Grants at the Community Foundation

The Capital Region Community Foundation provides charitable funding to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and other eligible entities that predominantly benefit residents of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties, Michigan.

What We Believe

In our grantmaking, we work with partners whose programming, leadership, staffing, and volunteers reflect the diversity of the people they serve. Like the Community Foundation, our partners should authentically work to maximize access to services and achieve equitable practices for all people regardless of ethnicity, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, identity/expression, national origin, veteran status, marital status, income status and or philosophy/religion.

Who is eligible? 

The Foundation accepts applications from eligible entities that predominantly serve the residents of Ingham, Eaton or Clinton counties in Michigan. However, we strongly encourage requests from small and mid-size nonprofits who are making a difference in underserved and/or racially diverse communities. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of community volunteers.

The following requirements apply to all Community Foundation competitive grant opportunities:

  • Applicant organizations and requests must predominantly benefit residents of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties, Michigan.
  • Federal tax-exempt status 501(c)(3); OR a fiscal agent that meets these criteria. Municipalities may also apply.
  • Applicant organization must provide statements of revenue and expenses for the past two fiscal years.
  • Your organization may be required by law to have a Michigan Charitable License to Solicit. Read more HERE.
  • A nonprofit organization may apply in more than one grant category per year, but only one application per category.
  • At this time, our competitive grantmaking is unable to fund requests for the following: individuals, international organizations, sectarian or religious programs, endowment funds, or existing obligations, debts or expenses incurred before the grant approval date.

Grant Categories

Capacity Building Grants:  Grant amount varies. Capacity Building grants are designed to help a nonprofit with its organizational infrastructure. Capacity Building grants primarily focus on three areas: Board Governance, Planning, or Training/Professional Development.  LEARN MORE

Youth Grants: Up to $5,000. Youth Grants are for programs that specifically help teens age 12-18 in the tri-county region. The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a group of tri-county high school students that are responsible for reviewing youth grant requests and choosing projects, programs, and proposals that provide teens with skills to handle with the most pressing issues identified in the most recent Youth Survey. LEARN MORE

Mini-Grants: Up to $5,000. Mini-Grants are designed for smaller organizations that seek programming, project or operating support. These opportunities are provided to donor-advised fundholders for consideration. LEARN MORE

Impact Grants: $10,000 - $75,000. Impact Grants are meant to increase the long-term impact of an organization or program, increase the organization’s ability to reach under-served populations, or enable two or more nonprofits to work collaboratively to create transformative and sustainable community change. Impact grants require a preliminary application and a dollar-for-dollar cash match. Impact grantees from 2025 are not eligible to apply for a 2026 Impact grant. LEARN MORE