Search Through Financial Assistance Grants in Michigan in the U.S.

Assisting Our Neighbors In Need

We are investing in what’s most important to Michigan – its people, our planet and Michigan’s prosperity. We award grants for capital funding and innovative projects and campaigns that align with our priorities for each.

Grant seekers are encouraged to review our priorities and ensure projects/programs align with the outcomes we seek. Metrics related to outcomes will be requested within the grant application.

Check Your Grant Request Against These Standards

People

Will your project/program contribute to reducing poverty levels/ALICE numbers in Michigan through increased high school graduation rates; increasing the STEM/skilled labor talent pool; or supporting our most vulnerable residents and providing them with pathways to self-sufficiency?

Planet

Will your project/program protect/preserve or restore land, freshwater bodies, or air quality in Michigan?

Prosperity

Will your project/program contribute to Michigan’s economy by creating safe, desirable neighborhoods, supporting job growth and entrepreneurs, or attracting visitors?

What type of projects does the Consumers Energy Foundation fund?

The Consumers Energy Foundation funds capital projects and provides program and operation support in alignment with our commitment to Michigan’s people, planet and prosperity. Our priorities include reducing poverty levels/ALICE numbers in Michigan by focusing on basic needs, education and workforce readiness; protecting/preserving Michigan’s land, water & air; and economic development by focusing on neighborhood revitalization, job growth, and arts and culture.

Program Overview 

The main objective of the foundation is to carry on the legacy of Joseph and Vera Dresner by supporting the work of organizations in our focus areas. It was the Dresner’s mission that the foundation would provide a channel to improve the lives of people and animals in their communities. 

The foundation’s approach empowers community members to benefit from the grant investments that we make. We partner with organizations that are committed to creating opportunities for the underserved in our communities. Those partners include a wide-range of entities, including hospitals, community centers, and other nonprofits. 

Our goal is to provide organizations with the necessary resources, so they can continue offering services to those most in need. We seek to test innovative approaches, determine lessons from current commendable activities, and promote the adoption of creative thinking on a broad scale through direct grant making and support for research and other ventures that advance community support. 

We Offer 3 Types of Support: 

• Project – Development of new programs, expansion of existing programs, or continuation of sustainable, recognized effective current programming. 
• Capital – Equipment purchase, acquisition, construction and/or renovation of facilities. 
• Funding for special circumstances, in support of existing grantee  programs, will be considered on a case by case basis. Please note the foundation will not accept unsolicited proposals for this type of support. 

Our Focus Areas Include: 

Health 

We fund projects that support institutions conducting medical research and clinical trials specifically related to Myelodysplastic Syndromes. We also fund projects that improve access to health care and health outcomes. Click here to view information about the Foundation's Myelodysplasia Research Grant.

- support for programs that improve the health outcomes of vulnerable people, particularly underserved, low-income individuals who don’t have adequate access to health care. 

The foundation is equally interested in efforts that have broad and meaningful impact and focus on intervention and prevention beyond the boundaries of any one disease. 

Therefore, we seek to support a network of hospitals and community-based organizations that work to improve the health outcomes of these individuals through enhanced access to health care.

Youth and Family 

It is critical that disadvantaged, underserved, and special needs children have access to programs that allow them to learn and foster important life skills. We help organizations develop and sustain programs that empower children and their families and offer opportunity to improve their lives. 

– support for youth programs that foster self-empowerment and self-esteem through academic, artistic, personal or social enrichment. 

Regardless, if a child lives in poverty or has a chronic disease, it is essential that they have access to programs that encourage self-expression and move their lives forward in a meaningful way. Therefore, we support organizations that empower children and optimize their development by providing access to programs that promote academic, artistic, personal and social enhancement opportunities. 

– support for programs that reinforce families. 

We are also interested in organizations that support youth through the provision of services that strengthen their families such as, but not limited to, workforce development, housing and family food assistance.

Animal Welfare 

We work with animal care organizations to make certain that they have the resources needed to ensure the best care and secure shelter for animals and offer corresponding public education initiatives.

– support for state-of-the-art facilities and services and corresponding public education initiatives.  

The foundation works with animal welfare organizations to make sure they have the resources they need to advance their work. We are interested in supporting state-of-the art facilities and services. Animal welfare efforts that the foundation will consider are, but not limited to, providing adequate treatment resources, upgrading equipment, improving and maintaining facilities, aiding in the shelter of animals in communities, and public education initiatives.

The Jeffris Family Foundation invites applications for grants from the Jeffris Heartland Fund, to support the development of important historic preservation projects in the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.The decision to pursue a grant from the Jeffris Heartland Fund must be made in consultation with a Director of the Foundation to discuss your project and request a Jeffris Heartland Fund application form.Directors can also assist grant-seekers with the application process, provide related technical assistance to guide wise and constructive use of the grant funding, and administer grants once awarded. Applications, once invited, are accepted at any time.  Award notices are issued within approximately 30 days of receipt of the application.Grants will be made in the range of $5,000 to $50,000 to cover 50% the cost of an Historic Structure Report, and must be matched dollar-for-dollar with cash from sources unrelated to the Jeffris Family.

Historic Significance of the Site

• Priority will be given to sites of documented national and then state historic significance. Sites with local significance only will not be eligible for funding.
• Priority will be given to sites associated with prominent figures of national, regional, or statewide importance, or with events of national, regional, or statewide significance.
• Priority will be given to sites with significant architectural merit, including association with designers of national, regional, or statewide importance.
• Priority will be given to sites with strong elements of the decorative arts.
• Priority will be given to projects involving historic resources that are extremely rare and/or unique.
• Priority will be given to projects with a high degree of historic integrity, and to work relating to the restoration of original elements. While work to accommodate contemporary usage is acceptable, all work on the property must conform to The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Proposed Project and Plan

• Priority will be given to applicants that can best demonstrate that a Historic Structure Report or other detailed planning study for which funding is being requested is critical to the accurate and appropriate restoration of the property.
• Priority will be given to applicants that can best demonstrate their intended use will be financially viable and operationally sustainable over time.
• Priority will be given to applicants that can assure that the project will fully comply with The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties through review and oversight by a local historic preservation commission, state historic preservation office, or preservation consultants thoroughly familiar and experienced with those standards.

