Mental Health Awareness, Education, and Outreach Mini-Grants Program

The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, a Detroit-based private foundation, was established in 1976 by siblings Ethel “Peggy” Flinn and James “Jim” Flinn, Jr. The foundation honors Jim Flinn’s legacy, who, despite being diagnosed with schizophrenia in his twenties, dedicated his life to supporting mental health causes. The foundation's mission is to advance effective, evidence-based mental health treatment, services, and programs that cater to the needs of people in Michigan, particularly within Southeast Michigan, which includes Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties. In 2025, the foundation is offering the Mental Health Awareness, Education, and Outreach Mini-Grants Program. This funding opportunity is designed to empower non-profit community organizations that do not primarily provide mental health services but recognize a growing need for mental health awareness in their communities. The goal is to reduce stigma and improve public understanding through education and outreach initiatives. The foundation has allocated a total of $100,000 for this program, offering individual grants ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 for one-year projects. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations located in Southeast Michigan that are not direct mental health service providers but serve populations where mental health outreach is needed. Examples include faith-based institutions, youth groups, community development agencies, grassroots organizations, and human service nonprofits. The foundation encourages proposals that center around educational campaigns, community voices or lived experience narratives, youth-led initiatives, and promotion of mental wellness through prevention and self-care practices. Applications must be submitted through the foundation’s online portal, accessible at www.flinnfoundation.org/apply. A tutorial and templates, including the required Budget/Actual Expenditure Report, are provided on the site to assist applicants in preparing their submission. Proposals should clearly detail the organization's mission, the purpose and need for the project, targeted population demographics, geographical scope, activities to be implemented, and measurable outcomes. An executive summary is also required and will be presented directly to the Board of Trustees. The review and decision-making process is overseen by the Board of Trustees and guided by the proposal’s alignment with program priorities, its potential to reduce inequities in access to care, and its capacity to enhance mental health awareness and education. Successful applicants must sign a Grant Award Agreement Letter and adhere to all reporting requirements. Funding will be disbursed on December 18, 2025, and the grant term will run from January 1 to December 31, 2026. A final report is due by March 1, 2027. For further inquiries, applicants may contact Andrea M. Cole, President and CEO, via email at acole@flinnfoundation.org or by phone at (313) 309-3437. While consultation with foundation staff is not mandatory, it is available for those seeking clarity on eligibility or application requirements.

Use clear, jargon-free language; ensure budget aligns with eligible expenses; provide a compelling executive summary