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Community Empowerment Small Grants (CESGs) are tools provided by the Community Foundation to build a vibrant community with great opportunities for all. These grants are designed to empower organizations that may not yet have a 501(c)(3) status but seek support to foster change across our county. CESG grantees are strengthening community partnerships, building relationships, and providing hope and opportunity to many people throughout Muskegon County.
Here are a few examples of recent grantees making a difference in our community:
- Taking Back Muskegon – Helping our Youth Visions Come to Light
- New Life Christian Center – Courageous Conversations
- Muskegon Heights Neighborhood Association Council – MH Neighborhood Association Council Marketing Campaign
To view an infographic exploring the impact of CESGs from 2021, click here.
For a complete list of 2021 grantees, please click here.
To learn more about the Community Empowerment Small Grants program and how to apply, click here.
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Grantmaking committees have specifically stated priorities and recommend grants from specific funds developed and reserved for that exclusive purpose. Committee Grants will open again in July, with a deadline of September 22.
To learn more about Committee grantmaking, click here.
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Our Youth Advisory Council (YAC) invites school district employees to apply for mini-grants to help them out in the classroom. Whether it’s a new idea or that little extra you need to make your lesson plans great, you can brighten your classroom with help from the YAC. Grants can be up to $500 for specific projects or programs including: program enhancement that meets curriculum guidelines, expanding an already existing unit, student awards, special events, professional development, artists in residence and parent involvement programs. Applications will open in the fall of 2022.
Click here for more information about Teacher Mini-Grants.
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Strategic Leadership Grants support our focus areas of education; community and economic development; and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Read more about these focus areas here, or listen to a brief presentation outlining these priorities here. The grant deadline was April 28 and grant awards will be announced by July 1.
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The Leading Efforts Against Discrimination (LEAD) Giving Circle supports organizations doing exemplary work in the areas of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice. Nominations for awards will be opening in the Fall of 2022.
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In the summer of 2021, the Community Foundation began convening with faith partners to discuss how we can collectively help our communities. A group of over 20 local houses of worship identified education as the strategic area to begin this work. Up to $25,000 has been allocated in grant funding to this outreach effort with the intention of supporting multiple programs throughout the county. This grant opportunity will support churches* that are collaborating with other churches or nonprofit organizations to implement programs related to lifelong literacy and educational equity. The grant deadline was March 31, and grant awards will be announced in April.
*By “church,” we mean congregations, houses of worship, communities of faith, etc. that are established and organized as such by the IRS.
For more information about Community Foundation grants, contact:
Janelle Mair, 231.332.4116
Jocelyn Hines, 231.332.4118
Other Application Resources
Helpful Links:
Grant Application Overview
Grant Application Guide
Final Grant Report Evaluation Sheet
Grantee Media Kit
Submittable is the online application portal used for grants submitted prior to April, 2022. Use the link below to access previous applications and final grant reports. Beginning April 2022, all applications will be submitted in the Grant Lifecycle Manager (GLM) – the link is provided in each application description.
