Search Through Grand Traverse County Grants for Nonprofits in Michigan

Mission

The DanPaul Foundation will use its resources to help train teachers and parents in early childhood development, protect children from abuse and neglect, stimulate children's personal social responsibilities, and offer them opportunities for enrichment and growth.

The Foundation will also encourage children to be concerned and informed about the environment and the underprivileged, particularly with regard to clean air and water, and adequate housing and nutrition for all.

Beliefs

The DanPaul Foundation believes that children should have ample opportunities for enrichment in their lives, and thus strives to provide many different ways to enrich and expand children's minds through direct programs and monetary support to organizations doing similar work.

We have provided or currently provide grants related to the following program areas:

• Workshops, Conferences, + Seminars: We strive to offer educational workshops, conferences, and seminars for parents and teachers on topics related to early childhood development.
• Student Scholarships: We aim to help students attending post-secondary education institutions by providing need-based and academic scholarships.
• Scientific Endeavors: We desire to advance scientific endeavors which seek to improve the quality of life for everyone in the world.
• Clean Air + Water: We hope to pass on knowledge and practical life skills to youth regarding their personal responsibility to the environment, teaching them about issues surrounding clean air and water.
• Child Advocacy: We believe in protecting children from abuse and neglect and particularly love to support programs that provide education and assistance to children as well as organizations advocating or caring for vulnerable children.
• Homelessness: We want to encourage young people to take a personal interest in seeing that adequate housing and proper nutrition, especially for the underprivileged and homeless, are available.
• Poverty + Neglect: We seek to help those in poverty as well as educate youth about their responsibility to consider the underprivileged and take care of those most in need of life's basic essentials like adequate housing and proper nutrition.
• Refugee Enrichment: We wish to help refugee youth by supporting programs that provide them enrichment and help them transition to life in a new country.

The DanPaul Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organizations as defined by the IRS. The Foundation is interested in providing funding to programs that directly serve the health, education, development, and welfare of the world's youth.

Grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $15,000 per calendar year.

Community Grants

State Farm is committed to helping build safer, stronger and better-educated communities.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We are committed to auto and home safety programs and activities that help people manage the risks of everyday life.
• We invest in education, economic empowerment and community development projects, programs and services that help people realize their dreams.
• We help maintain the vibrancy of our communities by assisting nonprofits that support community revitalization.

Good Neighbor Citizenship company grants focus on safety, community development and education.

Focus Areas

Safety Grants

We strive to keep our customers and communities safe. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Auto safety — improving driver, passenger, vehicle or roadway safety
• Home safety — shielding homes from fires, crime or natural disasters
• Disaster preparedness and mitigation
• Disaster recovery

Community Development

We support nonprofits that invest and develop stronger neighborhoods. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Affordable housing — home construction and repair
• Commercial/small business development
• Job training
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Financial literacy
• Sustainable housing and transportation
• Food insecurity

Education

Our education funding is directed toward initiatives that support the following programs:

• Higher education
• K-12 academic performance
• K-12 STEM
• Pathways for college and career success

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation

We believe every person deserves equitable care and education.

In 2020 Labcorp established a private charitable 501(c)(3) foundation to advance our desire to bring quality healthcare access to all by supporting education and our local communities. 

Common grant opportunities include:

• Supporting food pantries and meal programs
• Providing healthcare and patient services for underserved populations
• Encouraging STEM programming
• Advocating for healthy lifestyles through ongoing medical research and screening

Mission

Driven by a philanthropic calling to support marginalized communities throughout the world, the Semnani Family Foundation partners with on-the-ground organizations and leverages its resources in a cost-effective and efficient manner that delivers the maximum benefit.

History

Guided by his grandmother Maliheh’s example and teachings, Khosrow Semnani and his wife Ghazaleh established the Semnani Family Foundation in 1993. The foundation’s first grant was issued through CARE International to an orphanage in Romania that cared for newborns affected by HIV. Over the last few decades, the foundation has continued to build upon its mission to empower the disaffected, partnering with a variety of organizations in different countries who can make the greatest impact.

In addition to its global influence, the Semnani Family Foundation established roots within the state of Utah with the founding of Maliheh Free Clinic in 2005 to provide free healthcare to thousands of uninsured people in the Salt Lake City area.

Where We Work

The Semnani Family Foundation focuses primarily on promoting health, education, and disaster relief for marginalized communities all around the world. Driven by a clear mission to adapt and serve at the global level, we have leveraged our resources to make a meaningful impact in the following countries so far:

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia
• Colombia
• England
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Guatemala
• India
• Iran
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Mali
• Mexico
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Romania
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Uganda
• United States
• Yemen

At the heart of the Foundation lies a fervent commitment to human welfare, always prioritizing health and the needs of society’s most vulnerable.

