Community Impact Grant

The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) offers Community Impact Grants aimed at supporting initiatives that directly benefit residents of Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle counties in Michigan. As a regional philanthropic organization, CFNEM facilitates charitable giving and enhances the well-being of local communities through targeted grantmaking. Their Community Impact Grant program serves as a key avenue for providing responsive funding to eligible organizations seeking to launch new projects or expand impactful services within these four counties. This grant opportunity focuses on projects that are forward-looking and not yet completed at the time of application. CFNEM places a strong emphasis on supporting innovative, “seed money” initiatives that demonstrate broad community benefit and are backed by diversified funding sources. Routine operational expenses or efforts to cover existing deficits are explicitly not supported, as the foundation prioritizes sustainability and demonstrable community impact in its funding decisions. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations recognized under IRS code 501(c)(3), public schools, and government agencies. Religious organizations may also apply, but only if their proposed projects serve the general public without sectarian influence. Individual applicants are not eligible, and all applicants must be able to document service to the specified counties. Grants are offered in two annual cycles, with firm deadlines of January 15 and July 15. Applications must be submitted by these dates for consideration, and funding decisions are typically made within six weeks of each deadline following review and recommendation by CFNEM’s Grant Screening Committee. Full board approval is required before disbursement, and award notifications are accompanied by a grant agreement. Upon return of the signed agreement, funds are released within two weeks. A final grant report is mandatory upon completion. The maximum request amount per cycle is $5,000, and applicants must demonstrate a clear, feasible budget for the proposed project. Repeated requests for ongoing program support are discouraged. Additionally, while extensions of up to six months may be granted under certain conditions, grants are expected to be used within one year of approval. Evaluation of proposals is managed by a board-appointed committee, ensuring community-based oversight. While there are no specified scoring rubrics or portals detailed in the provided documentation, applicants are encouraged to consult the foundation’s budget sample for guidance and to ensure compliance with reporting expectations. No contact names or direct emails are listed, though inquiries can be directed via the foundation’s website or social media channels.

Priority is given to new, dynamic projects that show funding support from additional organizations; repeated applications for ongoing support are discouraged.