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Applying for a grant

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Bay Area Community Foundation offers several opportunities for grant funding for your registered 501(c)(3) organization or government entity in Bay and Arenac counties. To see if you are eligible, please take our eligibility quiz on the bottom of this page.

Semiannual Grants

Twice a year, Bay Area Community Foundation awards grants to organizations in Bay and Arenac counties through an online application process. To see if your organization or agency is eligible for our grant process, please take our eligibility quiz below.

Semiannual Grants provide funding for projects related to: arts & culture, education & youth, environment, health & wellness, human services, recreation and community initiatives. Contact Program Officer Joni King to discuss your ideas and see if it may be a good fit.

Healthy Living Fund

The Healthy Living Fund supports recreation and healthy experiences that allow residents and visitors of all ages to come together and enjoy a sense of community. Acceptable projects include those that construct, maintain, or repair community assets that promote a healthy lifestyle. This fund is not intended to support organized sports teams or sponsor their activities. Funding collaboration is required. Priority will be given to projects that have a plan for ongoing maintenance. Grants are only awarded during the first grant cycle of the year. Contact Program Officer Joni King to set up an appointment to discuss your project: 989.893.4438.

More information about the Healthy Living Fund can found here: Healthy Living Fund Information PDF

Leslie L. Squires Foundation Grants

Funding is available for projects that specifically benefit children or adults with cognitive or physical disabilities in Bay County. Grant applications open each year on the second Monday in January and the Second Monday in July. Deadlines for each grant cycle are the second Monday in March and the third Monday in September respectively.

Education Mini Grants

Education Mini Grants are available to Bay and Arenac county educators who are interested in doing something innovative in their classrooms. Contact Program Officer Joni King to discuss your original idea to see if it may be a good fit. Ten grants are awarded each year in amounts of up to $300 and are available until all ten are awarded. Educators are eligible to receive this grant every other year.

Semiannual, Leslie L. Squires Foundation, and Education Mini Grants Process:

1Take the eligibility quiz below to ensure your organization is able to apply for BACF funding.

2Contact Program Officer Joni King at 989-893-4438 to discuss your project or idea. She will be happy to answer any questions you might have about the process.

3

If your project is a good fit, we will provide you with a password for our online application portal.

4Fill out your application online only and submit it by 11:59 p.m. on the day of the deadline.

5You will receive a letter once final decisions have been made.

Once you have spoken with Joni King and received a password, click the button below to access our online portal.
Apply for a Grant>

Census 2020 "Michigan Nonprofits Count Campaign" Grants

Getting an accurate count for Bay County residents in the 2020 Census is crucial for our community. Each person left uncounted equals approximately $1,800 a year in loss of government funding for ten years. Partnering with Midland Area Community Foundation, Saginaw Community Foundation, and Mt. Pleasant Community Foundation through Michigan Nonprofits Association, the Bay Area Community Foundation has a census hub for the region and has grant funding available for Bay County nonprofits looking to help ensure an accurate count for our community.

To learn more about the grant funding, please view or download our grant criteria. If you think your organization will be eligible for this funding, please contact Program Officer Joni King at 989-893-4438 to get started with the application process.

Dow communityGives Youth Service Program

DOWG squaresample Thanks to funding from Dow, we are able to offer $1,000 grants to youth groups in Bay and Arenac counties. Eligible groups are ages K-12 associated with a school, government entity, or 501(c)(3) organization. To earn the grant, the group leader must fill out a short application and, if approved, lead the group in a volunteer activity in the community.

1Contact Program Officer Kirsten Hellebuyck at 989-893-4438 to demonstrate interest in your project and ensure that your group is eligible for the grant.

2Drop off, email, or fax a short application that will indicate your volunteer activity and how you will use the grant money. Download a copy of the application.

3Wait for approval prior to conducting your volunteer activity.

4Have fun giving back to the community and engaging our youth in volunteerism!

5Turn in a short report and photo release forms for all participating youth. These forms are included in the application packet.

6We will notify you if we need any further information, and we will contact you when your check is ready to be picked up from our office.

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Eligibility Quiz

Please take the following “quiz” to see if you are eligible to apply for grants from Bay Area Community Foundation:

Is your organization a government entity, school or nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status and not classified as a private foundation?
Yes
No [If no, you are not eligible]

Will your grant proposal benefit the residents of Bay or Arenac counties?
Yes
No [If no, you are not eligible]

Will requested grant funds be used for sectarian purposes, i.e., programs that require or promote a particular religious doctrine?
No
Yes [If yes, you are not eligible]

Will requested grant funds be used to fund or support political organizations or campaigns?
No
Yes [If yes, you are not eligible]

Are you requesting funds specifically for an individual?
No
Yes [If yes, you are not eligible]

If you answered "A" for all five questions, your organization is likely eligible to apply for grant funding from Bay Area Community Foundation. If your answer for any of the questions is "B," your organization is not eligible.

Please feel free to speak with us if you are unsure about any of your answers above or if you have further questions about if your organization is eligible to apply for grants. You can call Joni King, program officer, at 989-893-4438.