Several grant committees, with their own stated priorities, also utilize the Community Foundation’s general grant application to recommend grants from their funds.

There are two rounds of Committee Grants in 2026. The spring round (December 2025 – February 2026) is closed. The fall round (July 2026 – September 2026) is now open. The letter of intent is due on September 10, and the full application is due on September 24, 2026.

• To educate residents about the environment, including social justice issues that relate to current or past environmental practices
• Improve the quality of the environment through the reduction of pollution and waste
• Support a balanced and innovative approach to local and regional land use planning that maximizes the use of available land and natural resources
• Promote conservation and restoration of natural areas, air quality, shoreline and dune areas, wildlife habitat, and freshwater ecosystems – $4,870 remaining for grants in 2026
• Support for acquiring, conserving, or enhancing public accessibility to green space, open lands, natural parks, or undeveloped land in its natural state, West of US 31 via the James Hanna and Mary Murphy Land Fund – $46,300 remaining for grants in 2026

Grants from this Committee support programs for women and children in Muskegon County. Priority for innovative programs or projects rather than general operating support. Priority to programs that support low-income or marginalized populations. No funds remaining for 2026.

Grants from this committee support organizations that work on significant initiatives related to food security and healthy food systems. This grant opportunity is available during our fall round. Grants from this committee support:

• Community-based programs that support access to healthy meals and nutritional education outside school, on weekends, and during the summer
• Food and nutritional programs that provide support for expecting mothers and caregivers
• Programs that address the food and nutrition needs of preschool children
• Health provider/clinician efforts that provide nutritional education and/or food as prescription programming
• Programs or initiatives that support the ability of individuals to enroll in food-related public benefits (e.g., SNAP)
• Food pantries (including school-based food pantries) and mobile pantries
• Programs or initiatives supporting the connectivity or coordination of hunger-fighting efforts
• Meal or grocery delivery programs to combat food and nutrition insecurity
• School-based programs that enhance or improve state and/or federal assistance efforts
• $100,000 will be granted to multiple projects, in the range of $5,000 – $20,000
• Note that awards information will be shared in December, but grants won’t be announced or paid until the first quarter of 2027

CLICK HERE for more information.

Grants from this Committee support organizations and projects that serve and/or advance Muskegon County’s LGBTQ+ community. No funds remaining for 2026.

Grants from this Committee will benefit organizations working to develop, implement, and support new and innovative programs that assist Muskegon County residents who are suffering from sight and/or hearing loss, including the prevention of such loss. $16,100 remaining for grants in 2026.

Grants from this committee support medical training and STEM education related to the medical field. No funds remaining for 2026.

Grants from this Committee support programs and projects that improve the quality of life for residents of the White Lake Area. $160,000 remaining for grants in 2026. Additional areas of focus:

• To improve local library services, provide elderly assistance, support beautification projects or recreational facilities and public parks via the Leonard and Edna K. Blomdahl Fund
• Support improvements in Covell Park via the Covell Park Fund
• Support greater cooperation and consolidation between the municipalities via the R. Covell Radcliffe Fund

Grants from this Committee will be targeted at specific youth issues as determined by a youth-executed needs survey:

• Current focus:
  • Mental health: anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention
  • Substance abuse prevention
  • Inclusion: Bullying prevention and race/sexual orientation discrimination prevention
• Teacher Mini-Grants for innovative classroom projects
• $39,360 remaining for grants in 2026

CLICK HERE to learn more about YAC!