The Lifeline Grants Community Foundation offers Community Funds Grants aimed at fostering vibrant, resilient, and equitable communities across several counties in Michigan. The foundation, based in Traverse City, MI, utilizes flexible and responsive funding from its Community Funds to support a broad range of organizations. These funds are distinguished from other grant programs by their ability to address service gaps and provide strategic investments that enhance the community's wellbeing.
The Community Funds Grants are open to nonprofit, educational, governmental, and Tribal entities located in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties. This grant opportunity encourages applications from both new and returning organizations. Funds may be requested in various amounts, typically ranging from $1,000 to $30,000, with the total grant pool for 2025 set at $335,108. The grants may be used for general operating support or to fund specific projects. Proposals are evaluated for their potential community impact, capacity to leverage additional resources, and alignment with regional development data and priorities highlighted in the Community Development Regional Scorecard.
The grant application process begins with a pre-application phase, intended to streamline submissions and quickly determine eligibility for full applications. Pre-applications are accepted between May 15 and June 6, with applicants notified of their status by June 23. Selected applicants then have until July 14 to submit full applications. The review process is managed by the foundation’s Grantmaking Committee, with final awards announced in September.
Applicants are expected to submit their materials via the foundation’s Grants Portal. A post-grant report is required within a year of receiving funding, serving to evaluate project outcomes and enhance the foundation’s impact reporting. The application process prioritizes equitable access and actively seeks to engage organizations that may not have previously received funding.
For questions or additional guidance, applicants can contact Steve Wade, Vice President of Community Impact, at support@lifelinegrantscf.com or +61489987481. The foundation emphasizes data-driven grantmaking and supports transparency and community engagement throughout the grant cycle.