The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust is devoted solely to the funding of charitable, scientific, medical and educational organizations.

The Board endeavors to support soundly-managed charitable organizations that give service with a broad scope, have a substantial effect on their target populations, and contribute materially to the general welfare. The Board does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

We have strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country that are working to advance economic mobility and social progress in low- and moderate-income communities. Our focus areas include basic needs like food and housing, workforce development and education, and community development. In addition to our philanthropic investments, we also encourage our employees to make a difference by offering robust employee giving and volunteering programs, including the opportunity to direct funds to organizations they support through volunteer efforts, and a matching gifts program that doubles their individual giving to causes they care about. Last year, we invested $350 million in the communities we serve, and employees contributed more than 1 million volunteer hours and directed $65 million through individual giving and matching gifts to support nonprofits.Through our regional U.S. sponsorships, we support the economic, social and cultural life of the places we live and work. We provide an extensive program of arts and sports sponsorships to help maintain vibrant, healthy communities.Sponsorships supporting communitiesBank of America welcomes your sponsorship proposal for opportunities that make our communities a better place to live and work. We are particularly interested in providing support to address needs vital to the health of our communities through a focus on:

• preserving neighborhoods;
• educating the workforce for 21st century jobs;
• addressing critical needs such as hunger and emergency shelter;
• arts and culture;
• the environment; and
• diversity and inclusion programs.

Grants are made at the Foundation’s discretion based on our current funding strategies focused on housing, jobs and hunger. 

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. 

Good Works Fund

The mission of the Good Works Fund is to support projects that address unmet needs in established priority areas within the Rotary Club of Traverse City’s service area — primarily Grand Traverse County. Grants are awarded in amounts not to exceed $5,000 to nonprofits organizations doing important work in our community.

Priority Funding Areas

• Arts and culture
• Basic human needs
• Education
• Environment
• Health and Safety
• Recreation

Project Priorities

• Capital expenditures
• Equipment
• One-time special opportunities/events
• Start-ups and new projects

About Us

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our five-county region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we continue supporting a variety of community need areas, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services.

We do this by promoting giving, engaging in collaborative leadership, supporting nonprofit organizations through meaningful grants and local students through scholarships, and building endowments that make a lasting impact for generations to come.

To date, we have received more than $123 million in gifts and awarded over $65.7 million in grants and scholarships.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Fund

Our DEI Fund is dedicated to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties as well as the sovereign nation of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

We believe diversity encompasses, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, economic circumstances, zip code, age, health and ability status, neurodiversity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, resident or immigration status, national origin, veteran status, and religion. 

We are committed to using our leadership, resources, and voice to build toward a better future where all people across our region have equitable access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

About the DEI Fund

The DEI Fund supports diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across the region, including primarily providing support for organizations led by Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, immigrant, neurodiverse, and/or disability community members. We will also consider DEI training and learning and other partners, programs, and opportunities promoting equity and inclusion.

Amount

Grant requests for up to $2,500 will be considered. Generally, grants to an organization will not exceed $2,500 in a given year.

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation focused on making grants to support environmental, human services and other causes.

The Lawrence Foundation was established in mid-2000. We make both program and operating grants and do not have any geographical restrictions on our grants. Nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or other similar organizations are eligible for grants from The Lawrence Foundation.  

Grant Amount and Types

Grants typically range between $5,000 - $10,000. In some limited cases we may make larger grants, but that is typically after we have gotten to know your organization over a period of time. We also generally don’t make multi-year grants, although we may fund the same organization on a year by year basis over a period of years.

General operating or program/project grant requests within our areas of interests are accepted. In general, regardless of whether a grant request is for general operating or program/project expenses, all of our grants will be issued as unrestricted grants.

Impact100 Traverse City collectively funds transformational grants in the areas of environment & recreation, education, arts & culture, family, and health & wellness in the five county area including Grand Traverse, Antrim, Leelanau, Benzie and Kalkaska.

• Arts & Culture
  • Charitable initiatives that cultivate, develop, educate, and improve the cultural climate within those five counties.
• Education
  • Charitable initiatives that further the ability to educate and improve education within those five counties.
• Environment & Recreation
  • Charitable initiatives that preserve, enhance, revitalize, or restore facilities and surroundings within those five counties.
• Family
  • Charitable initiatives that strengthen and enhance the lives of children and families within those five counties.
• Health & Wellness
  • Charitable initiatives that positively impact the mental or physical health and wellness of the people within those five counties.

Youth Endowment

Our Youth Endowment supports youth causes and organizations across our region. These grants are open to organizations across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

The total amount available for grants in 2024 is $105,000 or $21,000 per county. Applicants may request funding from one or more counties for up to $5,000 per county.

