Applying for a Grant

Fall Strategic Grants are now open!

Fall 2024 – Application Deadlines:
Application of Intent – September 19, 2024
Full grant application: October 3, 2024

We encourage a conversation with Community Investment Team members prior to submitting an application – please reach out to communityinvestment@muskegonfoundation.org prior to beginning an application.

Strategic Grants are designed to invest in organizations doing good work in the following three areas:

Advancing Educational Attainment (Education):
- Lifelong literacy, including STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) and financial literacy
- Educational equity (opportunities for every student to achieve their full potential)
Fostering a Dynamic, Local Economy (Community and Economic Development):
- Workforce supports including affordable daycare, housing, and job training, and access to skilled trades
- Business supports such as entrepreneurship, development, and capacity of local community and economic development partners
Enhancing Community Trust and Promoting Prosperity for All (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion):
- Cultural competency
- Community outreach, including courageous conversation
- Promote spaces where all voices are valued

Committee Grants are now open!

Grants will be available from the following Committees:
- Muskegon County Lions Club – supports hearing and vision services for Muskegon County residents, $35,110 available.
- Muskegon County Medical Society – supports medical training and STEM education related to the medical field. $20,320 available.
- White Lake Community – supports programs and projects that benefit residents of the White Lake Area, $80,252 available.
- The Youth Advisory Council – supports programs related to mental health, substance abuse prevention, and race discrimination. These priorities were chosen based upon results of the youth empowerment survey performed in 2021, $27,061 available.
- Environmental Endowment Fund – supports programs that promote, strengthen, and advance environmental interests, no funds remain in 2024.
  - 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 in its natural state West of US 31, $36,900 available.
- Love is Love LGBTQ+ Fund – supports organizations and projects that serve and/or advance Muskegon County’s LGBTQ+ community. No funds remaining in 2024.
- Greater Muskegon Service League’s Women and Children’s Fund – supports programs for Muskegon County women and children. Priority for innovative programs or projects rather than general operating support. Priority to programs that support low-income or marginalized populations. No funds remaining in 2024.
All grant decisions are made by volunteer grant committees, and decisions are shared with the organization within three months of the application deadline – often sooner.

Fall 2024 – Application Deadlines:

Application of Intent – September 12

Full grant application: September 26

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact grants@muskegonfoundation.org or 231-722-4538.

The Muskegon LEAD (Leading Efforts Against Discrimination) Giving Circle was organized to collectively fund initiatives in Muskegon County specifically and intentionally focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. The circle comprises 40 young community members with a shared vision of creating a vibrant community with great opportunities for all. The LEAD Giving Circle highlights, supports, and encourages further action for an organization in our community doing exemplary work around justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI).

What is the process? Organizations seeking grant dollars should submit their compelling, one-page summary making a case for investment in their organization as a LEADer. An excellent summary would include the following:
- - - Mission and vision of the organization and how that mission and vision compel your organization to work and lead towards JEDI.
    - Existing programs and activities that highlight work related to JEDI, including how your target community has been engaged in the planning and implementation of that programming
    - Future plans and dreams for work that will create a just, diverse, inclusive, and equitable community, including how a grant of $5,000 – $7,000 would move that work forward.
Muskegon LEAD Grant Nominations must be received by noon, October 14, 2024.

Questions? Contact us at grants@muskegonfoundation.org or 231-722-4538.

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.

Teacher Mini Grants are open now through October 24, 2024.

Questions?
Mini-grant application or award questions contact Janelle Mair janelle@muskegonfoundation.org

Community Engagement grants offer grant awards of up to $3,000 to support programs that strengthen partnerships, build relationships, and provide hope and opportunity throughout Muskegon County. All grants awarded through discretionary funds are designed to strengthen community by aligning with the Community Foundation’s strategic focus areas of (1) advancing educational attainment, (2) fostering a dynamic, local economy, and (3) enhancing community trust and promoting prosperity for all through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts (DEI).

Two opportunities are available to foster community engagement:
- Community Empowerment grants are designed specifically for grassroots groups that have an annual operating budget of $100k or less.
  - Click to learn more: COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT GRANTS
- Faith Partner literacy grants are designed specifically for houses of worship (e.g. churches) working toward advancing life-long literacy and educational equity.
  - Click to learn more: FAITH PARTNER GRANTS
Both opportunities have a “rolling deadline” throughout the year. This means grant applications will be reviewed at the beginning of each month and awards will be paid the 2nd Monday of each month.

Here are a few examples of recent CESG grantees making a difference in our community:
- QPR Suicide Prevention Training
- West Michigan Filipino Cultural Seminar
- White Lake Dramatic Club Community Theater
Some examples of recent Faith Partner grantees that have integrated literacy into their church programs:
- Reading is Fun event at the COGIC Community Center
- Literacy Ally Training through READ Muskegon
- Kids Hope USA mentorship
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.

Watch Us Vote grants are now closed.

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 $500 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 grants on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted.

WHO:
Any registered 501(c)(3) organization can apply.

HOW:
Fill out the super-simple application linked below. Applications will be reviewed bi-weekly and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

FORM DEADLINE:
Grants will be available until funds are depleted – 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!

Questions? Contact grants@muskegonfoundation.org