Search Through Grants for Churches in Michigan in the U.S.

The Jackson Community Foundation (JCF) focuses a small amount of grantmaking dollars each year to support local community-building events that also align with our Mission, Vision, Values, and our Community Needs Endowment Fund Grantmaking Priority, Aims, and Guidelines. Grant opportunities are available to Jackson County, Michigan: 501©3 nonprofits, governmental agencies, school districts, churches, community groups, and out of county organizations serving Jackson County.

Examples of community-building events include:

• Conferences
• Forums
• Trainings
• Community events open to the public that
  • Help participants build an understanding of a community issue
  • Bring diverse groups of people together to build relationships and work together
  • Gather community resource organizations to support the community
  • Celebrate cultural diversity and inclusiveness

Grant Amount

Typically between $200 - $500.

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.

Background

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation seeks to dramatically improve the lives of underserved communities across the globe by supporting scalable, innovative, and impact-first solutions that leverage existing systems and stakeholders. Our goal is to find social entrepreneurs with dynamic products or services that have a proven ability to positively impact the lives of underserved people, and nurture those organizations at the early stages by providing capacity, capital, and community.

Our application process is designed to be open and accessible, and we accept applications year round from across our priority geographies and sectors. Borrowing from our venture capital legacy, we find exceptional entrepreneurs and provide them with: 

Capacity

• The core of DRK’s model is deep and extensive operational and technical support for each portfolio organization, both through dedicated hands-on Board service and specialist capacity-building resources for fundraising, board and organizational development, leadership, financial support, and scaling strategy,

Capital

• DRK provides up to $300,000 USD in either unrestricted grant funding or investment capital over a three-year period, and

Community

• DRK convenes our portfolio and alumni annually, facilitating connections and community. 

What We Fund

DRK Foundation funds early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems using bold, scalable approaches.

What stage of growth does DRK Foundation typically fund?

Early stage: Organizations who are early stage, which we define as post-pilot and pre-scale. This typically means: 

• Your program, product or service is already being used in the market or in the field, 
• You have early indication that your model is having its intended impact on the beneficiary populations,
• Your organization is relatively young (ideally between two and five years old, although we will consider both younger and older organizations).

Venture funding: In the case of for profits, we typically support Seed to Series A organizations, and never lead rounds; we also generally but not exclusively refrain from participating in financings exceeding a $15M USD post-money valuation.  

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

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Grants

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation only accepts unsolicited proposals for specific areas within the education, family economic stability and childhood health sectors in select countries where we work, namely the United States, India and South Africa.

As a guideline, the foundation does not fund more than 25% of a project’s budget or more than 10% of an organization’s total annual operating expenses.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has always recognized the power of providing grants to partner organizations that we knew were already working hard to improve the lives of urban children living in poverty. By aligning with organizations that are already making a difference, we continue to make an immediate impact on the lives of thousands of children.

Foundation priorities:

We fund social enterprises that directly serve or impact children or youth from urban low-income communities in the areas of education, health, and family economic stability (including livelihoods and financial inclusion). These social enterprises may be structured as for-profit or nonprofit entities.

Partnerships

We collaborate with a range of organizations focused on creating opportunities for children and families living in urban poverty, with a deep emphasis on measuring impact. Our funding advances projects already making an impact in education, health, and family economic stability. Through these enduring and long-standing partnerships, we create lasting change together.

PNC Foundation

Strengthening and enriching the lives of our neighbors in communities where we live and work.

Vision & Mission

For decades, we have provided resources to seed ideas, foster development initiatives and encourage leadership in nonprofit organizations where imagination and determination are at work enhancing people's lives everyday.

The PNC Foundation's priority is to form partnerships with community-based nonprofit organizations in order to enhance educational opportunities, with an emphasis on early childhood education, and to promote the growth of communities through economic development initiatives.

Foundation Grant

The PNC Foundation supports a variety of nonprofit organizations with a special emphasis on those that work to achieve sustainability and touch a diverse population, in particular, those that support early childhood education and/or economic development.

