Michigan Science and Technology Grants

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that create hands-on STEAM workshops for underserved youth, enhancing technical skills and career exploration opportunities within the Best Buy Teen Tech Centers network.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in West Michigan focused on enhancing education, environmental sustainability, arts and culture, and community health for historically under-resourced populations.

This funding opportunity supports doctoral-level researchers in Michigan who are conducting health-related studies to address critical gaps, improve health outcomes, and analyze healthcare costs.

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 for interdisciplinary research teams from Michigan's leading universities to develop innovative solutions for water-related challenges impacting human health, economic opportunity, and environmental resilience in the state and Upper Midwest.

This program provides up to $10,000 in funding for Michigan physicians to conduct innovative research addressing urgent health issues, health inequities, and improving healthcare access and quality.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions focused on improving oral health and dental education for underserved communities.

This grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations, educational institutions, governmental entities, and religious organizations for community-focused initiatives in Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw, and Ontonagon Counties, Michigan.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Great Lakes states and tribes for collaborative projects aimed at preventing and managing aquatic invasive species across state and tribal boundaries.

The Gratiot County Community Foundation in Michigan is accepting grant applications for projects that improve the quality of life in Gratiot County, focusing on areas such as community development, arts and culture, education, and health, with preference given to innovative, sustainable projects with wide-reaching benefits and strong local support.

Amway offers grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Kent County, Michigan, focusing on health, wellness, and empowerment programs, particularly those that increase access to healthy foods, support mental wellbeing, provide life skills education, and promote youth leadership, primarily serving children, families, and traditionally underserved populations.

This funding opportunity is designed for partners affiliated with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU to conduct research that supports the restoration and management of coastal ecosystems in the Great Lakes Basin, focusing on issues like invasive species and nutrient dynamics.

The Manistee County Community Foundation is seeking applications for projects that enhance the quality of life for residents of Manistee County. This grant program is aligned with the Foundation's mission to invest in projects that create a lasting impact on the community. The program aims to address root causes of issues, attract additional funding and resources, demonstrate collaboration, and target underserved community members. The target beneficiaries include all residents of Manistee County, with a particular focus on underserved individuals. The program also prioritizes projects that are accessible to participants regardless of their identity, physical, social, financial, or other circumstances, and those that incorporate diverse perspectives, especially from those who stand to benefit directly. The Foundation's priorities and focus areas encompass a broad range of community needs, including youth and education, arts and culture, the environment, health and human services, recreation, and community development. While not all elements are expected in every application, the Foundation generally seeks projects that demonstrate sustainability and coordination of efforts. Expected outcomes include projects being completed within one year of the grant award. Measurable results are implied through the focus on making a lasting impact on the community. The Foundation's strategic priorities are centered on fostering community well-being through targeted investments, and its theory of change appears to be that by funding projects addressing root causes and promoting collaboration, they can create sustainable positive change within Manistee County.

This grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations in the Homer area for innovative projects that enhance education, recreation, environmental initiatives, and cultural development.

This program provides up to $25,000 in reimbursement funding to support new or expanding businesses in Cadillac's designated districts, aimed at stimulating growth and revitalizing commercial spaces.

The O’Connor Fund for Historic Preservation, established in 2000 by Pam and Terry O’Connor, is administered by the City of Kalamazoo to support historic preservation activities within the city. Its core mission aligns with the Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission (KHPC)'s goals, aiming to safeguard and enhance Kalamazoo's historical resources. The fund provides grants between $2,000 and $10,000 to eligible projects that contribute to the preservation of buildings, areas, and other resources more than 50 years old. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are 501(c)(3) or other non-profit organizations, public agencies, and governmental units operating within the city of Kalamazoo that own historic properties. The impact goals are centered on fostering a vibrant historical landscape, ensuring the longevity of significant structures, and promoting an understanding of the city's heritage. The fund seeks to prevent dilapidation, encourage respectful rehabilitation, and support comprehensive planning efforts that contribute to the overall historic preservation strategy of Kalamazoo. The fund prioritizes projects that fall into two main categories: Rehabilitation Projects and Preservation Planning Projects. Rehabilitation projects focus on the physical restoration and repair of exterior components of historic resources, including roofs, chimneys, walls, windows, doors, fire escapes, elevators, and foundations. Preservation Planning Projects encompass a broader range of activities such as Economic Feasibility Studies, Historic Building Condition Reports, architectural rehabilitation plans, historic district study reports, under-represented communities surveys, and designation nominations. All projects must be carried out or supervised by qualified professionals. Expected outcomes include the successful preservation and rehabilitation of historic structures, the creation of robust preservation plans, and increased community engagement with Kalamazoo’s historical assets. Measurable results could include the number of historic properties successfully rehabilitated, the completion of planning documents that inform future preservation efforts, and the designation of new historic sites or districts. The fund's strategic priorities are deeply integrated with the KHPC Annual Work Plan, goals and plans of Imagine Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County Housing Plan, and the Michigan Statewide Historic Preservation Plan, signifying a comprehensive approach to historic preservation as a component of broader community development and cultural enrichment.