 Organizational Excellence

• Priority will be given to applicants who can demonstrate a pattern of programming and services connected to the site and their stated mission (e.g. educational programs, events, hospitality).
• Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate a broad base of membership and community support.
• Priority will be given to applicants with demonstrated success in past capital fundraising efforts.

Michigan College Access Network

Our Mission

Increase college readiness, participation, and completion in Michigan, particularly among low income students, first-generation college-going students, and students of color.

Our Goal

Increase the percentage of Michigan residents with postsecondary certificates or degrees to 60 percent by the year 2030.

Local College Access Networks (LCANs)

Local College Access Networks (LCANs) are community-based college access coordinating bodies supported by a team of community and education leaders representing K-12, higher education, the nonprofit sector, government, business, and philanthropy. These intermediary organizations are committed to building a college-going culture and dramatically increasing the college going completion rates within their community. LCANs coordinate and expand programs, services and resources that lower barriers preventing students from pursuing postsecondary educational opportunities. LCANs organize community leaders around a singular vision and goal: Increase the community’s postsecondary educational attainment in order to lay the foundation for a vibrant economy, healthy community and strong workforce equipped to compete in a 21st century global economy. The LCAN will set goals focused on student success, establish a system of data gathering and analysis, report results and hold partners accountable for performance.

LCAN Grants

MCAN offers grant opportunities to build up Local College Access Networks (LCANs) that put college in reach for more Michigan youth. MCAN has created a series of college access grant opportunities, including funds for planning, implementation, and continuous improvement. Once a community organization successfully completes the Planning Grant process, it may be eligible to apply for an MCAN Implementation Grant. The Continuous Improvement Grant application is available by invitation only.

In addition to a financial grant, MCAN will provide extensive tools, templates, and technical assistance.

Planning Grants

LCAN Planning Grants are available for up to $20,000 to conduct a strategic planning process to organize and initiate a community-based Local College Access Network (LCAN).

All grantees will be required to match 25% of their grant award with cash or in-kind support.

Emergency Watershed Protection Program-Michigan

The EWP Program offers technical and financial assistance to help local communities relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and other natural disasters that impair a watershed. EWP does not require a disaster declaration by federal or state government officials for program assistance to begin. The NRCS State Conservationist can declare a local watershed emergency and initiate EWP program assistance in cooperation with an eligible sponsor (see the Eligibility section below). NRCS will not provide funding for activities undertaken by a sponsor prior to the signing of a cooperative agreement between NRCS and the sponsor.

Floodplain Easement Option

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) that assists sponsors and landowners to protect lives and property from flooding or soil erosion after a natural disaster. The EWP Program is designed for emergency recovery work, including the purchase of floodplain easements. In communities impacted by constant flooding, an easement might be the best solution. 

What is a floodplain easement?

A floodplain easement is a reserved interest in the land defined in a deed where the landowner conveys specific rights but retains ownership, title, and interest in the property. NRCS may purchase floodplain easements as an emergency measure, and NRCS will only purchase easements from landowners on a voluntary basis. A floodplain easement conveys property rights to NRCS so that:

• the threat of damage to property is reduced or eliminated, and
• the floodplain may be restored and protected.
• NRCS will pay landowners full fair market value based on an appraisal for the floodplain easement. Also, NRCS may provide up to 100 percent of the restoration and enhancement costs of the easement.

WBD Opportunity Funds

Each year WBD invests in projects/activities/organizations with specific efforts aligned with our mission to Grow Businesses, Create Jobs and Build Communities. While the amount of investment varies depending on the success of the organization each year, WBD is committed to identifying and supporting a variety of efforts throughout our service area.

Investments shall be consistent with the shared WBD/504 mission of creating and retaining jobs.

Following are several examples;

• Workforce development and job training programs
• Providing capital and/or financial resources to under served markets
• Small Business Incubators
• Technical Assistance Provides such as Small Business Development Centers, Veteran’s Business Outreach Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and/or the Service Corps of Retired Executives
• Contributions to other local nonprofits that provide grants and/or entrepreneurial training to small businesses or scholarships to students for participation in such entrepreneurial training programs
• Revolving Loan Funds as direct loans or matching funds for a federal, state or local program
• Downtown revitalization projects
• Financing economic impact studies to enable or document local economic development efforts

These examples are guidelines, but other efforts that support the growth or development of small business that creates jobs will also be considered.

Funding

Typical WBD investments range from $5,000 - $50,000. WBD will consider a multi year commitment in some cases.

We can approve an exception to the indirect costs rule up to 10% of the total budget depending on the project and specific circumstances. We will work with final candidates to discuss these possible costs in later application rounds.

Our fiscal year begins October 1st. Since our investments are directly tied to our business success, we do not know exactly what our budget for investing until our annual Audit is completed. However, we will make an estimate in February and refine the estimate as the year progresses. All commitments for investments will be completed each year by Sept 30.

Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation collaborate with a wide range of nonprofit organizations that align with our strategic funding priorities. We prioritize our funding to activities and programs that have a broad reach and support the needs of underserved communities. We aspire to have a positive impact on the communities we serve by using our financial and volunteer resources and business expertise in collaboration with community organizations to help solve complex societal problems.

