Urgent Needs Grant

The Charlevoix County Community Foundation (C3F), a philanthropic organization dedicated to improving life for residents of Charlevoix County, Michigan, administers the Urgent Needs Cycle to address immediate and critical needs within the community. C3F aims to support a wide range of nonprofit partners and local institutions that contribute to the wellbeing of local residents. Through donor-advised funds and its own resources, the Foundation enhances access to essential services like food, shelter, healthcare, and safety. The fund was created as a flexible and responsive tool for funding support throughout the year. The Urgent Needs Cycle is designed to offer flexible, ongoing support to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, educational institutions, and government units that serve Charlevoix County residents. The fund supports initiatives that improve access to food, shelter, mental and physical healthcare, safety, transportation, and utility assistance. Additionally, grants may support capacity-building efforts, such as strategic planning, staff training, and equipment purchases that increase the effectiveness of service delivery. The cycle encourages requests that reflect collaborative efforts, innovative approaches, self-empowerment strategies, and efficiency in avoiding duplicative services. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis each year starting January 5, with the final submission deadline set for December 15. Applicants must first discuss their proposal with a C3F staff member—either Ashley Cousens or Megan Havrilla DeHoog—before gaining access to the online application. Once approved for application access, organizations can submit their proposals via the foundation's online portal. A response from the foundation typically follows within two weeks. This quick turnaround ensures that urgent community needs are addressed in a timely fashion. Successful proposals are evaluated based on several criteria, including organizational impact, relevance, planning, leadership capacity, and the directness of impact on the community. C3F encourages applicants to clearly identify the problem, propose an appropriate solution, and justify the request amount based on actual need. The foundation does not impose grant size limits, and a total of $50,000 is allocated annually to this funding cycle. Grantees are expected to contribute to the project budget and must be in good standing with the IRS and current on previous grant follow-up obligations. Projects generally ineligible for support include annual fundraising campaigns, political activities, deficit reduction efforts, and sectarian programs. Faith-based organizations are eligible if they provide services that are open and accessible to all without proselytizing. Grantees are required to complete a follow-up report within six months of receiving the grant or upon project completion—whichever comes first. Site visits and photo documentation are encouraged as part of the follow-up process. Extensions can be requested if needed. In sum, the Urgent Needs Cycle provides vital, flexible funding to nonprofit and public service organizations addressing the most pressing needs in Charlevoix County. The process emphasizes responsiveness, community relevance, and impact, providing support where and when it is most needed. This fund exemplifies the foundation's commitment to local engagement, equity, and sustained community development.

Clearly demonstrate community need, organizational capacity, and how the proposed project strengthens service delivery.