What's New
When the ice storm hit Northern Michigan, it did more than knock out power.
It disrupted daily life, isolated neighbors, and placed intense demands on the very people and organizations our communities rely on.
These are the moments when the strength of community becomes clear.
Across every affected county, people stepped up—neighbors, nonprofit staff, municipal crews, and volunteers. They opened warming shelters. Delivered meals. Cleared roads and driveways. Checked in on one another. They did what strong communities do: they showed up.
In moments like these, the role of your local community foundation is clear: connect generosity to impact, with care and intention for the people and places we serve. While community foundations don’t give directly to individuals, we do provide funding to the organizations that are best positioned to respond.
Here’s how that works:
- Donors contribute to the Community Foundation.
- Nonprofits apply for grants, helping identify urgent needs.
- Each request is carefully reviewed for alignment with the fund’s purpose.
- Grants are awarded to organizations that know the community, the people, and how to get things done.
It’s a time-tested, thoughtful approach that ensures resources are directed where they’re needed most.
As frontline responders mobilized quickly during the storm, so did the region’s community foundations. Within 72 hours, each of our foundations had activated emergency funds to support eligible organizations providing aid to neighbors in need. And we will continue for as long as needed.
Thanks to the generosity of people near and far, donations began arriving immediately. These donations were combined with our own grantmaking dollars, allowing community foundations across the region to support a wide range of relief efforts, including but not limited to:
- Restocking food pantries
- Providing fuel and supplies for warming shelters
- Removing trees and debris
- Making emergency repairs
- Supporting volunteer fire departments and first responders
- Issuing mini-grants for storm-affected small businesses
- Assisting with car repairs, rent, utilities, temporary housing, and childcare
- Clearing trails and public spaces
So far, we’ve granted nearly $700,000 across 11 counties—and we’re not done yet.
We know recovery didn’t end when the lights came back on. That’s why we’re still listening — meeting regularly with nonprofit partners, local governments, and other agencies to understand current and emerging needs. And that’s why we’re still approving grants weekly.
Charitable giving plays a powerful role in disaster response. If you already know where you want to give, we encourage you to do so. But if you’re unsure – or want to ensure your gift addresses the full picture of need – your local community foundation is here. We are a conduit for impact, helping ensure your support goes where it matters most.
Stronger Together.
This storm reached across counties, towns, and rural stretches — it touched nearly everyone, but in different ways. Each of our communities is unique, and each individual experience of the storm has been different. But this was also a shared moment — one we’ve moved through together. When we reach out to one another, acknowledge our experiences, communicate our needs, and pool our resources, we show what’s possible. That’s how we know we’re stronger together.
Community foundations across the region — Charlevoix County Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, Otsego Community Foundation, Mackinac Island Community Foundation, and Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation — are listening, sharing knowledge, and working side-by-side to support those most affected. No one foundation is doing this alone, and none of us has to. Together, we’re meeting needs now while remaining responsive as recovery continues.
Signed by:
Charlevoix County Community Foundation
Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan
Otsego Community Foundation
Mackinac Island Community Foundation
Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
Warmly,
grants for arts & culture and the environment awarded
Each year we host two grant cycles in March responding to requests from local nonprofit organizations working to address environmental needs as well as needs in arts, music, history, and culture. Thanks to donors like you who partner with us to make a difference close to home, a total of $155,277 in grants were awarded to nonprofits between the two cycles.
