How to Apply
Our Grant Guidelines
Please review our full grant guidelines to determine if your project might be a fit.
Tax Exempt Status
Be recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code and not a private foundation.
Financial Reporting Requirements
The Foundation’s requirements align with the Michigan Attorney General’s requirements for charitable organizations:
- Organizations with annual contributions under $250,000: Form 990, 990-PF, or other 990-series return for the preceding tax year is required.
- Organizations with annual contributions between $250,000 and $500,000: a financial statement reviewed by an independent certified public accountant is required.
- Organizations with annual contributions of more than $500,000: financial statement audited by an independent certified public accountant is required.
Total Revenue
Have total revenue of at least $100,000 in the previous year.
Anti-Discrimination Practice
In policy and practice do not discriminate based on age, race, creed, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation and/or ethnicity.
Minimum Grant Request
Have a grant request of at least $10,000.
Application Process
Our board currently reviews requests for funding three times a year, in January, May, and September. Grants requests typically take about four to six months to move from an initial conversation to consideration at a board meeting. The first step in our application process is a conversation with our program team. Please use the Contact Us button below to begin.
Interested in Partnering?
If your organization also envisions a flourishing, healthy, and resilient Great Lakes ecosystem or a culturally vibrant, sustainable Southeast Michigan, let’s work together to create lasting change.