Education

The PNC Foundation supports educational programs for children and youth, particularly early childhood education initiatives that meet the criteria established through PNC Grow Up Great. Specifically, PNC Grow Up Great grants must:

• Support early education initiatives that benefit children from birth to age five; and
• Serve a majority of children (>50%) from low- to moderate-income families; and
• Adhere to all other standard PNC Foundation guidelines, as outlined on the PNC Foundation website, applicant eligibility quiz, as well as the Foundation policies and procedures; and
• Include one or a combination of the following:
  • direct services/programs for children in their classroom or community;
  • professional development/workforce development for early childhood educators;
  • family and/or community engagement in children’s early learning
• Additional considerations:
  • The grant focus should include math, science, reading, vocabulary development, the arts, financial education, or social/emotional development.
  • The grant recipient, or collaborative partner, should have early childhood education as an area of focus. If the organization’s focus is beyond birth to age five, the specific grant must be earmarked for birth to age five.
  • Incorporate opportunities for PNC volunteers in classroom or non-classroom-based activities.

Economic Development

Economic development organizations, including those which enhance the quality of life through neighborhood revitalization, cultural enrichment and human services are given support. Priority is given to community development initiatives that strategically promote the growth of low-and moderate-income communities and/or provide services to these communities.

• Affordable Housing
  • The PNC Foundation understands the critical need for affordable housing for low-and moderate-income individuals.
  • We are committed to providing support to nonprofit organizations that:
    • give counseling and services to help these individuals maintain their housing stock;
    • offer transitional housing units and programs; and/or
    • offer credit counseling assistance to individuals, helping them to prepare for homeownership.
• Community Development
  • Because small businesses are often critical components of community growth and help foster business development, the PNC Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations that
    • offer technical assistance to, or loan programs for, small businesses located in low-and moderate-income areas or
    • support small businesses that employ low-and moderate-income individuals.
• Community Services
  • Support is given to social services organizations that benefit the health, education, quality of life or provide essential services for low-and moderate-income individuals and families.
  • The PNC Foundation supports job training programs and organizations that provide essential services for their families.
• Arts & Culture
  • Support is given for cultural enrichment programs benefitting the community.
• Revitalization & Stabilization of Low-and Moderate-Income Areas
  • The PNC Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that serve low-and moderate-income neighborhoods by improving living and working conditions.
  • Support is given to organizations that help stabilize communities, eliminate blight and attract and retain businesses and residents to the community.

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.

Our Mission

The Tony Robbins Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of people often forgotten.

We’re dedicated to creating positive changes in the lives of youth, seniors, the hungry, homeless and the imprisoned population, all who need a boost envisioning a happier and deeply satisfying way of life. Our passionate staff, generous donors and caring group of international volunteers provide the vision, inspiration, and resources needed to empower these important members of our society.

Grants

Dedicated to meeting challenges within the global community, creating solutions and taking action, The Tony Robbins Foundation provides monetary donations to various organizations around the world. Funding requests are evaluated on an ongoing basis. We look for organizations that align with our mission to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of those often forgotten.

Are We a Match?

Do you envision a world where every child and family sees the road to success? Where a community’s future is determined by the people who live there?A world where:

• All kids receive nurturing early care and education.
• Health care for mothers, birthing people and babies is readily available where they live.
• Good food is a given, along with support for the people who grow it.
• Parents and caregivers land career pathways that sustain their family
•   And where everyone can heal from the harms of racism and contribute to a more equitable world.

That’s the world we want to see, too!

Where We Fund

Across the United States, with generational commitments in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans. We also fund in Chiapas and the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico and in central and southwest Haiti.

For more than 20 years, The Baltimore Life Companies have viewed community involvement as our responsibility, not only through financial support of local organizations, but through our employees’ commitment to volunteerism. To further demonstrate our belief in good corporate citizenship, Baltimore Life has established a community grants program to help nonprofit organizations enhance the quality of life in communities—Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, and the surrounding communities—where our employees live and work.

Grants of up to $500 will be awarded to multiple organizations. Our grants program is a continuation of Baltimore Life’s long-standing tradition of giving back to our communities.

History

The Mary Thompson Home for Old Ladies was founded in 1876 by Mrs. David Thompson and a group of 31 philanthropic Detroit area women. Its purpose was to provide a home for ladies 60 or older – a residence for their “golden years.” The building, designed by George Mason and built in 1884, still stands at the corner of Hancock and Cass Avenue. It had 40 rooms and was able to house 31 residents, who were able to furnish their own rooms for their comfort. There was an infirmary, and common sitting rooms on each floor. Annual expenses per resident were about $1500. The Home was also supported by an endowment fund and donations.

