Best Arts Grants for Nonprofits in Michigan

The Americana Foundation's American Heritage Grant aims to support projects that broaden inclusivity in early American art and narratives, especially for underrepresented groups. Recognizing the historical significance of Americana, the foundation prioritizes initiatives that promote understanding and appreciation of America's diverse heritage. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and municipal entities. The foundation encourages innovative projects that reinterpret early American material culture, fostering a deeper connection to the past for future generations.

The Consumers Energy Foundation Grant aims to assist Michigan communities by funding innovative projects that enhance people's lives, protect the environment, and promote economic prosperity. Eligible applicants must align their initiatives with the foundation's focus areas, which include reducing poverty, environmental preservation, and economic development. Notably, the foundation primarily supports tax-exempt organizations based in Michigan, while also considering projects that significantly benefit the state. Applicants are encouraged to review eligibility criteria and grant standards before applying.

The Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation supports organizations in Southeast Michigan and Metropolitan Denver focused on improving lives through health, youth, and animal welfare initiatives. They offer grants for project development, capital expenses, and unique circumstances. The foundation prioritizes innovative solutions that address underserved community needs, ensuring sustainable impact and enhanced access to essential services. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations and demonstrate non-discriminatory practices in their operations.

The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation supports arts and culture initiatives in Southeast Michigan, with a focus on strengthening jazz culture and mentorship traditions. They provide funding for professional development opportunities for artists and promote audience engagement through music education. The foundation envisions a vibrant cultural landscape and is committed to making bold investments that address community needs while fostering collaboration among local organizations.

The Grand Rapids Community Foundation's Fund for Community Good supports projects that promote equity and justice across various sectors, including education, health, and economic prosperity. This unrestricted fund invites partnerships with 501(c)(3) nonprofits and government entities, primarily focusing on Kent County, Michigan. The foundation prioritizes initiatives that dismantle systemic racism and foster inclusive opportunities, ensuring all community members can thrive. Eligible applicants can submit pre-applications year-round for potential funding.

The Karen Colina Wilson Foundation Grant supports programs for children, youth, and women, enhancing their health and well-being through education, art, literature, and music. Established in 2006, the foundation aims to make a positive difference in their lives, particularly in Southern and Western Wayne County, Michigan. Grants typically range from $500 to $10,000, often as matching funds, fostering broader fundraising efforts by local nonprofit organizations.

The ACCF Legacy Grant aims to support various community initiatives in Allegan County, focusing on youth programs, arts and culture, environmental conservation, economic development, animal welfare, and capacity building for local nonprofits. The grant prioritizes projects that enhance residents' quality of life, promote economic security, and ensure access to essential services. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations in good standing, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable and impactful community solutions.

The Dedicated Grant Program by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation will allocate over $60,000 in 2025 to support four distinct Field of Interest Funds, each aimed at improving the lives of residents in Washtenaw County. Grants are available for 501(c)(3) nonprofits focusing on areas such as education, community enhancement, veteran services, and violence prevention. This initiative emphasizes a collaborative approach to address local needs and foster community well-being.

The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, established in 1957, supports various charitable causes primarily in Michigan and Ohio. Focused on education, health care, affordable housing, and community development, it funds initiatives like local schools, family services, and environmental conservation. The foundation emphasizes projects that positively impact communities and ensure long-term sustainability. With a commitment to preserving the environment and fostering cultural activities, it remains a key player in enhancing the quality of life for residents in its service areas.

The Howard Facilities Program Endowment Grant, established by John E. N. and DeDe Howard, supports nonprofit organizations, schools, churches, and government entities that conduct community activities at designated Howard Facilities. These include various recreational and cultural venues like the Howard Ice Arena and Band Shell. The Berrien Community Foundation, which aims to enhance local community strength, administers this grant to foster sustainable community development.

The Wisconsin Public Service Foundation offers Local Community Grants to support initiatives that enhance community development, health, arts, education, and the environment. Nonprofit organizations in the service areas are eligible for funding. The foundation emphasizes partnerships that promote educational opportunities and community improvement. With a history of providing financial support since 1964, the foundation encourages projects that engage local residents and foster collaboration among diverse groups. Preference is given to specific programs or projects that align with their mission.