The City of South Bend Department of Public Works is currently accepting applications for its 2024 Lamppost Lighting Program. This initiative is designed to assist homeowners within South Bend's city limits by providing lighting enhancements for their neighborhoods through a cost-share program. The program directly aligns with the city's mission to improve public infrastructure and enhance community safety and quality of life for its residents. By offering solar-powered lampposts for residential front yards, the program aims to address practical needs while promoting sustainable solutions. The primary beneficiaries of this program are homeowners residing within the City of South Bend. The program specifically targets two areas selected based on income levels, the number of vacant lots, and the existing need for improved lighting. Homeowners in these target areas receive a reduced cost share of $50, compared to $250 for those outside these areas, demonstrating a focus on supporting communities with greater need. The overarching impact goal is to enhance neighborhood safety, visibility, and overall aesthetics by increasing accessible lighting. The program's priorities and focuses include ease of installation, accessibility, and community empowerment. It offers easy self-install, solar-powered lampposts, placing responsibility for pickup, installation, and maintenance on the homeowner, fostering a sense of ownership. While the City's Division of Engineering will inspect installations, the emphasis is on enabling residents to directly contribute to their neighborhood improvements. A limit of one lamppost per household ensures equitable distribution among participating residents. Expected outcomes and measurable results include a greater number of illuminated residential front yards, particularly in historically underserved or underlit areas. Success can be measured by the number of lampposts installed, the geographic spread of the installations, and anecdotal evidence or surveys from residents regarding perceived improvements in safety and neighborhood appearance. The cost-share model is a strategic priority, allowing for broader participation while distributing costs, and fostering a collaborative approach between the city and its residents for community betterment.

The Michigan Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate in the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) offers the Environmental Justice (EJ) Impact Grant program. This program is designed to reduce environmental health burdens and impacts within Michigan’s Environmental Justice communities. The core mission of this grant aligns with the broader goal of promoting environmental equity and public health, particularly in areas disproportionately affected by environmental issues. The primary target beneficiaries of this program are residents within Michigan’s Environmental Justice communities. The overarching impact goal is to positively affect these residents by funding place-based and equity-focused projects. This direct focus on communities facing environmental injustice ensures that the grant addresses critical needs where they are most prevalent, aiming for tangible improvements in their living environments and health outcomes. The program prioritizes several key areas for funding. These include community improvement projects aimed at enhancing public health, initiating or expanding monitoring of background pollution levels in air, water, or soil (with air monitoring equipment classified as air quality sensors and not for regulatory use), new or improved equipment or management techniques to improve indoor air quality in schools, and the remediation/redevelopment of contaminated or blighted sites. These priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to environmental justice, addressing both pollution and its direct impacts on community well-being. Expected outcomes include measurable improvements in public health through community projects, enhanced understanding of pollution levels via monitoring, better indoor air quality in schools, and the revitalization of environmentally degraded areas. The program has a total of $20,000,000 available, with a maximum of $500,000 per applicant. This substantial funding allows for significant, impactful projects. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Tribes, community-based non-profit organizations (including grassroots and frontline organizations), schools, institutions of higher education, and local governments, reflecting a strategic approach to engage diverse stakeholders in achieving environmental justice.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is offering the 2024 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) to advance pollinator conservation. The core mission of this fund is to protect, conserve, and increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators. This aligns with NFWF’s broader Monarch Butterfly Business Plan, indicating a strategic, long-term commitment to these species. The fund aims to support both technical assistance for private working lands and direct habitat improvement projects. The target beneficiaries of this grant program include monarch butterflies and other at-risk native insect pollinator species, such as the rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, Karner blue butterfly, Dakota skipper, Poweshiek skipperling, and Mitchell’s satyr. The program also indirectly benefits private landowners, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, especially those in Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories, by providing resources and incentives for conservation practices on their lands. The overall impact goal is to significantly enhance the quality, quantity, and connectivity of pollinator habitat across eligible states. The Pollinator Fund has two main categories of focus. The first is Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands, which prioritizes increasing voluntary engagement of private landowners in conservation practices through staff resources and targeted outreach for Farm Bill programs like CSP and EQIP. The second category, Habitat Improvement, focuses on on-the-ground restoration and enhancement of pollinator habitat, emphasizing regionally appropriate milkweed and diverse native nectar plants, as well as increasing the supply of native seeds and seedlings. These priorities align with NFWF's strategic goal of fostering sustainable ecosystems through direct habitat restoration and incentivizing private land stewardship. Expected outcomes and measurable results are central to this program. All proposals must demonstrate how they will directly and measurably contribute to the Pollinator Fund's goals, specifically by providing the number of acres restored or enhanced. A minimum of 100 acres in California or 500 acres in all other eligible states must be restored or enhanced. Historically, successful projects have averaged 2,120 acres, indicating a substantial scale for expected impact. The program's theory of change posits that by providing financial assistance and technical support, and by focusing on key geographical areas and species, NFWF can effectively reverse declines in monarch and other native pollinator populations, thereby contributing to broader ecosystem health and biodiversity. The total funding of up to $5.1 million in 2024, contributed by a diverse group of partners, underscores the collaborative and impactful nature of this strategic initiative.

This funding opportunity is designed for organizations affiliated with the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU to collaborate on research that addresses fisheries challenges in the Great Lakes, particularly focusing on habitat mapping and fish stock sustainability.