Michigan Science and Technology Grants

Greater Toledo Community Foundation and The Blade, in partnership with The Center for Nonprofit Resources, announce the 2024 Northwest Ohio Nonprofit Excellence Awards. Donor Name: Greater Toledo Community Foundation State: Michigan, Ohio County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Awards and Prizes Deadline: 05/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Winners receive a one-of-a-kind glass award, a $7,500 unrestricted grant from Greater Toledo Community Foundation and a $1,000 unrestricted grant from The Andersons, plus a half-page ad in The Blade. The Blade and Greater Toledo Community Foundation, in partnership with The Center for Nonprofit Resources, are pleased to present the 14th annual Northwest Ohio Nonprofit Excellence Awards. The Awards are designed to honor and recognize outstanding nonprofit organizations and their achievements in the community. Awards will be given to three nonprofit organizations, one in each of the following categories: Excellence in Collaborative Programming Excellence in Strategic Action Excellence in Organizational Operations. Award Criteria  Excellence in Collaborative Programming This award showcases a joint initiative that leverages the skills and resources of multiple nonprofit partners to deliver excellent service to residents of northwest Ohio or southeast Michigan. Creative partnerships lead to greater impact in the community by reaching underserved audiences and avoiding duplication of service. Applications that clearly address the following will receive priority consideration: Description – Provide a description of the specific project for which the application is being made. Include details about how the project represents a creative solution to a community challenge. Collaboration – Fully describe all partners contributing to project success including, but not limited to, nonprofit organizations, businesses, governmental agencies or funders. Results – Provide a description of how the project is evaluated and what measurable, positive results have ensued. Excellence in Strategic Action This award highlights organizations that have strategically expanded programming or pivoted to a new service delivery model to better meet a community need. Priority consideration will be given to projects that utilized data and metrics to identify a gap in service, aligned with community-wide planning efforts to ensure activities did not duplicate existing services and successfully implemented and sustained the expansion. It is anticipated that projects will still be active and have completed the strategic action within the past five years, but the committee will consider older initiatives as well.  Applications that address the following will receive priority consideration: Description – Describe how the opportunity for expansion or a new approach to service delivery was identified.  Detail the planning and implementation process. Clearly identify the need that was addressed through the strategic action including, but not limited to, reaching participants in an underserved geography, reaching a specific demographic or pursuing a policy change, etc. Note how the action has been sustained. Results – Describe how success is measured.  Include any metrics that illustrate impact. Excellence in Organizational Operations This award recognizes organizations for overall excellence. The strongest applications will demonstrate active involvement by staff, board members, volunteers and constituents in advancing the mission of the organization. Eligible applicants must have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for at least five years and have a local governance and management structure in place. Applications that cite examples of best practices within the following areas will receive priority consideration: Governance – Provide examples that demonstrate organizational excellence in board management and engagement. Financial Management & Fundraising – Provide examples that show the organization’s financial management is strong, transparent and accountable.  Describe the organization’s development strategies including adherence to best practices and donor-centered approaches. Evaluation/Community Impact – Cite examples of how outcome data is used to achieve the organization’s mission and how this impacts the community. Awards Eligibility and Criteria In each category, applicant organizations should meet the following general eligibility criteria: Applicant must be a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code and based in northwest Ohio or southeast Michigan. Organizations may apply for, and are eligible to win in, more than one award category, but must submit a separate application for each category and must address the criteria specific to each award. Once an organization has received an award, that organization will become ineligible for that same award for the following three years. All organizations are required to submit due diligence documentation with their online application to Greater Toledo Community Foundation. Documentation includes: A copy of the organizational budget for the current fiscal year; A copy of the audited financial statements for the most recent year available – if unavailable, the unaudited income and expense statement and balance sheet must be provided; A list of board members with affiliations; and A copy of the applicant’s tax exemption letter from the Internal Revenue Service. The submission must include: A high quality electronic version of the organization’s logo, and Three original electronic high resolution photos (300 DPI or higher) that depict the organization’s mission and services. These items will be used as part of the award ceremony for organizations selected as finalists. Winners will not be announced in advance of the ceremony. As part of the review process, any applicant may be requested to submit additional supplemental information. For more information, visit Greater Toledo Community Foundation.

