Grants
	Since the early 1920s, tens of thousands of donors have joined with their local community foundations, taking an active role in strengthening and enriching the communities in which they live. With expertise acquired from decades of grantmaking, community foundations can help donors direct their gifts where they will do the most good, and ensure that the grants made in their names will have just as much impact decades from now as they do today. Below is a sampling of grants that illustrate how community foundations throughout Michigan are making a difference in their respective communities. Albion Community Foundation Albion District Library - $10,000: This grant supported the Teen Spaces program. The main focus of this project is to give teens a place to go after school, where they can interact without being constantly quieted by the Library staff. Teens could use the computers to research materials for school, type papers and also to have fun with each other in a learning environment. Future goals would include using the computers for gaming tournaments, literacy initiatives, tutoring, GED practice, and computer classes. In order to accomplish this we will conduct the following activities: hire a supervisor to oversee teen use of the Activity Room, purchase the equipment needed, set up the equipment and evaluate the project. Allegan County Community Foundation Food Providers Collaborative - $20,000: Convene a group of Allegan County food providers to improve effectiveness, efficiencies, networking and collaboration. Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Food Gatherers - $92,000: To launch a smart, fast and sustainable plan to get more healthy food to extremely low income people in Washtenaw County. Barry Community Foundation Community Action - $15,971: This grant will provide critical funds to assist homeless individuals and families in Barry County to obtain safe housing and will prevent homelessness for low-income families facing eviction, foreclosure and/or utility shut off. Battle Creek Community Foundation Family Health Center of Battle Creek - $150,000: With 23,000 uninsured in Calhoun County at any point in time, and an estimated 34,500 people being uninsured at some point throughout the year, even with the best efforts of the Emergency Departments, the Family Health Center (FHC) and Free Clinics to see them, there are an estimated 21,000 people who lack access to health care. In addition, there are 27,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in Calhoun County, and half of them are seen by the FHC. For dental, there is an estimated need of 11,750 urgent care visits per year. Current capacity (FHC, Dentists’ Partnership, free clinics, and senior millage) is 9,790, leaving an unmet need of 1,960 urgent care visits. In addition, there are an estimated 68,000 uninsured and Medicaid dental patients who need access to preventive services. There is a need to serve the uninsured and Medicaid population with additional primary care and dental capacity. The expansion of the Family Health Center will assist our community economically and with school readiness for children. There will be State Matching dollars of 1-1.33 to BCCF Funding and any other non-governmental funding. Bay Area Community Foundation Do-All, Inc. - $10,000: Do-All is requested funding to support the Do-All ARTS (DAARTS) program. The program is a multi-faceted program designed to provide arts opportunities for people with disabilities. It offers a forum for consumers of the agency's services to express themselves in a positive, nurturing, creative environment. The program has dual purpose of providing information to the community regarding issues faced by people with disabilities through visual exhibition or works. [top] Berrien Community Foundation Heartland Alliance-Opportunity Center  - $30,000: Work-related GED/Literacy program. Branch County Community Foundation Beginnings Care for Life - $3,082: Earning and Learning consists of educational modules, such as money management, parenting skills, and other life skills. Participants earn points for completing modules which they can exchange for baby clothes, cribs, and other items they may need to care for their families. This grant helped Beginnings purchase additional curriculum modules for the Earning & Learning Program and the purchase and distribution of professionally-made brochures, to further promote the program. Cadillac Area Community Foundation Cadillac Area YMCA - $16,200: Building construction for new YMCA. Capital Region Community Foundation The Listening Ear - Capital Area Sexual Assault Center  - $75,000: The Capital Region Community Foundation's first annual $75,000 "Impact Grant," requiring a one-to-one cash match and designed to address service gaps, was awarded to the Listening Ear Crisis Center in East Lansing. The project is to develop the Capital Area Sexual Assault Center (CASAC), a 24 hour, community based, comprehensive center where sexual assault victims will receive medical forensic examinations, counseling and advocacy services immediately after an assault. The clinic will be in a highly visible location on Michigan Avenue in Lansing. Charlevoix County Community Foundation Lake Charlevoix Association - $5,385: Lake Charlevoix's