Discretionary Grants

The Discretionary Fund invests in the quality of life of the community on a smaller scale with quicker turnaround than regular responsive cycles.

Geographic Scope: Emmet County, MI or serving a significant number of Emmet County residents

Eligibility:

• Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Educational institutions
• Municipalities
• Organizations must not have any late final reports from previous grants
• Organizations must not have received another Discretionary Grant from the Community Foundation within the same calendar year
• Organizations must have applied for a grant through regular responsive grant cycle in the past five years

Funding Focus:

• Requests of $1,000 or less
• Fill unexpected or emergency needs
• Meet timely needs that cannot wait for regular responsive cycles (March 1 and October 1 deadlines)

What is NOT Funded:

• Annual giving campaigns
• Support directly to individuals
• Religious programs that advocate specific religious doctrines or do not serve the broader community
• Services commonly recognized as government or school obligations
• Endowments
• Deficit funding or debt retirement, including operating expenses due to budget deficits or shortfalls
• Problems related to an organization's failure to adequately plan (e.g., waiting until lease expires, not anticipating construction costs, failure to plan for maintenance)

Funding Available: Up to $10,000 per year total; individual grants up to $1,000

Grant Timeline: If approved and funds are adequate, approved applicants receive check within one month. Funds must be used within six months.

Reporting: Recipients must complete a brief follow-up report

Contact:

• Sarah Ford, Director of Community Philanthropy
• Phone: 231-348-5820
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:00pm
• Address: 1349 US-131 Suite A, Petoskey, MI 49770

How to Apply

1. Log in to the Community Foundation's Grant Portal
2. When prompted, enter Access Code: DISC22
3. Submit your request in advance of the proposed activity
4. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year

Important Notes:

• The Community Foundation does not reimburse activities that have already occurred
• Submit your request before the proposed activity takes place

Required Materials:

• Brief follow-up report after grant completion