Michigan Food and Nutrition Grants

The Hadassah Foundation is inviting grant proposals from organizations dedicated to strengthening the leadership capacity and role of self-identifying women and girls within the U.S. Jewish community. This initiative aligns directly with the Foundation's mission to empower this demographic, especially in a time marked by increased antisemitism, social and political polarization, and the erosion of policies that disproportionately affect women and girls. The program seeks to foster leadership that can address these pressing challenges. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are self-identifying women and girls in the U.S. Jewish community. The impact goals are to empower these individuals with education and tools to navigate conflict and bias, and to strengthen networks that promote widespread change and policy advocacy. The Foundation is particularly interested in advancing leadership that equips women and girls to influence and guide others in these areas, or to build robust communities and networks for collective action. The Foundation's strategic priorities are evident in its focus on gender equity and community building within the Jewish context. Organizations applying for general operating funding must demonstrate a gender lens throughout their work, ensuring all efforts advance gender equity. The theory of change suggests that by investing in the leadership development of Jewish women and girls, the Foundation can contribute to a more resilient, equitable, and influential Jewish community capable of addressing contemporary societal challenges. Grants of $80,000, distributed over three years, will be awarded for unrestricted or program support. The funding structure includes payments of $30,000 in December 2024 (Year 1), $30,000 in December 2025 (Year 2), and $20,000 in December 2026 (Year 3), with the grant cycle concluding in December 2027. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the grant amount and duration, the expected outcomes involve enhanced leadership capacity, greater influence in addressing conflict and bias, and stronger networks promoting advocacy and change among the target population.

Youth Service America's (YSA) "We Serve to Remember 9/11 Day of Service Grants" program is designed to empower young changemakers aged 5 to 25. This initiative directly aligns with YSA's mission of engaging youth in service and fostering active citizenship. The grants support organizations, schools, and youth changemakers in planning and implementing service activities that honor and pay tribute to those affected by 9/11. The program emphasizes youth leadership, ensuring that projects are driven by the young participants themselves, thereby developing their leadership skills and sense of community responsibility. The program's target beneficiaries are primarily youth, with a strong focus on engaging those who are not typically asked to serve and face systemic barriers to participation. This includes young people of color, youth from underserved low-income families and neighborhoods, and youth who are often beneficiaries of service rather than participants. Specific groups identified include youth in rural communities, those experiencing homelessness, youth in foster care, youth with disabilities, youth in the juvenile justice system, immigrants or refugees, youth from military families, LGBTQ+ youth, and English language learners. The impact goal is to create a more inclusive service environment and empower a diverse group of young people to contribute to their communities. A key priority of this grant program is the engagement of at least 100 youth volunteers per project, with 80% of these volunteers identifying as youth facing systemic barriers to participation. Projects must include elements to honor and pay tribute to those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, and those who responded in service. All activities must take place on or around September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance (September 11, 2024). This specific timing reinforces the program's focus on remembrance and national service. YSA expects to award up to 100 grants of $1,000 each. The expected outcomes include a significant increase in youth engagement in service, particularly among marginalized groups, and the successful execution of service activities that commemorate 9/11. Measurable results will include the number of grants awarded, the number of youth volunteers engaged, and the percentage of those volunteers who identify as facing systemic barriers. The program also aims to foster a sense of civic duty and historical awareness among participants. The foundation's strategic priorities are centered on youth empowerment and inclusive participation in service. YSA's theory of change posits that by providing resources and opportunities, particularly to underserved youth, they can develop leadership skills, strengthen communities, and create a lasting impact. By focusing on youth-led projects and ensuring diverse representation, YSA aims to build a generation of civically engaged individuals who are committed to addressing community needs and remembering significant historical events. Applicants must be based in the United States, with activities benefiting people in the U.S., including its territories. This geographical focus ensures that the grants support local communities across the nation. The emphasis on reaching youth who face systemic barriers aligns with a broader strategic goal of promoting equity and inclusion within the service sector, demonstrating YSA's commitment to a more representative and impactful youth service movement.

This program provides financial support to small nonprofit organizations with annual budgets under $200,000 to enhance their operations and community programs.