Grant applications are reviewed by local students from our Youth Advisory Councils, representing all five counties.

Our Mission

The Hansen Family Foundation provides opportunities to domestic, international, secular, and non-secular organizations that support the American way of life, which is defined by the principles of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” 

Causes

Children

The Hansen Family Foundation supports causes dedicated to helping children both home as well as abroad. Learn More

Education

The Hansen Family Foundation believes that a decent education should be made available to everyone, young or old, the world over. Learn More

Animals

The Hansen Family Foundation believes in helping those who cannot speak on their own behalf. Learn More

Environmental

The Hansen Family Foundation is dedicated to preserving the world we all share. Learn More

Humanitarian

The Hansen Family Foundation views the plight of our fellow man as an opportunity to actively engage and effect change. Learn More

Arts & Culture

The Hansen Family Foundation supports all forms of artistic and cultural endeavors. Learn More

About Us

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our five-county region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we continue supporting a variety of community need areas, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services.

We do this by promoting giving, engaging in collaborative leadership, supporting nonprofit organizations through meaningful grants and local students through scholarships, and building endowments that make a lasting impact for generations to come.

To date, we have received more than $123 million in gifts and awarded over $65.7 million in grants and scholarships.

Healthy Youth and Healthy Seniors Endowment

The Healthy Youth and Healthy Seniors Endowment was established in compliance with an award from the State of Michigan Tobacco Settlement Partnership.

Grant awards support programs that improve the health of youth (birth - 18) and/or seniors (age 55 and older). These opportunities may include, but are not limited to, programs that focus on health and nutrition; family counseling; early childhood development; smoking prevention and cessation; daycare, preschool, and after school care. 

For example: 

Programs for healthy youth could include:

• smoking prevention and cessation and substance abuse
• violence and conflict resolution
• access to dental care
• community alternatives for recreation
• child care

Programs for healthy seniors could include:

• pharmaceuticals (i.e. access, cost, medication interaction)
• preventing and managing chronic disease (i.e. cancer, heart, lung, stroke)
• long term care alternatives (i.e. assisted living, respite care, family caregiver support)
• mental health and aging (i.e. substance abuse, depression)
• workforce and aging (i.e. age discrimination, continuing career opportunities)     

Joan Rajkovich McGarry Family Education Endowment

Joan Rajkovich McGarry served the Grand Traverse community - her home - throughout her lifetime, both professionally and as a volunteer. The focus of her service was always to make things better for families. She did that through teaching, advocacy and developing opportunities, both economic and educational.

The Joan Rajkovich McGarry Family Education Endowment supports the continuation and further development of programs and services to support Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties, related to family and consumer sciences.

Grantmaking Focus

Grant applications are accepted annually each Fall. Applications for programs and activities focused on nutrition and, in particular, school aged children and obesity issues, will be considered.

Program objectives may include, but are not limited to:

•  Education for students and families, including
  • Healthy choices for snacks/meals and consequences of unhealthy choices
  • Programs that educate about how to understand nutritional content in foods
  • Programs that educate about the preparation and preservation of food
• Physical activity for students and families
• Programs that represent the values of Home Economics (the study of our near environment: food, clothing, family, home and community).
  • A professional home economist possesses expertise which includes:
    • safe food handling,
    • nutrition,
    • parenting skills,
    • household management,
    • consumer buying,
    • housing, and leadership skills.
      • Home Economics is now known as Family and Consumer Sciences.

Together, we are meeting community needs across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties.

We have a variety of grant opportunities available in the Fall from several different Endowments; one common grant application is submitted. 

Our Fall Grants provide funding to support a range of programs and services, including those that focus on education, the environment, youth, seniors, health and human services, and more. This year, we will award fall grants through 19 different endowments that we steward. 

Land Use and Conservation Planning Endowment

Established in 1997, in partnership with the C.S. Mott Foundation and the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, the Land Use Conservation and Planning Endowment provides support for land use planning or land use stewardship activities. 

Grant awards supports programs or projects such as seminars and workshops; developing school programs that promote regional environmental or land use issues; assisting units of government in creating land conservation programs; watershed and wetlands conservation; and/or researching economic, environmental and social impact of land use and conservation planning. 

Fall Grants Application

Our Fall Grants provide funding to support a range of programs and services, including those that focus on education, the environment, youth, seniors, health and human services, and more. This year, we will award fall grants through 19 different endowments that we steward. 

Richard V. and Kimiko O. Williams Endowment

The Richard V. and Kimiko O. Williams Endowment was established to support programs and activities in Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties related to Great Lakes maritime heritage, history, and education; stewardship of the Great Lakes; environmental conservation, education, and land use, including recreation.

Together, we are meeting community needs across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties.

We have a variety of grant opportunities available in the Fall from several different Endowments; one common grant application is submitted. 

