Best Grants for Seniors in Michigan

Michigan nonprofits providing services and support to seniors can seek funding for programs that aid and assist the elderly. Focused on senior services and aging, Mary Thompson Foundation invites 501(c)(3) organizations to apply for grants supporting medical care, food and transportation, entertainment, faith and community programs, and other initiatives that enhance older adults’ quality of life.

Michigan 501(c)(3) and governmental organizations serving seniors and broader community needs can apply for flexible program and project support; grants from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation help initiatives in education, culture, human services, and more. Senior services programs in Michigan may be especially competitive if they demonstrate innovation, collaboration, and long-term sustainability.

Nonprofit organizations serving seniors in Michigan can seek one-year funding for direct services such as housing, food security, health and wellness, and family support. Focused on community human services, MGM Resorts Foundation invites agencies working where its employees live and work to apply through regional Community Grant Councils.

Michigan senior-serving organizations and health providers can seek funding to improve health, wellness, and independence for older adults and their caregivers in Michigan. Michigan Health Endowment Fund supports projects on dementia care, elder justice, caregiving, and access to care, with awards up to US $750,000 for innovative models in homes, communities, and health systems.

Thome Aging Well Grant Program

As communities navigate rapid shifts in resources, rising housing and living costs, and other emerging challenges, this final round of Thome Aging Well funding aims to assist organizations that are supporting older adults through these uncertain times. These flexible, one-year grants are designed to bolster housing-based programs, services, and supports that safeguard the health, stability, and well-being of older adults during this moment of change.

Award

• Up to $200,000

This funding opportunity aims to provide flexible support to affordable housing organizations and past Enterprise Thome Aging Well grantees to respond to the urgent or emerging needs of their residents or clients with effective solutions. Eligible organizations must serve older adults (aged 55 and older) with lower incomes living in Michigan and Maryland.

Grants will have a one-year period of performance.

Nonprofit organizations providing senior services and aging-related care, including patient and residential care, may be eligible for funding that can benefit Michigan. With a mission to support health and human services, Albert G And Olive H Schlink Foundation provides U.S. nonprofits, with preference for Ohio-based groups, with flexible grants for senior care and related programs.

Michigan senior services and aging nonprofits supporting LGBTQ+ older adults can access funding through Leonard Litz Foundation’s SilverConnect Initiative to strengthen programs and services. Grants support efforts that reduce isolation, improve quality of life, and expand affirming resources and care for LGBTQ+ elders within the foundation’s Eastern U.S. regional footprint.

Nonprofit organizations, public schools, and governmental agencies serving seniors in Michigan can seek funding for progressive education, health, and community programs, including senior services and aging initiatives. Four County Community Foundation supports projects in parts of Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland, and St. Clair counties that address local needs and encourage collaboration and community impact.

Michigan 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving vulnerable older adults in Washtenaw County can access funding through Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation to support housing stability, food security, health care access, and transportation. Grants back programs like eviction prevention, home modifications, meal services, mobile or pop-up clinics, and rides connecting seniors to essential services.

Health care leaders focused on senior services and aging care in Michigan can receive scholarships to join the AHA Next Generation Leaders Fellowship, implementing the Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms Framework in their organizations. The John A Hartford Foundation covers US $13,995 in program fees for selected Age-Friendly Fellows working to improve hospital and health system care for older adults.

Nonprofit organizations serving older adults and their caregivers with technology or transportation programs in Michigan, specifically Washtenaw County, can seek support through the Senior Citizens Housing of Ann Arbor Grant Program. Focused on senior services and aging, Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation prioritizes projects that address social isolation, health disparities, and equitable, affordable housing for seniors.

Nonprofits, schools, governments, and tribal organizations serving youth or seniors in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, or Leelanau Counties in Michigan can apply for Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation’s fall grants, awarding US $500 - US $3,000 for health-focused programs. Funding supports wellness, prevention, caregiving, mental health, and related services for healthy youth and healthy seniors.

Nonprofit organizations advancing policy change for adults 60+ can seek funding for advocacy projects with statewide or national impact, including work benefiting seniors in Michigan. Retirement Research Foundation supports efforts focused on issues like economic security, health care, and housing across the U.S., with awards ranging from US $10,000 - US $160,000.

Michigan research institutions and centers focused on senior services and aging can access funding through the National Institutes of Health to develop Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers. These P30 centers support geriatrics research and research education aimed at maintaining or restoring independence for substantial populations of older adults across the U.S. territories and states.

Michigan senior-service and aging-focused 501(c)(3) public charities addressing the needs of older adults can access funding through Friends Foundation for the Aging for innovative, program-based work. Organizations, especially those serving underserved populations or with Quaker-aligned values, may be eligible if they focus on healthy aging, caregiving support, or intergenerational and community-based initiatives.

