Impact Grants

Impact Grants help organizations make lasting change in our community. These grants can help you increase your long-term impact, reach underserved populations, or work with other nonprofits to create transformative and sustainable change.

Impact Grants are reserved for 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and other eligible entities that predominantly benefit residents of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties, Michigan.  Statewide or national organizations with offices in the capital region may not be eligible. Foundation staff will make this determination.  To be eligible, grant applicants must demonstrate a minimum of two years of sustained operations within the tri‑county region, with verifiable records of program delivery and financial activity.

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. Event sponsorships are available by invitation only. 

Your Impact Project must meet at least one of these criteria:

  • Significantly increase the long-term impact of an organization or program, not provide for ongoing operations (routine expenses such as programming, occupancy, administration, etc.). For example, Impact Grants will not purchase food for a pantry; however, we might purchase equipment that helps a pantry stock healthier options to impact the health of their clients.
  • Significantly increase an organization's ability to reach underserved populations rather than simply serve more people. For example, Impact Grants are not designed to increase the number of people using an existing program, but rather to help expand a successful program to have greater impact on a new, high-need population. For example, a successful drug rehab program for men could be duplicated to serve women.
  • Enable two or more nonprofits to work collaboratively to create transformative and sustainable community change. We welcome applications where two or more organizations are collaborating to implement a solution to a critical community issue.

Important to Know

  • The Impact Grant application process includes a Preliminary Application and, if invited by the committee, a Full Application.
  • Impact Grants are not awarded in consecutive years. If you received an Impact Grant in 2025, you are not eligible to apply for an Impact Grant in 2026.
  • Impact Grants require a dollar-for-dollar cash match before we release payment. You don't need to have the matching funds when you apply, but you must have a clear plan for how you'll secure them.
  • The Community Foundation will consider leadership gifts early in the capital campaign process to help leverage other giving.

2026 Impact Grant Application Timeline

If you are a first-time Impact applicant, we strongly encourage you to schedule a consultation with our staff before you apply. Please email LaToya Turner at lturner@ourcommunity.org to schedule a time before May 1. 

Preliminary Application: April 13 - May 13, 2026 (due at 5:00 p.m.)
The committee reviews preliminary applications and decides who to invite to submit a full application. We'll notify all preliminary applicants by mid-June.

Final Application: June 22 - July 22, 2026 (due at 5:00 p.m.) - by invitation only
The committee reviews final applications in early September. We'll notify applicants by late September.

We strongly encourage you to submit well before the due dates to ensure we can assist you if needed. We cannot accept applications after the deadline, even in the event of submission errors.

REQUIRED ATTACHMENTS: 

Our grantmaking committee needs a basic understanding of your organization's financial situation, so we require several types of financial documents. Please DO NOT upload your audited financials, a bank statement, a tax return or anything other than the following documents.

Preliminary Applications require the following attachments:

  • Statements of Revenue and Expenses for your past two fiscal years. A simple statement that shows all sources of revenue and expenses. Acceptable documents are Profit & Loss Statement, or Statement of Financial Activity. EXAMPLE
  • Operating Budget: Operating Budget for your current fiscal year, including all sources of projected revenue and expenses. EXAMPLE
  • Financial Balance Sheet - a recent summary listing all organizational assets and liabilities. If the source of this information is within a financial audit, please extract and submit only these pages. EXAMPLE
  • Optional: Please upload any other materials (flyer, brochure, social media, etc.) that will help our committee understand the work you do; or materials that showcases your project.

Final Applications require the following attachments:

  • If you're not a 501(c)3 nonprofit: a letter from your Fiscal Agent accepting all responsibility for administering this grant.
  • Roster of board or council members with their professional positions listed.
  • Project Budget worksheet (use our template). PLEASE NOTE: Impact Grants can't be used for operational expenses like rent, office supplies, or administration.
  • Letters of Support: At least one, but no more than three, letters of support for your application. Letters should verify the community need for your project and confirm any planned partnerships. We strongly encourage letters from any partner organizations listed on your application.
  • If you are applying for a capital purchase or construction project, include up to three photos that may help the committee to understand the scope of the project. (Optional but helpful)
  • Provide a link to any online promotional materials or a video about your project. (Optional)

The Foundation may also request your most recent financial audit during the review process.

Apply for an Impact Grant

Sample Application Forms