Apr
This spring, the Community Foundation awarded $310,843 in grant funding to 40 organizations that serve the people of Emmet County. Recipients include nonprofits, schools, and municipalities working to improve the quality of life for all people across the county.
These awards are part of the Community Foundation’s Community and Youth Grant Cycles, offered in the spring and fall. Grant cycles provide eligible organizations with two opportunities each year to seek funding for a wide range of needs—from special projects and new programs to facilities improvements, capacity building, and more.
Applications focused on serving youth and families are reviewed by the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), a group of 26 local teens. All other requests are reviewed by the Grant Distribution Committee, a group of community members dedicated to thoughtful, responsive grantmaking in Emmet County.
Grant Distribution Committee chair Bob Keedy said, "The spring 2025 Grant Cycle was once again a great indication of the many non-profits and people who do great things in our Emmet county community. It is a very rewarding process to have the opportunity to study the submitted proposals to PHSACF. The only difficulty is not being able to fully fund them all."
YAC member Avery Sears shared her reflections on her role in the process, “As one of our grant partners said, ‘This is where all good things start.’ That really stuck with me. It’s powerful to realize that our voices can help spark something meaningful in our own community.”
Funding is made possible by the strength of our endowments and the generosity of donors. The Fund for the Community and the Fund for Youth provide ongoing support for our grant cycles. Flexible funds—gifts not tied to a specific purpose—are also essential, allowing us to have a broader and more responsive impact. Additional support comes from field-of-interest funds that address specific needs in Emmet County, and from donor advised funds created by individuals and families to support the causes and issues that matter most to them.
$8,000 to expand access to Bay View's 2025 Young Artist Training Program.
$12,743 to support hiring Big Water Creative Arts' first paid executive director.
$8,000 to create a garden and natural play space.
$6,000 to support the purchase of the UV disinfecting light and pool filtration pump.
$5,000 to create a safe outdoor area where families can engage in healthy, stress-relieving activities.
$2,000 to support the purchase of a bike repair station.
$3,981 to upgrade Sunfish sailboats.
$10,000 to support the Art of Wellbeing exhibition.
$9,500 to support the 2025 Water Is Life Festival.
$4,152 to support senior safety with personal emergency response systems.
$5,000 to support the 2025 Tunnel of Trees Art Trail.
$13,000 to support bringing the Rite of Spring to northern Michigan.
$8,500 to support the Great Start Preschool Scholarship Project.
$8,000 to create and install interpretive panels for the Shay Locomotive exhibit.
$10,000 to support purchasing fresh produce for pantry patrons.
$7,500 expand programming, ensuring more students receive books, interact with authors, and foster a deeper connection with literature.
$4,000 to support a new 50th Anniversary Garden in the city of Harbor Springs.
$4,500 to strengthen STEM pathways with hands-on machining equipment.
$2,500 to support Camp Good Grief, offering healing and hope for grieving children.
$5,000 to support the production of a concert performance reflecting on the changing seasons.
$6,000 to support addition to Bubbling Springs nature preserve trail.
$7,360 to support owl banding and critical research in the Straits of Mackinac.
$15,000 to support Food 4 Kids Backpack Program.
$7,500 to nourish hospital staff with fresh, local produce.
$10,281 for cancer support services for Emmet County residents.
$15,000 to support affordable homeownership in the Meadowlands.
$2,500 to strengthen the arts sector with professional development and networking.
$14,986 to enhance Temple Ballfield with access to clean drinking water.
$10,000 to improve school communication and engagement with electronic sign.
$4,967 to support uniform and training equipment replacement.
$5,000 to celebrate the legacy of C.S. Lewis with the 2025 festival.
$2,932 to support independence and organization for young learners.
$15,000 to give toddlers the space to learn and play outdoors.
$7,491 to build confidence, leadership, and resilience in young women (ROX program).
$5,000 to promote knowledge of water science and nature conservation.
$6,500 to provide a place to stay for families facing medical treatment far from home.
$12,200 to develop a sustainable fundraising plan for regional trail stewardship.
$15,000 to enhance accessibility and comfort with new trailhead facilities.
$3,250 to educate youth on the real-life consequences of substance abuse.
$7,500 to expand capacity for sustainable egg production.