Michigan Youth Grants

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Washtenaw County, Michigan, to support initiatives that improve the quality of life for specific communities, including African Americans, veterans, residents of Dexter, and women and children facing domestic violence.

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 grant provides funding for projects that enhance community and economic growth in Huron County by supporting workforce development, vibrant community initiatives, and business development, among other areas of interest.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations for projects that enhance health, education, arts, and community development in the Homer area of Michigan, particularly benefiting underserved populations.

This funding opportunity supports conservation projects that provide employment and training for young adults and veterans, helping them gain experience in environmental stewardship and resource management on public lands.

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.

The Community Foundation is offering multiple grant cycles in 2024, including 5 community grant cycles and two ongoing grant cycles. The grants focus on various areas such as arts and culture, education, environment and land use initiatives, community and economic development, civic improvement, human services, health and wellness projects, recreation, and youth projects. Nonprofit organizations, educational institutions (preschool through college), and all units of government serving Charlevoix County residents are eligible to apply. The application deadlines vary for each grant cycle. Applicants are encouraged to contact Ashley Cousens or Megan Havrilla DeHoog to discuss eligibility and receive an access code for the online grant application. Grant decisions will be announced in early December, and funded organizations will be required to submit a follow-up report within one year of the grant award.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan for programs that promote fitness and wellness among children in kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as for improving community sports facilities.

The Huron County Community Foundation (HCCF) is currently accepting applications for its fall grant cycle, inviting projects that aim to make a positive impact on Huron County, Michigan. As a nonprofit community corporation, HCCF's mission is deeply rooted in supporting the people of Huron County by fostering prosperity. This is achieved through a focus on Community & Economic Growth, aligning the grant program directly with the foundation's core purpose of enhancing the well-being and development of the region. HCCF's strategic priorities are designed to cultivate a thriving environment within Huron County. These include retaining and attracting a talented, trained workforce, creating vibrant and dynamic communities, and cultivating an environment conducive to business development. Projects addressing these areas are given preference for unrestricted grantmaking dollars. This focus reflects the foundation's theory of change, which posits that by investing in these key areas, they can catalyze broader community and economic growth, leading to a more prosperous future for all residents. Beyond the strategic priorities, the HCCF also encourages applications for projects that address numerous other interest areas, indicating a broad scope for potential beneficiaries. These areas include Arts and Culture, Education, Health & Medicine, Basic Needs Services, Beautification of Huron County, Natural Areas Preservation, Disadvantaged Youth, Recreation, and Women in STEM. This diverse range of focus areas ensures that a wide array of community needs and interests can be supported, reflecting a comprehensive approach to community development and impact. Applicants are required to submit a detailed project narrative, outlining the project's description and purpose, including its location and the number of people it will serve. This narrative should also address the project's long-term impact and measurable results, demonstrating how the grant from HCCF would be recognized. Furthermore, applicants must describe their evaluation methods to determine if their purpose was accomplished, and provide a budget with estimated income and expenses. These guidelines are designed to ensure accountability and to help the HCCF assess the potential effectiveness and sustainability of each proposed project, ultimately aiming for impactful and measurable outcomes that align with the foundation's mission.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan for innovative programs that improve community well-being, support families, and foster youth development.

The 2025 Juvenile Justice Community Agency Grants from Ingham County aim to provide financial support to community agencies, primarily non-profit organizations. This grant program is aligned with the Ingham County Board of Commissioners' mission to utilize a portion of the Juvenile Justice Millage proceeds to further the goals and objectives of the County’s Juvenile Justice Millage. The overarching goal is to increase the capacity of the county's juvenile justice system. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are delinquent and disturbed youth within Ingham County. The program's core impact goal is to reduce the involvement of these youth in the formal adjudication process. By supporting community agencies, the county seeks to offer effective treatment and intervention strategies that divert youth from deeper engagement with the justice system. The grant prioritizes proposals from qualified vendors that can demonstrate a clear ability to enhance the county's juvenile justice system. The focus is on increasing capacity for treatment and support services, ultimately leading to a reduction in formal adjudications. The program emphasizes community-based solutions and aims to leverage the expertise of local non-profit organizations. Expected outcomes include an increased availability of effective treatment programs for at-risk youth and a measurable decrease in the number of youth entering or progressing through the formal juvenile justice system. While specific measurable results are not detailed in terms of percentages or absolute numbers within the provided text, the intent is clear: to see a tangible reduction in youth involvement in formal adjudication. The funding cycle makes $240,000 available for these efforts, underscoring the county's strategic priority to invest in prevention and early intervention within its juvenile justice framework.

