C3F: Environment and Land Use Grants

C3F: Environment and Land Use Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Charlevoix County Community Foundation
Last Updated: January 20, 2026

Summary

The Charlevoix County Community Foundation offers the Environment and Land Use Grants to support nonprofit projects that promote environmental education, protection, and sustainability within the Lake Charlevoix Watershed. This initiative encourages collaboration and innovative approaches to community needs, fostering long-term positive impacts. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt nonprofits, government units, and educational institutions that serve the Charlevoix County area. The Foundation prioritizes well-planned proposals that align with community goals and benefit natural resources.

Overview

Environment and Land Use Cycle The mission of the Charlevoix County Community Foundation (C3F) is to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Charlevoix County, now and for generations to come. The Community Foundation helps people make a difference close to home by accepting contributions of all sizes. Each year, the Community Foundation makes grants to organizations, schools, and municipalities to make positive change in Charlevoix County. What is the purpose of the Environment and Land Use Cycle? The purpose of the Environment and Land Use Cycle is to offer all eligible nonprofit partners the opportunity to apply for projects and programs that support environment and land use initiatives located in the Lake Charlevoix Watershed and/or Charlevoix County. Individuals, couples, families, and businesses who advise funds at the Community Foundation (donor advisors) may choose to make grants through the cycle as well. What kinds of projects or programs are most likely to receive grant funding? The Environment & Land Use Cycle aims to support environmental education, protection, restoration, and sustainability initiatives in and around Charlevoix County and the Lake Charlevoix Watershed. Recreation initiatives that provide access to natural resources may also be considered. Successful requests may include any of the following characteristics: demonstrate collaboration, address new needs or try new approaches for existing needs, encourage people to help themselves, focus on prevention of problems, and/or avoid duplication of services. Degree to which funds benefit the natural resources of Charlevoix CountyInclusion in a city, township, county, or regional community plan(i.e. master plan, recreation plan, strategic plan, watershed management plan, etc.)Organization’s impact and relevance in the community they serveOrganizational capacity (leadership, staffing, planning, etc.), and solvencyDegree to which funds will help strengthen the organization and/or the community the organization servesComprehensiveness of proposal, including degree to which proposed activities are well-planned and address the need identifiedDuration of impact in the community served Organizations should ask for what they need. Restrictions will not be placed on requests by the Community Foundation to limit size or scope of request. Rather, applicants will determine those factors for themselves. Grant review committees will prioritize grant requests that score best on the criteria listed above.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible applicants include:501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organizations;All units of government;All educational institutions (preschool through college);Organizations described above that serve Charlevoix County residentsOrganizations that do not discriminate in hiring of staff or the provision of services.Eligible organizations must be current with follow up reports for all previous grant awards from C3F and be in good standing with the IRS.Proposals from faith-based organizations must address community needs andHave a clearly demonstrated public benefit;Be fully accessible to all persons regardless of religious beliefs and lifestyle choicesMay NOT proselytize, (i.e. require anything in return for services provided. Examples: attending services or prayer groups and/or volunteering, etc.)

Ineligibility

The Community Foundation’s grant cycles generally do not fund fundraising campaigns,political campaigns, deficit spending, sectarian projects, or services normally supported by tax dollars.