects receive up to 75% federal funding, with landowners contributing the remainder. This initiative is crucial for maintaining sustainable forests and their ecological benefits.

Catholic Extension provides essential funding to support the construction, expansion, or renovation of churches and community facilities. This initiative aims to meet the facility needs of under-resourced Catholic dioceses across the U.S. By focusing on active projects, Catholic Extension ensures that communities can enhance their worship spaces and support local ministries, ultimately fostering a stronger church community. Funding is available for both minor and major requests, with an emphasis on urgent needs and robust funding strategies.

The Advia Youth Scholarships Program, initiated by the Advia Foundation, aims to empower graduating seniors who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and a commitment to community service. By providing financial support, the program fosters the growth of future leaders while enhancing financial literacy and education within the community. Advia Foundation's mission is to improve the overall quality of life, making significant contributions to the lives of young individuals and their communities.

The Building Foundation Grants by Catholic Extension aim to support essential pastoral and administrative functions in under-resourced communities. These grants provide salary subsidies and operational funding to ordained, religious, and lay ministers, ensuring access to Catholic services. Prioritizing areas with significant financial need, this initiative seeks to sustain the church's presence where it is most critical, enabling continued ministry and outreach for those who may otherwise be underserved.

The Building Leaders Grants by Catholic Extension aim to enhance the recruitment, education, and ongoing formation of church leaders. This initiative provides critical funding for the professional development of both ordained and lay leaders in mission dioceses. By fostering partnerships with various organizations, it addresses the need for trained ministers and supports various funding areas, including seminarian sponsorship and diaconate formation, ensuring a robust future for church leadership.

Catholic dioceses and parishes serving young people in Calhoun County, Michigan can seek support for ministries to children, teens, young adults, and families that provide faith formation. Catholic Extension’s Engaging Young Catholics grants help Extension dioceses fund campus ministry, youth ministry, religious education, and young adult programs through operational support, salary subsidies, or seed money.

Catholic dioceses serving Calhoun County, Michigan can apply for Building Capacity Grants to strengthen fundraising, financial management, and operational efficiency. Focused on Catholicism, Catholic Extension supports initiatives like development staff, fundraising technology, audits, strategic planning, and training that help Extension dioceses become more self-sustaining and better support Catholic schools institutionally.

Catholic dioceses in Calhoun County, Michigan that are approved as Extension Dioceses can seek support to enhance pastoral and social outreach ministries. With a mission to strengthen Catholic life, Catholic Extension provides funding for catechetical resources, marriage and family ministries, evangelization media, liturgical programs, social outreach, and minor post-disaster support.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity. 

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation. 

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Thomas H. Elliott Scholarship Fund

The Thomas H. Elliott Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of Thomas H. Elliott by providing scholarships to Battle Creek and Calhoun County area students who seek educational opportunities beyond high school. Thomas H. Elliot was born in Pennsylvania and after completing the 8th grade, began working in the coal mines of that region. At age 23 he came to Battle Creek and worked for the Kellogg Company for 41 years. He was a Godfearing man, whose word was his bond and who always gave a day's work for a day's pay. Although he only completed school through the 8th grade, he always valued education and encouraged his three children to pursue higher education. His daughter, Dawn and son, Bob each obtained advanced degrees in education and had successful careers in Education Administration, and his youngest son Tom became a highly successful surgeon. It is intended that this scholarship be awarded to applicants who demonstrate a strong work ethic and high moral character exemplified by the life of Thomas H. Elliot. 

The Teachers and Educators Scholarship, funded by the Advia Foundation, invites teachers to propose financial literacy projects aimed at enhancing students' understanding of money management. This initiative supports the development of effective financial decision-making skills among students, fostering a generation of informed individuals. Eligible proposals should focus on innovative classroom strategies that promote financial knowledge and empower students to make sound financial choices.

Every Battle Creek area resident shall have the resources to access post-secondary education and training.

Your dreams matter — and we want to help you achieve them. Whether you’re a graduating high school senior, an adult returning to school, or a graduate student pursuing advanced education, we’re here to support you by opening doors to opportunity.

Beyond tuition, many funds support total cost of attendance — books, fees, equipment, and in some cases childcare or transportation.

Checks are made payable to the educational institution indicated on the follow-up and mailed directly to the educational institution. Checks are typically mailed in early August.

Stanley T. and Berenice J. Lowe Scholarship Fund

The Berenice Bryant Lowe Fund was established by the Historical Society of Battle Creek and the Lowe family to honor and perpetuate the legacy of the pioneer local historian who tirelessly researched and passionately promoted Battle Creek's heritage for more than twenty years. Berenice Bryant Lowe was a graduate of the University of Michigan and a drama and speech teacher at Battle Creek Central High School. She was a passionate collector of local history and spent years ferreting long-forgotten items out of attics and collecting anecdotes from residents. She was one of the moving spirits behind the revitalization of the Historical Society of Battle Creek and the renovation of the Kimball House into a museum of local history. To recognize Berenice Lowe's twin interest in local history- research and education- the fellowship was established in 1999 with the purpose of providing funding to individuals to develop educational materials and to publish local historical research for use in the community. In 2018, to recognize Berenice's passion for education and her secret sponsorship of students attending KCC, a scholarship was added to support students attending Kellogg Community College in the professional trades and nursing.

The Cheryl A. DeBoer Soar Higher Award, a $5,000 scholarship, honors the former President & CEO of Advia Foundation. It is available to students who are currently enrolled in or accepted to Western Michigan University's College of Aviation. Applicants must have an account with Advia Credit Union before the application deadline and plan to attend WMU's College of Aviation no later than Fall 2025.