Environment and Land Use grants were awarded to ten local organizations totaling $99,510 and include projects that will create and restore natural habitats, protect the land, improve water quality, boost outdoor recreation opportunities, provide stream restoration, and build capacity for organizations doing this work. Grants include:
Au Sable Institute - Restoration Ecology for Young Students Program -$2,500
Beaver Island Association - BIA Blight Remediation Program - $6,500
Friends of the Boyne River - Wetlands Education Program - $5,000
Lake Charlevoix Association - Lake Charlevoix Watershed Community Map Project - $5,000
Raven Hill Discovery Center - Living STEM Lab at Deer Creek - $5,000
Tara's Meadow Education & Retreat Center - Environmental and Cultural Education Center Project - $6,300
Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council - Stover Creek Dam Removal Project - $15,000
Top of Michigan Trails Council - Charlevoix Trailway Little Traverse Wheelway Project - $14,000
Village of Boyne Falls - Dam Removal Project - $35,210
Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy - Avian Schistosomes Larva Removal Project - $5,000
Arts and Culture grants were awarded to 17 local organizations totaling $55,767 and include projects that will offer summer arts camps, public art installations, educational programming, live performances, cultural exhibits, music education, and build capacity for organizations doing this work. Grants include:
Bay Township - Ernest Hemingway Public Sculpture Project - $1,000
Boyne Arts Collective - Children's Art Camps Scholarship Program - $2,500
Charlevoix Circle of Arts - “Big and Small” Art Exhibition - $2,000
Crooked Tree Arts Center - "The Art of Wellbeing" Art Exhibition - $3,000
Great Lakes Center for the Arts - Next Gen Educational Program - $2,500
Jordan River Arts Council – Organizational Capacity Assessment - $5,500
Northwest Michigan Arts and Culture Network - Arts & Culture Summit - $1,000
Tara's Meadow Education & Retreat Center - Braiding Irish and Native American Cultures Project - $3,770
Traverse City Dance Project - Live on the Lake Youth Movement and Dance Class - $3,000
Wagbo Peace Center - Capacity building - $7,000
Beaver Island Historical Society - Native Americans and the Indian Boarding Schools Project - $4,500
Charlevoix Historical Society - Harsha House Renovations - $3,000
Beaver Island Performing Arts Alliance - Baroque on Beaver Summer Music Festival - $1,000
City of Boyne City - The Boyne City Farmers Market Music Series - $1,497
City of Charlevoix - Live on the Lake Jazz Festival - $3,500
Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra - Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring Performance - $7,000
Tunes Music Makers – Fiddle Lessons by Ruby John Program - $4,000
Follow these links if you would like to make a donation to our Arts & Culture Fund or our Environment Fund.
YAC in Action
grants for ice storm relief awarded
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Thanks to the outpouring of generosity from our donors, we've made $118,807 in grants to 16 organizations helping our friends and neighbors recover from the catastrophic ice storm. And there are still more grants in the works. Bergmann Center - to replace bathroom stalls destroyed by building flooding - $5,000 Camp Daggett - to clean up trees & debris from the ice storm - $10,000 Charlevoix Children’s House - for ice storm tree & debris removal - $700 Charlevoix Circle of Arts - to support CCA staff's lost wages during the ice storm - $1,307 Charlevoix Township - to reimburse overtime payroll costs incurred by the Charlevoix Twp Fire Dept during the ice storm - $10,000 Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology - to support an Ice Storm Emergency Fund for famers - $5,000 Hayes Township - for ice storm debris cleanup - $10,000 Manna Food Project - for food, gas cards, and utility assistance needs resulting from the ice storm - $5,000 Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency - to support the Ice Storm Home Repair Fund - $20,000 Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity - to support emergency needs related to the ice storm - $7,000 Patrons of the Arts in Rural Communities - to replace picnic tables destroyed in the ice storm, for BI Music Festival - $5,000 Third Day Fellowship & Outreach DBA Joppa House Ministries - to replace perishable refrigerated and/or frozen food lost in the ice storm - $1,000 Top of Michigan Mountain Bike Association - to remove large trees and make trails safe again - $3,800 Venture North - to support small business needs resulting from the ice storm - $20,000 Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan - to support WRC staff during the ice storm - $10,000 Ziibimijwang Inc - for plant start replacements for Garden Kits (Kiitigan) & community farmers due to the ice storm - $5,000 Want to help? Follow the link to donate to the Urgent Needs Fund. |
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leadership learning lab applications open
The Leadership Learning Lab is a 10-month program, running from August to June each year, that combines monthly learning sessions, Q/A sessions, small group learning pods, individual reflection, and ongoing support. The program invests directly in leaders as a way to strengthen their organizations and the communities they serve.
C3F partners with other foundations such as the Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation to sponsor the program, keeping tuition affordable for nonprofit leaders.
