Capacity Building Opportunities in Michigan

The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation, a private philanthropic organization based in Detroit, Michigan, is now accepting proposals for its 2025 Capacity Building Opportunities grant. Established in 1976 by siblings Ethel "Peggy" Flinn and James “Jim” Flinn Jr., the Foundation is dedicated to advancing effective and research-informed mental health treatment and services, with a geographic focus on southeast Michigan. This includes Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties. The Foundation's funding priorities for 2025 have been shaped by a recent survey of local providers and aim to address pressing challenges such as increased demand, service accessibility, and organizational resilience within the mental health field. The 2025 funding cycle allocates a total of $500,000 to support one-year grants ranging from $50,000 to $75,000 per recipient organization. Eligible applicants include local or state governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations located in southeast Michigan that provide mental health services. A key requirement is that mental health care constitutes a significant portion of the organization’s work. Priority funding areas include, but are not limited to, implementing or expanding telehealth services, enhancing access to therapeutic treatment, investing in workforce training and development, pursuing strategic planning, improving program evaluation and measurement, and developing cross-sector collaborations. To apply, organizations must submit a complete application via the Foundation’s online grant portal, accessible through www.flinnfoundation.org/apply. Submissions must be received no later than July 17, 2025, before 4:00 p.m. The Foundation provides templates for the required Executive Summary and Budget/Actual Expenditure Report on its website. These documents, along with a current independent financial audit (from within the last two years), must be uploaded as part of the application package. Applicants are encouraged, though not required, to contact the Foundation staff for guidance prior to submission. Proposal requirements include detailed responses in several core areas: organizational mission, program need and target population, specific activities and intended outcomes, collaborative partnerships, methods for measuring impact, and plans for long-term sustainability beyond the grant period. These sections should be written in plain, jargon-free language and must demonstrate the organization’s ability to implement and sustain the proposed work. The grant review process is managed by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, which will evaluate applications based on alignment with funding priorities, potential for improved mental health service delivery, ability to address disparities, and the sustainability of proposed programs. Award decisions will be announced on September 16, 2025, with funds distributed by December 18, 2025. Funded projects will begin on January 1, 2026, and conclude on December 31, 2026. A final report will be due on March 1, 2027. For inquiries, applicants may contact Andrea M. Cole, President and CEO of the Flinn Foundation, at acole@flinnfoundation.org or (313) 309-3437. While communication with staff is optional, it may help clarify eligibility or strengthen the application. No pre-application or letter of intent is required.

Use clear, plain language; review Foundation templates; use two-page Executive Summary as impact statement; follow detailed instructions for required attachments