Community Foundation Awards Fall Grants

The Community Foundation responded to requests from nonprofit partners this fall, thanks to donors who look to the Community Foundation to make a difference close to home.  Grants will make investments in the County’s communities, such as improvements to performance space on Beaver Island, new chairs and tables for the Boyne District Library’s Community Room, the development of new youth programs at Camp McSauba, and attention to student safety in East Jordan.  Broader impact will be felt across Charlevoix County through projects like a feasibility study to determine the possibility of curbside recycling collection, efforts to ensure adequate water quality and to reduce stormwater impacts in the watershed, and support for programs serving friends and neighbors in need.  Click here for a complete list of grants made through the fall cycle.

In 2020, the Community Foundation will launch a new approach to supporting local nonprofit partners.  The Board of Trustees charged the staff to increase the impact of grants and the efficiency of the process.

After nearly a year of review and research, the Community Foundation will offer several cycles annually, with special attention to the areas of youth, the environment, and individual communities in Charlevoix County.  These changes are designed to provide improved impact over time; ensure that the Community Foundation remains accessible to nonprofit partners; offer greater opportunity for donor advisors and community members to give back close to home; and create space for staff to spend more time learning alongside nonprofit partners. 

Several open meetings have been scheduled for nonprofit partners who wish to learn more about the Community Foundation’s grant cycles, beginning in December.  Details about application guidelines and deadlines as well as upcoming open meetings are available here.

A charitable organization dedicated to improving and enriching life in the area, the Charlevoix County Community Foundation accepts gifts from individuals, families, businesses and civic groups and manages them as permanent endowments. While a portion of the funds are utilized to support grantmaking, the principal of the endowment continues to grow, providing ongoing charitable capital to benefit Charlevoix County’s residents—now and in the future.

The next grant cycle will focus on Environment and Land Use projects.  Applications are due by Saturday, February 1, 2020.  The Community Foundation welcomes inquiries about applying for grants anytime at 231-536-2440.