The program accepts new applications each year starting in May with a deadline to apply of June 25.
click here to learn more and apply
scholarship applications open
Are you a new or returning student in the Nursing or Medical Field? Don't miss our special scholarship application round just for you! Deadline to apply is June 30th. Questions about the application process? Contact Megan DeHoog at mdehoog@c3f.org.
click here to apply
WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?
Our Legacy Society members are people who care about our community and included C3F in their Will, trust, or IRA to leave a legacy that will benefit C3F and area nonprofits forever. Learn how you can join Babs today.
WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?
JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON INSTAGRAM
Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and information about C3F and our programs by joining us on our Instagram Page! Just seach for us at CharlevoixC3F or follow this link.
Grants in Action - traverse city dance project
With the help of a recent Arts & Culture grant, the Traverse City Dance Project brought a free, professional dance performance to Charlevoix's East Park last summer as part of their mission to produce and present professional dance in Northern Michigan. The location of the show made it incredibly accessible to everyone. A post-show survey showed that most people learned something new and said they would attend a future performance like this. About half of the crowd said they were experiencing live dance for the first time. We agree with one survey comment that said how "important arts are in small towns," and we're pleased to have been able to support this performance with a recent Arts & Culture grant. We're already looking forward to the return of this show, this summer on July 31st!
Grants in Action - Boyne City public schools program, where everyone belongs
A recent C3F Student Success grant for Boyne City Public Schools supported a 5th grade mentoring program called WEB – Where Everybody Belongs. The program matches up fifth grade students with eighth grade mentors for the entire school year. Events each year include an orientation, two social events, two academic support events, and monthly check-ins for mentors to check in with mentees. Students and parents have given positive feedback on the success of the program in fostering connection, belonging, and leadership skills. One student remarked, "Some of the wonderful things about middle school are the fun activities —such as track, drama, WEB activities with youth leaders, and much more. I was nervous about the stuff we would do, but it turned out to be the best year of my life."
Grants in Action - Charlevoix Elementary School STEM program
A recent C3F Student Success grant for Charlevoix Public Schools Elementary School helped purchase technology equipment for a new STEM program. Thanks to our donors, they were able to purchase Code and Go Mice and Dash Robots to teach coding to all students, as well as a 3D printer and the accompanying software. C3F staff, Matt and Megan, were able to visit the 4th grade class using the 3D printer software to design nametag keychains. They also observed 1st graders count a pattern and program Code and Go Mice to reach the target - the Lorax, in this case! The teacher of the STEM classes reflected, “Overall this was a huge success and honestly, not only did all students make leaps and bounds in these two areas, I would say I made the most growth in learning not only how to operate these devices, but how to teach these to the students. I am very excited for next year when we can build upon what they have gained this year.” C3F staff could not agree more. It was a great day to get a glimpse of what the future can hold when we train young minds in STEM.
Grants in Action - great lakes chamber orchestra's women composers night
A 2023 Arts & Culture grant helped the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra to put on a unique concert. Women Composers Night was dedicated to celebrating female composers while promoting their work and talents in the performing arts. All the pieces performed at the concert were composed by female composers and featured a rising star, Asian-American young violin soloist Karisa Chiu who received a standing ovation for her performance of Amanda Meier's Violin Concerto. This piece was significant as Meier, herself a violinist and an award-winning composer, was the first female in history to receive a musical degree. Almost 67% of the attendees were women and girls. Additionally, GLCO Music Director Dr. Libor Ondras attracted over 100 community members to the pre-concert talk with his discussion around the pieces, composers, and historical evolution of the acceptance of female composers in the male-dominated field of classical music. It was a memorable concert that left a long-lasting impact on attendees and musicians alike.
