Best Genesee County Grants for Nonprofits in Michigan

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.

Sadie W. Penn Scholarship Fund

This fund, established in 2013, places emphasis on supporting the education of our youth for this generation and generations to come. Sadie W. Penn's career in education took her from Georgia to Battle Creek, Michigan and has enriched the lives of countless students along the way. Recipients of this scholarship are graduating high school seniors who are pursuing a career in the field of education at a college or university in the state of Michigan.

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.

Raymond J. Pontoni Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund

The fund was established in Honor of the memory of Raymond J. Pontoni, past CEO of Nottawa Gardens Corporation and Athens Community Leader to assist Athens graduating seniors and adults seeking to further their education and business needs, through training programs in the skilled trades, associate degrees, apprenticeships, or certificate programs, and to help aid the creation and development of their Entrepreneural Goals and economic ventures.

The Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant Program 2026, managed by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, invites applications for projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through collaborative multi-state efforts. This initiative aims to address pressing regional and national issues such as food safety and plant diseases, while promoting marketing strategies. Eligible projects should demonstrate measurable benefits across multiple U.S. states or territories, ensuring a broader impact on the specialty crop industry.

The Women's Initiative for Screening and Health (WISH) aims to enhance women's health by improving access to preventive services. It focuses on updating HRSA-supported guidelines, increasing awareness of these guidelines, and promoting their adoption in clinical practice. By collaborating with healthcare providers, academic institutions, and patient organizations, WISH strives to implement a comprehensive strategy that benefits women's health across their lifespan.

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.

Robert and Diana Williams Scholarship Fund

The Robert and Diana Williams Scholarship Fund was established to give more opportunities to those seeking to further their education through non-degreed training programs in the skilled trades, apprenticeship or certificate programs. The Williams' believe the skilled trades provide essential services for which there will always be a need and are the lifeblood of our country

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.

Robert A. and Cynthia A. Leach Adult Education Scholarship Fund

The Robert A. and Cynthia A. Leach Adult Education Scholarship Fund ("Fund") provides scholarships to Athens Area Schools graduates or Athens area residents, pursuing post-secondary educational opportunities in high demand career fields, such as health related fields. This Scholarship was established by Robert A. and Cynthia A. Leach who were both former high school teachers. They believed that post high school education is a necessity in today’s economy and that a scholarship would provide some incentive for students to reach their goals. After seeing more support for graduating seniors, the Leach’s wanted there to be more resources for the adults in the greater Athens area. These funds could support anyone who are beyond their first year of college but still need financial assistance, those who did not complete their degree but want to re-enroll to do so, or even those who want to change career paths and need additional education or training.

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.

Richard R. Montgomery Scholarship Fund

The Richard R. Montgomery Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by his family and friends to honor him after he passed away on June 22, 2004. Dick came to Battle Creek to work at the Enquirer and News after graduating in Journalism from Michigan State University. He later worked at Clark Equipment as the national sales promotion manager. Dick was a talented, enthusiastic person whose positive attitude enriched all who had the good fortune of knowing him. He worked to enhance the quality of life in the Battle Creek community through his many years of community involvement. He focused on problems that required action. He applied his positive spirit and his eloquent voice to many issues. Dick felt that he could make a difference in the lives of young people by his personal involvement on the General Scholarship Committee of the Battle Creek Community Foundation Scholarship Program. This scholarship has been established to help individuals who are starting out on their educational journey following high school graduation. It is our hope that recipients of this scholarship will display the same character and compassion to better their community as Dick Montgomery did.

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

Nicholas & Rose Offenbacher Scholarship Fund

Rose (Van Ness) Offenbacher graduated from Athens High School in 1939. She attended the Nichol's Hospital Nursing program and became a licensed practical nurse. She later graduated from KCC and became a registered nurse. During this time, she worked in several doctors? offices in Battle Creek and then for Leila Hospital, where she became charge nurse of the ICU/CCU and PCU. Rose married Nicholas Offenbacher in 1940. Nick graduated from Union City High School, and worked at Oliver Corporation and then Clark Equipment Company. Rose made provisions in her Trust Documents to establish a Scholarship Fund to benefit graduating seniors of the Athens Area Schools.

Building Bridges Documentary Fund

The Building Bridges Documentary Fund provides funding for independent documentary projects about the Muslim experience in the United States. The Fund’s goal is to support filmmakers and works that contribute to a fuller spectrum of narratives on the U.S. Muslim experience.

