Emergency Response Fund
The Emergency Response Fund was created in response to the Spring 2025 ice storm that impacted Emmet County. While initial support is focused on storm-related relief, the fund is designed to assist eligible nonprofit organizations and government entities responding to any emergency—now and in the future. It also provides operational support for organizations directly affected by such events.
Examples of how funds may be used include, but are not limited to:
- Food/food supplies, prescriptions/medical supplies not covered by insurance;
- Housing needs for individuals displaced by a disaster;
- Rental assistance/mortgage payments for home or business;
- Utility payments;
- Cash assistance;
- Clean-up;
- Repair/rebuild costs;
- Community planning and resilience projects;
- Maintaining and resuming essential nonprofit operations during and after an emergency.
DEADLINES
- Grant applications will be accepted and awarded on a rolling basis.
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Organizations may submit one request for funding at a time ($5,000 or less). Subsequent applications may be accepted if funding is available.
ELIGIBILITY
- Tax-exempt, charitable organizations according to the IRS code, educational institutions, state agencies, tribal governments, or municipalities. Applicants must be current with their tax status and, if applicable, their registration to solicit charitable donations in Michigan;
- Organizations located in Emmet County or serve a significant number of Emmet County residents; and
- Organizations that do not discriminate in hiring of staff or the provision of services; lastly,
- If an organization is receiving financial support from other sources for the same emergency, they must demonstrate that funds from the Community Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund will complement and support that funding and not duplicate it.
What projects are not eligible?
The Emergency Response Fund will not consider funding for annual fundraising campaigns, political campaigns, sectarian projects, or services normally supported by tax dollars.
GRANT DECISIONS
Community Foundation staff will initially review grant applications, with final approval given by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with the expectation that decisions will be made on a weekly basis. If approved, a grant check will be mailed within three weeks.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
A brief online report verifying use of grant funds and results will be required six (6) months from the award date. The final report form will be attached to your grant record in our grant portal.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
To apply, log in to our Grant Portal. If you have not previously applied for a grant through our grant portal system, you will first need to create an account.
QUESTIONS?
Call our office at 231-348-5820 or email [email protected].