Activities were arranged, such as travel talks, musical programs, hymn singing, and religious services. Meals were provided and residents could invite guests. Funeral expenses of residents were paid by the Home.

The Board of Trustees and the staff made great efforts to make the Thompson Home a warm and secure place for the ladies who resided there, and worked to provide a homelike, non-institutional environment. A past President wrote, “Let us try to make this home a place where love, beauty, and joy will abide always, and where our ladies may live their lives comfortably, with pride and dignity.”

In the 1970s, the Board decided to close the doors of the Home, and the remaining residents moved to other senior communities in the Detroit area. The building was donated to Wayne State University, and the present-day Mary Thompson Foundation was created in 1979. Today the Foundation’s purpose is to provide aid, assistance and services to the elderly through funding.

Our Mission

The Mary Thompson Foundation is an organization consisting of a Board of Trustees which allocates small grants to other organizations in need. We abide by our Mission Statement which states that we provide aid and assistance to the elderly through our funding, mostly throughout the Michigan area.

Impact

Over the years, the Mary Thompson Foundation has donated many different types of grants to organizations, all of which benefit our senior communities in several diverse ways.

Some of these include: 

• Medical (hospital programs, nursing care, etc.) 
• Church programs, libraries, universities, centers, cemeteries, etc.
• Entertainment (music, theaters, symphonies, etc.)
• Food programs and transportation
• Animals (comfort/companionship to seniors)
• Accounting aids

The Mary Thompson Foundation is proud to be a beneficial part in giving comfort and aid to our seniors.

Youth Impact Grant

The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is a youth-focused and youth-administered grant committee within the Jackson Community Foundation. YAC addresses the needs of youth in Jackson County by awarding grants to community organizations that benefit youth. At the same time, it provides the students involved in the program an opportunity to volunteer their time and talents to better their community while developing philanthropic leadership skills and valuable experience.​

YAC will be accepting grant applications for programs/projects that benefit youth in Jackson County, Michigan.

The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation was founded by Mrs. Eda U. Gerstacker in 1957, in memory of her husband. Its primary purpose is to carry on, indefinitely, financial aid to charities of all types supported by Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Gerstacker during their lifetimes. These charities are concentrated in the states of Michigan and Ohio.

More specifically, most charities are in Midland, Michigan, and Midland County, but also in greater Michigan. In Ohio, most grants are given to groups in Cleveland – the hometown of Rollin and Eda Gerstacker. Grants are also made to communities where major Dow operations are located.

Foundation Giving

The major share of Gerstacker Foundation giving in it’s 56-year history has gone to:

• Homes for the elderly
• Health care and research
• Research institutions
• Colleges and universities
• Youth work
• General community support

Granting Areas

Midland’s Downtown & Riverfront

To avoid the trend of downtown decline, the Gerstacker Foundation has taken a leading role in the renaissance of Midland’s downtown and riverfront. It and other contributors have realized a vision to transform downtown Midland into a vibrant hub of business and recreational activity. Attractions include the Tridge, Gerstacker Sprayground, Pere Marquette Rail-Trail, Riverside Place senior housing, Farmer’s Market, skate park, conference center and hotel, canoe livery and Currie Golf Course – all enjoyed by thousands of residents and visitors every year.

Affordable Housing

For most people, growing old means less income and mobility, which is why many move into senior citizen housing – if it’s available. Thanks in part to Eda Gerstacker’s determination, Midland County has outstanding, affordable housing for the elderly – including The King’s Daughters Home, Washington Woods, Riverside Place and Pere Marquette Senior Estates in Coleman. Senior housing remains a cornerstone of Gerstacker Foundation giving and has led to the support of related activities, such as the Affordable Housing Alliance, Habitat for Humanity and Midland Area Homes.

Family Services

Today’s families face a growing number of social and economic challenges that can’t be resolved through government funding alone. To help address those challenges, the Gerstacker Foundation contributes heavily to organizations that unite families, prevent violence, address disabilities, stop substance and physical abuse, and promote educational opportunities. Examples include the Foundation’s support of three Midland-area community and family centers: the David Reece Memorial Fund, the Ten-Sixteen Treatment Centers and the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

Local Schools

Inspiring and maintaining a love for education is no easy feat. It’s made easier, however, with contributions from the Gerstacker Foundation, which has a long history of supporting K-12 education in Midland and other communities. Foundation funding enables the school system and teachers to initiate projects that would not otherwise be possible. These range from unique teaching activities and a new auditorium, to science additions, stadium upgrades and school renovations.