Grants in Action - City of Boyne City's Police Department
A recent Community Priorities grant to the City of Boyne City's Police Department helped them to purchase drones for use in the line of duty. C3F Community Grantmaking staffer, Ashley Cousens, recently enjoyed attending part of the collaborative drone training held in Boyne City, put on by the BC Police Department and the Michigan Public Safety Drone Association. The training included officers from several departments including the Sheriff's Department, the DNR, and others. Officers shared how the drones have already come in handy for helping to fight a fire - by locating the source of the blaze with the infrared technology, they were able to save more of the structure that was burning. The training simulations included a fire on a boat in Lake Charlevoix as well as a search and rescue operation for a missing teenage paddle boarder. These two scenarios helped officers to learn about the various features and capabilities of the drones while providing them opportunities to practice and learn together in community. Often these various departments have to help each other out and collaborate, and this technology is making it easier for them to help people in our community. It's truly amazing what these drones can see and do!
Grants in Action - preservation association of beaver island
At C3F we enjoy hearing about the ripple effects that can sometimes come from our grantmaking. Sometimes the ripples are small, and other times they can be more like big waves! A recent Geographic Enrichment grant to the Preservation Association of Beaver Island certainly felt some big ripples last year. The grant itself was to help the Irish Feile (Festival) bring a couple of Currach rowing teams to the Island to compete in an Irish cultural event. Festival organizers said, "the grant did much more than provide two days of Irish Currach rowing in beautiful Paradise Bay; it supported a festival that is an authentic cultural connection between Arranmore Island, Ireland and Beaver Island. A crowd of over 300 gathered on the Beaver Island Ferry Dock for the arrival of the over 120 people from our sister island and all will forever remember when the ramp of the Emerald Isle Ferry dropped and the Arranmore Pipe Band in their glory and their grief (they had just lost their band leader to a heart attack) marched onto the dock to cement a centuries old connection between Beaver Island and Arranmore Island. From that moment the festival took on a life of its own and all the planning in the world could not have anticipated the warmth and camaraderie that would permeate the island for the next few days. The grant helped make that happen and the Currach Rowing was a major part of the festival, bringing festival goers together on the beach and in the boats and gave them common experiences to share during the festival." The Irish Feile takes place the second weekend in September each year. You can learn more about it here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067454371257
Grants in Action - crooked tree arts center theater painting
Crooked Tree Arts Center recently had help from a C3F Arts & Culture grant to paint their theater. While the organization had to overcome some delays and obstacles in getting this work done, it is now beautifully completed! Getting into all the lovely nooks and crannies up high was certainly a feat, and you can see how creative the team had to get with the scaffolding to reach everywhere they needed to paint. Thanks to many donors and the community, this theater is now freshly painted and gorgeous! If you haven't found a reason to get in there and check it out, you can stay tuned on CTAC's Facebook page to see what's coming up so you can catch the next show and enjoy this beautiful space.
Grants in Action - Village of Boyne Falls Dam
The Village of Boyne Falls is stepping up to do something extraordinary – free the Boyne River’s South Branch of its only remaining dam. The Village owns Boyne Falls Dam on the South Branch of the Boyne River, a significant tributary to the Boyne River mainstem and Lake Charlevoix in Charlevoix County. The health of the Boyne River and Lake Charlevoix is essential to the region’s quality of life. The Village of Boyne Falls and community partners want to complete a feasibility study to provide a clear “road map” from which to base future management decisions for the dam and nearby infrastructure. Before they could do that, though, they needed to get the word out and have the community better understand what's at stake. A recent C3F Community Priorities grant helped the Village to create an informational pamphlet, explaining the problems and outlining the proposed solutions. The pamphlet is now available in Boyne Falls for anyone interested in learning more. Removing the dam will help to protect aquatic habitat diversity, protect and improve water resource quality, maintain excellent recreational opportunities, and support sustainable watershed management practices. Those interested in reading the full informational pamphlet or getting their own print copy can reach out to the Village of Boyne Falls at 231-549-2443, village011@centurytel.net, or you can swing by the village office on Mondays between 6:30 and 8pm.
