Michigan Disaster Prevention and Relief Grants

This program provides $40 million in funding to support environmental and public health initiatives in underserved communities across the Great Lakes region, prioritizing tribal governments, small nonprofits, and local organizations addressing environmental challenges.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Michigan, Minnesota, and Virginia that focus on addressing hunger, supporting military heroes, and promoting community engagement and career training.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, religious groups, and schools in Berrien, Cass, or Van Buren counties, enabling them to quickly address urgent community needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as food assistance and shelter support.

The Jackson National Life Insurance Company (Jackson) offers Community grants aimed at strengthening families and increasing economic opportunities. These grants align with Jackson's mission to support non-profits that positively impact individual trajectories and provide stability for families. The program has two main focus areas: Economic Opportunities and Strong Families, reflecting the foundation's strategic priorities to build on stability and help break cycles of poverty and trauma. Under the Economic Opportunities focus, Jackson supports non-profits that provide access to finance, employment, and education. This includes initiatives related to Career Pathways and Job Skills, Financial Education and Coaching, and Homeownership and Wealth Building. The expected outcome is to change individual trajectories by providing the tools and resources necessary for financial independence and stability. While specific measurable results are not explicitly stated, the focus on tangible areas like job skills and homeownership implies a theory of change where targeted interventions lead to improved economic well-being. The Strong Families focus is dedicated to supporting non-profits that help families overcome generational poverty and trauma by addressing their most critical needs. This encompasses programs providing Emergency Shelter, Access to Food, Intervention and care after crisis, Resilient Parenting and accessible Childcare, and Youth Mentoring. The goal is to provide stability and support, leading to a break in cycles of poverty and trauma. The foundation's theory of change here is that by providing foundational support and care, families can achieve greater resilience and well-being. Jackson awards funding to local nonprofits in specific geographic areas, including Lansing, MI, Nashville, TN, and Chicago, IL, through a competitive grant process. The eligibility criteria emphasize support for 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations, with specific restrictions against funding individuals, private foundations, certain health and disease-specific organizations, religious organizations (unless broadly accessible and free from religious orientation), and schools or school-affiliated sports teams/clubs. This highlights Jackson's commitment to partnering with established non-profits that align with their community-focused mission and strategic priorities.

The Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Grant Program, managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Resources Division (FRD), assists rural fire departments in acquiring firefighting equipment. The program requires a 50/50 matching grant and is available to fire departments serving communities with populations of 10,000 or less. Eligible projects include personal protection gear for wildland fires, Class A foam generating equipment, dry hydrants, communications equipment, and breathing apparatus. Applications are reviewed and prioritized by the FRD, with awards capped at $4,999 per project. Projects involving multiple departments are considered on a case-by-case basis. Applications must be submitted by June 28, 2024, with awards announced around December 15, 2024. Projects must be completed by August 1, 2025.

The City of Flint has launched a new Youth Climate Action Fund, a microgrant program designed to empower youth-led climate initiatives. This program aims to support projects that advance critical community goals related to climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and community engagement. The fund's mission aligns with the broader objective of fostering a more sustainable and resilient Flint by investing in its younger generation as agents of change. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are youth aged 15-24 residing in Flint, who will collaborate with local groups, organizations, nonprofits, and schools to implement their projects. The impact goals are far-reaching, intending to cultivate youth leadership, increase community participation in climate action, and produce tangible environmental improvements within the city. This approach recognizes that youth are not only vulnerable to climate change impacts but also possess unique perspectives and innovative solutions. The fund prioritizes a diverse range of youth-led projects, including awareness, education, research, and development initiatives such as climate education programs, hackathons, surveys, and public art campaigns. It also supports youth-driven climate mitigation and adaptation projects like community gardening, tree planting, reforestation, urban farming, recycling, waste reduction, and disaster preparedness programs. Additionally, the fund encourages co-governed youth climate action plans, fostering partnerships between city leaders and youth groups to inform climate-related policy and the formation of youth climate ambassadors or advisory boards. Expected outcomes include a more informed and engaged youth population, a reduction in environmental waste and an increase in green spaces, improved community resilience to climate-related challenges, and the development of new climate-related policies influenced by youth perspectives. Measurable results will likely involve the number of youth engaged, the types and scale of projects implemented, the amount of waste diverted, the number of trees planted, and the development of new community programs or policies. The City of Flint's strategic priority through this fund is to build a foundation for long-term climate action by investing directly in its youth, thereby creating a sustainable future rooted in community-led solutions and a strong theory of change that empowers the next generation to tackle pressing environmental issues.

Arts Midwest is offering Cultural Sustainability: Equity-Based Operating Grants of up to $67,000 to small arts and culture organizations rooted in communities of color, providing general operating support for those with annual expenses up to $500,000 in selected states.

This grant, under the authority of Public Act 53 of 2022, is part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, designated to enhance public outdoor recreation facilities through the development, renovation, or redevelopment of local parks and trails. The funding aims to modernize these facilities and promote public recreation, equity, tourism, and economic recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible subrecipients must maintain an active SAM registration and use the funds in accordance with the established terms, including meeting deadlines for expense obligations and expenditures by specific dates in 2024 and 2026 respectively.

HCCF Launches Emergency Grant Round to Support Community Organizations In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Huron County Community Foundation (HCCF), in partnership with the Greater Huron County United Way, is providing emergency assistance funding to local organizations that are going above and beyond their typical operations to assist the community during this time. These grants can be used for operations costs, which is typically not a qualified grant per HCCF policies. We know that many food pantries/food banks are feeding more people, food delivery services have been enacted to feed school children who are at home, and numerous other groups have stepped up to fill gaps and support our citizens. Our goal is to “help the helpers”. The funding for these grants is made possible by a generous contribution from Meijer to the United Way and the Health and Medical endowment funds at HCCF.

This program provides financial assistance to eligible intercity bus operators to enhance security measures and protect against terrorism, focusing on critical transportation infrastructure and public safety.

This program provides funding to local governments in Michigan to create and improve affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families through rehabilitation and reconstruction projects.

This funding is exclusively available to Amtrak to enhance security measures for intercity passenger rail systems, protecting them from potential terrorist threats.