Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Grant Program

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation provides grant funding across six core focus areas designed to improve quality of life in Southeast Michigan and Western New York. These areas include Active Lifestyles, Caregiving, Preparing for Success, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, and a special Foundation Initiative focused on Nonprofit Support and Innovation. Through these categories, the Foundation supports a wide range of programs, from youth sports and recreation to workforce development and nonprofit capacity building. The Foundation emphasizes investment in spaces, skills, and systems that enhance individual and community well-being. The Foundation's Active Lifestyles funding stream supports both Youth Sports & Recreation and Parks, Trails & Green Design. These programs aim to encourage physical activity among young people while also improving access to safe and connected outdoor spaces for people of all ages. The Caregiving focus area recognizes and elevates the roles of informal caregivers—family and friends caring for older adults—acknowledging their contributions and addressing their often-unseen needs through strategic funding. The Preparing for Success initiative promotes life skills such as communication, critical thinking, and teamwork to help individuals thrive academically and professionally. Entrepreneurship and Economic Development grants target small business growth, community revitalization, and workforce talent strategies in historically underinvested areas. Nonprofit Support and Innovation, a cross-cutting initiative, bolsters the resilience and effectiveness of nonprofit organizations, both by supporting individual grantees and investing in sector-wide strategies. Applicants must operate within one of the Foundation's geographic focus areas: seven counties in Southeast Michigan (Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne) and nine counties in Western New York (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming). Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations whose work aligns with one of the Foundation’s defined focus areas. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must be submitted through the Foundation’s Online Grants Portal powered by Fluxx. The process begins with creating a user account and verifying organizational eligibility. If eligible, organizations are invited to submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which includes a project summary, purpose and need, timeline, budget, and required financial documents. If the LOI is accepted, the organization is invited to submit a Full Proposal containing a detailed project description, sustainability plan, staffing information, budget, and evaluation methods. All communication, including notifications and status updates, occurs through the Grants Portal. Applicants receive an initial confirmation upon LOI submission, with subsequent updates and decisions communicated via the portal dashboard and email. While there is no fixed deadline, applicants are advised to consider internal planning timelines and respond promptly to any invitations to advance through the application process.

Respond promptly to invitations for full proposal; ensure alignment with one of the Foundation’s focus areas; review focus area definitions prior to applying.