• Financial health
• Housing affordability
• Small business growth
• Sustainability

We may also support other local needs in eligible communities such as disaster relief, arts and culture, civic engagement, education, human and social services, and workforce development. However, opportunities are limited as our intent is to direct the majority of our giving within our major focus areas.

Mission

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on preventing cruelty to animals and promoting the humane treatment of animals, particularly companion animals such as dogs and cats, and other species of animals commonly kept as household pets. The Foundation also supports efforts to protect the well-being of urban-suburban native wildlife, captive exotic wildlife, farmed animals, working animals, and non-human animals generally. It extends in perpetuity the generosity toward animals in need shown by Kenneth Allen Scott during his lifetime, and assists those who care for them today.

Grant Guidelines

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust invites applications for projects to advance the quality of life for companion animals and native wildlife. It is focused on helping organizations go beyond basic care with innovative projects that provide an enhanced quality of life today and in the future.

Program Areas

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust’s priority is helping organizations go beyond basic care to support initiatives that will provide an enhanced quality of life for homeless and abused companion animals today and in the future. Funding applications should address one of the following program areas:

• Animal Adoption, Behavior Training, and Fostering
• Continuing Education and Training
• Humane and Wildlife Education
• Medical Care, Rehabilitation, and Wellness Care for Animals
• Pet and Feral Animal Population Control through Spay/Neuter
• Equipment
• Other Animal Care Initiatives

History & Mission

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on preventing cruelty to animals and promoting the humane treatment of animals, particularly companion animals such as dogs and cats, and other species of animals commonly kept as household pets.  The Foundation also supports efforts to protect the well-being of urban-suburban wildlife, captive exotic wildlife, farmed animals, working animals, and non-human animals generally.  It extends in perpetuity the generosity toward animals in need shown by Kenneth Allen Scott during his lifetime, assisting those who care for them today.

Giving Strategy

The Foundation has two deadlines each year for proposals for Ohio/Great Lake Region Grants, depending on project topic. You may apply for one round or the other, and request funding for only one project in your proposal.

Ohio and Other Great Lakes Grants

The Foundation devotes most of its resources to grants for organizations in Ohio and portions of the other seven states in the Great Lakes watershed (including IL, IN, MI, WI, Western PA, Upstate NY, and Northeastern MN), reflecting the origin of Mr. Scott’s assets. We seek innovative, cost-effective projects that demonstrate our region’s commitment to improving the well-being of animals, especially those in underserved areas or belonging to disadvantaged social groups. We prefer initiatives that are metropolitan, multi-county, statewide or regional or involve collaborations among multiple agencies. Requests from small organizations with localized impact are less likely to be funded. Successful applicants will pursue a high quality of life for individual animals and improve the situation of significant numbers of animals.

Program Areas

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust’s priority is helping organizations go beyond basic care to support initiatives that will provide an enhanced quality of life for homeless and abused companion animals today and in the future.

Funding applications should address one of the following program areas:

Animal Adoption, Behavior Training, and Fostering

• projects to increase successful adoptions or other non-capital means of expanding shelter capacity.

Continuing Education & Training

• opportunities for staff and volunteers to improve delivery of care and retain employees.

Humane & Wildlife Education

• school and community programs that address respecting animals, humane care, health issues and human/wildlife conflicts. 

Purpose

To provide funding to implement nonpoint source activities identified in EGLE-approved watershed management plans. Implementation activities must address specific sources of nonpoint source pollution identified by Michigan's Nonpoint Source Program Plan.

Goals

To restore waters impaired by nonpoint source pollution and protect high quality waters from degradation. This funding source provides for the implementation of physical improvements as well as information/education strategies, land use planning, the installation of easements and related activities.

Criteria:

• Anticipated water quality benefit in relation to the costs.
• Ability of the applicant to carry out the project.
• Expected long-term water quality improvement or protection.
• Consistency with the approved watershed management plan.
• Project evaluation activities.
• Commitment for financial and technical assistance by project partners.

Americana Foundation Grant

The Americana Foundation was established by Adolph and Ginger Meyer to support, through philanthropy, their varied personal interests. A Detroit area industrialist, Adolph Meyer believed in the American ideals of hard work and self-reliance and held a deep respect for early American farmers, craftsmen, and artists. Ginger Meyer was an avid gardener, award-winning floral arranger, and an active contributor of time and funds to a variety of charitable causes.

This dedication to education and agriculture includes preservation of their 160-acre historic farmstead in southeast Michigan, Tollgate Farm, which provides unique hands-on learning on a working farm in an urban setting. 

The Foundation provides its support mainly through financial grants. Some limited technical assistance in the form of consulting services to the board, staff and volunteers of recipient organizations is available. The technical assistance is provided to assist the recipient group in organizational management and strategic planning.

Our Mission

The Americana Foundation supports the sustainable development of agriculture and community food systems, the protection of natural resources, and an inclusive narrative of early American art and history.

Program Focus: Agriculture and Natural Resources

Adolph and Ginger Meyer believed that farmers were the backbone of America and that farming and the production of food “always will be a required function if any of us are to survive." The Meyers had a lifelong interest in honoring America’s agrarian traditions and were committed to ensuring that people in Michigan maintain a close connection with the land, and with farmers and other producers of our food.

Over the years, Americana has supported projects and programs designed to create rural and urban landscapes in Michigan where the community is connected to the food system, land, and nature; where agricultural producers are prosperous and focused on sustainability, and where agriculture and natural resources support public health, diverse business opportunities and livable communities for all.

Geographic Focus: Geographic Focus: Nonprofit organizations doing work that impacts Michigan are eligible to apply.