Higher Education

Eda Gerstacker, a teacher by profession, firmly believed in the value of a quality college education. In this spirit, the Gerstacker Foundation has supported more than 30 public and private colleges and predominantly African American colleges. Most college grantees are in Michigan and range from Albion, Alma and Northwood University to Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. Ohio colleges include Hiram and Wooster.

Faith-Based Initiatives

Although the Gerstacker Foundation is not affiliated with any single religious group, it applauds activities that benefit our communities and give our youth self-confidence and respect for others. It therefore supports several faithbased organizations that have similar goals, including the Salvation Army, SpringHill Camps, University of Michigan Hillel, Young Life, St. Brigid Catholic Church and the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Cleveland – an inner-city mission church that Eda Gerstacker attended.

Youth Activities

The work of the Gerstacker Foundation has always been focused on children, preparing them for lives of useful service. This has been done by funding activities that inspire leadership, and that also help troubled youth find the way. Examples include the Midland Soccer Complex, the Michigan 4-H Foundation, the Starr Commonwealth for Boys, Eagle Village,Big Brothers Big Sisters in the Heart of Michigan, and The ROCK Youth Center.

Health Care and Advanced Research 

Two areas of major support from the Gerstacker Foundation are health care and advanced, non-profit research. The Foundation believes immediate care for physically and mentally impaired people is just as important as innovative research for future cures and treatments. More than 30 diverse health care organizations benefit from Gerstacker funding. These range from its largest grantee, MidMichigan Health, to the Association for Children’s Mental Health, Neighborhood Clinic, Arthritis Foundation, National Parkinson Foundation and Alzheimer’s Association.

Environment and Conservation

The Gerstacker Foundation is a strong believer in progress, but not at the expense of the environment. For this reason, the Foundation supports more than a dozen programs that educate the public and preserve the environment for centuries to come. Programs range from the Chippewa Nature Center and The Nature Conservancy to a unique Wildlife Recovery program, the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative, Little Forks Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited and American Farmland Trust.

Arts & Culture

To encourage creativity and provide enriching experiences, the Gerstacker Foundation supports a number of cultural endeavors in Midland and other communities. These include the Midland Center for the Arts, Matrix:Midland, Tridge Summer Concerts, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Brazosport Fine Arts Council (in Texas), The Dairy Center for the Arts (Boulder), Chinese Cultural Ongoing Program (Midland) and Michigan Jazz Trail Festival.

Public Service

The men and woman in public service work hard to enhance their communities, sometimes putting their own lives at risk. To support public service and fill the gaps in limited budgets, the Gerstacker Foundation offers funding to many worthy groups and programs, including the Michigan State Police, Midland County firefighters, Midland County Law Enforcement Center, Midland County D.A.R.E. group and the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team.

Public Policy Intiatives

To preserve our democratic freedoms and way of life, the Gerstacker Foundation supports a variety of nonpartisan think tanks and other groups at the national and state levels. These organizations objectively evaluate public policy issues, and share their findings with decision makers and the public to help people make informed decisions. Grantees range from the American Enterprise Institute and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy to Economics America of Michigan, Chemical Heritage Foundation and the Heritage Foundation.

The Dickinson Area Community Foundation is a permanent, charitable endowment created by the community, for the community. The Foundation is made up of 101 charitable funds, each named and designated by donors to benefit the area. 

Mission Statement

Grants are available from the following funds to 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and agencies or organizations affiliated with non-taxable organizations (i.e., schools, churches, cities) located in or servicing people in the Dickinson County and surrounding Michigan and Wisconsin areas.

Veterans Assistance Fund

Funds available for grants to non-profit organizations that support veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

Civic Improvement Fund

Funds available for collaborative project(s) to benefit or serve the Iron Mountain, Kingsford, and Breitung Township communities. The Grant Committee includes a representative from each community.

Community Health Fund

Funds available for grants for youth and senior health-related programs (i.e., programs designed to reduce behavioral risk factors such as substance abuse, alcohol/binge drinking, smoking, and depression; and to encourage healthy activities). 