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 to reduce environmental health burdens and impacts in Michigan’s Environmental Justice communities. Donor Name: Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) State: Michigan County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The goal of the program is to positively impact residents in Environmental Justice communities by funding place-based and equity-focused projects. Eligible Activity Categories Community improvement projects designed to improve public health. Initiating or expanding monitoring of background pollution levels in air, water, or soil. (Air monitoring equipment funded through this grant will be classified as air quality sensors and will not be used for regulatory purposes.) New or improved equipment or management techniques designed to improve the indoor air quality in schools. Remediation/redevelopment of contaminated or blighted sites. Funding Information $20,000,000 total funds available. $500,000 maximum per applicant. Eligibility Criteria Federally recognized Tribes Community-based non-profit organizations (including grassroots and frontline organizations) Schools Institutions of higher education Local governments For more information, visit EGLE.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is seeking proposals for the 2024 Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund to advance pollinator conservation. Donor Name: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The goal of the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund (Pollinator Fund) is to protect, conserve, and increase habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators.  The most competitive projects will demonstrate clear benefits to both monarch butterfly and additional at-risk native insect pollinator species (i.e., federally listed, candidate, or proposed native insect pollinator species). Special consideration will be given to projects benefiting rusty patched bumble bee, Franklin’s bumble bee, Karner blue butterfly, Dakota skipper, Poweshiek skipperling, and Mitchell’s satyr. Categories Grants will be awarded in two categories:  Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands Funding in this category will support implementation of technical assistance to increase the number of private landowners voluntarily engaged in monarch butterfly and pollinator conservation practices on private working lands. Up to $2 million is expected to be available for grants ranging from $150,000 to $500,000. Funding will be awarded for projects up to three years in length following finalization of the grant agreement. This category aims to support conservation planning and practice design with private landowners to advance voluntary conservation efforts on working lands that align with NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife frameworks or initiatives, and especially increase Working Lands for Wildlife participation among farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in the Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories. The 2024 Pollinator Fund RFP will support projects that: Direct staff resources to help agricultural producers design and implement conservation practices. Increase Farm Bill program participation and conservation practice implementation among agricultural producers, especially farmers and ranchers in the Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories. Funding in this category will support the following two strategies: Hiring additional staff or contractors, based on demonstrated need, including staff to assist private landowners and NRCS with developing pollinator habitat management plans and implementation of new and existing NRCS financial assistance contracts. Targeting outreach to landowners and other partners to prioritize, plan, and deliver financial assistance available through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and other Farm Bill programs to improve pollinator habitat and support at-risk pollinator species. Habitat Improvement Funding in this category will support on-the-ground work to increase the quality, quantity, and connectivity of habitat for the monarch butterfly and other native insect pollinators. Up to $3.1 million is expected to be available for grants ranging from $200,000 to $300,000. Funding will be awarded for projects up to two years in length following finalization of the grant agreement. Applicants in this category should define a step-by-step restoration plan including site preparation, equipment used, planting techniques, size of the project area, description of target native plant community, and maintenance plan (e.g., prescribed burning, mowing, grazing schedules). Projects proposed to benefit other at-risk native insect pollinators should specify habitat needs for those species and how the proposed work will support their breeding, nectaring, nesting, or other habitat needs. Funding in this category will support the following two strategies: Restore and enhance pollinator habitat, with an emphasis on regionally appropriate milkweed and a diversity of native nectar plants. Increase native seed and seedling supply, with an emphasis on improving the sustainability and affordability of regionally appropriate, local ecotypes. Program Priorities  All proposals must specifically address how the proposed project will directly and measurably contribute to the accomplishment of the Pollinator Fund’s goals as outlined in NFWF’s Monarch Butterfly Business Plan. As such, all proposals must provide the number of acres restored or enhanced as a result of the project. Proposals must include plans to restore or enhance a minimum of 100 acres in California or 500 acres in all other eligible states. Acres may be counted from multiple sites; the sites do not need to be contiguous. Since 2015, successful proposals have included a median of 960 acres and an average of 2,120 acres restored or enhanced.  Funding Information The Pollinator Fund will award up to $5.1 million in grants in 2024: up to $2 million for Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands and up to $3.1 million for Habitat Improvement. Funding is provided by Bayer Crop Science, Danone North America, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS).  Geographical Areas  Technical Assistance for Private Working Lands  Grant funding will be awarded in the following eligible states: Arkansas, Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. Within eligible states, priority will be given to projects located in the North Core, South Core, West Core, and Overwintering Monarch Conservation Units. Projects are restricted to private working lands. Habitat Improvement Grant funding will be awarded in the following eligible states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Within eligible states, priority will be given to projects located in the North Core, South Core, West Core, and Overwintering Monarch Conservation Units. West of the Rocky Mountains, priority will be given to projects on or adjacent to the following: monarch butterfly overwintering sites, BLM lands, and USFS lands. Eligibility Criteria  Eligible and Ineligible Entities: Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c) organizations, U.S. federal government agencies, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, tribal governments and organizations, and educational institutions. Ineligible applicants include businesses, unincorporated individuals, and international organizations. For more information, visit NFWF.

This funding opportunity is designed for research partners in the Great Lakes-Northern Forest region to study and develop strategies for controlling the invasive Grass Carp population in Lake Erie and its tributaries.

This grant provides financial assistance for transportation to local baseball and hockey games for accredited schools and nonprofit organizations in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan that demonstrate a need.