Our Current Focus

Our current priority in the Agriculture and Food Systems program area is to support projects and programs that work to transform food systems in Michigan so that they focus on growers, processors, and distributors and provide healthy and culturally appropriate food through ecologically sound and sustainable methods. The goal is for all Michiganders - rural and urban - to be connected to a sustainable local food economy. The program area seeks to benefit those who traditionally have lacked power over and resources to access healthy locally or regionally produced food.

Example Projects

• Connecting Michigan farms and food businesses with new markets, consumers, and communities.
• Empowering Michigan communities to shape the food systems that provide their food.
• Creating opportunities for small-scale and marginalized Michigan farmers and food businesses.
• Supporting systems designed to increase access to healthy, culturally appropriate, locally grown food for Michigan communities.
• Increasing the resilience of the food system in Michigan to the impacts of climate change.

Ameriprise Financial Grantmaking

At Ameriprise Financial, giving back is deeply rooted in our culture. We’ve initiated positive change in the communities where we live and work for more than 120 years. We believe our community involvement enables us to actively live our values. Through grant making, volunteerism and employee and financial advisor gift matching programs, we support a diverse group of over 6,000 nonprofits across the country.

Focus Areas

Awarding grant dollars to nonprofits is one way we strengthen our communities and help individuals on a path to financial independence. To ensure we're meeting the needs of our communities and making an even greater collective impact, we focus on three key giving areas when awarding grants.

Volunteer engagement is a priority across all focus areas:

The engagement of Ameriprise employees and financial advisors is a critical component of our philanthropy. Whether it’s serving on a nonprofit board, engaging friends, clients and community members in volunteering or providing skills-based support, our relationships with nonprofits go deep. For this reason, we give priority across all focus areas to applications where there is active volunteer engagement of Ameriprise advisors and employees. 

Meeting Basic Needs

At Ameriprise Financial, we help clients achieve financial security and peace of mind. That’s satisfying, meaningful work. We also help the people in our neighborhoods who struggle to meet basic needs such as where their next meal comes from, where they’ll sleep tonight or how they’ll find a higher wage job. We’re here to help them through the three platforms of our Meeting Basic Needs focus area.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Hunger
• Food banks, food shelves and food pantries, daily meal programs or meal services for the homebound
• Hunger-relief programs targeted to meet the special needs of children, ethnic populations or veterans
• Food programs run by nonprofits where hunger is not their sole focus, for example a youth meal program at the YWCA or a backpack program run by a Boys & Girls Club
• Shelter
• Emergency shelter, including youth homelessness
• Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and efforts to end chronic homelessness
• Housing-first models (programs quickly providing housing and then addressing needed services)
• Achieving and maintaining home ownership, repair and maintenance efforts helping keep seniors, veterans and other populations in their homes 
• Adult Self-Sufficiency: Programs serving adults age 21 and older that help address the following areas:
• Basic hard and soft skills that help adults achieve economic and family stability
• Basic financial and budgeting skills
• Increase employability and wages, including work readiness and job transitions
• Employment of disabled adults

Supporting Community Vitality

We believe communities should be strong, healthy and resilient. We want livable places for all, where neighbors look out for one another, cultural events are well-attended and people pull together in times of crisis and joy. We work to create economic vitality and cultural enrichment through the following areas of focus.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Community Development
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Economic development
• Strengthening and supporting small businesses and nonprofits through technical expertise
• Cultural Enrichment
• Arts education
• Access for underserved populations
• Diverse artists and performances that spark topical community conversations 

Volunteer Driven Causes: Ameriprise employees and financial advisors are outstanding volunteers who serve in teams and also as individuals bringing personal skill-sets to nonprofits. Volunteering is part of the culture at Ameriprise and we are proud to support communities through contributions of both service and financial resources. 

Funding for Volunteer-Driven Causes is determined by current Ameriprise volunteerism. In general, funding is in proportion to the size of the Ameriprise volunteer team supporting a nonprofit. A team may include employees, financial advisors and/or staff or a combination of any Ameriprise volunteers. 

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses which negatively affect agricultural uses and conservation values, protect grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring or conserving eligible grazing land, and protecting and restoring and enhancing wetlands on eligible land.

Agricultural Land Easements 

NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing Agricultural Land Easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land. In the case of working farms, the program helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture. The program also protects grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland, including rangeland, pastureland and shrubland. Eligible partners include Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or grassland protection programs.

Under the Agricultural Land component, NRCS may contribute up to 50 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement. Where NRCS determines that grasslands of special environmental significance will be protected, NRCS may contribute up to 75 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land easement.

Benefits

Agricultural Land Easements protect the long-term viability of the nation’s food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses. Land protected by agricultural land easements provides additional public benefits, including environmental quality, historic preservation, wildlife habitat and protection of open space.

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses which negatively affect agricultural uses and conservation values, protect grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring or conserving eligible grazing land, and protecting and restoring and enhancing wetlands on eligible land.

Wetland Reserve Easements

NRCS also provides technical and financial assistance directly to private landowners and Indian tribes to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands through the purchase of a wetland reserve easement. For acreage owned by an Indian tribe, there is an additional enrollment option of a 30-year contract.

Through the wetland reserve enrollment options, NRCS may enroll eligible land through:

• Permanent Easements – Permanent easements are conservation easements in perpetuity. NRCS pays 100 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 75 to 100 percent of the restoration costs.
• 30-year Easements – 30-year easements expire after 30 years. Under 30-year easements, NRCS pays 50 to 75 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 50 to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
• Term Easements - Term easements are easements that are for the maximum duration allowed under applicable State laws. NRCS pays 50 to 75 percent of the easement value for the purchase of the term easement. Additionally, NRCS pays between 50 to 75 percent of the restoration costs.
• 30-year Contracts – 30-year contracts are only available to enroll acreage owned by Indian tribes and program payment rates are commensurate with 30-year easements.