Environmental Fund

Funds available for grants for projects that improve or create methods of enhancing natural resources in the region.

Fine Arts Fund

Funds available for grants for projects in the area of theatrical, musical, and performing arts.

Health Care Fund

Funds available for grants for programs involved in prevention, primary physical health care, educational, and other health related services.

Homeless Prevention Fund

Funds available for grants for programs that provide assistance to people in need to prevent loss of homes

Hunger Fund

Funds available for grants to organizations that provide food to people in need.

Iron Mountain/Kingsford Kellogg Youth Fund

Funds available for granting to applicants from the Iron Mountain/Kingsford area by the Iron Mountain/Kingsford Youth Advisory Committee (YACs) for youth-related programs.

Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Established in 1958, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation sets aside resources to improve life in the communities where we operate. We’ve worked with thousands of outstanding community-based programs, service projects and disaster relief efforts, focusing our investment in four areas we believe make the most impact:

• education,
• environment,
• enrichment and
• entrepreneurship.

Investment Priorities

• Aligns with GP’s mission and values
• Aligns with GP’s Four Focus Areas of giving: Education, Environment, Enrichment of Community and Entrepreneurship
• Serves communities where GP has manufacturing facilities
• Creates value by contributing to and positively impacting long term well-being and sustainability of GP communities

Berrien Community Foundation

Mission

The mission of Berrien Community Foundation is to connect the power of people who care with causes and organizations that strengthen our communities.

Vision

The vision of Berrien Community Foundation is to build strong, vibrant, and sustainable communities. For Good. For Ever.

Howard Youth Endowment Program Grant

This grant was established by John E. N. and DeDe Howard to support programs for youth in St. Joseph, Michigan. Priority consideration will be given to programs that take place within the Howard Facilities located in St. Joseph, MI and the Maud Preston Palenske Memorial Library.

Our Story 

Some people dream of success; others get up early and work to achieve it. Art and Mary Schmuckal spent their 53 years of marriage achieving success and supporting many others through their philanthropic endeavors. Their life was a balance of family, Church, work, play, public service, and, within their means, charitable giving.

Many organizations have not only been financial benefactors, but also benefactors of the volunteer time and talents of Art and Mary. The success of their business, Schmuckal Oil Company, and the value of real estate acquired during the lifetime of Art and Mary, presented the opportunity to “jump start” an organization whose purpose was solely dedicated to philanthropy. 

A family foundation is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Michigan. The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation is administered by a volunteer Board of Directors composed of the founder’s four children, three grandsons, and two non-family, long time family friends (an attorney and a CPA). 

As is true in every charitable organization, there has been a learning curve of how best to be good stewards of the assets entrusted to the Foundation. Wise investments help grow the funds and grants must be wisely awarded to organizations who make a difference in the lives of the community they serve. 

Art Schmuckal was actively involved in the Foundation for 12 years until his death in 2012. Art and Mary both had a positive impact on their local community during their lifetime. The Art and Mary Family Foundation is intended to remain in good standing in perpetuity and to be a lasting legacy to the Art and Mary Schmuckal Family. 

Make A Difference

The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in September 1999 to support charitable tax-exempt organizations, including religious, health and educational organizations serving citizens in the greater Grand Traverse region.  The Art and Mary Schmuckal Family Foundation has an open grant application policy.

The T.A.G (Teens Aiding Growth) Team is the Youth Advisory Council at the Foundation. High School students from all districts in Allegan County are invited to join to represent their peers. They meet around 10 times a year.

T.A.G (Teens Aiding Growth) Grant

All youth related programs and services should be addressed through the TAG Grant.

Youth Development

(Services, opportunities, or support for individuals 0-18 years old that minimize barriers and/or encourage them to reach their full potential.)

We strive to ensure that our youth live in a safe and supportive environment (emotionally, intellectually, culturally). They have access to high quality, environmentally rich learning opportunities.

Priority is given to programs that:

• Enhance quality early childhood education and intervention services.
• Support mentoring programs that encourage relationships between youth and caring adults.
• Support access to programs that promote mental and physical health as well as those that address disconnected youth.
• Enhance educational opportunities in science, literacy, arts, and culture, especially those that use experiential learning.
• Support post-secondary education access and job readiness.
• Support youth-led social change and elevate the voices of youth in program planning.