We fund the following project phases with the stated range of possible funding: 

• Research & Development ($10K to $25K)
• Production ($50K to $100K)
• Post-production ($50K to $100K)

Consider the diversity of the U.S Muslim population. According to the Pew Research Center in 2023-2024 Muslims in the United States identified as:

• 30% White and/or Asian
• 20% Black
• 11% Hispanic
• 8% Other or Multiracial
• 21% of Muslims are born in the U.S. or have at least one parent born in the U.S.
• 33% of U.S. Muslims live in the South, followed by Northeast (29%), Midwest (20%), West (18%).

The Building Bridges Documentary Fund is supported by the Building Bridges Program of the Doris Duke Foundation. CAAM is honored to be a part of this multi-year journey with our colleagues in the Program: the Islamic Scholarship Fund (ISF), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Hollywood Bureau, and the Sundance Institute. 

CAAM is also collaborating with the independent filmmaking community to provide support for workshops on various aspects of sustainable filmmaking practices. 

CAAM Fellowship

Maker and project development opportunity with a focus on nurturing mentor-fellow relationships within the Asian American documentary community.

The CAAM Fellowship Program aims to support documentary filmmakers developing Asian American stories by pairing selected Fellows with accomplished professionals as Mentors for six months to nurture both a project and the Fellow’s career in documentary filmmaking. 

These Mentors will be working one on one with their Fellows on their documentary projects and engage in virtual and in-person opportunities to nurture the full cohort. 

This year’s CAAM Fellowship is an opportunity to support filmmakers in the Midwest, a region that has been home to Asian Americans since before the U.S. was founded, especially for key sub-communities, such as the Hmong American community in Minneapolis, Michigan’s Muslim American communities, along with many others. This Fellowship continues CAAM’s commitment to uplifting nuanced, community-centered storytelling across the country.

The Fellowship includes one-on-one mentor meetings, monthly cohort gatherings, and participation in programs like the CAAMFest Filmmaker Summit and Ready, Set, Pitch! — building a lasting community of documentary makers.

Self-Defense Grants for MMIR Day

Facilitators, educators, organizers — May 5th is the Day of Awareness for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Relatives. In honor of that day, we are offering mini grants to host a self-defense workshop for Indigenous girls and gender-expansive youth.

Why self-defense?

• Native women are murdered at 10x the national rate
• 84% experience violence in their lifetime
• Over 5,700 Native girls go missing each year

We also name the invisible crisis:

• Indigenous people from Mexico & Central America (Maya, Nahua, Zapotec, Mixtec, Lenca, and others) living in the U.S. face detention, deportation, and disappearances that are rarely counted in MMIR data.
• When a Tzotzil 18 year old like Royer Perez Jimenez dies in ICE custody, the silence is deafening.

Self-defense must include all Indigenous relatives.

XCNC has:

• $500 mini grants for stipends, space, supplies, and translation.

What we ask:

• Plan a workshop between May 5–31, 2026, rooted in community care.

Rooted + Relational Community Micro-Grant Program

The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (CENTRO) at Hunter College has announced that it is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Rooted + Relational Community Micro-Grant program. CENTRO will award up to 12 grants, each up to $5,000, to non-institutionally affiliated and non-academic community organizations, individuals, or projects for community-based programs. 

The 2026-2027 the Rooted + Relational theme is Black Cuerpas: Race, Body Politics & Culture. CENTRO seeks to fund projects that examine

• How do race, gender, sexuality, and body politics shape the everyday lives and histories of Boricuas across the archipelago and diaspora? 
• What happens when we center race and Blackness in a field of study that has too often championed color-blindness and the myth of racial democracy to avoid the hard questions about racism, anti-Blackness, complicity, and erasure?

During the 2026-2027 academic year, grantees will implement their funded projects within their chosen communities. They will also present their work at a CENTRO event, attend three virtual meetings, and have their work highlighted through CENTRO’s communications and media channels. We invite community organizers, artists, creatives, writers, agricultural workers, activists, and cultural workers who reside in Puerto Rico and/or the United States and its territories to apply. 

UNCF Health Careers Scholarship

The UNCF Health Careers Scholarship Program is designed to assist in the development of a more diverse workforce in health professions in Greater Cleveland. University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic and Kaiser Foundation are partnering with UNCF to develop an endowed scholarship for students of CSSM (Cleveland School of Science and Medicine) at John Hay High School who plan to enter the health professions.

Eligible students will receive a $5,000 merit-based scholarship in the Academic Year 2026-2027. Award recipients may be eligible for renewals for the subsequent years provided they continue to meet the criteria.

