Impact Opportunities for Donor Advisors


Youth Needs grant cycle

 

We are pleased to share these opportunities for co-funding in the Youth Needs grant cycle. These are requests from nonprofit partners working to support top youth needs in Charlevoix County. Due to the tight timeline of fitting in the Youth Advisory Committee grant review meeting, plus the Thanksgiving holiday later this month, you'll only receive one outreach from us about these opportunities.
 

November 1st was the deadline for nonprofit partners to apply for grant support in this cycle and the Youth Advisory Committee met on November 12th to conduct their comprehensive review of the proposals, including allocating the resources they had available. Below, you'll see both the YAC grant amount awarded, along with any remaining need for each request. We will update this page whenever anyone makes a contribution, so that you can see what the actual remaining needs are here, anytime. 
 

If you are inspired to give to any of these requests, please email Ashley Cousens no later than November 24th. The Fund Advisor Portal isn't used for this co-funding opportunity, (though it may be helpful to check your grantmaking balance!)
 

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 (not anonymous), please specify that in your email to me along with the organization, project, and amount you'd like to grant from your fund.

 

Please make any grant contributions no later than November 24, 2024 by emailing acousens@c3f.org. 

 

Mental Health

 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern MI, Inc.                     YAC Grant: 12,600       Remaining Need: $0

Big Brothers Big Sisters has currently matched 50 children with dedicated mentors in Charlevoix County and already has nine youth on the waitlist. When children are paired with compassionate, trained mentors, they gain a trusted ally who can guide them through life's challenges and complexities while providing a safe space where vulnerability is welcomed. Funds will support matching five youth with mentors.

 

Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan                  YAC Grant: $5,000       Remaining Need: $0

CFSNWMI seeks to create an Outdoor Oasis space for families to use at Safe Haven North. Creating physical space for positive interactions during supervised visits reduces the stress levels of youth and children. Adults, too, do better when there is something that facilitates interaction with their child or teen. Funds will supply the safety-approved, heavy-duty swingset with a chin-up bar.

 

Child Abuse Prevention & Education Council                             YAC Grant: $5,000       Remaining Need: $0

The CAPE Annual Conference, held each spring, hosts nationally recognized speakers to provide professional development opportunities to the diverse field of individuals working with children, families, and parents. Attendees learn how to better understand and engage with youth who may be in crisis and gain tools to support positive relationships between youth, parents, and community members as they navigate social and emotional development together.  Funds will help support the overall conference including marketing, venue, presenters, lodging, continued education credits, food and beverage, and supplies.

 

East Jordan Public Schools                                                           YAC Grant: $10,000     Remaining Need: $0

Students learn best when all of their needs are met and they are supported within the school environment. EJ Elementary School found that students and staff identified self-management and self-awareness as areas of behavior struggles, with the classroom and playground as the most common sites for referrals. Funds will help purchase supplies and social-emotional regulation tools for spaces in 25 classrooms, the Student Success Room, the playground, and indoor hallway.

 

Northern Michigan Equine Therapy                                            YAC Grant: $2,500       Remaining Need: $0

Replacing old equipment enhances the safety, comfort, and overall experience of clients and therapy horses for effective equine assisted experiences. To continue delivering high-quality, safe, and effective services, NMET needs new saddles, adaptive stirrups and tack, helmets, horse care equipment, and protective gear for horses. Funds will help purchase new tack and equipment for therapy services.

 

Planned Parenthood of Michigan                                                YAC Grant: $8,000       Remaining Need: $0

PPMI seeks to create a digital and printed sexual health education resource toolkit for youth and supportive adults to provide continuous, reliable information and resources. Due to youth access barriers to community-based resources, the toolkit also provides education and advocacy in a new and more sustainable way and will provide more autonomy, agency and self-determination for youth. Funds will support the creation of the toolkit, a youth and adult advisory board, and continuation of comprehensive, medically accurate and inclusive sexual health education at East Jordan Middle High School and Charlevoix High School.

 

The Depot Jordan Valley Teen Center                             YAC Grant: $2,750             Remaining Need: $0

The Depot provides programming, mentoring, classes, and various resources to East Jordan teens in 6th-12th grades throughout northern Michigan. Funds will allow the Depot staff to send their teens to equine therapy sessions as an extension of the mentoring and connections they have already created.

 

Recreation

 

Beaver Island Historical Society                                                   YAC Grant: $4,000       Remaining Need: $0

BIHS’ Kids Camp—a week long daytime camp for 50, mostly local, youth from 4-13 years of age—builds upon wellbeing, sense of place, acceptance and cultural diversity. Customized daily programs incorporate cultural themes, explore the natural landscape, and teach Island history; activites are led by young adults to encourage leadership skills. Funds will help offset the costs of labor, food, and supplies.

 

Camp Daggett                                                                    YAC Grant: $2,500       Remaining Need: $1,500

Downtown Daggett, located at the heart of CD, holds significant potential as a key, centrally located social and functional hub for camp counselors. CD would like to revitalize Downtown Daggett to provide a unique and peaceful gathering space for counselors to unwind during camp week. Funds will support landscaping to address runoff issues and the creation of a hammock lounge.

        

Crooked Tree Arts Center                                                             YAC Grant: $5,000       Remaining Need: $0

The CTAC School of Ballet trains young people for careers in dance, stagecraft, screendance, lighting, choreography, pedagogy, and Special Needs Artistic Movement. Student choreographers are responsible for creative production, rehearsals, costuming, music, stage light design, working with the stage manager, and publicly speaking about their work. Funds will support a professional dance mentor residency to work with a group of pre-professional dance students in enriching confidence, self-motivation, and a sense of community.

 

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore                          YAC Grant: $6,585       Remaining Need: $3,415

Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. With diverse experiences in STEM, outdoor activities, life skills, and entrepreneurship, GSMISTS programming equips girls with critical skills like teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving, preparing them for success in the region and beyond. Funds will provide essential starter kits, financial aid, and vital program support to new Girl Scout Troops in the Charlevoix region.

 

Education

 

North Central Michigan College Foundation                  YAC Grant: $8,500       Remaining Need: $0

In 2024, over an eight-week session, NCMC hosted 240 local students across 32 classes, from STEM subjects to the Arts, in their Summer Learning Academy (SLA) program for students in 3rd-8th grade. This program offers students early exposure to the college environment, familiarizes families with NCMC’s resources and programs, and empowers students to pursue future educational and personal development opportunities. Funds will support scholarships and program expenses to ensure Charlevoix County residents can participate.

 

PoWeR! Book Bags                                                            YAC Grant: $8,000       Remaining Need: $7,000

PBB's mission is to increase children’s experiences with language, literacy, and human interactions so that they can better understand themselves, communicate with others, and connect with the world. They partner with community organizations and sites to provide an ongoing supply of literacy materials, suggested activities, and developmental guidelines directly to children and families in their network. Funds will help purchase materials for PoWeR! Book Bags.

 

Raven Hill Discovery Center                                             YAC Grant: $5,000       Remaining Need: $0

RHDC’s mission is to provide a place that enhances hands-on and lifelong learning for all ages by connecting science, history and the arts. The Here or There (HOT) Project is a flexible model for Charlevoix students and teachers to access hands-on learning offered by RHDC through a traditional field trip or an outreach program that brings lessons to the classroom. Funds will offer one field trip/outreach program to 50 students, in addition to teachers and chaperones, at 10 Charlevoix County schools.