Grants in Action - Charlevoix-emmet isd
Many local families find themselves struggling to afford the cost of preschool tuition. Two government programs (federal and state) that provide free preschool to children based on financial need and risk factors fill to capacity quickly, leaving about 40 children in our area waiting for a preschool opportunity. A recent Community Priorities grant to Charlevoix-Emmet ISD helped to put 8 Charlevoix County kids through preschool in the '23-24 school year. Both pre and post preschool assessments showed developmental growth in students. Parents who received scholarships reported experiencing reduced stress levels and noted that their children were engaging more with others, communicating more effectively, and acquiring school readiness skills.
GRANTS IN ACTION - LITTLE TRAVERSE CONSERVANCY
The Little Traverse Conservancy set themselves a big goal when they worked with the sellers of the largest remaining undeveloped, unprotected shoreline on Lake Michigan in Emmet and Charlevoix Counties last year. With a price point of more than $3 million, every dollar really did count. A C3F Community Priorities grant, combined with more than 150 other donors and contributors, helped LTC to acquire the property and secure its protection forever. Sometimes, on these larger projects, our grants can seem like a drop in the bucket, but we believe in the power of collaboration because we have seen our community come together to do big things that matter, like this. Thanks to so many in our community who care for our natural resources, Enji-minozhiiyaamigak, the Place of Peacefulness, is now protected. Great news - you can go there because it's open to the public! And soon, there will be a universally accessible trail to enjoy as well. We are proud to have partnered with LTC on this work.
GRANTS IN ACTION - NORTHERN MICHIGAN EQUINE THERAPY
NMET is dedicated to using the healing nature of horses as a therapeutic tool to enhance independence, self confidence, and quality of life for those living with physical and mental health needs Programs are offered by licensed and certified professionals From autism, depression, at risk youth and high anxiety, to spinal cord injuries and strokes, their promise is simple, horses heal humans. Due to inflation, costs of horse feed, hay, supplements, and vet care have increased exponentially. Grant funds will be used toward therapy horse costs.
GRANTS IN ACTION - solar boat washing station
Did you know? There is a new law requiring boaters to clean, drain, and dry their boats after exiting a body of water in Michigan, and before entering another body of water. This new law is intended to help stop the spread of invasive species in our beautiful lakes and rivers. Currently, one local organization is leading the pack in providing a practical way to comply with this new law. Thanks to an Environment & Land Use grant from C3F, Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy has installed solar boat washing stations at 4 of the 6 boat launches on Walloon Lake. Their larger goal is to have a boat wash station at all 6 of the launches, so they are well on their way, thanks to support from grants, the community, and collaboration with local townships. Right now, the only invasive present in Walloon Lake is Eurasian milfoil, and according to board chair, Russ Kittleson and former Executive Director, Josephine Roberts, (pictured with C3F Staffer, Ashley Cousens) they did not see an increase in that plant this year, a credit to the over 2,500 uses of the new boat wash stations around the lake. Each boat wash station includes a brush, vacuum, blower, and other tools to help boaters remove plants and water from their boats when they are ready to leave the lake. In this way, one small action from boaters can help to make a big ripple effect in protecting our beautiful natural resources.
GRANTS IN ACTION - Don & Eileen Klein Nature Trail
We love a good collaboration! And the community of East Jordan is delivering a great one, as the team of partners bring the Don & Eileen Klein Nature Trail to fruition. A group of citizens, plus the City of East Jordan, Little Traverse Conservancy, Friends of the Jordan River Watershed, C3F, local businesses, and community donors are seeing the fruits of their labor! A grant through the C3F Geographic Enrichment cycle last year helped to bring the first trail segment to life. Beginning at Sportsman's Park, the universally accessible trail will continue on, with boardwalks and packed gravel, winding its way through the Jordan River Valley and up to meet the Rogers Homestead Preserve on the corner of Erie and Echo Streets in East Jordan. Way to work together to bring something truly awesome to our community!
grants in action - Good Neighbors food pantry of Boyne City
Good Neighbors Food Pantry has been using a trailer (loaned to them each week by a friend of the pantry) to pick up the weekly 1,800 pounds of food from Manna Food Project in Harbor Springs, to stock the pantry in Boyne City. This trailer was old and in need of major repairs to make it safe for volunteer drivers. Grant funds helped Good Neighbors Food Pantry to purchase a new trailer with a braking system, which will provide the pantry with many years of reliable service.