The Bitsie Clark Fund for Artists (The Bitsie Fund), housed at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, aims to support individual artists in pursuing new work and achieving specific creative and career goals. This aligns with the Foundation's broader mission to foster a thriving community by supporting local talent and development. The fund's focus is on individual artist development, rather than community development, signifying a strategic priority to invest directly in the artistic growth of residents within the Foundation's service area in Greater New Haven. In 2024, The Bitsie Fund will award two $5,000 grants, one specifically for a Black artist and another open to all eligible artists. This targeting reflects a commitment to equitable support within the artistic community and addresses potential disparities. The grant's impact goals are centered on enabling artists to tackle major artistic development goals, take risks on new directions in their work, or advance their careers. The expected outcomes include a more vibrant artistic community with empowered individual artists. The fund prioritizes individual artists at a significant point in their personal development, encouraging both established artists with a substantial body of recent work and those emerging in their field to apply. This inclusive approach to eligibility ensures a broad reach within the artist community. The focus is on supporting a wide array of creative disciplines including dance, music, theater, visual arts, design, craft, literary arts, voice, poetry, playwriting, composition, and film. Measurable results would be evidenced by artists successfully utilizing the funds for approved uses such as purchasing materials, compensating for time spent developing projects, hiring others, covering performance or touring costs, travel for proposals, renting studio space, and production expenses. Ultimately, the Bitsie Fund's theory of change posits that by directly supporting individual artists in these ways, it will contribute to their personal and professional growth, thereby enriching the cultural landscape of Greater New Haven.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to government entities, non-profit organizations, and universities in Michigan for projects aimed at preventing, detecting, managing, and eradicating invasive species in both terrestrial and aquatic environments.

The Four County Community Foundation (4CCF) is launching its Spark Grant Program, designed to offer a more accessible and interactive grant application experience than traditional processes. This program aligns with the 4CCF's mission by focusing on funding innovative projects that address unmet community needs within its service area. The foundation aims to foster community development and empower local initiatives through this streamlined grant format, ensuring that vital projects receive the support they require to make a tangible difference. The Spark Grant Program targets a broad range of beneficiaries, including both individuals and nonprofit groups, who are actively working to meet community needs. The program's impact goal is to support truly innovative projects that can demonstrate a clear benefit to the local community. An example of a past successful project includes a partnership between a Shelby Township-based business and the Hispanic Service Center, offering reduced-cost Spanish-language food safety training, which met a critical need for local entrepreneurs. This illustrates the foundation's commitment to supporting diverse and impactful initiatives. The program prioritizes proposals that are innovative and seek to address an unmet community need within 4CCF’s service area. The selection process involves applicants presenting an in-person proposal to a panel of 4CCF committee members, followed by a five-minute question and answer session. This interactive approach emphasizes transparency and direct engagement, allowing the foundation to better understand the proposed projects and their potential impact. With a pool of $50,000 to award, the Spark Grant Program expects measurable outcomes in community development and the support of local entrepreneurs, particularly those from underrepresented groups. The example of the Spanish-language food safety training highlights the potential for projects to address specific demographic needs and foster economic empowerment. The foundation's strategic priority is to identify and invest in initiatives that demonstrate creativity and a direct, positive impact on the well-being and growth of the four-county community, reflecting a theory of change that values accessible support for innovative local solutions.

