Best Kalamazoo Grants for Nonprofits in Michigan

Grantmaking

Funding Rooted in Relationships

Our grantmaking supports the work that helps people, families, and neighborhoods build healthy, equitable communities, across generations. It is strategic, relationship-centered, grounded in trust, and shaped by ongoing learning with our community partners.

We focus on work that addresses root causes, strengthens community-led solutions, and builds long-term capacity in Kalamazoo County.

Strategic Pillars

Our strategic pillars are based on what we’ve learned from community, nonprofit and elected leaders. We all share the vision for a Kalamazoo County that includes:

Nonprofit organizations and public entities serving Kalamazoo, Michigan can apply for funding to support arts, education, human services, health, and community development programs. The Irving S. Gilmore Foundation backs projects benefiting Kalamazoo County residents, with first-time or lapsed applicants required to contact the program officer several weeks before the submission deadline.

The Nordstrom Community Grant focuses on supporting youth and families by providing over $1 million in grants annually. It aims to assist grassroots organizations that address essential community needs such as food, shelter, and clothing, as well as creating opportunities for economic mobility through mentorship and workforce development. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in areas where Nordstrom operates. Applications are encouraged for those meeting these criteria.

Graduating high school seniors involved in athletics and school or community activities in Kalamazoo, Michigan can receive more than US $600 to help cover higher education costs. Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s Roy G. Walters Memorial Scholarship supports students with financial need who will enroll full-time at an accredited college or university in the fall.

Current graduate students with ties to Kalamazoo County can receive more than US $2,500 to help cover education-related costs through the Benjamin & Cherie Gubin Scholarship. Kalamazoo Community Foundation supports higher education by funding master’s, Ph.D., medical, law, and other professional degree students who meet GPA and financial-need requirements.

Graduating high school seniors in Kalamazoo County, Michigan who are dedicated to competitive swimming or diving and demonstrate financial need can apply for the Bob Block Memorial Scholarship, awarding more than US $500 toward college costs. This one-time scholarship from Kalamazoo Community Foundation supports higher education expenses at accredited institutions.

Kalamazoo County graduate students in veterinary medicine with financial need can access funding through the Dominic & Barbara Court Family Scholarship Fund, a program of Kalamazoo Community Foundation. Awards of more than US $2,500 support tuition and other educational expenses for eligible students connected to Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Students pursuing associate degrees or vocational/trade certifications in Kalamazoo, Michigan can receive renewable multiyear support through the E. Earl Wright Scholarship, funded by Kalamazoo Community Foundation. Graduating seniors or undergraduates with Kalamazoo County residency or high school completion, at least a 2.0 GPA, financial need, and work experience may be eligible for awards over US $1,000.

Kalamazoo and Calhoun County adult learners pursuing higher education or training for community service careers can access funding through the Enhancement Ministries Scholarship. This one-time, non-renewable award from Kalamazoo Community Foundation offers more than US $500 for tuition, fees, housing, transportation, or other education-related expenses, and requires financial need plus at least five years of post–high school work history.

Black, Non-Hispanic/Latinx high school seniors from Kalamazoo County pursuing post-secondary education can receive more than US $1,000 through this multiyear scholarship, renewable for up to two additional years. Grants from Kalamazoo Community Foundation help Kalamazoo, Michigan students cover a range of college expenses when they demonstrate financial need and maintain at least a 2.75 GPA.

Adult students in Kalamazoo, Michigan pursuing associate, bachelor’s, or vocational/trade programs after a two-year education break can receive multiyear scholarship support through the Eva L. Ozier Scholarship. Kalamazoo Community Foundation provides up to US $1,000 for eligible residents or local high school graduates with financial need, which may benefit nonprofit-affiliated learners.

Students from Kalamazoo County pursuing upper-level undergraduate or graduate education can receive more than US $2,500 to cover college costs through the Frank & Hildegarde Goodrich Family Scholarship. Focused on higher education access, Kalamazoo Community Foundation supports eligible students attending specific universities, which may benefit local nonprofits assisting with college preparation and persistence.

Current graduate students of color in Library and Information Sciences connected to Kalamazoo County can receive more than US $2,500 to cover tuition, fees, housing, and other education costs. Focused on higher education access, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s Amanda Green Scholarship supports emerging librarians who demonstrate financial need and ties to Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Kalamazoo County high school seniors and undergraduates in math, science, or engineering can receive more than US $2,000 in renewable scholarship support for college costs through this program in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Kalamazoo Community Foundation provides funding for tuition, fees, housing, and other education-related expenses for students who demonstrate financial need and meet GPA requirements.