For all Wetland Reserve Easements options, NRCS pays all costs associated with recording the easement in the local land records office, including recording fees, charges for abstracts, survey and appraisal fees and title insurance.

Benefits

All landowners, including required members of landowner-legal entities, must meet adjusted gross income (AGI) limitations and must be compliant with the HEL/WC provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985. protect biological diversity and provide opportunities for educational, scientific and limited recreational activities.Wetland Reserve Easements provide habitat for fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species, improve water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals, reduce flooding, recharge groundwater,

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world. Solutions to the problems of today's world still lie in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

The Foundation considers applications for grants in the following areas:

• Education
• Social Service
• Health care
• Civic and cultural
• Environmental

The categories above are not intended to limit the interest of the Foundation from considering other worthwhile projects. In general, the Foundation guidelines are broad to give us flexibility in providing grants.

The majority of our grants are made in the U.S. However, like Dr. Scholl, we recognize the need for a global outlook. Non-U.S. grants are given to organizations where directors have knowledge of the grantee.

Battlefield Preservation Fund

Grants from the Battlefield Preservation Fund will serve as a catalyst to stimulate efforts to preserve battlefields, viewsheds, and related historic structures and to leverage fund-raising activities.

Eligible Activities

National Trust Preservation Fund grants are awarded for planning activities and education efforts focused on preservation. Grant funds can be used to launch new initiatives or to provide additional support to on-going efforts.

Planning

Supporting existing staff (nonprofit applicants only) or obtaining professional expertise in areas such as architecture, archaeology, engineering, preservation planning, land-use planning, and law. Eligible planning activities include, but are not limited to:

• Hiring a preservation architect or landscape architect, or funding existing staff with expertise in these areas, to produce a historic structure report or historic landscape master plan.
• Hiring a preservation planner, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce design guidelines for a historic district.
• Hiring a real estate development consultant, or funding existing staff with expertise in this area, to produce an economic feasibility study for the reuse of a threatened structure.
• Sponsoring a community forum to develop a shared vision for the future of a historic neighborhood.
• Organizational capacity building activities such as hiring fundraising consultants, conducting board training, etc.

Education and Outreach

Support for preservation education activities aimed at the public. The National Trust is particularly interested in programs aimed at reaching new audiences. Funding will be provided to projects that employ innovative techniques and formats aimed at introducing new audiences to the preservation movement, whether that be through education programming or conference sessions.

About Us

The Michigan State Bar Foundation provides leadership and funding to improve the justice system. Since inception, the Foundation has made grants totaling more than $210 million. Nonprofit civil legal aid programs receive the largest share of the Foundation’s grants to help assure access to justice for all. Civil legal aid assures fairness in the justice system. Legal Aid programs funded by the Foundation complete approximately 50,000 cases for low-income persons in Michigan each year. The Foundation also supports programs that improve the administration of justice by educating children and adults about their legal rights and responsibilities, the justice system and opportunities to resolve conflicts outside the courtroom.

Administration of Justice Grants Program

Background

In the last decade, the Foundation has distributed approximately $2.2 million for projects that improve the administration of justice (AOJ) through law-related education, conflict resolution, or assisting the delivery of civil legal aid to the poor. The AOJ grants are typically project-based grants which provide funding for innovative ideas. These grants have included efforts such as helping develop a Medical Legal Partnership between a civil legal aid program and a community health center, helping citizens learn about being a juror, and helping an organization enhance their website to provide law-related educational materials for teachers and children. 

Priorities

The Michigan State Bar Foundation funds innovative projects through its Administration of Justice grant program. Priorities for these funds include:

• Educating Michigan children and adults about their legal rights and responsibilities, and the American Justice system; and
• Opportunities for conflict and dispute resolution; and
• Supporting civil legal aid to the poor.

From time to time, the Foundation also may consider or seek out projects of extraordinary merit in other subject areas related to improvements in the administration of justice. The average size of recent AOJ grants is $12-$15,000.

Old National Bank Foundation

The Old National Bank Foundation makes contributions to nonprofit organizations to fund widespread community impact programs and/or projects. The Foundation is part of Old National's overall charitable giving initiative, which enables us to support programs that improve quality of life in areas of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. We believe in supporting where our clients, team members and shareholders live and work.

Funding Priorities

Our funding targets innovative programs that enhance the quality of life within our communities in support of the following four strategic initiatives: Affordable Housing, Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Financial Empowerment. We prioritize programs that serve underrepresented communities and low- to moderate-income people. 

Examples of funding priorities with measurable outcome focus areas include:

Affordable Housing

• Increase Homeownership Opportunities: We seek initiatives that enable individuals and families to purchase homes through accessible financing, down payment assistance, and homeowner education.
• Support Critical Home Repairs and Revitalization: We fund programs that ensure safe, habitable housing by assisting with essential repairs for homes
• Promote Multi-Family Housing Developments: We prioritize programs that develop or sustain affordable rental units

Economic Development

• Small Business Development and Growth: We aim to support programs that help small businesses scale, access resources, and build sustainable growth plans.
• Capacity Building for Technical Support: We encourage projects that enhance the capability of organizations offering technical support to small businesses and nonprofits.
• Entrepreneurship and Business Coaching: We support programs that offer entrepreneurship education, business coaching, and professional development for new or aspiring business owners.