shoreline is in danger of being overrun by an invasive grass, Phragmites australis, that is rapidly spreading both below and above the water line and driving out native species. The part of the plant that grows above the water line has the ability to reach upwards of 15 feet tall, thus obstructing views of the lake. The Lake Charlevoix Association is working on an ambitious program to eradicate phragmites around the entire lake. The work includes a multi-year plan for herbicide application and a program to educate riparian owners and other lake residents regarding their role in successful eradication of the plant. Government permits for herbicide application were obtained and will be coordinated on a lake-wide basis. Partners in this program are: Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council; the Charlevoix County Soil Conservation District; the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians; Charlevoix Township and other Lake Charlevoix Townships. Program components include: plant inventory; development of educational materials; making information available to property owners and the general public; conducting workshops for information and training volunteers; working with state and local governments on a common approach; and program evaluation. [top] Community Foundation for Muskegon County Community Foundation for Muskegon County/Downtown Sculpture Fund - $200,000: In 2005, the visioning process for Imagine Muskegon identified Muskegon's historic and cultural center as the corner of Third Street and Western Avenue. That corner is now the setting for sculptor Richard Hunt's "Muskegon, Together Rising". Inspired by spirit and history, vision and aspiration, this soaring stainless steel structure rises solidly from the earth and shore, gleaming in light and reaching with flames, arms and wings into the sky. This sculpture was installed in 2008 with support from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County, Alcoa Foundation, Charles E. and Patricia B. Johnson Fund, Robert D. and C. Corcoran Tuttle Family Fund and the Cool Cities Fund. Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan Park Family Foundation - $2,838,470: We had taken ownership of our community's recreation center a couple of years ago to protect it from being sold and possibly losing this wonderful asset for community recreation. In our 2008 fiscal year we had the opportunity to transfer ownership of this recreation center to a newly created local family foundation whose main focus is recreation in the Alpena area. This transfer ensured that this beautiful facility will continue to be used for recreation for the community for a very long time. Definitely a win - win situation! Community Foundation of Greater Flint Genesee Chamber Foundation - $40,000: The Genesee County Summer Youth Initiative is a community approach to training, nurturing, and getting youth ready for employment. Participants receive formal job training, and attend orientation sessions and job fairs to learn the basics of becoming a good employee. This grant is co-sponsored by a number of local funders and the program employs more than 400 youth during the summer months. [top] Community Foundation of Monroe County The Salvation Army - $1,221: Funds to support a Winter Warming Shelter in extreme weather conditions. Community Foundation of St. Clair County College Access Office - $21,533: This grant established the College Access Office at Port Huron High School. The College Access Office is a resource center that serves as the hub for students to achieve success beyond high school. The office is staffed by a part-time Coordinator who assists students and families with college preparation and admission, financial aid, career exploration and scholarship applications. From January - June, 2009 the College Access Coordinator met with nearly 250 students and parents. The results from this pilot program were very positive. The rate of Port Huron High (PHH) graduates who will attend a college or university has increased by 36% over the previous year (from 45% to 61.2% of graduates). Additionally, the rate of PHH graduates enrolling at St. Clair County Community College has dramatically increased, benefiting not only the students but our entire community. In addition to increasing the number of students attending college, there was also an increase in the amount of financial aid and scholarship money utilized. Specifically, there was a large increase in the number of students receiving dollars through the Michigan Tuition Incentive Program. This under-utilized pool of funds pays for the complete cost of an associate’s degree and a portion of a bachelor’s degree for qualifying families. During the 2009-2010 school year the College Access Office at PHH will expand the scope of services offered to continue to increase the rate of graduates who attend college. Given the success of the pilot, the Community Foundation of St. Clair County is working with funding partners to replicate this program throughout the county. In 2009-2010 we hope to establish a College Access Office in Algonac to provide similar services. Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area Grand Rapids Community College’s Midtown Campus - $25,000: This grant provided support for the development of academic programming through Grand Rapids Community College in downtown Holland. The Midtown Campus is centrally located and will offer students the opportunity to pursue education and training at a site that is familiar and easily accessible for residents of the Holland/Zeeland area. Coursework and occupational training offered at Midtown Campus will reflect the areas of education most commonly sought by area residents and employers. Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula City of Gladstone - $125,933: Distribution from designated fund that enables many recreational and city improvements to be made. It also benefits the annual 4th of July celebrations, which are the best in the county. The improvements have helped the city to attract more tourists, which is vital to the well-being of the area businesses. Four County Community Foundation Samaritan House - $10,000: The grant was for food for the food pantry which serves low income families with food and basic supplies like diapers and paper products. The demand for services is up in our area including many first time applicants. Fremont Area Community Foundation City of Fremont - $525,000: This grant provides funds for economic development projects related to job creation and retention. The majority of the funding provided leverage for the creation of an Agricultural Renaissance Zone in Fremont and an increased presence for Gerber Products/Nestle. Grand Haven Area Community Foundation City of Grand Haven - $20,000: This grant helped to expand housing counseling services (Pre-Purchase Counseling, Financial Literacy, Post Purchase Counseling and Foreclosure Prevention) for residents of Ottawa County. Grand Rapids Community Foundation Essential Needs Task Force Fund - $200,000: Grand Rapids Community Foundation provided funding and coordinated the effort to respond to escalating community need for essential services such as housing, food, utilities, and transportation by creating a temporary, flexible pool of funds supported by sixteen area funders. The Fund has been a resource for nonprofit organizations struggling to meet the needs of families in Kent County and avoided duplication of existing community initiatives, while encouraging collaboration and reform of local system infrastructure. The Fund also leveraged the collective resources of a variety of local funders and created new alliances. Grand Rapids Community Foundation provided staff support and the Essential Needs Task Force provided decision-making expertise. [top] Gratiot County Community Foundation St. Louis Public Schools - $10,000: Youth from across the nation volunteered their time to improve the housing conditions of low income residents of the St. Louis community. Greenville Area Community Foundation Second Harvest Gleaners - $22,944: Provide funding for a truck to bring food to various food pantries throughout Montcalm County during 2009. Hillsdale County Community Foundation Michigan Dental Corporation - $20,000: We provided matching funds for the start-up costs of a Public Dental Clinic in Hillsdale County. Huron County Community Foundation Suicide Prevention Coalition - $1,200: Teen and preteen education on suicide awareness and prevention. Jackson Community Foundation Nonprofit Network - $40,000: The Nonprofit Network's mission is to strengthen nonprofit governance and management. This capacity building grant allowed the Nonprofit Network to provide relevant and necessary support as a community collaborator and point of coordination for gathering and disseminating information pertinent to nonprofits. The Nonprofit Network further assists the nonprofit community through providing specialized management and governance services. Kalamazoo Community Foundation Hispanic American Council - $50,000: The Hispanic American Council had been without an Executive Director since June 2007. The board worked hard to manage the organization and raise funds to hire a permanent executive and pay that person an executive salary. Each year that passed without a competent executive in place severely limited opportunities to provide the number and quality of programs and services the Hispanic community needed. Partially funding the executive director position for two years strengthened the organization and improved collaboration with funders and other service providers, state and national Hispanic organizations, political leaders and diverse Hispanic communities. The new executive is building the Council's capacity to generate funding through understanding community needs, strengths and creating a fund development system; determining and providing other agencies with information about the service needs of Hispanic communities and has made collaboration the primary method of providing services. The Council's role has become one of helping the community’s service providers and funders develop the cultural competencies required to effectively serve the Hispanic community and meet their needs--as opposed to minimally meeting the needs of the cooperating service provider to meet affirmative action goals. The new executive has improved the internal and external information and reporting systems, and is exerting quiet, competent, visionary leadership to the community as a whole. Keweenaw