The Americana Foundation offers grants aimed at supporting sustainable agriculture and community food systems in Michigan. Founded by Adolph and Ginger Meyer, the foundation emphasizes the importance of agriculture in American history and seeks to connect communities to local food sources. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and municipal entities, with a focus on projects that enhance food access and promote ecological sustainability. The foundation prioritizes initiatives that empower underserved communities and address climate resilience.

The Inclusive Arts Fund supports small to mid-sized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations focused on arts and culture within Southeast Michigan. This highly competitive fund aims to enhance accessibility, boost organizational capacity, and drive regional economic impact across seven counties. By fostering affordable, high-quality arts experiences, the fund seeks to ensure that the arts are a vital contributor to community vitality and growth.

The Civic Science Media Project Grants, offered by Montclair State University's Center for Cooperative Media, aim to enhance local journalism and foster collaboration between scientists and media. With up to $15,000 available for each of the 10 awards, projects should promote community engagement in scientific discourse, focusing on pressing issues like climate change and public health. This initiative encourages diverse participation, ensuring that local voices shape the narrative and enhance public understanding of science.

About Us

Bay Area Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization created by and for the people of the Bay Area. We offer a range of flexible giving tools to help our donors make a positive impact on the community and causes that align with their interests and passions. In addition to first-rate donor service, we manage our community’s permanent endowment and award grants to address the community’s most pressing needs and promising opportunities.

Since 1982, our community has used our resources to make charitable gifts more effective. We provide maximum flexibility in establishing, managing, and distributing your gifts. Through our donors’ generosity, we can help support arts and culture, community initiatives, education and youth, environment, health and wellness, human services, and recreation in our area.

Leslie L. Squires Foundation Grant

The Leslie L. Squires Foundation was established in 1987 by Jacqueline M. Squires in memory of her late husband, Leslie L. Squires. Both Jacqueline and Leslie were supportive of many civic and charitable organizations. Both also had compassion for people who have disabilities. As a result, the Squires Foundation was established to benefit Bay County, Michigan persons who are impaired physically or mentally. The Foundation's charitable purposes seek to improve "the social condition of persons with disabilities through education, entertainment, recreation, and special training in preparation for self-support and the full development of useful, happy lives".

Bay Area Community Foundation administers the grant process for the Leslie L. Squires Foundation.

The Arts Midwest GIG Fund offers grants ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 to support creative projects and educational events across the Midwest. This funding is available for nonprofit organizations with budgets of $1 million or less, focusing on the arts. Eligible applicants include arts organizations and tribal entities located in specific states. The fund prioritizes those who have not received a grant in the last two years, ensuring diverse cultural engagement and access.

The GIG Fund: Arts and Wellness offers grants ranging from $2,000 to $15,000 to support projects that blend arts and wellness. Open to non-profit organizations, hospitals, and clinics across the Midwest, this fund aims to enhance community well-being through artistic initiatives. Eligible applicants must engage professional artists and provide activities that promote health and creativity. This funding round supports activities occurring between December 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, emphasizing the importance of arts in fostering wellness.

The Troy Community Foundation Grant aims to empower residents of Troy, MI, focusing on community development through arts, health, youth, and beautification initiatives. By enhancing these core areas, TCF believes in creating a vibrant city that fosters positive change and improves quality of life. Grants typically range from $250 to $2000, reviewed individually based on merit. Eligible projects must be located in Troy and support charitable activities, particularly those benefiting the community's diverse population.

The Fall Field of Interest Grants from the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation aim to enhance the health of youth and seniors in Michigan. Established under the Tobacco Settlement Partnership, these grants support programs focusing on nutrition, counseling, and wellness for individuals aged 0-18 and 55 and older. Eligible applicants include nonprofits and governmental entities serving specified counties. With over $65.7 million awarded, the foundation continues its commitment to community health and well-being.

The Mud Hens-Walleye Transportation Fund supports schools and nonprofit organizations in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by providing transportation grants for attending Toledo Mud Hens baseball and Toledo Walleye hockey games. With awards up to $1,000, the fund aims to eliminate financial barriers for educational field trips to these events. Eligible applicants must demonstrate financial need and adhere to specific guidelines regarding the use of funds for transportation services.