The Advancing Lives Grant, offered by the Advia Foundation, supports nonprofit organizations dedicated to making a meaningful impact in their communities. This grant focuses on initiatives that drive progress and improve lives, ensuring that the funding is directed towards organizations that meet specific eligibility criteria, including tax-exempt status and community involvement. Applications are limited to one grant per year per organization, fostering a fair distribution of resources.

Calhoun County, Michigan Catholic school educators and dioceses can access funding through Catholic Extension to develop promising leaders through a graduate-level Certificate in Catholic School Administration. The program covers most tuition plus travel for an LMU leadership academy, building capacity in mission effectiveness, operational management, and instructional leadership for Catholic K–12 schools.

Mission Catholic dioceses in Calhoun County, Michigan and other pre-approved areas can apply for Catholic Extension’s Francis Grants to fund major diocesan events and bishop education. These grants support occasions like episcopal ordinations, significant anniversaries, papal visits, and a bishop’s continued personal education in poor mission dioceses across the U.S.

The Marshall Community Foundation's Momentum Grant offers flexible funding opportunities to enhance community well-being in Calhoun County. This grant prioritizes projects that yield substantial community benefits, foster collaboration, and address local challenges. Eligible applicants include non-profits, schools, and churches, with an emphasis on initiatives that support low-income populations and promote youth development. The Foundation encourages innovative approaches and seeks to strengthen local organizations while avoiding duplication of services.

Marshall Community Foundation: Impact Grant

The Marshall Community Foundation reviews/awards grants quarterly and yearly based upon the size of the grant request. Grants are awarded to agencies across Calhoun County that benefit residents of the City of Marshall and surrounding townships. Grants are intended to be a flexible local funding opportunity that can respond to community needs.

Requests will only be considered for:

• Capacity Building
• New Major Projects
• Challenge Grants

Marshall Community Foundation: Mini Grant

Funding Amount

• Up to $750

The Marshall Community Foundation reviews/awards grants quarterly and yearly based upon the size of the grant request. (Grant applications can be submitted at any time.) Grants are awarded to agencies across Calhoun County that benefit residents of the City of Marshall and surrounding townships. Grants are intended to be a flexible local funding opportunity that can respond to community needs.

Application priorities include, but are not limited to:

• Yields substantial community benefits for the resources invested
• Facilitates cooperation and enhances collaboration among organizations
• Avoids duplication of services
• Benefits the greatest number of people in the community and attracts volunteer resources
• Strengthens or improves the self-sufficiency and efficiency in areas such as, but not limited to:
  • Capacity Building
  • Workforce Development
• Represents innovative, start-up efforts
• Supports low income/underserved populations with:
  • Access to Resources
  • Poverty Intervention
  • Food Insecurity
• Promotes youth development in areas such as, but not limited to:
  • Student Performance
  • Teacher Training
  • Supplemental Programs
  • Youth Mental Health
• Examines and addresses underlying causes of local challenges
• Seeks challenge or matching financial resources

The Marshall Community Foundation will only consider granting to organizations who have submitted final reports for all previous grants. Final reports must be approved by the Board of Trustees. The approval process may take up to three months.

Marshall Community Foundation

The Marshall Community Foundation is a partnership of endowed funds established by individuals and organizations. A Board of Trustees, comprised of local community leaders, invest the pooled endowments. Income generated is then available for grants that address charitable needs in our community. Staff and trained volunteers monitor the grants to ensure fulfillment of the grant agreements.

The full circle of philanthropy is poetry in motion. The Foundation receives your gifts, grants to local non-profits, who in turn, give back by providing services to the community. Truly, the Foundation is all about improving the quality of life and making this a better place to live, work and raise a family.

BluFish Marketing Scholarship

Scholarships awarded to graduating seniors from any school in Calhoun County who have chosen to seek a degree in creative studies, such as, but not limited to, advertising, marketing, or design at a two- or four-year college or university.

Financial Information and transcripts/scores may be a determining factor. 

Nonprofit public charities, faith institutions, public entities, and schools in Calhoun County, Michigan serving the greater Albion area can seek up to US $450 for girls’ math and science education and early childhood education projects. Focused on youth development, Albion Community Foundation invites local organizations to propose small, specific educational initiatives.

Nonprofit public charities, faith institutions, public entities, and schools in Calhoun County, Michigan can seek up to US $2,000 for youth education and enrichment programs benefiting groups. With a mission to strengthen the greater Albion area, Albion Community Foundation also supports cultural, recreational, and environmental projects serving local youth.

Nonprofit public charities, faith institutions, public entities, and schools serving youth in the greater Albion area can apply for Albion Community Foundation’s Prince Hall Award, offering up to US $150 for youth leadership and character development activities in Calhoun County, Michigan. Grants from Albion Community Foundation help Calhoun County, Michigan organizations strengthen youth development and moral growth.

Nonprofit public charities and local institutions in Calhoun County, Michigan can seek up to US $3,000 to support public welfare, cultural, health, youth development, recreational, or environmental projects serving the greater Albion area. Albion Community Foundation’s Rotary Charitable Fund backs specific community-focused initiatives that enhance quality of life for Albion residents.

The Team 1 Plastics Corporate Donor Advised Fund, managed by the Albion Community Foundation, offers grants up to $1,000 to support educational initiatives benefiting the greater Albion area. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and faith institutions serving the community. The foundation emphasizes community improvement, cultural heritage, and youth development, having awarded over $3.7 million in grants since its inception. This funding aims to enhance the quality of life for local residents.

Nonprofit public charities and eligible institutions serving African American youth in Calhoun County, Michigan can apply for up to US $1,000 to support youth-focused programs and broader community activities. Focused on community improvement, cultural heritage, and youth development, Albion Community Foundation invites local organizations to propose projects benefiting the greater Albion African American community.