grants in action - the honor star
Students from East Jordan and Boyne City designed and created a ten-foot stainless steel star in honor of local veterans through an artist in residence program hosted by the Jordan River Arts Council. With help from a Geographic Enrichment grant, JRAC hired Ann Gildner, an artist from the Industrial Arts Institute, to work with East Jordan High School welding students to design and build a sculpture for the Jordan Art Walk. Students brainstormed the words to be included on the star, which describe what it means to be a person in service to our country. A strong partnership emerged between JRAC, EJPS, Dave Muladore's welding class, and the American Legion through this work. The sculpture is now in a place of honor in the newly redesigned American Legion Veterans/ GAR Park on Main Street and is a permanent addition to the Jordan Art Walk.
GRANTS IN ACTION - Raven Hill discovery center - Smithsonian spark! Places of innovation exhibit
A recent Arts & Culture grant helped bring students out to Raven Hill Discovery Center for field trips to see the Smithsonian Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit while it was here, from August to early October 2023, showcasing innovations in rural areas. Cheri Leach also talked to students about some of the innovations at Raven Hill, like the magnet table, the energy bike, and the periodic table of elements. Connecting science, history, and art during a recent field trip, Cheri led 4th graders from Boyne City (pictured) through a couple of rooms and then everyone spent some time exploring the hands-on features of the Spark! exhibit. Students were connecting what they learned at Raven Hill with what they were learning in their science classes at school and had fun doing it! The Smithsonian exhibit may have moved on, but there's always lots to see and learn at Raven Hill any time of year.
grants in action - seed to salad program at EJPS
Last year, an East Jordan Geographic Enrichment Grant to EJPS made a huge difference for the school's outdoor garden program "Seed to Salad".
With the support of a C3F grant, lots of donors and the help of the Shoe Club and the community, the Seed to Salad program installed a new hoop house and revitalized an indoor growing area. They purchased growing racks and lights for the indoor space and renovated the windows to provide light for plants. Students’ lives are being enriched through these additions – they are able to continue their hands on learning by growing plants year-round.
Youth Needs Grant success story - Boyne District Library
The C3F Youth Advisory Committee supported the Boyne District Library with funding to host “Family Dinner Book Club Nights” every Tuesday in March 2023. Families could join Ms. Mary for a delicious meal, reading of a children’s book, casual discussion, and activities for kiddos - all free of charge. By listening to the book reader, the children learned about how they can cope with their "worries" and "whatifs". Then they created a friendly looking "worry friend" out of yarn during craft time to help share their feelings when they can't quit find their words. The YAC were excited to see this grant come to fruition and to highlight youth mental health for young people and their families. Worries don't seem so big when you are able to share them with others.
When the ice storm hit Northern Michigan, it did more than knock out power.
It disrupted daily life, isolated neighbors, and placed intense demands on the very people and organizations our communities rely on.
These are the moments when the strength of community becomes clear.
Across every affected county, people stepped up—neighbors, nonprofit staff, municipal crews, and volunteers. They opened warming shelters. Delivered meals. Cleared roads and driveways. Checked in on one another. They did what strong communities do: they showed up.
In moments like these, the role of your local community foundation is clear: connect generosity to impact, with care and intention for the people and places we serve. While community foundations don’t give directly to individuals, we do provide funding to the organizations that are best positioned to respond.
Here’s how that works:
- Donors contribute to the Community Foundation.
- Nonprofits apply for grants, helping identify urgent needs.
- Each request is carefully reviewed for alignment with the fund’s purpose.
- Grants are awarded to organizations that know the community, the people, and how to get things done.
It’s a time-tested, thoughtful approach that ensures resources are directed where they’re needed most.
As frontline responders mobilized quickly during the storm, so did the region’s community foundations. Within 72 hours, each of our foundations had activated emergency funds to support eligible organizations providing aid to neighbors in need. And we will continue for as long as needed.
