Ionia County Community Foundation Grant Program

The Ionia County Community Foundation provides grants to programs that benefit residents of Ionia County, Michigan. Administered through an online grant portal, the foundation prioritizes community-based and family-oriented projects that have the potential to reach and positively impact a broad number of residents. The foundation encourages proposals that address clear community needs with defined goals and measurable outcomes. It supports efforts that contribute to the well-being of the local population and avoid duplicating existing services. Strong consideration is given to initiatives that demonstrate collaboration with other local organizations and have diverse funding sources. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, government agencies (including schools), and community groups operating under a qualified fiscal sponsor. Religious organizations may apply only for non-religious purposes. The foundation does not fund proposals for religious activities, individual scholarships, or compensation for staff such as salaries or wages. Grant recipients are required to publicly acknowledge the foundation’s support, which may include issuing press releases or making public announcements with photographs of the funded work, if applicable. Applicants are required to complete their submission via the foundation's online grant portal by December 31, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. First-time applicants must create an account and update their Organization Profile. This includes providing details such as a list of board members, a description of the organization, a primary contact person, and current and prior year budget figures. The application itself requires a detailed project description, start and end dates for the proposed work, and a comprehensive project budget that outlines all income and expense sources, with exact details on how grant funds will be used. The grant application also involves responding to a series of narrative questions that guide applicants to articulate the rationale for their funding request. These questions address the purpose of the grant, the need or problem being addressed, the population served, project objectives, implementation timeline, partnerships, and how the initiative differs from similar efforts. Applicants are also asked to describe constituent involvement, staff qualifications, training needs, and long-term funding strategies beyond the grant term. Evaluation is a critical component of the application process. Applicants must describe how they will measure the success of their project, how the results will be used or disseminated, and whether the project can be replicated elsewhere. The foundation is interested in the active participation of constituents not only in shaping the program but also in evaluating its effectiveness. For assistance with application content, applicants may contact Brian Talbot at [email protected]. For technical support related to the grant portal, applicants should reach out to Keri Jaynes at [email protected] or call 616.284.4911. Grant award notifications will be issued by February 28, 2026. The foundation seeks to fund projects that create lasting impact for the residents of Ionia County through thoughtful planning, measurable outcomes, and community engagement.