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Grant FAQs
- Who is eligible for grants from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County?
The foundation awards grants to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations serving Muskegon County, MI that have been determined by the IRS to be 501(c)(3), 509(a) public charities.
- My organization is not a 501(c)(3). How do I obtain this status?
To become a 501(c)(3) organization you must file an application with the IRS.
- When are the Community Foundation’s grant deadlines?
The Community Foundation has two competitive grant deadlines per year: the February 15 deadline serves projects beginning after May 1, and the August 15 deadline serves projects beginning after November 1.
- What are the Community Foundation’s grantmaking priorities?
Please refer to the Guidelines to Grantseekers section of this website which outlines the priorities that have been determined by our Board of Trustees.
- How much can I apply for?
Foundation staff will talk with you about your specific project and an appropriate level of funding, but most foundation grants are between $1,000 and $10,000.
- When will I hear about the results of my grant application?
In general, the grant application process takes approximately 8-10 weeks from time of application to announcement of grant awards.
- How do I apply for a grant?
The first step in applying for a grant is to contact a member of the Grant Staff and discuss your proposal. They will direct you to the online application. More information about the grant application process can be found here.
- Can my organization apply for grants from donor advised funds?
We do not accept specific applications for our donor advised funds which are funds established and advised by individuals or families. The Community Foundation does bring funding ideas to the attention of these donors through our Community Needs Wishlist.
- Does the Foundation fund faith-based organizations through its competitive grant process?
The Foundation does fund faith-based organizations but does not fund projects of a religious nature or projects that require participation in a religious activity as a condition for receiving services.
- How often may I apply for a grant and how many applications can I submit?
Typically, only one request per calendar year to the Foundation’s Competitive Grant Program can be submitted for consideration so that we can help as many nonprofit organizations as possible. Occasionally the Foundation issues a RFP (Request for Proposal) from specific grantmaking committees and organizations may be able to apply for that specific RFP regardless of a previous grant award that calendar year.
- Who decides which applications are awarded grants?
Assisting in the competitive grant process are volunteers who contribute time, thought and knowledge of our community to review of applications from nonprofit organizations. The volunteer advisory committees review requests for funding and their recommendations are presented to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees for final approval.
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