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

The County of Alpena Youth and Recreation Committee offers mini-grants funded by a voter-approved millage established in 2010. This program aligns directly with the committee's mission to support recreational activities and improve recreational sites for youth and all residents of Alpena County. The mini-grants are one-time discretionary awards of up to $7,500 designed to support projects and initiatives that impact the county's residents, bolstering community well-being through accessible recreation. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are the youth and residents of Alpena County, as well as nonprofit organizations that serve them. The program aims to foster engagement in various recreational activities, encompassing sports, indoor and outdoor pursuits, and events that promote enrichment and community involvement. Impact goals include enhancing the quality of life for Alpena County residents through diverse recreational opportunities and supporting the organizational capacity of nonprofits working towards these objectives. The committee prioritizes projects that align with its broad understanding of recreation, which includes all types of sports and sporting events, indoor and outdoor activities, and events focused on enrichment and community engagement. Furthermore, priority is given to mini-grant applications that do not fit the normal Youth & Recreation application schedule, indicating a desire to support agile and responsive initiatives. The program also emphasizes capacity building for organizations to achieve the goals of the Youth & Recreation Commission, sustain their mission, and ensure long-term impact. Expected outcomes include an increase in available recreational activities and improved recreational sites for Alpena County residents, particularly youth. Measurable results could involve the number of participants in new or enhanced recreational programs, the successful completion of site improvement projects, and the strengthened capacity of recipient nonprofit organizations. The grant's reimbursement structure ensures that funds are directly tied to documented expenditures, promoting accountability. The County of Alpena's strategic priority is to continually invest in community recreation and youth development, with a theory of change that postulates that by funding diverse recreational activities and supporting relevant organizations, the overall health, engagement, and development of its residents will significantly improve.

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.

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is offering $57 million in grant funds for in-person before-school, after-school, before-and-after-school, and/or summer programming for children in grades K-12. This initiative aligns with MiLEAP's mission to prioritize education from preschool through postsecondary, focusing on kindergarten readiness and helping individuals earn skills or degrees for good-paying jobs. The grant specifically supports Out-of-School Time (OST) Programs that provide educational programming in core subjects such as mathematics, reading, and science. The target beneficiaries are children in grades K-12. The impact goals are to improve school attendance, academic outcomes, attitudes toward school, positive behaviors, skill development and retention, and higher education aspirations, as well as to enhance family engagement. MiLEAP's strategic priority is to prepare children for kindergarten and help more people earn a skill certificate or degree, and this grant directly contributes to that by funding programs that offer expanded learning opportunities and academic enrichment. The grant prioritizes the expansion of existing programs, establishment of new programs, hands-on academic enrichment, field trips, professional learning, and the development of school-community partnerships. It also supports expanded learning opportunities in areas like mentoring, leadership, community engagement, agriculture, visual and performing arts, financial literacy, STEM, health and wellness, recreation, career and college exploration, youth voice, 21st-century skills, social-emotional learning, and cultural engagement. Expected outcomes include measurable improvements in areas such as improved school attendance and academic performance, enhanced positive behaviors and skill development, and increased aspirations for higher education. The grant's theory of change posits that by investing in comprehensive OST programming that addresses both academic and social-emotional needs, children will be better prepared for academic success and future career opportunities, thereby contributing to MiLEAP's broader goal of lifelong education and advancement.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that assist migrant and seasonal farmworkers with employment services, training, and housing solutions.

Grant Opportunity: Outdoor Education Partnership III Description: The Chippewa Nature Center and U.S Fish and Wildlife Service are collaborating to restore wetland, grassland, and pollinator habitat as outdoor classrooms on school lands in the 22 County Saginaw Bay Watershed. County or city-owned lands can also be developed as outdoor education areas if local schools can incorporate them into their curriculum. The projects will be funded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, with an average cost of $2,000 per acre for restoration. Priority will be given to schools, and each project will include a customized curriculum guide, lessons, supplies, and teacher training. Grant Opportunity: Great Mural Project Description: The Downtown Saginaw Association is leading the Great Mural Project, which aims to transform eyesores or forgotten spaces in Saginaw with beautiful murals and community art installations. The project focuses on sustainability, the river system, non-motorized trails, and other WIN investment projects. WIN will provide a small advisory committee to support the project. Grant Opportunity: Places Create Stories : The Power of Nature Description: Heart of the Lakes and Little Forks Conservancy are partnering to develop a media project that highlights the value of nature from an economic and community perspective. The project aims to create three short videos that emphasize the importance of nature for community character, job retention/recruitment, and economic development. The videos will be distributed through land conservancies and can be tailored for different groups' use. Grant Opportunity: Nature Kindergarten Pilot Description: This grant supports the development of a nature-based kindergarten pilot project at Bullock Creek Schools in cooperation with Chippewa Nature Center. Building on the success of a nature-based preschool program at Chippewa Nature Center, this pilot project aims to incorporate nature-based learning into two kindergarten classrooms. Grant Opportunity: MI Great Bay Regional Tourism Marketing & Development Phase 1 Description: This project seeks funding

This funding opportunity supports nonprofits, government entities, and educational institutions in Charlevoix County that are working to improve youth mental health and create a positive school environment.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, government units, and educational institutions in Charlevoix County, Michigan, to improve youth mental health and foster a positive school atmosphere.

Grant Opportunity: Mason County Teacher Grants Funding Organization: Mason County Foundation for Education Contact Information: Please visit the following link to apply: [https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cffmc] Award Details: Grants of up to $500 are available for specific projects or programs that enhance the curriculum, expand existing units, provide student awards, support special events, facilitate professional development, bring artists in residence, or promote parent involvement. However, grants are not awarded for basic supplies. Each classroom and teacher are eligible for one grant per school year. Eligibility: This grant opportunity is open to public and private school teachers and counselors in Mason County. Only one application per individual is allowed. Application Availability: Applications will be available starting from August 4th.