• Committee Grants

  The Community Foundation for Muskegon County is now accepting applications for the following grant committees.

  • Environmental – support for programs that promote, strengthen, and advance environmental interests. $3,416 available for grants in 2022. This committee also oversees the James Hanna and Mary H. Murphy Land Fund, which supports acquiring, conserving, or enhancing public accessibility to green space, open lands natural parks, or undeveloped land its natural state West of US 31. $38,576 remaining for grants in 2022
  • Muskegon County Lions Club – supports hearing and vision services for Muskegon County residents, $27,097 remaining for grants in 2022
  • Muskegon County Medical Society – supports medical training and STEM education related to the medical field. $11,546 remaining for grants in 2022
  • White Lake Community – supports programs and projects that benefit residents of the White Lake Area, $39,369 remaining for grants in 2022
  • Greater Muskegon Service League’s Women and Children’s Fund – support for Muskegon County women and children. Priority for innovative program or projects, rather than general operating support. Priority to programs that support low income or marginalized populations. No funds are remaining for 2022 grants – check back in 2023!
  • The Youth Advisory Council – performs a needs survey of their peers every three years to determine grant priorities. The 2021 survey indicated that mental health, substance abuse prevention, and race discrimination are a priority for Muskegon County teens. $18,000 remaining for grants in 2022

  Applications will open July 15, 2022, with the Letter of Intent due by September 8^th and the grant application due by September 22^nd.

  We hosted a grants workshop on August 11 to share more about the Committee Grants process – you can watch the recording here:

  To learn more about Committee grantmaking, click here.

  

• Teacher Mini-Grants

  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 are now open and are due on October 28, 2022.  Click here to submit.

  Click here for more information about Teacher Mini-Grants.

• Watch Us Vote Grants

  The Community Foundation for Muskegon County believes civic engagement is essential to a healthy democracy. Engaging Muskegon County residents in voting strengthens our community’s voice. Nonprofits often have connections to communities that may be underrepresented at the polls and are trusted sources of information. Contrary to popular belief, nonprofits are welcome to engage in nonpartisan efforts to get out the vote!

  WHAT: 
  Grants up to $250 will be awarded for programs that encourage voter registration, absentee applications, educate voters on the voting process, and get out the vote. Submitted programs must engage Muskegon County citizens in voting and must be nonpartisan. Grant dollars can be used for any reasonable costs related to this work. We will award up to 15 grants to programs on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted.

  WHO: 
  Any registered 501(c)(3) organization is eligible to apply.

  HOW: 
  Fill out the super-simple form below. Applications will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis – apply early!

  FORM DEADLINE: 
  October 3, 2022 – Please keep in mind, grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis with a maximum of 15 programs being funded. Plan and apply early!

  

   

   

  RESOURCES:
  There are many fantastic (and FREE) resources to help you formulate your plan – a great place to start is www.nonprofitvote.org.
  All grant application entries become the property of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County.
  Please share the work you’re doing with your network, using the hashtag #WatchMuskegonVote on social media. Communicate your ideas and projects with us at grants@muskegonfoundation.org – we want to share your great ideas!

• Muskegon LEAD Grants

  The Muskegon LEAD (Leading Efforts Against Discrimination) Giving Circle is welcoming nominations to support an organization doing excellent work in the areas of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (JEDI). Organizations are welcomed to submit a one-page request for nominations, including how a grant of $6,000-$8,000 could advance their JEDI work. Nominations are due by noon on September 30, 2022.

  Click here for more details and how to submit your nomination.

• Faith Partner Grants

  Faith Partner grants support churches* that are collaborating with other churches or nonprofit organizations. Funding is available to support programs related to life-long literacy and educational equity. Grants will go directly to the church, however collaboration with schools and other nonprofits doing similar work is strongly encouraged.

  Some examples of recent church partner grantees that have integrated literacy into their church programs:

  • St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church – Book Pantry (integrated into food pantry)
  • Fellowship Church – Read. Sing. Play in the park (summer program)
  • Holy Trinity COGIC Center – Reading is Fun! (outreach event)

  The application will be reviewed at the end of each month, and grants will be awarded the following month. All grants will be reviewed after the deadline. Awards will be paid directly to the church and a final grant report will be required.

  *Church is defined as congregations, houses of worship, communities of faith, etc. that are established and organized as such by the IRS. 

  For more information about Faith Partner grants click here.

• Community Empowerment Small Grants

  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, click here.

  

   

• Strategic Leadership Grants

  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.

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.