The Creators of Culture Grants, initiated by CultureSource, aim to enhance access to funding for grassroots arts organizations in Southeast Michigan. Grants ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 will support projects that intersect art with community wellbeing, focusing on issues like mental health and food justice. Eligible applicants include small creative organizations and returning grant recipients located in specific counties. This initiative encourages collaboration with cross-sector partners to foster a diverse and equitable arts ecosystem.

The ACCF Youth (TAG Team) Grants support youth development initiatives in Allegan County, inviting high school students to represent their peers through the T.A.G (Teens Aiding Growth) Team. This funding opportunity prioritizes programs that enhance early childhood education, promote mental and physical health, and support youth-led social change. Grants are available for 501(c)3 non-profits and governmental units, ensuring they meet specific eligibility criteria to benefit local youth aged 0-19.

The Alger Regional Community Foundation Grant supports nonprofit organizations in Alger County to enhance quality of life through various programs. With a focus on charity, education, health, and youth development, the foundation encourages innovative projects that meet community needs. Grants typically do not exceed $2,500 and are awarded based on the potential impact and collaborative efforts of applicants. The foundation prioritizes youth involvement, ensuring future generations benefit from its initiatives.

The Arts and Culture Program, initiated by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF), aims to bolster arts and culture nonprofits in Washtenaw County through a focus on racial equity. This program supports community-driven projects that engage BIPOC groups, promote equity in arts education, and foster entrepreneurship in the arts. AAACF is dedicated to enhancing access to cultural resources for all residents, ensuring that the artistic identity of every community member is celebrated and supported.

The Andersons Fund Supporting Organization aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, particularly in the greater Toledo area. It supports nonprofit organizations with grants for programs in education, social services, mental health, urban affairs, natural resources, and the arts. The Fund prioritizes capital projects and evaluates the financial stability and operational issues of requesting organizations.

About Us

The Kresge Foundation is a private, national foundation that works to expand equity and opportunities in America’s cities through grantmaking and social investing in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services and community development, nationally and in Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans and Fresno. In collaboration with our partners, we help create pathways for people with low incomes to improve their life circumstances and join the economic mainstream.

Detroit Parks Coalition 2026 Summer Parks Programming Grants (2026-05-13)

Thank you for your interest in funding opportunities from The Kresge Foundation. We make grants through seven Programs and a Social Investment Practice. Each Program has established specific objectives to advance strategic goals. These objectives are called Focus Areas. It is through Focus Areas that grant opportunities are made available to grantseekers. You can learn more about each focus area in the Our Work section under each program.

We use an array of flexible grantmaking and social investing tools. Kresge awards single and multiyear grants for general operating support, projects and planning. We also use social investing tools such as program-related investments, guarantees and equity.

The Detroit Program’s Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus initiative is launching its first-ever Cultural Heritage round, with up to $1.25 million available for community-led projects that preserve, celebrate and activate the cultural identity of neighborhoods across Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. In partnership with Co.act Detroit and Michigan Community Resources, the program will award 10 to 15 grants of up to $100,000 each for storytelling, oral history, public art, cultural events, neighborhood signage and placekeeping work.

What this round supports

KIP:D+ Cultural Heritage is designed for projects that honor the past, care for important places and imagine the future of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. Both physical and nonphysical projects are eligible.

Examples include:

• Storytelling and oral history projects
• Archiving efforts that preserve community memory
• Public art or permanent installations
• Exhibitions
• Neighborhood signage
• Cultural events and celebrations
• Activating community spaces
• Placemaking and placekeeping work

Projects should strengthen belonging, preserve stories and places, and be shaped by community voice. Applicants should be prepared to begin work soon after receiving funding and complete their projects within a 24-month grant period.

The Detroit Arts Support Grant offers multi-year operating support to arts organizations in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, funded by the Kresge Foundation and others. Launched in 2007, it aims to strengthen the arts sector by providing unrestricted funding for day-to-day operations, fostering creative expression across diverse communities. Grant sizes range from $5,000 to $100,000 annually, with partnerships streamlining the application process for nonprofits while ensuring shared learning and effective decision-making.