Community Grantmaking Program in Michigan

The Community Grantmaking Program offered by the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF) focuses on addressing racial and economic inequities in Washtenaw County, Michigan. AAACF, a long-standing private philanthropic organization, aims to foster inclusive opportunities and equitable access to education and community resources. Through this program, the foundation seeks to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of community-based organizations by providing financial support to impactful initiatives in the region. The grant program is specifically designed to support services and programming that target economic hardship and educational disparities. Key areas of investment include educational programming for individuals facing unemployment or financial hardship, literacy improvement efforts directed at marginalized youth from elementary through high school, and mentoring initiatives that offer holistic development for marginalized youth starting in preschool. The overarching goal is to enable sustained positive outcomes and empowerment for communities historically underserved in educational and economic systems. The total funding pool available for this cycle is approximately $280,000, with applicants eligible to request up to $20,000 per grant. Only one application is permitted per organization. The funding must be used to directly support the activities aligned with the grant's objectives, such as educational delivery, literacy program development, or structured mentorship activities. Organizations are expected to demonstrate a clear alignment with the program goals and the ability to execute their proposed projects within the geographic limits of Washtenaw County. Applications must be submitted through the AAACF Nonprofit Portal. AAACF encourages applicants to begin the process early due to updates in the submission system. All required narrative components must be completed and submitted by the final deadline. The foundation has provided a tutorial and instructions on the portal to assist users. To further guide applicants, a remote information session will be held on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST. While attendance is not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged as the session will address the application process and portal navigation. Applications are due by Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST. There are no pre-application gating steps such as letters of intent or concept papers required for eligibility. The opportunity is currently active and accepting applications. Based on prior program patterns and the structured nature of the grant, it is expected to recur annually, although the precise opening date for the next cycle has not yet been published. For further inquiries about the Community Grantmaking Program, applicants may contact Amina Iqbal, Senior Community Investment Officer, at aiqbal@aaacf.org or by phone at (734) 663-0401 x118. Additional general inquiries may be directed to the foundation’s office at info@aaacf.org or (734) 663-0401. The foundation is located at 301 North Main St., Suite 300, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the information session to understand the portal and submission process.