The Capital Region Community Foundation's Impact Grants are designed to foster long-term organizational or programmatic growth, enhance outreach to underserved communities, and facilitate collaborative efforts among nonprofits for sustainable community change. The foundation's mission aligns with these grants by providing charitable funding to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and other eligible entities for projects predominantly benefiting residents of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties, Michigan. The grants prioritize initiatives that create significant, lasting change rather than supporting ongoing operational costs. Target beneficiaries for these grants are residents of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties, Michigan, particularly those in underserved populations. The primary impact goals include increasing the long-term effectiveness of organizations or programs and expanding access and impact to new, high-need populations. Additionally, the grants aim to enable two or more nonprofits to work together to address critical community issues, promoting transformative and sustainable change through collaborative solutions. The program prioritizes projects that significantly increase long-term impact, rather than funding routine expenses. For example, while food for a pantry would not be funded, equipment that enables the pantry to offer healthier options to clients, thereby impacting health, would be considered. Another focus is on significantly increasing an organization's ability to reach underserved populations, distinguishing this from merely serving more people. The grants support expanding successful programs to new, high-need populations. A key strategic priority is fostering collaboration, welcoming applications where multiple organizations partner to implement solutions for critical community issues. Expected outcomes include enhanced organizational capacity, improved reach to marginalized communities, and successful implementation of collaborative, community-driven solutions. Measurable results would likely stem from the specific impacts of these projects, such as the adoption of healthier options in food pantries due to new equipment, the expansion of programs to previously underserved demographics, or the successful execution of joint initiatives by multiple nonprofits leading to tangible community improvements. The foundation's theory of change appears to be that by strategically investing in projects with long-term, impactful, and collaborative approaches, they can drive significant and sustainable positive change within the Capital Region.

This program provides funding to private dam owners and government entities in Michigan for projects that reduce risks associated with dams, including repairs, removals, and planning activities.

The "Building Healthy Communities: Reducing Health Disparities in Elementary Schools" program, funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, is a school-based initiative designed to address the social determinants of health contributing to widespread disparities across Michigan communities. This program aligns with a broader mission to foster healthier environments and reduce health, education, and economic disparities at the elementary school level. It recognizes the critical link between social determinants and a child's overall well-being and academic success, positioning schools as key environments for intervention. The primary beneficiaries of this program are elementary school children, educators, and the broader school community within districts most affected by health, education, and economic disparities in Michigan. The impact goals are multifaceted, aiming to facilitate healthier school environments, assist educators in recognizing and addressing issues of trauma in children, improve children's mental health, and ultimately increase school attendance and academic achievement. By focusing on these areas, the program seeks to create a more supportive and equitable learning environment for all students. The program's priorities and focuses include providing necessary resources and professional development to educators. This involves equipping them with the tools to identify and respond to trauma, promote mental well-being, and implement strategies that enhance overall school health. The core strategy is to engage entire school districts, from central administrators to individual teachers, to ensure a comprehensive and sustained commitment to the program's objectives. This district-wide approach is crucial for integrating the program effectively into the existing educational framework. Expected outcomes and measurable results include a significant improvement in children's mental health, a demonstrable increase in school attendance, and enhanced academic achievement. The program also aims to create measurably healthier school environments and reduce the impact of trauma on children's education. While specific metrics are not detailed, the emphasis on state and national data to identify and recruit participating districts suggests a data-driven approach to tracking progress and demonstrating impact on reducing disparities in health, education, and the economy within targeted communities.

The Junior League of Detroit is offering Community Assistance Grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to tax-exempt organizations in Wayne County, Michigan, that aim to improve children's health and welfare, particularly through programs addressing food insecurity, with a focus on education, nutrition, and accessibility.

This grant provides resources to schools in the Wayne-Westland School District to create outdoor learning gardens that promote food, nature, and health education for students and their families.

This program provides funding to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop producers and related organizations in Michigan through initiatives in marketing, research, education, and sustainability.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Marquette County’s West End to improve food security and promote health and wellness initiatives for local residents.

This grant provides resources to Michigan K–12 schools to enhance students' physical, nutritional, and emotional well-being through customizable health and wellness initiatives.

This program provides a four-month learning experience for small to mid-sized nonprofits in Macomb County, Michigan, focusing on nonprofit management, leadership, and sustainability through mentorship and collaboration.

This funding supports local governments in Michigan to purchase development rights from landowners, ensuring that valuable farmland is preserved for agricultural use.

This program provides funding to county fair associations in Michigan for building and capital improvements at fairgrounds, requiring a matching contribution from recipients.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Michigan-based nonprofit and governmental organizations for initiatives that promote food safety education for consumers and training for food service employees and enforcement agents.

This grant provides financial support to Black entrepreneurs who are positively impacting their communities, helping them grow and sustain their businesses.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Michigan-based farm businesses and food distributors, particularly those owned by BIPOC and women, to help them expand operations and improve access to healthy food while promoting economic development and climate resilience.