CACF: Community Trustee Grant Program

It provides grants to qualified nonprofit organizations within the Cadillac Area Public School District. The Foundation prioritizes innovative projects that demonstrate significant community impact, local volunteer involvement, and collaboration with other organizations. Ultimately, it seeks to improve the quality of life for residents by supporting diverse initiatives in areas such as arts, education, and health.

These funds comprise the Community Foundation’s assets, most of which are part of the Community Foundation’s permanent endowment (pools of funds invested for the future of the community) and are used to support charitable activities in the community through grants and technical assistance.
Encouraging philanthropy and charitable giving.Developing permanent endowments and resources for today’s and tomorrows’ generations to meet the challenges of the times.Providing grant making expertise and philanthropic services to donors with diverse interests at all levels of giving.Protecting and managing the assets of philanthropic funds established by donors.Supporting local nonprofit organizations through grants and technical assistance.Serving as a resource and catalyst for philanthropic activities and bring together different forces in the community to develop new ways to use the community’s capacities and assets.
Funding Areas
The Cadillac Area Community Foundation typically awards grants in six general areas:

• culture and the arts, economic development,
• education,
• environment and recreation,
• health, and human services.
• Purpose

The general purpose of the Foundations grant making is to improve the quality of life through creative and innovative programs. Priority in all grant programs will be given to those applications for programs and project that reflect the following characteristics, which should be clearly stated in the grant application:
The potential impact of the request and number of people who will benefit.An imaginative and experimental approach to problem-solving.The extent of local volunteer involvement and support for the project.The commitment and composition of the requesting organization’s directors and staff.The degree to which the applicant works with or complements other community organizations to eliminate duplication of services.The organization’s fiscal responsibility and management policies.The possibility of using the grant as seed money for matching funds from other sources.The ability of the organization to obtain additional funding (if necessary) to implement the project.The ability of the organization to provide ongoing funding after the term of the grant.Develops new solutions to community challenges/needs.Increases the effectiveness of the nonprofit’s activities.Encourages civic development and volunteerism.

Eligibility

Qualified applicants will be nonprofit groups and/or organizations that hold a 501 (c) (3) status.Geographic focus of the Trustee Grant Program is the Cadillac Area Public School District.Through its grantmaking programs, the Foundation will support organizations that do not intend to deny services, employment, or volunteer involvement on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, veteran status, ancestry, or any other legally protected characteristics. It is not the intent of this policy to deny support for programs that serve specifically defined populations.

Ineligibility

Normally, grants will not be made for:

• General operating support.
• Endowments.
• Fundraising campaigns.
• Sectarian or political programs.
• Grants to individuals (except as allowed by specific laws or funds so designated such as scholarship funds or student loan funds).
• Conferences.