Community Foundation Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly - $5,911: "Turn on the Heat" program. Provide financial assistance or fire-wood to Houghton County residents who are low income or unable to purchase fuel needed for winter. [top] Leelanau Township Community Foundation Northport Leelanau Township Utilities Authority - $111,900: To install hook-up installation to new village waste-water treatment system Lenawee Community Foundation YMCA - $2,500: This grant enabled our YMCA to open the Broadstreet Learning Center for Infants and Toddlers by providing the furnishings needed - a washer & dryer, rocking chairs, and other equipment. Child care for infants & toddlers is an urgent need in our community. M & M Community Foundation Menominee County Intermediate School District - $2,500: Imagination Library. The grant provided local matching funds to work with the Dolly Parton Foundation. The goal of the project is to provide books to children prior to entering school. The child receives one free book per month. Mackinac Island Community Foundation Mackinac Island Medical Center - $52,000: Grant is a designated disbursement that provides needed funds to assist our Medical Center's continued operation [top] Marquette Community Foundation Marquette History Museum - Developed a replica of the original Marquette Electric street car system. The street car will be on display at the new history museum; youth will research and develop educational pieces that will be audio for the history of the car. Michigan Gateway Community Foundation Niles Community Schools - $10,000: We offered to underwrite the grant writing costs for a project that seeks in excess of $3 million from private and public foundations to outfit three grade levels in the schools with a laptop for every student. This is still ongoing, but progress to date is promising. Midland Area Community Foundation Arnold Center - $20,000: The Arnold center has outgrown its existing building. The Arnold Center is in the need of 14,500 additional square feet. This addition will be a visual inspiration and example of how one building can provide multiple social benefits to the community. [top] Otsego County Community Foundation Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Otsego County - $2,000: A small grant, but enough. Funding for the agency had been slashed. The "Bigs in School" mentoring program was out of funds. They were able to hang on until a media campaign could be organized for community support of the program. Our community came through! Otsego County has a high rate of single parent and dysfunctional families (mostly immigrants). The "Bigs in School" mentoring program is one of the strongest programs we have to help the youth who come from these segments of the population. Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation Health Department of Northwest Michigan - $10,000: The Health Department was the lead agency in collaboration with area medical providers to increase access to Medicaid and uninsured clients in Emmet County. The $10,000 Community Foundation grant leveraged an additional $24,482 for a total of $34,482 towards the cost of startup equipment for the clinic. A family foundation that we often collaborate with contributed and leveraged the same amount, so those donations plus the federal matches will amount to approximately $68,000. When the Clinic opened to the public in late July there were already appointments scheduled. Roscommon County Community Foundation Project H.O.P.E. - $2,500: "Stock the Shelves" project. With the high number of people who are receiving or have depleted unemployment benefits, there are more people utilizing the food pantry than ever before. The average monthly food output is $2400 and it requires stocking the shelves much more often. Saginaw Community Foundation Covenant Health Care - $25,000: Covenant Health Care – The hospital wanted to build a new home away from home for out of town families of patients at the hospital. At the time of the proposal there was the Hospital Hospitality House which was not on the campus of the hospital and it was an older facility. The hospital wanted to provide these families with a more welcoming atmosphere right on the hospital campus. Since this grant has been awarded, the McNally house has served 2,928 people. Shiawassee Community Foundation Colleges and Universities - $17,950: SCF awarded 39 grants totaling $17,950 from our scholarship funds. At this time, most of our funds are for scholarships only. Sturgis Area Community Foundation Sturgis Public Schools - $15,000: This was a start up grant for a comprehensive after school program for all area middle school age students. This grant also helped leverage other grant dollars. Programs included homework assistance and a wide variety of enrichment programs. Student input was a significant factor in program offerings. Tuscola County Community Foundation Tuscola County Fair Association - $10,000: The Tuscola County Fair has been an ongoing activity for many decades. Thousands of people attend and participate in the event annually. Two of the buildings were in desperate need of new roofs. This grant provided the necessary financial aid to assist with the reroofing project for these buildings.   [top]