Financial Education

• Old National Bank’s Real-Life Finance e-learning curriculum provides robust financial education training for community partners

Workforce Development

• Access to Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning: We support workforce readiness through initiatives offering hands-on training, particularly in trades and high-demand fields.
• Job Creation, Employment Entry, and Retention: We support projects that connect individuals to stable employment and increasing levels of income. This can include higher education with dual credentialing, leadership and professional development

Financial Empowerment

• Financial Wellness: We fund long-term initiatives that reduce barriers to banking and credit access, especially for underbanked groups. This can include culturally relevant and multilingual outreach, foreclosure prevention, and credit counseling with the goal of financial independence
• Community Lending Access: We support organizations that provide access to affordable microloans, emergency loans, and community cooperative lending as safe and sustainable alternatives to predatory loans

Chelsea Community Foundation

The Chelsea Community Foundation is a permanent community endowment with assets in excess of $2.5 million thanks to strong local support and prudent financial management. The Chelsea Community Foundation is guided by Chelsea’s civic leaders who care deeply about the community. To-date, more than $1.6 million has been awarded to local nonprofits to address emerging community needs and opportunities.

The Civic Foundation of Chelsea was formed in 1981 to coordinate the efforts of various individuals and entities in serving the needs of the community. Another organization, The Foundation for Community Care, was established by the Chelsea Community Hospital to provide financial assistance for patients in need of health care services and lacking insurance or the ability to pay, and for other philanthropic needs not typically part of a hospital’s operating budget.

In 1994, the two Foundations merged into the Chelsea Foundation, and in 1995 it became an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. This affiliation offered access to the larger Community Foundation’s resources while permitting the flexibility to make sure Chelsea’s needs would be met from the proceeds of a well-managed permanent endowment with community-minded donors and advisors.

About the Fund

The Chelsea Community Foundation, an affiliate fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, is a permanent community endowment that was established in 1995 to enhance the quality of life in Chelsea, as defined by the geographic boundaries of the Chelsea School District. The Chelsea Community Foundation is directed by a group of civic leaders who live or work in Chelsea and care deeply about the community. The fund continues to grow as a result of the generous contributions of many individuals and businesses. 

General Grants

The Chelsea Community Foundation, awards grants of varying sizes that strengthen Chelsea and benefit its residents. General grant awards typically range from $5,000 to $25,000.

The grantmaking priorities for the Chelsea Community Foundation are aligned with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan’s Grantmaking Guidelines in terms of general content and materials to submit for a grant application. Wherever there is a contradiction, the General Grantmaking Guidelines document takes precedence. 

About

Through its grantmaking and other policy-focused efforts, the Foundation seeks to:

• Racial Equity: Incorporate the voices of, and achieve more equitable outcomes for, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities in the Great Lakes region.
• Economic Mobility: Improve the ability of individuals in the Great Lakes region to move up the economic ladder within a lifetime or from one generation to the next.
• Next Generation: Incorporate the voices of, and improve outcomes for, the next generation of Great Lakes residents, defined as young people born after 2000.

Education & Economic Mobility Grants

The mission of the Education & Economic Mobility Program is to close income and race disparities in college and career success through equitable access to high-quality education. We invest in local, state and federal policies that aim to ensure historically underserved young people 1) have effective educators; 2) graduate high school with academic and career momentum; and 3) attain affordable college credentials with economic value. In the short term, we will invest in research, policy development, and advocacy to help young people recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effective Educators

Evidence is clear that teachers and principals are the main in-school driver of student success. Yet, young people of color and those from underserved communities often have inexperienced, unqualified, or ineffective educators. To ensure historically marginalized students have top-notch and diverse educators, the Foundation invests in research, policy development, advocacy, and technical assistance to: 1) use data to better align educator supply and demand; 2) diversify the educator pipeline; 3) build strong pathways from high school into teaching; and 4) spread innovative school staffing models that attract educators, boost retention, and improve student outcomes. Our investments focus on Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and national efforts.

College and Career Readiness

There is overwhelming evidence that a college degree significantly improves life outcomes. Yet not enough high school students—especially young people of color and those from underserved communities—are prepared to succeed in post-secondary. To help students get on the right path, the Foundation supports federal and state policies to: 1) align K-12, higher education, and workforce systems; 2) increase access and success in rigorous courses; and 3) increase access to high-quality work-based learning activities connected to careers with family-sustaining wages.

Post-Secondary Success

A post-secondary degree remains the surest path to social and economic mobility. Yet colleges fail to enroll and graduate students of color and students from low-income households at the same rate as White and wealthier students. This contributes to racial and socioeconomic disparities in education and career outcomes. To address these disparities, the Joyce Foundation supports federal and state policies that: 1) scale proven student support models to improve community college outcomes; 2) preserve access for students of color and rural students to affordable, high- quality public college options and labor markets that require college degrees; 3) seek racial and family income representativeness at selective public universities; and 4) narrow gaps in post-graduate financial outcomes for students of color and low-income students.

Awareness. Education. Prevention.  These are three key tenets of Bayer Fund’s investments in health and wellness.  With a focus on cancer and cardiovascular disease, we provide resources to organizations dedicated to educating and/or providing services to patients, caregivers and at-risk populations.

Health & Wellness Grants

Programs that Bayer Fund will support include those that focus on patients and their families needing assistance with issues to managing cardiovascular disease and cancer. This includes education, disease awareness, and supportive services for these diseases. In areas related to cardiovascular disease, priority (though not exclusivity) will be given to charitable organizations that focus on programs and support for the African American community due to the high incidence rate of disease in this population.

Giving in this category will focus on support services such as education, disease awareness, and general access to care (e.g., housing for families traveling for cancer or heart care).

All funding requests and budgets must be for program activities and expenses that start after funding decisions are made. All programs must be completed within one year of the start date, except in limited situations where longer term programs have been agreed upon. Grant award amounts vary, depending on the size of the community, the type of programming, and the reach of the organization.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Alger Regional Community Foundation Grant

Foundation Mission

The Alger Regional Community Foundation (ARCF) provides support to Alger County nonprofit organizations for quality of life enhancement programs through the building and growth of permanent endowment funds from a wide range of donors. We focus our granting on community needs - enhancing opportunities in the areas of charity, education, health, culture, environment, recreation, youth and social welfare. We provide for the future of ARCF by passing our knowledge and skills to the next generation through our Youth Advisory Committee. All grant proposals in the context of this commitment will be considered.