Nonprofits, government entities, and universities working to make aging more affordable for marginalized older adults can seek systems-change funding, including multi-year support, from Next50 Foundation. This national Changing Aging program backs innovative, partnership-based efforts in areas like ending ageism, advancing digital equity, and supporting aging in place, which may benefit Michigan senior-serving organizations.

Michigan senior services organizations can access funding through the Wallerstein Foundation for Geriatric Life Improvement to support specific projects that help older adults stay healthy, active, and engaged. Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits may propose programs such as adult day care, dementia and stroke support, home health and wellness, nutrition, transportation, or related geriatric research.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving seniors and older adults in Michigan’s Menominee County can seek program or project funding for senior services and related community needs. Wisconsin Public Service Foundation supports initiatives in health and human services, community development, education, environment, and arts and culture that improve quality of life in its utility service area.

Wisconsin nonprofits serving seniors and aging populations in Menominee County, Michigan can apply for Wisconsin Public Service Foundation’s Local Community Grant Program to support specific programs or projects. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in WPS-served communities may receive funding for senior services, health and human services, wellness, and related community development initiatives.

About The John A. Hartford Foundation

The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in New York City, is a private, nonpartisan, national philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. The leader in the field of aging and health, the foundation has three priority areas: creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care.

Since 1982, The John A. Hartford Foundation has awarded more than $758 million in grants to enhance the health and well-being of older people.

JAHF New Partners Program Call for Proposals:

National Initiatives Advancing Improvements in Care for Older Adults

The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) is entering a new chapter that builds on its work to improve care for older adults and support family caregivers while bringing new organizations, leaders and ideas into its community of grantees and partners.

Through this funding opportunity, JAHF is seeking proposals from organizations that have not previously received a major grant from the foundation.

Proposed initiatives must have a national or multi-site scope and align with at least one of the foundation's three priority areas:

• Age-Friendly Health Systems
• Family Caregiving
• Serious Illness and End-of-Life Care

The JA Community Foundation focuses on funding solutions that address the needs of the Japanese American and broader Asian American communities. They prioritize programs that enhance senior health, promote history, arts, culture, and support youth. Eligible applicants must be registered 501c3 organizations and can apply from all 50 states. However, organizations with open grants cannot submit new applications until their current grants are closed.

Nonprofit research institutions conducting applied studies to improve the well-being of adults 60+ can seek research grants supporting nationally relevant work or projects focused on Illinois. Grants from Retirement Research Foundation help Michigan senior-serving organizations if they undertake interventional, translational, or health services and policy research with strong dissemination plans benefiting older adults and caregivers.

The AARP Community Challenge Grant: Capacity-Building Microgrant offers $2,500 to support projects that enhance community livability for residents aged 50 and older. Initiated in 2017, it has funded over 1,700 projects nationwide, focusing on immediate improvements and long-term progress. Eligible organizations include nonprofits and government entities, aiming to implement innovative programs in areas like disaster preparedness, walkability, and home modifications. This initiative fosters inclusive communities and empowers older adults.

The AARP Community Challenge Grant supports innovative projects that enhance community livability for people aged 50 and older. Funded by the AARP Foundation, these demonstration grants range from $10,000 to $25,000 and aim to improve pedestrian safety, expand broadband access, and reconnect divided communities. Since 2017, AARP has awarded over $20 million in grants, fostering immediate improvements and long-term progress across the United States, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Sagol Network GerOmic Award for Junior Faculty supports early career investigators in aging research, focusing on -omics studies related to biological aging and age-related diseases. Research areas include genomics, proteomics, and interventions targeting aging. Eligible applicants are independent researchers at U.S. not-for-profit institutions, with 10 years or fewer since their postdoctoral training. The award may cover overhead costs, promoting innovative research in the vital field of gerontology.

The McKnight Brain Research Foundation Innovator Awards aim to support innovative research in cognitive aging and memory loss, offering two 3-year grants of $750,000 each. Targeted at early-career investigators, the program encourages high-risk, high-gain proposals that explore clinical translational research and the biological mechanisms of cognitive aging. By fostering emerging scientific leaders, the initiative seeks to advance transformative discoveries in this critical area of aging research, enhancing understanding and treatment of age-related cognitive decline.

The JTMF Foundation Grant focuses on improving the lives of individuals in need, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. By partnering with organizations addressing immediate needs and long-term challenges, the foundation supports children, older adults, veterans, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Guided by Catholic values, JTMF aims to empower communities while seeking innovative solutions to societal issues. Organizations that align with these focus areas are encouraged to connect, fostering a collaborative effort towards meaningful impact.