News & Stories

Over $1.6 million Awarded to 156 Organizations

A small child walks along a wooden boardwalk through a sunlit forest surrounded by tall trees and green vegetation

Photo credit: Douglas Anger via Grass River Natural Area| Image description: A small child walks along a Grass River Natural Area wooden boardwalk through a sunlit forest surrounded by tall trees and green vegetation.

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation has awarded a total of $1,680,497 to 156 organizations across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties so far this year. These grant awards come from several of the Community Foundation’s grant opportunities, funds, and endowments, including its quick response grants and diversity, equity, and inclusion grants as well as organization endowments, the Wilfred and Joan Larson Endowment, and donor advised funds.

The Community Foundation’s spring grant awards represent impact across a variety of causes, including arts and culture, education, environment, health and human services, and youth programs. Each grant cycle, fund, and endowment targets different community need areas:

Quick response grants offer a rapid, flexible response to community needs. These grants are meant to support unexpected or unforeseeable smaller dollar needs that fall outside of an organization’s regular budget. $18,225 has been awarded from this grant cycle this season.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion grants are dedicated to fostering equity and inclusion across the region, including primarily providing support for organizations led by or serving Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, immigrant, neurodiverse, and/or disability community members. Other partners, programs, trainings, and opportunities promoting equity and inclusion are also supported. $15,450 has been awarded from this grant cycle so far this year.
Organization endowment grants are awarded annually to specific organizations and were established by the benefiting organization and/or donor partners. $724,972 has been awarded from these endowments this year.
The Wilfred and Joan Larson Endowment awards grants annually, as recommended by the endowment adviser. These grants have often supported scholarships to local high schools along with organizations working in the areas of health and human services, environmental conservation, and arts and culture. $82,4200 has been awarded from this endowment this year.
Donor‑advised funds allow donors or fund advisors to support the causes they’re most passionate about through recommended grants. $65,340 has been awarded from these funds so far this year.

“We pride ourselves on creating impact for our region through a variety of funding opportunities,” said Steve Wade, Vice President of Community Impact. “Our grant cycles, funds, and endowments showcase how we can spark positive change when we work together with donors, community partners, and grant recipients.”

A selection of organizations receiving grants this season include: 5Loaves2Fish, Benzie Area Historical Society & Museum, Central Lake District Library, Cherryland Humane Society, Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan, Elizabeth Oliver Center for the Arts, Elk Rapids Senior High School, Face Addiction Now, Frankfort Elberta Area Schools, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, Glen Lake Association, Grand Traverse Conservation District, Grass River Natural Area, Goodwill Northern Michigan, Kaliseum Recreation Complex, Kalkaska Interfaith Resources, Kalkaska Co. Veteran Affairs, Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan, Leelanau Community Cultural Center, Mancelona Education Foundation, Mashup Rock & Roll Musical, Mnamaaadiziwin, Inc., Northwest Michigan Arts and Culture Network, ShareCare of Leelanau, Traverse City Philharmonic, Up North Pride, and more.

Since 1992, the Community Foundation has awarded over $80 million in grants and scholarships and has received over $133 million in gifts, many of which make up the Foundation’s permanent endowments that live on forever for the benefit of the region.