Youth

• Rotary Youth: Established through a gift from the Munising Rotary Club to support youth activities in Alger County.
• Youth Memorial Endowment: Established to support youth of Alger County who may not otherwise be able to participate in activities or projects because of financial need. The annual ARCF Youth Memorial Golf Tournament supports this fund.
• Marianne Evans Memorial: Grants from this fund help defer the costs for students of Munising Public Schools in grades 5-8 to become involved in non-sports related cultural and educational activities.
• Excellence in Education Endowment: Established by an endowment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to sustain the Excellence in Education Week activities. Earnings on this designated fund are pooled with the Marquette Community Foundation earnings to provide funding for student scholarships, professional development awards, and the award activities of EEW.
• Grow & Lead: Community and Youth Development: This agency endowment was created by GLCYD for the purpose of providing support to that organization.
• MCFYP (Michigan Community Foundation Youth Program) Fund: Established to support youth activities in Alger County. This endowed fund was created from the successful completion of the Youth Challenge Grants received from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, as well as gifts from other donors.
• Corey Oas Fund: Activities supported by this fund are advised by the Oas Family and support youth activities in Alger County.
• Larissa Vartti Memorial: Grants support activities and projects for running sports (such as cross country, and girls’ and boys’ track) in the Munising School system.
• Billy Burke Youth Memorial Fishing Award: Established to support and recognize youth who participate in the annual fishing tournament sponsored by the Alger Fish and Game Alliance. Grants are used to purchase trophies and provide prizes

Environmental Awareness

• ACE (Alger County Environmental) Fund: Grants from this fund are for projects that will encourage balance between residential, commercial and recreational activities while sustaining a clean, safe, healthy, and productive environment.

Health & Human Services

• Alger PHLAG / Healthy Youth & Seniors: Originally designated for use in tobacco cessation programs, since 2008 community foundations are able to use this endowment for projects to encourage healthy youth and seniors.
• Alger Christian Care: Established through a gift from an anonymous donor as a way of extending assistance to Alger County residents experiencing temporary situational difficulties.
• Charles H. Stark Law Enforcement & Public Safety: Established by family and friends in memory of Judge Charles Stark. Grants from this fund help provide Alger County and the City of Munising law enforcement agencies with the tools, equipment, training, and other resources to support and improve public safety, especially water safety.

Community Development

• Richard William Nebel Endowment Fund: Family and friends of Richard created this fund in honor of his 70th birthday. The fund was established to provide support for projects that improve the aesthetic appearance of the community in order to spur economic development.
• Fuzzy Boyak Memorial: Fuzzy loved and supported many efforts in our community and his family wishes to continue those efforts.

Cultural Arts

• Munising Senior Center Cultural Grant Fund: Established by former Munising Senior Center members, this grant helps bring cultural activities and events to the Munising area.
• J.E.A.N. (Bringing Joy, Enrichment, and the Arts to the North) Fund: Established in memory of Jean L. Mehlenbacher to support cultural events and to bring guest performances to Grand Marais.
• Alger County Women’s Enrichment: Established by a group of Alger County women interested in supporting activities designed to enrich the lives of women.

Operating/Unrestricted

• Alger County Operating / Administrative: Established to support the administrative activities of ARCF.
• Alger County Unrestricted: Established as an unrestricted fund in support of activities designed to enhance opportunities in Alger County in the charitable, educational, recreational, environmental, cultural, or social welfare areas.
• Peoples State Bank – Hometown Endowment Fund: Established as an unrestricted fund in support of activities designed to enhance opportunities in Alger County in the charitable, educational, recreational, environmental, cultural, or social welfare areas.

Funding

Grants from the Foundation will normally not exceed $ 2,500.00. Applicants may request any amount; however, the full Board of Trustees of the Foundation must approve both the higher amount as well as the grant itself. Amount of funds requested in a proposal may be reduced by the recommendation of the Grant Committee.

Charles J. Strosacker Foundation Grant

The Charles J. Strosacker Foundation of Midland, Michigan was established in 1957 by the late Charles J. Strosacker, one of the pioneers of The Dow Chemical Company, “To assist and benefit political subdivisions of the State of Michigan, and religious, charitable, benevolent, scientific or educational organizations.”

Kantzler Foundation Grant

About

The Kantzler Foundation is the largest private charitable foundation in Bay County, Michigan. Since its inception in 1975, its governing board has distributed over $9 million in grants to support worthwhile programs and projects in the Greater Bay Area. Nearly every area resident has been touched by the beneficial investments this foundation has made in our community. The work of the foundation has been a testament to the enormous impact that one generous individual can have on a community long after his death.

Mission Statement

The Kantzler Foundation provides financial support for charitable projects and programs that directly benefit the residents of Bay County, Michigan, in areas such as:

• Education
• Science
• Arts
• Culture
• Human Services
• Conservation
• Beautification
• Recreation

While the Foundation has supported requests for equipment, programming, planning, scholarships, and specific operating expenses on a case by case basis, the primary focus has been directed toward the development or acquisition of tangible community assets, attractions and facilities.

The Foundation seeks opportunities to support projects which benefit large population segments and contribute to a master plan for a safe, healthy, and vibrant community. Kantzler Foundation resources are used to encourage and reward coordination and collaboration between and among organizations.

About Us

Working side-by-side with partners at local, regional, state and federal levels, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) safeguards our state's environment while supporting the economic growth and development crucial for Michigan's future.

