2025 Youth Needs Cycle
Opportunities for DONOR impact
We are pleased to share opportunities for co-funding in the Youth Needs grant cycle and two Urgent Needs requests. It is our pleasure to connect you with needs throughout the year that may align with your philanthropic goals and values.
To view the requests, simply click on the headings below. You will see a grant summary of each request, along with the request amount and/or any remaining needs. Be sure to click into each heading to see the full list of requests. We will be updating this page each time someone contributes to a request, so that you are always seeing the most current information.
To recommend a grant from your Donor Advised Fund, please email Megan Havrilla DeHoog before Monday, November 24th. The Youth Advisory Committee met on November 14th and used all of the funds they had available. However, there are several requests that could not be fully funded and which still have remaining needs. Additionally, we have two Urgent Needs requests with remaining need.
The Fund Advisor Portal isn't used for this co-funding opportunity, though it may be helpful to check your grantmaking balance. Please include in your email, the organization name, the project, the amount you’d like to grant, and the name of your fund. As a general reminder, Donor Advised grants are listed as anonymous when made through the competitive grant cycles (like this one). If you would like your grant to be named and not anonymous, please specify that in your email as well.
Thank you for your partnership in philanthropy! Your support is making a difference, right here at home.
- Mental Health
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan, Inc. YAC Grant: $9,200 Remaining Need: $0
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Michigan seeks to expand one-to-one mentoring relationships in Charlevoix County. Mentoring relationships with adults or peers provide guidance, support, and nurturing during a child's developmental years. Grant funds will support four mentor matches from the current waitlist.
Beaver Island Rural Health Center YAC Grant: $5,032 Remaining Need: $0
The BIRHC provides high-quality, cost-effective patient treatment and wellness services, serving as a primary care facility for the BI community. The BIRHC is launching a pilot project to reduce barriers for rural youth accessing behavioral and mental health assistance. Grant funds will prioritize families who may have insufficient income for treatment and will support transportation and travel costs for appointments on the mainland.
Boyne District Library YAC Grant: $1,132 Remaining Need: $0
The BDL’s Children's Services would like to hold a "Family Battle of the Books" monthly event for 4 months. Families will read and discuss selected books together on important themes for middle school aged youth such as bullying, courage, and online safety. Families will come together for Trivia Nights to encourage discussion and help form strong parent-child communication. Grant funds will support the book purchases.
Char-Em ISD YAC Grant: $9,000 Remaining Need: $0
Char-Em ISD, with the Health Department and local schools, would like to increase awareness of technology and social media use on youth wellness for students ages 5-11 and their caregivers. The three-pronged initiative will include educational presentations for parents and caregivers, marketing efforts for community engagement, and "Unplugged Bugs" reading kits that contain age-appropriate books educating families and students about devices and screen time/use. Grant funds will support items such as books and totes for the kits.
East Jordan Public Schools YAC Grant: $3,000 Remaining Need: $2,500
EJPS seeks to create dedicated calming spaces for Elementary students and staff. By bridging the gap between academic learning and personal wellness, students can learn coping skills, self-regulation and resilience throughout the school day. Supporting the emotional health of staff ensures teachers remain energized, compassionate, and committed. Grant funds will support furniture, decor, and sensory tools for the spaces.
Wildfire Dreams Sanctuary YAC Grant: $4,800 Remaining Need: $0
WDS provides equine assisted learning programs, horsemanship lessons, and Equine Gestalt Coaching which focuses on all parts of a person to address their emotional, mental, and somatic history through activity engagement. Grant funds will support the "Unbridled Heart to Heart" program to bring teens from Charlevoix middle and high school to participate in after-school equine wellness over a period of 6 weeks. - Education
Boyne City Public Schools – E.P.I.C YAC Grant: $1,500 Remaining Need: $2,500
The BC 6th grade team is leading an initiative focused on motivating students through Effort, Participation, Integrity, and Cooperation (E.P.I.C.) to support academic and behavioral development. The program was created to address the challenges posed by the transition into middle school and to link positive choices to positive outcomes. Grant funds will support monthly reward experiences for the remainder of the school year.
Planned Parenthood of Michigan YAC Grant: $5,800 Remaining Need: $700
PPMI was forced to close the local health center in Petoskey in April 2025, leaving a gap in non-judgmental, empowering and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care. The proposed project would maintain the longstanding sexual health education programs in Chx Cty, ensure young people are aware of PPMI’s telehealth services, distribute workbooks on mental and sexual health, and host workshops for further conversations. Grant funds will support the materials and time necessary to deliver and facilitate these programs.
Raven Hill Discovery Center YAC Grant: $2,000 Remaining Need: $3,700
Raven Hill provides a place to enhance hands-on and lifelong learning for all ages by connecting science, history and the arts. The Raven Hill E2 (Elementary Environmental) STEM Program will help teachers meet and fulfill multiple elementary science needs, and practice the skills of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) through interactions with the environment. Participants will explore their environment through field trips to Raven Hill’s new Living STEM Lab and/or outreach into schools depending on school, teacher and student needs. Grant funds will cover the costs to deliver the program on the site selected.
Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council YAC Grant: $2,500 Remaining Need: $2,500
The TOWC’s mission is to protect the lakes, streams, wetlands, and groundwater that define Northern Michigan through programs that combine science, education, and community engagement to make a measurable difference. One such program, Students Experience Lake Charlevoix (SELC), transforms the Beaver Islander Ferry into a floating classroom. Middle school students rotate through science stations on topics like water chemistry, invasive species, and septic pollution. Grant funds will help support staff time, educational materials, and overall program delivery, ensuring SELC remains accessible to all local schools at no cost to participants.
