Community Investment Grant

The Community Investment Grant offered by the Midland Area Community Foundation is a central funding opportunity aimed at supporting transformative community-focused initiatives in Midland County, Michigan. This grant is rooted in the Foundation’s broader mission to cultivate the power of giving, support long-term transformation, and ensure that all residents of Midland County can thrive. As part of its commitment to aligning resources with the region's development goals, the Foundation targets funding toward projects that address Midland County’s Four Focus Areas: Building Our Livelihood, Caring for Our People, Developing Our Talent, and Enriching Our Community. These areas encompass economic development, infrastructure, social and human services, health, education, youth engagement, arts, culture, recreation, and community leadership. The grant is open to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, educational institutions, and government entities that directly serve Midland County residents. Applications are assessed for their alignment with community goals, potential impact, and commitment to increasing equity. Equity, as defined by the Foundation, involves reducing barriers to service delivery and improving access for underserved populations. Priority consideration is given to applicants who actively address access gaps for marginalized groups or demonstrate strong inclusivity in program design and implementation. Funding requests may be submitted for up to $60,000 per cycle. The Community Investment Grant operates on a quarterly schedule, with submission deadlines on January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year. Awards are typically announced within six weeks of each application deadline. While multi-year funding is not currently offered, applicants may seek funding for a broad array of purposes, including operational support, programming, capacity-building, capital campaigns, and administrative expenses related to the project. However, certain types of requests are ineligible, such as those for basic government services, annual fundraising, previously denied proposals, religious activities (unless community-based), and political or lobbying activities. The application process is designed to be straightforward and trust-based, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to reducing administrative burden and fostering transparency. Applicants begin by contacting the Director of Community Impact for a preliminary discussion. Access to the online application portal, GOApply, is granted after this conversation. Within the portal, applicants can save drafts, upload required documents—including a budget using the Foundation’s template—and respond to narrative questions. These questions explore organizational background, project purpose, equity strategies, implementation timeline, sustainability plans, evaluation metrics, and collaboration details. Throughout the review process, applicants benefit from opportunities to seek guidance, including monthly informal Q&A Zoom sessions hosted by the Foundation. These meetings provide a supportive venue for applicants to clarify expectations and ask questions. The Foundation’s grantmaking values—respect, integrity, compassion, and equity—are emphasized across its processes, with a strong preference for proposals that embody these principles. Ultimately, the Community Investment Grant represents a key mechanism through which the Foundation strengthens the social fabric of Midland County, advancing equity, fostering community leadership, and promoting long-term wellbeing for all residents.

Proposals should clearly articulate equity impacts and include measurable goals. Collaborations are encouraged.