Nontraditional and returning students from Kalamazoo County and nearby high schools can receive renewable multiyear support for higher education costs through the Leon A. Donald J. & Jean K. Schau Scholarship. Kalamazoo Community Foundation funds certificates, associate, bachelor’s, or graduate programs for students with financial need and a post-high school work history after an education break.

Kalamazoo, Michigan students pursuing higher education or vocational training can access funding through the Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s Love Where You Live: Scholarship Fund. High school seniors and undergraduates from Kalamazoo County with financial need may receive multiyear support for tuition, housing, transportation, and other college costs, with awards paid directly to their institutions.

Students residing in Kalamazoo County who demonstrate financial need and are pursuing vocational, technical, or degree-granting programs can receive renewable, multiyear support for tuition, fees, housing, transportation, and other education costs. With a mission to advance equity, Kalamazoo Community Foundation provides this scholarship through its online application system.

Graduate students from Kalamazoo, Michigan who are residents of Kalamazoo County or graduates of a Kalamazoo County high school can apply for Kalamazoo Community Foundation’s Myra P. Whalen Scholarship to support full-time advanced degrees. Awards may cover tuition, fees, housing, transportation, and other education-related expenses across eligible fields of study.

Students pursuing advanced veterinary studies with financial need in Kalamazoo or St. Joseph Counties, Michigan, can receive more than US $1,000 toward Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine costs. With a mission to advance equity and education, Kalamazoo Community Foundation provides this one-time scholarship honoring Nancy C. Niles Donovan’s commitment to animal health.

Graduating high school seniors in Kalamazoo County pursuing nursing or occupational therapy at Western Michigan University can receive up to US $2,000 through the Phyllis A. Nuyen Scholarship. Focused on higher education and college success, Kalamazoo Community Foundation invites eligible students with at least a 3.5 GPA and financial need to apply.

Kalamazoo, Michigan undergraduate students needing help with higher education costs can access funding through the Ronald C. Cavanaugh Memorial Scholarship, which awards more than US $1,500 for tuition, fees, housing, transportation, and related expenses. Offered by Kalamazoo Community Foundation, it supports Haworth College of Business students from Kalamazoo County who demonstrate financial need.

Students in Kalamazoo County pursuing vocational, undergraduate, or graduate education who have experienced childhood abuse, abandonment, or neglect and demonstrate financial need can receive more than US $1,000 for college costs in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The Montague Myers Scholarship from Kalamazoo Community Foundation is a multiyear award paid directly to the institution and renewable for up to four years.

Graduating high school seniors from Kalamazoo County, Michigan planning to attend Albion College full-time can receive the William R. Steers Kalamazoo Community Foundation Scholarship, awarding US $1,500 toward tuition and related costs. Kalamazoo Community Foundation supports higher education access, so local nonprofits assisting college-bound students may help eligible youth apply.

Graduating high school seniors in Kalamazoo County pursuing aviation or engineering bachelor’s degrees at Western Michigan University can receive up to US $2,000 annually for tuition, fees, housing, and other education costs. With a mission to advance equity, Kalamazoo Community Foundation provides this renewable William T. Nuyen Scholarship through its all-in-one application.

The O'Reilly Automotive Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing community welfare through philanthropic initiatives that support economic stability, workforce development, health services, and disaster relief. Established in 2020, the Foundation seeks to empower underrepresented individuals and organizations in the U.S. by addressing vital community needs. It particularly aims to provide assistance to nonprofits that foster positive change and improve quality of life for those in need, ensuring a lasting impact in local communities.

The Robinson Foundation Grant, established in 2016, aims to alleviate hardships faced by individuals and communities, demonstrating God's love through charitable contributions. As a family-operated foundation, it focuses on creating meaningful, long-term impacts in various areas including animal welfare, education, and disaster relief. Organizations eligible for funding must be 501(c)(3) public charities. The foundation prioritizes fiscally responsible projects with the potential for tangible results, while not supporting capital projects.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and local governments running environmental education programs for under-resourced children and youth in Kalamazoo County, Michigan can seek US $5,000 - US $15,000. With a mission to support small, community-based groups, Beim Foundation funds direct-service projects addressing racial inequality, trauma, and culturally competent, trauma-informed care.