Grant Guidelines
Who is eligible for a grant?
- Applicants must predominantly serve residents of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham Counties, Michigan.
- Must have or partner with a 501(c)(3). Municipalities may also apply.
- If required, must have a Michigan Charitable License to Solicit. If you do not have a license, please review the requirements at Charitable Trust (michigan.gov) or call us to discuss.
- We are unable to fund the following: individuals, international organizations, sectarian or religious programs, endowment funds, existing obligations, debts or expenses incurred before the grant approval date.
GRANT CATEGORIES:
The Community Foundation has four types of grants – Youth, Mini, Capacity Building, and Impact. The Foundation accepts applications from all eligible entities. However, we strongly encourage requests from small and mid-size nonprofits who are making a difference in underserved and/or diverse communities.
Please note: You may apply for more than one grant category per year, but only one application per category.
Capacity Building Grants
Capacity Consultation Period: Dec 8 - Feb 7.
Application period: Dec 8, 2023 – Feb 14, 2024; final decision mid-March.
Capacity Building Grants help an organization increase its sustainability and effectiveness by strengthening its internal systems so it can grow its impact and accomplish its mission. The Foundation does this by partnering with our Capacity Building grantees and other experts in organizational management.
The first step in applying for a Capacity Building grant is a phone consultation with the Foundation. You can schedule your consultation - no later than February 7, 2024 - by contacting Cindy Hales, Vice President of Community Investment at 517-664-9851 or chales@ourcommunity.org.
Capacity Work Includes but is not limited to:
- Board Development
- Fundraising Planning
- Governance Models
- Executive Leadership Training
- Long-Range Planning
- Succession Planning
- Staff Training and Development
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training
Learn more about Capacity Building Grants
Youth Grants
Application period: Dec 8, 2023 – Feb 8, 2024; final decisions mid-May.
The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a group of high school students from across the tri-county capital region that recommends grants of up to $5,000 per organization from the Youth Endowment Fund to support programs that help teens age 12-18 in Clinton, Eaton, or Ingham counties.
YAC is especially interested in proposals that provide teens with skills to handle their most pressing issues, which are the following for 2024:
- Teen Mental Wellness (anxiety, depression, stress)
- Violence
- Substance Abuse
Mini-Grants
Application period: Dec 8, 2023 – Feb 8, 2024; decisions made throughout the year.
Mini-Grants are for organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $200,000. Requests may be for support for programming, projects, or general operations. Event or festival sponsorships and other time-sensitive programs or projects are not eligible for a Mini-Grant.
A summary of your request will be included in a catalog which is presented to Community Foundation fundholders and donors for funding consideration.
Impact Grants
Impact Grant requests can range from $10,000 to $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.
Preliminary Application Period: April 10 – May 15, 2024 (All applicants notified by June 21). The Impact Grant Committee reviews the preliminary applications and decides which will be invited to submit a full grant application.
Final Impact Application Period: June 21 – July 25, 2024 (All final applicants notified by mid-September).
Information about the 2024 Impact Grant cycle will be available in early April.
Learn more about Impact Grants
Placemaking Activation Sponsorships (closed for 2024)
As part of its strategic direction, the Community Foundation is committed to creating a vibrant Michigan Avenue corridor and Downtown Lansing riverfront. To complement its capital projects, a limited number of sponsorships are now available for community festivals, events, or other projects that activate the Michigan Avenue corridor between the Capitol and US-127, or the Downtown Lansing riverfront.
Eligible requests must:
- take place within the geographic boundaries described above
- be viable and sustainable
- help to create a vibrant community
- have strong support from other community partners
- be attractive to a diverse audience
Only applications for events, festivals, or projects that benefit the greater community within the geographic boundaries defined above will be considered. The Community Foundation cannot sponsor nonprofit fundraising events.
To learn more about our limited Placemaking Activation Sponsorships, please contact Tracy Russman at trussman@ourcommunity.org.