The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is a youth-focused and youth-administered grant committee within the Jackson Community Foundation (JCF). Over 800 local high school students completed the YAC Needs Assessment survey. The results clearly indicated that youth mental health concerns are a significant issue for the youth of Jackson County. Based on these findings, YAC will conduct a grant round focusing only on youth mental health projects. 

The Jackson Community Foundation's Grant Committee prioritizes funding for programs, services, and systems change initiatives that provide opportunities for learning, action, and advocacy aimed at advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in Jackson County.  This grant is funded by the Community Needs Endowment Fund.

PROGRAM GRANT

Limit requests to $20,000 for programs benefitting the residents of Jackson County, Michigan. Nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, school districts, governmental entities (for programs, goods or services that are not funded through taxpayer dollars), and churches (for nonreligious purposes) are eligible to apply.

For General Operating Support, please see here.

About the Oleson Foundation

Gerald and Frances Oleson started The Oleson Foundation in 1962 — a foundation that was designed to continually perform good works in Northwestern Lower Michigan.

The foundation is so organized that it may accept contributions from any individual or organization.

Income from assets of the foundation as well as principal must be used “exclusively for charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes either directly or by contributions to organizations” carrying out such activities.

Funding Priorities

The Oleson Foundation’s interests are broad but reflect the wishes of our founders, Gerald and Frances Oleson, to help people help themselves and give the greatest good for the greatest number. We are looking for sustainable, collaborative projects and programs that improve the quality of life for our area residents. 

Program Areas

• Art
  • to provide access to arts and culture in all its forms, especially to our youth, and ensure that artistic opportunities, programs and events flourish in Northern Michigan.
• Education
• To provide high quality educational opportunities for all students and to encourage communities to make education a priority for the region.
• Environment
• To provide protection and stewardship of our precious natural resources including watersheds, wetlands, farmland, forest land and the overall protection of the Great Lakes. 
• Community Development
• To provide recreational, cultural and special projects that assist our communities to grow and prosper with respect to our natural resources.
• Health & Human Services
• To provide assistance to people in need and to have high quality health care available to all communities. 

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.

Keller Foundation Grant

The Keller Foundation has a key interest in supporting programs and services for children and families living in the community around the Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy. However, the Keller Foundation is not limited to donations in this geographical area. 

Since its inception in 1980, the Keller Foundation has awarded almost $7 million in grants to over 150 different nonprofit organizations, mainly in the Grand Rapids area. The primary focus of the Keller Foundation is to encourage innovative programs for core city youth of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Focus Areas

Since its inception in 1980, the Keller Foundation has awarded almost $7 million in grants to over 150 different nonprofit organizations, mainly in the Grand Rapids area. The primary focus of the Keller Foundation is to encourage innovative programs for core city youth of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The Keller Foundation provides grants in primarily five focus areas:

• Cultural 
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Human Services

Grant giving in these focus areas support such programs as:

• Exposure to visual and performing arts 
• Opportunities for access to cultural and environmental centers/programs
• School readiness programs
• Programs that provide safe, nurturing environments for children
• Tutoring for children
• Literacy programs for children and adults
• In-school enrichment programs
• After-school programs
• Teacher enrichment programs
• Effective parenting programs

Key Geographic Focus

The Keller Foundation has a key interest in supporting programs and services for children and families living in the community around the Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Leadership Academy. MLK is a K-8 school in the Grand Rapids Public Schools system and is located on Logan Street in southeast Grand Rapids.

The Foundation currently supports several programs serving children attending MLK and their parents/families:

• Tutoring Center and Other Enrichment Activities:
  • The Keller Foundation supports the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) Tutoring Center at MLK. It offers a Tutoring program and provides a variety of enrichment activities for the kids attending the school. Enrichment activities are varied and diverse and provide opportunities for the children to experience extracurricular activities that are often available to their peers in more affluent communities. These include opportunities for the kids to experience the Grand Rapids Ballet, the Meijer Gardens, JohnBall Zoo, Blandford Nature Center, the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, and the Grand Rapids Art Museum. In addition, the Tutoring Center organizes opportunities for the kids to earn Merit prizes, which inspire and celebrate kids’ educational achievements; and family events, which help foster deeper parental involvement in their children’s learning and school activities.