CSA Creative Work Honor

The CSA Creative Work Honor recognizes excellence in dress in its many forms, with emphasis on creative works and the making of dress objects. It pays attention to originality of concept, strength of research and concept development, inspiration and purpose, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, as well as communication about craftsmanship and the process of making. The honor is given every year to (1) one entry accepted and shown at the annual Symposium’s Exhibition of Creative Work. This entry may be the result of individual work or a collaborative endeavor. It is open to all CSA members, including career professionals, seasoned members, and young and emerging scholars who produce creative works related to dress and fashion.

All types of creative work submissions may be considered including (but not limited to): theatrical costume design, reenactment garb, reproduction, cosplay, and dress and/or conceptual design, etc. The submitters of creative works abstracts that score in the top (5) five will be eligible for this honor. The honoree will be announced at the symposium after the committee has reviewed the abstract and the creative work presented at the symposium. The recipient will receive a certificate and be recognized at the symposium. 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) invites U.S. researchers to apply for Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIGs) in Arctic Sciences. This initiative aims to support innovative research that enhances understanding of the Arctic's changing environment and cultural systems. The program seeks to foster early career scientists and strengthen STEM workforce development, while also promoting collaboration across federal and international partners to advance Arctic research and logistical capabilities.

Community Foundation of Carroll County

The Community Foundation of Carroll County, Inc. was established in 1994 to ensure financial support for Carroll County not-for-profit organizations. It is governed by a Board of Directors and is a 501c(3) public charity. The Community Foundation of Carroll County is trusted partner for donors and nonprofits. We provide one central place where anyone can create a charitable fund, support what matters most, and leave a legacy of lasting impact.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports more than 75 scholarships. These scholarships vary in the amounts they award and cover a wide variety of student interests. Qualifiers range from academic achievements, sports played, and community service performed, to 4-H and FFA involvement. While the majority are for graduating Carroll County high school seniors, there are several for students in college or technical school, and even opportunities for students attending private primary school. 

4-H Brenda Barber 4-H Family Memorial Scholarship

The purpose of The Brenda Barber Family Memorial Scholarship is to honor the life and family of Brenda Barber by providing scholarship(s) for graduating high school seniors and continuing students who are members of Carroll County 4-H Clubs. 

Applicants must be starting college in the fall OR current college student at any community college, trade school or four-year institution. The scholarship check will be written out and mailed directly to said college or trade school. 

Community Foundation of Carroll County

The Community Foundation of Carroll County, Inc. was established in 1994 to ensure financial support for Carroll County not-for-profit organizations. It is governed by a Board of Directors and is a 501c(3) public charity. The Community Foundation of Carroll County is trusted partner for donors and nonprofits. We provide one central place where anyone can create a charitable fund, support what matters most, and leave a legacy of lasting impact.

Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports more than 75 scholarships. These scholarships vary in the amounts they award and cover a wide variety of student interests. Qualifiers range from academic achievements, sports played, and community service performed, to 4-H and FFA involvement. While the majority are for graduating Carroll County high school seniors, there are several for students in college or technical school, and even opportunities for students attending private primary school. 

4-H Danielle Knell Memorial 4-H Scholarship

The purpose of this scholarship is to honor the life of DANIELLE K. KNELL by providing scholarship(s) for college bound students in Carroll County, Maryland who have shown academic achievement and participated in the Carroll County 4-H Horsemanship Programs and who have been accepted at an accredited College, University or Technical School. Applications will also be accepted from continuing students i.e. those already in college from the Carroll County 4-H Horsemanship Programs who meet the criteria established for this scholarship.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Rocket Scholars Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of the parents and alumni of Reeths Puffer Schools, who established the Rocket Scholars Foundation Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. The Rocket Scholars Foundation was created by parents and alumni with two purposes in mind:

• To continue to foster within the school system a culture of rigorous academic achievement for all students and
• To offer those students who have demonstrated high achievement, scholarships to help defray the increasingly expensive tuition costs at colleges, universities and accredited post-secondary vocational and technical schools.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Robert A. and Clara C. Harrell Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Robert A. and Clara C. Harrell, who established the Robert A. and Clara C. Harrell Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Clara is from Muskegon and her husband Bob is from East Detroit. Clara went to Muskegon Community College where she earned her Nursing degree. The Harrell's believe that education is vital and is the gateway to students becoming what they dream they can be. This scholarship is for graduating seniors of any Muskegon County High School.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Rich McCarthy Oakridge Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Nancy McCarthy, who established the Rich McCarthy Oakridge Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Rich McCarthy knew what matters most in life. His philosophy was: "One hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove or what kind of clothes I wore. All that will matter is that I made a difference in the life of a child." His family members, who have established the Rich McCarthy Oakridge Scholarship in his memory, say he far surpassed his goal affecting the lives of scores of young people. The teaching veteran and coach had a rich career at Oakridge as well as several other area schools. Although he struggled with severe health problems for many years he is remembered by wife Nancy as "always smiling; his greatest joy was making people laugh." The scholarship will benefit students of Oakridge Schools.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Richard and Betty Cawein Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Dick and Betty Cawein, who established the Richard and Betty Cawein Scholarship Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. In nearly 48 years of marriage, Dick and Betty Cawein had 28 different addresses but they found their way back to the place they really loved, their hometown of Muskegon. After a career in the Navy, Dick was a shop teacher at Mona Shores. Betty was involved with St. Jean?s Church and the Muskegon Garden Club, but they both felt very strongly about education. Dick passed away in 1993 and Betty in 2015, but their love for Muskegon and their passion for education lives on in the Richard and Betty Cawein Scholarship Fund, created with a bequest from Betty?s trust. It will help support students pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree who are doing two years at MCC and then going on to one of Michigan's public colleges/universities or Notre Dame or Duke.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Reverend Moses J. Jones Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Reverend Moses J. Jones, who established the Reverend Moses J. Jones Endowment Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Born in 1898, Reverend Moses J. Jones was one of Muskegon's most beloved ministers. The Pastor of John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church of Muskegon for 36 years, he founded the Urban League of Muskegon and received numerous honors including the Ambassador of Goodwill Award. Reverend Jones committed his life to building racial harmony in Muskegon. He helped establish this Scholarship in 1982 to make awards to deserving youths based on their contributions to their community, school, and church. Through this, Reverend Moses J. Jones continues to support the values of community awareness and harmony by granting the lasting gift of education to Muskegon-area youth. Reverend Jones died in 1989. His legacy lives on through this fund.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Ravenna Community Educational Foundation Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of many people in the Ravenna Community, who established the Ravenna Community Educational Foundation Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Dolores E. (Dee) Swanson gave the initial gift to start this back in December 2006. At that time it was a Build A Fund, but a gift from Rudolph and Ruth Lonnee put it over the top late in 2007. The Ravenna Community Educational Foundation intends to use it to enhance the quality of education through educational opportunities by generating and distributing financial and other resources for the benefit of the students and staff of the Ravenna Community Schools.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Nan Riekse Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Nan Riekse, who established the Nan Riekse Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Nan Riekse has a lofty dream; it is her desire to inspire. By establishing the Nan Riekse Scholarship and the Nan Riekse Donor Advised Funds, she has taken an important step toward realizing her dream. Her Scholarship will support non-traditional students attending Muskegon Community College who have financial need. Her scholarships will target adult women who may be attending school after raising their children or perhaps rebuilding their lives following a divorce. The Donor Advised Fund will be used to benefit local churches and a senior care center. Nan is an outstanding example of the "Power of One".

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Peter J. & Barbara J. Kutches Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of the Barbara Kutches, who established the Peter J. and Barbara J. Kutches Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. Pete and Barbara Kutches are well known figures in the Muskegon area, even though they both grew up in Escanaba. Pete was a coach in the area stretching over 4 decades at Muskegon High School, Muskegon Catholic Central, and finally Reeths-Puffer before retiring in the late 1990's. He was best known as a football coaching winning state championships as a head coach at MCC and R-P, the only coach in the state of Michigan to do so. Barbara was a nurse for several years at Mercy Hospital, serving as a time as the director of nursing. They shared 62 years of marriage, 5 children, 15 grandchildren, and soon-to-be 15 greatgrandchildren. Pete was the 10th of 13 kids in his family and the only one to go on to get a college degree because of a scholarship he was awarded. Because of this, Pete and Barbara both felt stongly that they wanted to provide that opportuntity to area youth, specifically in the areas which they felt rewarded by in their careers - education and nursing. 

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Paul and Libby Kara Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Paul M. Kara, who established the Paul and Libby Kara Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. The Paul and Libby Kara Scholarship Fund helps graduating seniors or adult/returning students with significant financial need. It is designed to help students with the "last dollars" needed to continue their education. Paul and Libby believe that every student should be able to achieve their educational goals.

At the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues.

Nancy Waters and Mark Waters Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of Nancy and Mark Waters, who established the Nancy Waters and Mark Waters Scholarship of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. In recognition of what this community has meant to their family, Nancy and son, Mark, started this to support the educational, economic and community development needs and interests of African Americans in the greater Muskegon region. Through their leadership they are demonstrating how the Community Foundation can reach and support all its citizens. Mark passed away in 2015.