Urgent Needs Requests, February 2026
Opportunities for DONOR impact
We are pleased to share these opportunities for Urgent Needs impact in our community, in case any of this work aligns with your philanthropic goals for the year.
As you will see, there are many in our community who need support with emergency financial assistance or access to food & household supplies. Please note that the Stiggs Feed a Friend program is filling a unique niche or gap in the fight against food insecurity – their pantry is open on weekends and evenings, when other pantries and partners are closed. They also work very specifically with individual families on their specific needs, so at times they are providing personal hygiene items or specific supplies (like diapers) for families in need. They also work with Manna and other local food pantries to ensure they are not duplicating services, but rather, filling in places where the other partners can’t provide support.
*Since sending an email to you on 2/11/26, I added one more proposal to the mix, below, for consideration as well. The Beaver Island Christian Church has a group of folks starting up a breakfast program for Beaver Islanders. This is another way of meeting food insecruity needs in our community, especially on the remote and isolated Beaver Island.
As we know, all of these needs are truly “bottomless” and grants of any amount will mean that the organization can serve more people.
If you are inspired to contribute to either of these requests, please email Ashley Cousens (acousens@c3f.org) no later than February 18th. 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.
Please enjoy reading through the opportunities below. We keep this secure webpage updated as grant recommendations come in.
Thank you for your partnership in philanthropy! Your support makes a huge difference, especially in this Urgent Needs space, where people feel the impact significantly and personally, each time they receive support that they weren't sure would come.
- Urgent Needs
Manna Food Project Request: $20,000 Remaining Need: $0
The loss of specific federal funding has significantly impacted Manna’s ability to purchase produce from Charlevoix County farms for people in need. Manna has built strong relationships with local farmers in the county and is committed to keeping food dollars local whenever possible, while meeting the nutritional needs of neighbors. Grant funds will support the purchase of produce, protein, and dairy for our Charlevoix County partners. Support will allow Manna to close the gap left by the loss of federal funding, remove financial barriers for partners, and sustain access to healthy food while continuing to support the local food system in Charlevoix County.
The Salvation Army Request: $15,000 Remaining Need: $4,500
The Emergency Financial assistance program helps local families experiencing financial crises to pay for critical needs such as heat, food, electricity, rent and other things that threaten a household’s livelihood. It provides a safety net that allows households to gain financial stability before going through the trauma of becoming homeless and creating a larger drain on local resources. This year, the need is higher than ever, due to federal funding cuts and changes to state funding that will likely result in a lack of funding for rural areas like ours, all amid an abnormally cold winter that is draining heat sources faster and the ever rising costs of rent, utilities, and other necessities due to inflation. Grant funding of $15,000 will allow The Salvation Army to assist approximately 55-65 struggling Charlevoix County residents of all ages living in 20-30 households with critical human needs to help stabilize them and reduce the risk of them becoming homeless. However, we know that this need is truly bottomless, so support at any level, even beyond the requested $15,000, will only increase the number of families Salvation Army can help.
Stiggs Feed A Friend Request: $15,000 Remaining Need: $0
Food insecurity continues to affect families, children, seniors, and veterans in our community—particularly during weekends, school breaks, holidays, and emergency situations when traditional food resources (such a school meal programs and food pantries) are unavailable. Feed-A-Friend exists to address these critical gaps by providing emergency meal boxes when people need food immediately and cannot wait for other facilities to reopen. Grant funds will be used to provide emergency food assistance and to help meet urgent basic needs throughout the community.
Beaver Island Christian Church Request: $5,000 Remaining Need: $0
The Open Hands Café was created in response to clearly identified needs within the Beaver Island community. As a geographically isolated rural island in northern Michigan, residents face limited access to affordable prepared meals, reduced senior services, seasonal employment instability, and higher food costs due to transportation. The café will address these realities in a practical, inclusive, and sustainable way, by offering a volunteer-led, donation-based breakfast service three mornings per week. Anyone may attend, and no one will be turned away for inability to donate. There is no required payment, financial verification, or documentation process. This open model removes stigma and preserves dignity while keeping administrative barriers low. Grant funds will support food, staff certifications, and equipment to help start up the breakfast program.