Tunes Music Makers YAC Grant: $2,725 Remaining Need: $2,725
TUNES Music Makers is the only organization on Beaver Island providing structured, ongoing music opportunities for young people and community members through lessons, classes, and workshops that are often unavailable in rural communities. The Rock Band program combines teamwork, mentorship, music education, and collaboration with weekly jam sessions. A soft launch of this program last spring demonstrated the growth and confidence of the students during a performance to over 200 people. Grant funds will support the instructional time and rental space required to showcase the Rock Band. - Human Services
Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan YAC Grant: $5,000 Remaining Need: $0
Child and Family Services supports licensed foster homes and youth in foster care in Charlevoix County. Placement Support Specialists help youth, children, and foster families in new placements by providing needs, resolving issues, and accessing services to help prevent the trauma of re-placement. Family Support Workers help provide access to specialized services by driving young clients to counseling or additional appointments. Grant funds will support Charlevoix County Placement Support Specialists and Family Support Workers.
Child Abuse Prevention & Education Council YAC Grant: $3,500 Remaining Need: $1,500
The Annual CAPE conference brings in nationally recognized speakers to provide information and education to area families, educators, nurses, childcare providers, and social workers working with young people and their caregivers. The 2026 conference will help attendees learn how to better understand and engage with youth, provide tools to help foster positive relationships among youth, caregivers, and community members, and host a communication skills workshop. Grant funds will support overall conference costs.
Hospice of Michigan YAC Grant: $2,000 Remaining Need: $0
Camp Good Grief is a free, one-day bereavement camp for youth ages 8–17 who have experienced the death of a loved one. Held at Camp Lake Louise in Boyne Falls, MI, the camp provides a safe, structured environment where children can process grief, connect with peers experiencing similar losses, and develop coping strategies. Campers engage in therapeutic and recreational activities—including art, music therapy, memory bear creation, ziplining, fishing, and swimming—each paired with grief-focused discussions designed to foster emotional resilience. Grant funds will ensure the program remains free and accessible to Charlevoix County families.
Northern Michigan Equine Therapy YAC Grant: $3,750 Remaining Need: $0
NMET seeks to create a high-quality storytelling video to raise awareness and improve access to their equine-assisted therapy programs. The updated media will be used to increase awareness, engagement, and support for NMET, so they may serve more individuals and strengthen the community through improved physical, mental and emotional well-being. Grants funds will support professional video production services. - Recreation
Boyne City Public Schools – Rambler Power YAC Grant: $1,501 Remaining Need: $11,999
BCPS offers Rambler Power, a PE class to provide strength, fitness, conditioning, and mobility training opportunities for students throughout the school day. The class introduces and exposes students to multiple fitness training modalities for both physical and athletic development, while also practicing and teaching healthy life skills and habits. Grant funds will support healthy pre/post workout snacks for the Rambler Fuel Station.
Beaver Island Historical Society YAC Grant: $3,000 Remaining Need: $2,000
The BIHS offers Kids Camp to youth ages 4-13 on the Island each July. Kids Camp incorporates cultural themes and Island history based on enriching activities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to create a positive week of learning for youth. The program also provides unparalleled leadership development for ten camp counselors. Grants funds would support staff and supplies needed for Kids Camp.
Boyne Area Gymnastics YAC Grant: $5,225 Remaining Need: $5,398
Boyne Area Gymnastics is committed to providing safe, high-quality training opportunities for young athletes across Charlevoix County through gymnastics and cheer. Two of their most heavily utilized pieces of equipment, the uneven parallel bars and a balance beam, have reached a stage where they no longer meet the standard of safety, stability, and competitive functionality required for developing athletes. Grant funds will help close the funding gap and secure the equipment necessary for gymnasts.
Camp Daggett YAC Grant: $0 Remaining Need: $8,500
In addition to increases in the cost of living including housing, fuel, food and basic life necessities, families are also facing shortages in affordable and quality childcare options. In 2024, Camp Daggett launched Day Camp as an affordable childcare option and has had waitlists for each week available for the last two years. Licensing requires Day Campers to spend 51% of their time outside. Grant funds will help purchase an outdoor pavilion to help meet this requirement while keeping Campers comfortable from sunlight or rain.
Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore YAC Grant: $2,000 Remaining Need: $8,000
GSMISTS seeks to recruit and train additional volunteers and troop leaders in Charlevoix County to increase both capacity and access. By expanding access, GSMISTS will help more girls build confidence, find belonging, and develop lifelong skills that support their mental health, education, and leadership potential. Grant funds will support local marketing and outreach efforts, recruitment, and tuition support in Charlevoix County. - Urgent Needs
Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan YAC Grant: $5,000 Remaining Need: $1,000
When a child is facing a medical crisis, the entire family is deeply affected on a financial, psychological, emotional, and social level. RMHCWM provides a comfortable place for caregivers to sleep after a long day at the hospital. Along with a clean bed, families are provided warm meals, snacks, transportation to and from the hospital, toiletries, and activities to keep siblings entertained. RMHCWM also offers a communal space inside the hospital stocked with comfort supplies such as books, slippers, and cozy blankets. Grant funds will support this program for Charlevoix County families free of charge.
Northmen Den Youth Pantries Inc. Amount Requested: 10,000 Remaining Need: $10,000
The recent federal shutdown and debate over SNAP funding have created instability for households that rely on those benefits, and local schools are seeing more students come to class hungry or without reliable access to food at home. Concord Academy in Boyne City has no system to discreetly support students experiencing food insecurity. Grant funds will support the launch of a new pantry at Concord Academy including shelving, equipment, initial food supply, and volunteer coordination.