Grant FAQs

We support a wide variety of organizations, programs and projects throughout Emmet County. We rely on our nonprofit partners to advise us of the needs in their fields through their grant requests so that the Community Foundation may meet those needs. Areas of interest are highlighted below, but we recognize that important or emerging needs require responsiveness and flexibility.

The Board of Directors generally does not consider requests in excess of $15,000, annual fund-raising drives, services which are commonly recognized as government or school obligations, debt reduction, endowments, religious programs that advocate specific religious doctrines or do not serve the broader community, or grants to individuals (other than scholarships).

Our committees make decisions based on our efforts to:

• Invest Wisely: Consider the strength of the organization and the potential benefits to Emmet County residents; the Community Foundation may fully fund, partially fund or decline to fund a request
• Prioritize: Determine which programs meet real needs in the community and how Community Foundation funding can be most valuable
• Be Diligent: Require clear plans for implementation and evaluation of the program or project
• Think Long-Term: Consider the sustainability of the project
• Consider Other Funding: Encourage diverse funding, including the organization’s own
• Use Our Broad Representation: Include diverse opinions on committees for balanced decisions
• Learn from Our Past Grants: Utilize lessons learned by past grantees in their efforts to impact our community
• Think Bigger: When possible, we hope grants can have a more transformational impact on your organization or the community.

• The narrative is written clearly and succinctly.
• The application explains what the program or project hopes to accomplish, why it is important, and how that outcome will benefit community members.
• Reviewers will understand how you will achieve the results you propose in the application.
• The plan for evaluation is explicitly addressed.
• Based on the explanation of the budget and other funding, grant reviewers will know your priorities and how the project will change depending on changes in funding.

• Grant Application, including the Budget Form and all required signatures
• Organization’s operating budget for its current fiscal year, with actuals to-date (not required for schools or municipalities). 
• Organization’s operating budget for its prior fiscal year, with year-end actuals (not required for schools or municipalities).
• Organization’s Statement of Financial Position, if readily available. This statement is also known as a ‘balance sheet’ of assets and liabilities (not required for schools or municipalities).
• List of your organization’s board of directors

• Please call us when you are ready to receive the funds. The funds are available when you receive your grant award notification. We cut checks mid-month and at the end of the month.
• Use the grant exclusively for the purpose(s) stated in your grant application. If there are major changes, please call the Community Foundation.
• Maintain your status as a tax-exempt, charitable organization.
• Credit the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation and any contributing funds in news media, printed materials, website, and social media as a supporter of your work. Log in to the grant portal for a list of contributing funds. 
• If appropriate, share opportunities for the Community Foundation to attend, participate, or visit to learn more about your program, project, or organization.
• Log in to our grants portal to submit a final report on or before the deadline listed, generally nine months after the grant award. The final report should detail how grant dollars were spent and include any publicity mentioning the Community Foundation.

• Tax-exempt, charitable organizations according to the IRS code, educational institutions, state agencies, or municipalities. Applicants must be current with their tax status and, if applicable, their registration to solicit charitable donations in Michigan;
• Organizations that serve Emmet County or a significant number of Emmet County residents; and
• Organizations that do not discriminate in hiring of staff or the provision of services.

Our grant application process starts with an email to our grant team at [email protected]. We will talk with you to learn more about your proposed project, your organization, and answer any questions about our grantmaking process.

Our Spring 2024 Community and Youth Grants cycle is now open. Other grant deadlines are listed below.

Deadline: February 1
Grant: Little Traverse Bay Protection and Restoration Fund Grants
Notification: March

Deadline: March 1
Grants: Community and Youth Grants
Notification: April

Deadline: October 1
Grants: Community and Youth Grants
Notification: November

Deadline: Rolling Deadlines
Grants: Emmet Housing Solutions Fund Grants, Environmental Education Grants, Impact Investing Fund Grants, Strategic Initiative Fund Grants

Step 1: Check out our eligibility requirements and areas of interest. Determine if your organization is eligible to apply for funding from the Community Foundation. 

Step 2: Please email [email protected] to start the process. We will contact prospective applicants to learn more about your proposed projects and answer questions about our grantmaking process.

Step 3: You complete your grant application online; include your organization’s current operating budget and last year’s final budget; and a list of your organization’s board of directors. Applications must be submitted through the online grant portal by 11:59 PM on the day of the deadline. 

Step 4: We review your grant application. We will send you acknowledgment within a week of the deadline. If the request will be reviewed by the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), we’ll ask you to choose a time to present on Grant Interview Day. For applications serving the broader community, staff may follow up to learn more about your project.

Step 5: We make grant decisions. The YAC and the Grant Distribution Committee will make their recommendations to the Board of Directors at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. This process takes approximately two months. You will be notified by Community Foundation staff as soon as possible following the Board’s decision.

Step 6: You receive the funds and do the work. If you are awarded a grant, you will receive a letter that states the conditions of the grant. 

Step 7: You report on your work. The term of a grant award is nine months. If grant funds are not used within the grant period, the grant is considered cancelled and no longer available to the recipient. At the end of the grant period, or the completion of the project, we ask that you submit a Final Report responding to the goals and activities articulated in the application. The Final Report Form is available by logging into our online grant portal. Extensions may be permitted on a case-by-case basis.

Questions? Please contact [email protected] or call 231-348-5820.

We support a wide variety of organizations, programs and projects that serve the people of Emmet County. Areas of interest are highlighted below, but we recognize that important or emerging community needs require responsiveness and flexibility.

• Arts and Culture
  • Promote financial stability and organizational development for arts organizations
  • Keep arts, cultural, and historical programs accessible, available and affordable
• Education
  • Support for opportunities beyond provisions of state-mandated curriculum (examples include, but are not limited to: student clubs, athletics, performing arts, after-school and summer programs organized and supervised by school personnel)
  • Support for career and technical education programs
  • Support for minor capital improvements which enhance student experience
  • Support for special initiatives that minimize education costs for low-income students
• Environment
  • Support for projects to protect and restore green spaces, shorelines, dune areas, water quality and air quality
  • Environmental education for all ages
  • Promotion of comprehensive community planning, priorities and strategies
• Community and Economic Development
  • Support the enhancement of downtown areas
  • Support thriving, livable, and walkable communities
  • Support sustainable local agriculture
• Health and Human Services
  • Support for basic needs, including food, shelter, home heating, healthcare and childcare
  • Provide organizational support to keep those agencies addressing vital needs strong
  • Provide support for at-risk populations like seniors, women and children, individuals with disabilities, etc.
• Recreation
  • Keep recreational activities available and affordable for community individuals and youth
  • Support school or amateur athletics and recreational or sports camps
  • Support community parks, playgrounds, and trails
• Youth
  • Support public education institutions, especially enrichment programs
  • Support for early childhood care and education
  • Support for youth centers and constructive activities
  • Promote citizenship, leadership, and positive values

What kind of grants does the Community Foundation prefer not to review?

The Board of Directors generally does not consider requests in excess of $15,000, annual fund-raising drives, services which are commonly recognized as government or school obligations, debt reduction, endowments, religious programs that advocate specific religious doctrines or do not serve the broader community, or grants to individuals (other than scholarships).