Thanks to the generosity of people near and far, donations began arriving immediately. These donations were combined with our own grantmaking dollars, allowing community foundations across the region to support a wide range of relief efforts, including but not limited to:
- Restocking food pantries
- Providing fuel and supplies for warming shelters
- Removing trees and debris
- Making emergency repairs
- Supporting volunteer fire departments and first responders
- Issuing mini-grants for storm-affected small businesses
- Assisting with car repairs, rent, utilities, temporary housing, and childcare
- Clearing trails and public spaces
So far, we’ve granted nearly $700,000 across 11 counties—and we’re not done yet.
We know recovery didn’t end when the lights came back on. That’s why we’re still listening — meeting regularly with nonprofit partners, local governments, and other agencies to understand current and emerging needs. And that’s why we’re still approving grants weekly.
Charitable giving plays a powerful role in disaster response. If you already know where you want to give, we encourage you to do so. But if you’re unsure – or want to ensure your gift addresses the full picture of need – your local community foundation is here. We are a conduit for impact, helping ensure your support goes where it matters most.
Stronger Together.
This storm reached across counties, towns, and rural stretches — it touched nearly everyone, but in different ways. Each of our communities is unique, and each individual experience of the storm has been different. But this was also a shared moment — one we’ve moved through together. When we reach out to one another, acknowledge our experiences, communicate our needs, and pool our resources, we show what’s possible. That’s how we know we’re stronger together.
Community foundations across the region — Charlevoix County Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, Otsego Community Foundation, Mackinac Island Community Foundation, and Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation — are listening, sharing knowledge, and working side-by-side to support those most affected. No one foundation is doing this alone, and none of us has to. Together, we’re meeting needs now while remaining responsive as recovery continues.
Signed by:
Charlevoix County Community Foundation
Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan
Otsego Community Foundation
Mackinac Island Community Foundation
Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
Warmly,
grants for arts & culture and the environment awarded
Each year we host two grant cycles in March responding to requests from local nonprofit organizations working to address environmental needs as well as needs in arts, music, history, and culture. Thanks to donors like you who partner with us to make a difference close to home, a total of $155,277 in grants were awarded to nonprofits between the two cycles.
Environment and Land Use grants were awarded to ten local organizations totaling $99,510 and include projects that will create and restore natural habitats, protect the land, improve water quality, boost outdoor recreation opportunities, provide stream restoration, and build capacity for organizations doing this work. Grants include:
Au Sable Institute - Restoration Ecology for Young Students Program -$2,500
Beaver Island Association - BIA Blight Remediation Program - $6,500
Friends of the Boyne River - Wetlands Education Program - $5,000
Lake Charlevoix Association - Lake Charlevoix Watershed Community Map Project - $5,000
Raven Hill Discovery Center - Living STEM Lab at Deer Creek - $5,000
Tara's Meadow Education & Retreat Center - Environmental and Cultural Education Center Project - $6,300
Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council - Stover Creek Dam Removal Project - $15,000
Top of Michigan Trails Council - Charlevoix Trailway Little Traverse Wheelway Project - $14,000
Village of Boyne Falls - Dam Removal Project - $35,210
Walloon Lake Association and Conservancy - Avian Schistosomes Larva Removal Project - $5,000
Arts and Culture grants were awarded to 17 local organizations totaling $55,767 and include projects that will offer summer arts camps, public art installations, educational programming, live performances, cultural exhibits, music education, and build capacity for organizations doing this work. Grants include:
Bay Township - Ernest Hemingway Public Sculpture Project - $1,000
Boyne Arts Collective - Children's Art Camps Scholarship Program - $2,500
Charlevoix Circle of Arts - “Big and Small” Art Exhibition - $2,000
Crooked Tree Arts Center - "The Art of Wellbeing" Art Exhibition - $3,000
Great Lakes Center for the Arts - Next Gen Educational Program - $2,500
Jordan River Arts Council – Organizational Capacity Assessment - $5,500
Northwest Michigan Arts and Culture Network - Arts & Culture Summit - $1,000
Tara's Meadow Education & Retreat Center - Braiding Irish and Native American Cultures Project - $3,770
Traverse City Dance Project - Live on the Lake Youth Movement and Dance Class - $3,000
Wagbo Peace Center - Capacity building - $7,000
Beaver Island Historical Society - Native Americans and the Indian Boarding Schools Project - $4,500
Charlevoix Historical Society - Harsha House Renovations - $3,000
Beaver Island Performing Arts Alliance - Baroque on Beaver Summer Music Festival - $1,000
City of Boyne City - The Boyne City Farmers Market Music Series - $1,497
City of Charlevoix - Live on the Lake Jazz Festival - $3,500
Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra - Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring Performance - $7,000
Tunes Music Makers – Fiddle Lessons by Ruby John Program - $4,000
Follow these links if you would like to make a donation to our Arts & Culture Fund or our Environment Fund.