As part of providing expert technical and pollution prevention assistance to businesses and individuals, EGLE annually performs approximately 30,000 site visits and inspections. EGLE employs more than 1,500 scientists, engineers, geologists, toxicologists, inspectors, technicians, managers, biologists and support staff across the state.

MI Source Water Protection Grants

To provide matching funds to public water supply systems for the development and implementation of a source water protection program to help prevent drinking water sources from becoming contaminated. These funds can be used to develop a Surface Water Intake Protection Program for systems utilizing surface water or to develop a Wellhead Protection Program for those systems that use groundwater sources. 

Goals of the Program:

To provide incentives and financial assistance for the development and implementation of source water protection programs to facilitate the management of a public water system source water protection area to reduce the risk of contamination to the water supply.

Criteria:

Funding may be provided to successful applicants meeting the following criteria: 

• Community and not for profit non-transient non-community water systems
• Not a Federally owned system
• Public system does not have outstanding fees

Funding

Dollar Amount(s) Available (Min or Max): Approximately one half million dollars is available in total annually.

Purpose

The Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) Charitable Foundation Fund supports grants to charitable organizations that make a lasting impact on the lives of children and youth in southeast Michigan.

Impact

The DADA Charitable Foundation Fund provides support to nonprofit organizations in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, St. Clair, Monroe and Livingston counties, with a primary focus on charitable organizations and activities that assist children and youth. The fund is supported by proceeds from the North American International Auto Show Charity Preview.

Since its inception in 1999, the DADA Charitable Foundation Fund has provided more than $6.4 million to support nonprofit organizations that are improving the lives of children and youth in southeast Michigan. This partnership is unique among auto trade associations nationally — a permanent legacy to benefit our region for generations to come.

Our Priorities

While the Community Foundation has a large footprint in terms of the types of organizations we fund, there are common priorities that we look for in any application, no matter how large or small, and no matter what topic area. While we do not expect that all of these priorities will be addressed in every application to the Community Foundation, we want to give you a sense of what kinds of lenses we look through when reviewing applications. Our current priorities include:

Sustainability

We view sustainability in two ways. First, we want to support projects and ideas tied to a longer term vision for an organization. We do not want to make grants for projects that end the moment the grant is over. We will look closely at the overall financial health of your organization, as well as your programmatic and fundraising visions. We will want to support you at key moments in time along your path as a growing organization —helping to put new strategies in place, or building out existing strategies in more comprehensive ways.

Regional Impact

We actively serve a seven-county area and think about issues from a regional perspective. While we know that every grant we make will not touch all seven counties, we are particularly interested in projects that serve a large portion of the region, build relationships across communities in the region, and/or serve to test a new model in a specific geography that could later be adopted by other nonprofit organizations in the region.

Leverage

We want our funds to help you leverage other dollars into your organization and for the region. As such, we look closely at proposals to understand what kind of leverage will occur.

Collaboration

Beyond leveraging dollars, we like to see good models, ideas and human resources leveraged as well. We encourage collaboration among nonprofit organizations and also between nonprofit and/or government entities when it makes sense.

Our Purpose

More than 50 years ago, residents established the foundation as a permanent source of community capital in Washtenaw County. Think of us as a savings account for the community, with proceeds from our endowed funds distributed as grants for local nonprofits and scholarships.

Our Services

Meeting Charitable Goals: We work with donors and their professional advisors to help them meet their charitable goals. The combination of donors’ resources and philanthropic intentions with our financial expertise creates meaningful, lasting impact in our community.

Building Healthy Endowments: Our Board of Trustees, Finance & Investment Committee, and professional investment consultants work to protect our endowed funds to ensure their long-term growth, stability and permanence.

Leading Positive Change: Using hard work, research, and an array of community partnerships, we craft grant and scholarship programs that maximize the positive impact of our community’s resources.

Glacier Hills Legacy Fund Golden Opportunities

The Glacier Hills Legacy Fund Golden Opportunities grant program supports organizations and services providing solutions to reduce inequities for vulnerable older adults in Washtenaw County.

The Glacier Hills Legacy Fund (GHLF) Advisory Committee at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF) is looking to address the following priorities in Washtenaw County related to the needs of older adults. 

Housing

Housing stability continues to be a growing concern for many older adults in our community. Increased costs of living are bringing financial concerns to those living on a fixed income. 

• Provide eviction prevention programs to keep older adults in their homes
• Home modification programs that address key issues that will allow older adults to age in place in their own homes.

Food Security

Recent cuts in federal funding and a growing number of older adults in need of food assistance programs continues to elevate food security as a priority issue within Washtenaw County. 

• Offer services that provide consistent access to food for older adults. These can be food pantry’s, meal delivery services, etc. Funding will go to support existing programs, creation of new programs, or expansion of existing programs.
• Culturally specific meal programs that work to provide food options that are reflective of the diverse community of older adults within Washtenaw County.

Access to Health Care

Concerns over potential or signaled cuts to Medicare have service providers and community members concerned over the impact on access to health care our older adults could encounter moving forward.

• Pop-Up health clinics within communities across all of Washtenaw County that support older adults
• Medical services that go to the homes of older adults OR to congregate sites like senior centers where older adults have a better chance of accessing services.
• Interventions that address key barriers preventing the access of health care services
• Programs that help older adults navigate key issues such as signing up for a health plan, navigating how new changes to policies impacts their ability to access services, identifying supportive services near them, etc. 

Transportation

The AAACF recognizes that transportation is a critical part of service delivery within Washtenaw County for older adults. The AAACF is looking to support transportation programs that connect older adults with key supportive services.

• Trips to health care appointments, physical therapy, etc.
• Transportation efforts to access food or to congregate sites such as community centers or senior centers.