Access to Recreation Endowment

The Access to Recreation Endowment was established in 2007 through a matching grant opportunity from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, as part of its Access to Recreation Initiative.

Grant awards provide support for recreational projects, programs, and opportunites that are focused on providing universal accessibility design, beyond basic ADA requirements.

Together, we are meeting community needs across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties.

We have a variety of grant opportunities available in the Fall from several different Endowments; one common grant application is submitted. 

Our Fall Grants provide funding to support a range of programs and services, including those that focus on education, the environment, youth, seniors, health and human services, and more. This year, we will award fall grants through 19 different endowments that we steward. 

Campbell Endowment

The Campbell Endowment was established in 1996 with an anonymous gift from a donor with a heart for helping individuals achieve independence.

Grant awards support organizations and programs that promote self-sufficiency and that address needs in one or more of the following areas:

• Food,
• Health Care,
• Housing, and
• Childcare. 

Together, we are meeting community needs across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties.

We have a variety of grant opportunities available in the Fall from several different Endowments; one common grant application is submitted. 

Northwest Michigan Osteopathic Endowment

Grant awards from the Northwest Michigan Ostepathic Endowment support medical professionals' education and other innovative health education, research and treatment programs, and programs/projects that respond to community health needs. 

Fall Field of Interest Grants

Together, we are meeting community needs across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties.

We have a variety of grant opportunities available in the Fall from several different Endowments; one common grant application is submitted. 

Boys and Girls Club Endowment

The Boys and Girls Club of Grand Traverse Endowment provides support for programs and services that are consistent with the mission of the Boys and Girls Clubs to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. This can be achieved by providing a safe place for children to learn and grow; supporting ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals; providing life-enriching programs and character development experiences; and providing hope and opportunity.

Together, we are meeting community needs across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties.

We have a variety of grant opportunities available in the Fall from several different Endowments; one common grant application is submitted. 

Grand Traverse Families in Action for Youth Endowment

The Grand Traverse Families in Action, an organization that was committed to serving youth and helping young people avoid substance abuse and violence, made a gift to establish the endowment in 2000. Though no longer an organization, the mission and vision of the organization continues through Grand Traverse Families in Action for Youth Endowment.

Grant awards support assisting Traverse City youth in avoiding substance abuse and violence.

About Us

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation began in 1992 when a group of community champions came together around a vision to give back to our five-county region then, now, and forever.

This vision lives on within our organization today as we continue supporting a variety of community need areas, including youth, arts and culture, education, environment, and health and human services.

We do this by promoting giving, engaging in collaborative leadership, supporting nonprofit organizations through meaningful grants and local students through scholarships, and building endowments that make a lasting impact for generations to come.

To date, we have received more than $123 million in gifts and awarded over $69 million in grants and scholarships.

Jim Tompkins Endowment

The Jim Tompkins Endowment for Traverse City Youth was established in 2018 to meet the financial needs of and to advance the cause of youth in Traverse City. Grant awards support programs and projects that support youth.

The Traverse City Track Club Endowment supports projects and programs that align with the Track Club's mission: The Traverse City Track Club promotes and encourages health, fitness, fellowship, community service, family recreation and competition via running and walking. We welcome all ages and abilities.

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation Vision

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation, "A Foundation for All", was established in 2002. It was begun in order to give a clear voice for those who wish to be a part of the many, worthy, forces for change in our world.

We are a foundation whose purpose is to look ahead towards the future, giving the past its due by remembering where we came from, and how much we can all accomplish together. We aim to make the critical difference on our planet by recognizing and having respect for our ever changing world. We respect all Life, the Environment, and all People, no matter who they are.

Helping Build Better Futures

Our mission is to deliver great value to our customers every day. For over four decades, our deep commitment to the principles of providing value and caring for others has helped define our culture. It extends beyond the walls of our stores, distribution centers, and offices, and into our local communities around the world. The intersection of these principles defines our global community mission:

Deliver great value to our communities by helping vulnerable families and children access the resources and opportunities they need to build a better future.

Our Social Impact Areas

We bring our community relations mission to life around the world by focusing our giving on four social impact areas where we believe we can have the most impact and are critical to helping families and children succeed and thrive.

Basic Needs

We are passionate about supporting nonprofit organizations that help fill critical basic needs such as a warm meal, clean clothing, and a safe place to sleep for vulnerable families.

Education & Training

Our efforts have focused on quality enrichment and extracurricular programs that provide skills, resources, and opportunities to support school and career success for children, teens, and young adults.

Patient Care & Research

We support organizations that deliver services to families and children facing health challenges and life-threatening illnesses.

Empowering Women

We support programs that provide services ranging from help for those fleeing domestic violence, to others that offer education, training, and job placement resources.