YAC in Action
grants for ice storm relief awarded
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Thanks to the outpouring of generosity from our donors, we've made $118,807 in grants to 16 organizations helping our friends and neighbors recover from the catastrophic ice storm. And there are still more grants in the works. Bergmann Center - to replace bathroom stalls destroyed by building flooding - $5,000 Camp Daggett - to clean up trees & debris from the ice storm - $10,000 Charlevoix Children’s House - for ice storm tree & debris removal - $700 Charlevoix Circle of Arts - to support CCA staff's lost wages during the ice storm - $1,307 Charlevoix Township - to reimburse overtime payroll costs incurred by the Charlevoix Twp Fire Dept during the ice storm - $10,000 Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology - to support an Ice Storm Emergency Fund for famers - $5,000 Hayes Township - for ice storm debris cleanup - $10,000 Manna Food Project - for food, gas cards, and utility assistance needs resulting from the ice storm - $5,000 Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency - to support the Ice Storm Home Repair Fund - $20,000 Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity - to support emergency needs related to the ice storm - $7,000 Patrons of the Arts in Rural Communities - to replace picnic tables destroyed in the ice storm, for BI Music Festival - $500 Third Day Fellowship & Outreach DBA Joppa House Ministries - to replace perishable refrigerated and/or frozen food lost in the ice storm - $1,000 Top of Michigan Mountain Bike Association - to remove large trees and make trails safe again - $3,800 Venture North - to support small business needs resulting from the ice storm - $20,000 Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan - to support WRC staff during the ice storm - $10,000 Ziibimijwang Inc - for plant start replacements for Garden Kits (Kiitigan) & community farmers due to the ice storm - $5,000 Want to help? Follow the link to donate to the Urgent Needs Fund. |
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leadership learning lab applications open
The Leadership Learning Lab is a 10-month program, running from August to June each year, that combines monthly learning sessions, Q/A sessions, small group learning pods, individual reflection, and ongoing support. The program invests directly in leaders as a way to strengthen their organizations and the communities they serve.
C3F partners with other foundations such as the Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation to sponsor the program, keeping tuition affordable for nonprofit leaders.
The program accepts new applications each year starting in May with a deadline to apply of June 25.
click here to learn more and apply
scholarship applications open
Are you a new or returning student in the Nursing or Medical Field? Don't miss our special scholarship application round just for you! Deadline to apply is June 30th. Questions about the application process? Contact Megan DeHoog at mdehoog@c3f.org.
click here to apply
WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?
Our Legacy Society members are people who care about our community and included C3F in their Will, trust, or IRA to leave a legacy that will benefit C3F and area nonprofits forever. Learn how you can join Babs today.
WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?
JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON INSTAGRAM
Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and information about C3F and our programs by joining us on our Instagram Page! Just seach for us at CharlevoixC3F or follow this link.
Grants in Action - traverse city dance project
With the help of a recent Arts & Culture grant, the Traverse City Dance Project brought a free, professional dance performance to Charlevoix's East Park last summer as part of their mission to produce and present professional dance in Northern Michigan. The location of the show made it incredibly accessible to everyone. A post-show survey showed that most people learned something new and said they would attend a future performance like this. About half of the crowd said they were experiencing live dance for the first time. We agree with one survey comment that said how "important arts are in small towns," and we're pleased to have been able to support this performance with a recent Arts & Culture grant. We're already looking forward to the return of this show, this summer on July 31st!