This funding initiative provides financial support to Michigan-based nonprofits and higher education institutions that assist startups, aiming to boost innovation and economic development in the state.

The Sisters of St. Francis (Sylvania) Foundation Grant Program, in partnership with the Greater Toledo Community Foundation, is offering grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to 501(c)(3) organizations in selected counties of Ohio and Michigan, to support programs that combat human trafficking, assist immigrants and refugees, advance social justice and equal opportunity, and promote environmental preservation and sustainability.

The City of Flint has received a $50,000 grant to empower youth-led climate initiatives through microgrants. Donor Name: City of Flint State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: This new Youth Climate Action Fund is designed to support a wide range of projects, from tree-planting and public education campaigns to recycling and waste reduction initiatives. Flint youth ages 15-24 are invited to apply for funding for projects that will advance critical community goals such as climate resilient infrastructure planning, flood mitigation and prevention, increasing participation in recycling, and access to sustainable modes of transportation. Whether you’re interested in launching a new project or enhancing an existing effort, this fund offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact on the environment and community. Eligible Projects  Eligible projects and efforts could include, but are not limited to: Youth-led awareness, education, research, and development initiatives, including: youth-led climate education programs; youth climate hackathons; youth-developed climate surveys and research; youth-informed clubs or curriculum; and youth-designed public art and awareness campaigns. Youth-driven climate mitigation and adaptation projects, including: youth-led community gardening, tree planting, reforestation, and urban farming campaigns; youth-managed recycling and waste reduction programs; and youth-produced climate resilience workshops and disaster preparedness programs. Co-governed youth climate action plans, including: partnerships between city leaders and youth groups to inform climate-related policy ideas, decisions, or actions or the formation of youth climate ambassadors or advisory boards. Who Can Apply? Youth ages 15-24 in collaboration with local groups, organizations, nonprofits, and schools are encouraged to apply. Please note this is a grant with expenditure responsibilities for compliance. The receiving entity for the project or initiative must be able to provide evidence of legal status (for-profit, nonprofits, private foundations, new organizations with pending public charity status); current financial statements, annual report or organizational summary, list of leadership, evidence of receiving grants in the past. Ineligibility  Grant funds cannot be used for: Services covered by existing city initiatives  Rent or Utilities Nonprofit/NGO incorporation fees Speaker honorariums Improvement projects that primarily serve churches and/or other religious organizations Scholarships or other direct support to individuals or families Partisan political organizations, political candidates, fundraisers, or projects Capital campaigns, endowments, or endowed chairs Events or fundraisers not related to youth climate action. For more information, visit City of Flint.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to dairy farms and processing facilities in select Midwestern states to promote product development, diversification, and value-added dairy innovations.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to museums and nonprofit organizations in Michigan to help stabilize their operations, expand their capacity, and implement strategic initiatives over the next five years.

The Huron County Community Foundation is seeking applications for its fall grant cycle. Donor Name: Huron County Community Foundation State: Michigan County: Huron County (MI) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/23/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Huron County Community Foundation is a nonprofit, community corporation created by and for the people of Huron County to make a positive impact on the community. Huron County Community Foundation will focus on Prosperity by supporting Community & Economic Growth with a focus in the following Strategic Priority areas: Retaining and attracting a talented, trained workforce Creating vibrant and dynamic communities Cultivating an environment for business development. Focus Areas  Projects addressing one or more of the Strategic Priority areas will be given preference for unrestricted grantmaking dollars, however, HCCF also holds funds to benefit numerous interest areas. Projects addressing these areas are encouraged to apply:  Arts and Culture Education Health & Medicine Basic Needs Services Beautification of Huron County Natural Areas Preservation Disadvantaged Youth Recreation Women in STEM  Application Guidelines  To apply for a grant, please complete and return the attached application form along with a less than two page project narrative outlining the following topic areas as they relate to the project: Project Description  A description and purpose of the project, including location How many people will be served? What is the project’s long-term impact? Are there measurable results? How would a grant from HCCF be recognized before/during/after the project? Applicant Organization  A brief description of the history of the applicant organization, including when it was founded and who it serves. Only one application per application organization will be considered per grant cycle Project Team  List the names and responsibilities of persons and organizations involved Evaluation Describe how you will determine if you accomplished your purpose. Budget  Provide estimated project income and expenses, include other income sources and their approval status, as well as any fundraising. If partial funding from HCCF was awarded, would the project continue as presented? For more information, visit HCCF.

This funding opportunity supports artists and arts organizations in Akron, Detroit, and Miami-Dade County to enhance their digital practices and community engagement through technology.

The Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Economic Development is now accepting applications for the FY 2025 Community Service Infrastructure Fund, commonly referred to as TEDF Category B. Donor Name: Michigan Department of Transportation State: Michigan County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/12/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Community Service Infrastructure Fund (CSIF), also known as the TEDF Category B program, was designed as a stop gap measure to provide additional road funding to Michigan’s smallest communities, particularly those with limited ability to fund road improvement projects. Program Priorities Each application is reviewed and independently scored based upon a consistent set of criteria: The extent to which an agency has the ability to fund road projects, based on 2023 real/personal property value proportional to population. Projects on local roads, as they have fewer eligible funding sources. Projects paired with other infrastructure projects, as to encourage efficiency and coordination. Projects done together with another agency’s project, as to encourage lower pricing and general efficiency. Preventative maintenance projects, as to encourage beter asset management practices. NOTE: Points are reduced for agencies that received a grant from the program in the past. Funding Information The maximum grant amount is the lesser of 50% of the eligible and participating costs, up to $250,000. The remainder of the project costs will be provided by the local agency. To receive the entire $250,000, the eligible and participating work would have to equal or exceed $500,000. Eligible Projects Eligible projects include reconstruction, replacement, rehabilitation, or capital preventative maintenance of city or village streets and stormwater improvements needed for the road project. New construction or routine maintenance such as filling potholes, mowing, plowing, etc. are not permited with Category B funding. Eligibility Criteria Eligible applicants include villages and small cities with a population of 10,000 or less, per the 2020 census. For more information, visit MDOT.

This grant provides funding for youth programs focused on health, education, and life experiences in Lake, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties in West Michigan.

This funding program provides financial support to community-based organizations that empower youth aged 12 to 20 through established, youth-led urban greening initiatives focused on social and environmental justice in select states.

This grant provides funding for research and training projects that help protect Michigan's horticulture industry from pests and safeguard plant products.

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is pleased to announce the availability of $57 million in grant funds to provide inperson before-school, after-school, before-and-after-school, and/or summer programming to children in any of grades K to 12. Donor Name: Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential State: Michigan County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/25/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: MiLEAP prioritizes education from preschool through postsecondary with a focus on preparing children for kindergarten and helping more people earn a skill certificate or degree to help them get a good-paying job.  Out-of-School Time (OST) Programs must provide educational programming in core subject areas, including, but not limited to, mathematics, reading, and science. Allowable Activities Allowable activities may include:  Expansion of existing program: number of weeks and hours, number of children served, summer programming, new site(s). Establishment of a new program  Hands-on academic enrichment in core subject areas  Field trips related to the academic and enrichment activities.  Professional learning and training related to the improvement of the program(s)  Development of school-community partnerships  Support expanded learning opportunities such as:  mentoring  leadership  community engagement  agriculture  visual and performing arts  financial literacy  science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM)  health and wellness  recreation  career and college exploration  youth voice  21st century skills  Social-emotional learning Cultural engagement programming  other innovative programming Eligibility Criteria To be eligible for a grant under this legislation, the applicant must meet, at a minimum, all of the following criteria: Be a community-based organization that is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 USC 501, including but not limited to, faith-based organizations and indigenous/tribal organizations, an institution of higher education, a public library, a local government, or an intermediate district. Must be a licensed child care organization (for before/after school, school-age program, or camp license), an entity that has an active application in process to be a licensed child care organization, or an exempt entity from child care licensing by the State of Michigan Licensing Bureau 1973 PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128. Upon award, programs with an active child care or camp licensing application must complete the process before the entity starts service and funds will be released. Upon completion, the entity must submit a copy of the approved license to the MiLEAP-OST Team. At least 80 days of program services during the school year for at least 15 students 1 hour before school, or 2 hours after-school, or 3.5 hours for both (before-and after-school), and/or at least 4 hours per day for a minimum of 24 days during the summer for at least 15 students.  Must be used to support expanded learning opportunities, including, but not limited to, mentoring, leadership, community engagement, agriculture, visual and performing arts, literacy, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, financial literacy, health and wellness, physical fitness, recreation, career and college exploration, youth voice, 21st-century skills, conflict resolution, and social engagement programming. Provide educational programming in core subject areas, including, but not limited to, mathematics, reading, and science. Must address measurable goals, including, but not limited to, improved school attendance, academic outcomes, improved attitudes toward the school, improved positive behaviors, skill development and retention, higher education aspirations, improved family engagement, and include activities linked to research or quality practices. For more information, visit MiLEAP.

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 provides funding to eligible organizations focused on improving environmental health and justice in the Great Lakes region, particularly addressing water quality, lead hazards, and air quality in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties in Michigan.

Michigan Economic Development Corporation Industry 4.0 Grant Program offers a 50% reimbursement for qualifying Industry 4.0 technology costs up to $25,000 for projects taking place at Michigan manufacturing facilities. Recipient companies must provide a current certificate of good standing from the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and complete an I4.0 Technology Assessment by the MMTC or provide documentation of an executed strategy for determining which technology to implement.