• Other Programs at MLK:
  • The Foundation also supports several organizations providing various in-school and after-school programs or services for kids attending MLK.

Funding

The Keller Foundation awards an average of 30 grants each year. Grants range in size from $2,500 up to $50,000. Awards are relative to the size and scope of the project as well as its potential to impact our focus community.

2025 Funding Priorities

All youth related programs and services should be addressed through the TAG Grant.

Basic Needs and Rights

We strive to ensure that the county’s residents have access to social and health services, stable housing, job training and education.

Priority is given to programs that:

• Promote individual and family economic security
• Increase housing stock
• Decrease homelessness through programs that promote diversion and intervention
• Improve access to healthcare and human services
• Promote healthy relationships and address domestic violence
• Support education with access to training, employability skills, and self-care. 

Arts and Culture (performing art, historical organizations, etc.)

We strive to ensure that the county’s residents can access arts and culture experiences to educate and improve overall quality of life.

Priority is given to programs that:

• support and encourage the community to take advantage of the vast variety of arts and cultural programming
• community art and music festivals
• public art projects, performing arts, visual arts, and dance

Environment and Conservation (outdoors/nature)

We strive to foster understanding of and promote action on the relationship between the health of the natural world and the health and well-being of our residents.

Priority is given to programs that:

• Preserve and protect environmentally significant lands, waterways, and wildlife habitats – for the benefit not only of the ecosystem, but for the health, livelihood, and enjoyment of residents;

Economic Development and Placemaking (community enhancements)

We strive to ensure that Allegan County is a place that people want to live in, that families can thrive, and that grown children want to return to raise their families.

Priority is given to programs that:

• Create new, outdoor public spaces and destinations in a community on unused or underused sites.
• Support economic development.

Animal Welfare (care and protection)

We strive to ensure adequate protection, care and humane treatment of animals and wildlife.

Priority is given to programs that:

• Provide support of veterinary care for domestic animals, including spay and neuter services, for low-income families and abandoned pets
• Encourage responsible pet ownership and the adoption of abandoned animals
• Support of healthy wildlife as well as their natural habitats
• Make positive, therapeutic connections between people and animals

Capacity and Sustainability (developing and strengthening skills for growth and adaptability)

We strive to support local nonprofits to reach their goals and maintain long-term sustainability.

Priority is given to programs that:

• Improve efficiency through the implementation of technology (hardware, software, cloud-based and implementation costs)
• Enhance staff development

Women's Giving Circle Grant

The Women's Giving Circle (WGC) was established in late 2006 to create an endowed fund for supporting issues important to women in northeast Michigan. Women and men from a four-county service area (Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle) and beyond join the WGC because they want to make a lasting difference for women in our communities. As the endowed fund grows, so does the annual amount awarded in grants...forever!

Specific grant focus: projects or programs that support issues important to women in the northeast Michigan counties of Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle.  

Background

Every community faces unique barriers that require collaborative solutions to thrive. The Dow Promise Program supports educational and economic challenges Black youth and adults face in the United States by addressing community-identified needs and advancing equitable opportunities. Through grants of up to $10,000 towards social, economic or environmental initiatives, Dow Promise not only fosters a thriving community, but a shared future.

Since 2000, this annual competitive program has committed to uplifting communities in which Dow operates by supporting their needs and investing in positive social change for long-term success.

Gupta Family Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, USA. Our mission is to support organizations that provide focused intervention in the lives of people who have been disadvantaged in some way to help them become self-reliant. We take a very broad view of “disadvantage” to include anything that holds a person back from realizing their potential, such as poverty, physical or mental disability, social alienation, etc. The foundation also supports relief agencies that serve people affected by emergencies such as natural disasters.

The foundation evaluates and awards annual and multi-year grants ranging from $5,000 to over $250,000 (USD). Our focus is on funding smaller organizations all around the world that are led by individuals with a deep personal commitment to their missions. 

Our selection criteria include:

• Mission alignment
• The organization is run by the founder or, if not, by a successor who embodies the original inspiration, passion and commitment of the founder.
• At least 90% of grant monies reaches the intended beneficiaries.
• The organization is non-sectarian, i.e.,
  • It does not, directly or indirectly, support or condone the proselytization of any religion,
  • It is not supported by or affiliated to a religious organization.