Essential Needs Fund
Funding Amount
Not stated
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- Organizations serving individuals and families facing financial hardship
- Funding: Distributed through partnership health and human service organizations rather than direct individual grants.
Geography
- In Emmet County
Other requirements
- Fund income supports ongoing assistance programs.
Overview
Geographic Scope: Emmet County, MI
Purpose: Support health and human service organizations so they can establish and maintain "essential need" dollars for times when their clients need important and quick assistance.
Community Need:
- 36% of Emmet County residents either live in poverty or are a paycheck away from experiencing hardship
- Families forced to choose between paying rent or utility bills; buying gas to get to work or food to feed family
- Aging population on fixed incomes without room for extra expenses
- Unexpected medical bills or car trouble can create crisis situations
Impact:
- On average, 40 families receive assistance through these funds annually
- Typical amount of support approximately $150 per family
- Serves as critical lifeline for clients
Eligible Applicants:
- Health and human service organizations in Emmet County
- Organizations serving individuals and families facing financial hardship
Funding: Distributed through partnership health and human service organizations rather than direct individual grants. Fund income supports ongoing assistance programs.
Contact:
- Community Foundation staff
- Phone: 231-348-5820
- Address: 1349 US-131 Suite A, Petoskey, MI 49770
- Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:00pm
Past recipients of this program
Recent awards under this program (from Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation's IRS filings)
Harbor Springs, MI · 2023
$97K
Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan
Petoskey, MI · 2023
$70K
Friendship Centers of Emmet County
Petoskey, MI · 2023
$26K
Health Department of Northwest Michigan
Harbor Springs, MI · 2023
$7,500
Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency
Traverse City, MI · 2021
$12K
12 grants in Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation's 2020–2023 filings reference “Essential Needs Fund” in their stated purpose. Amounts and places as reported by the funder.
What Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2026
- Grants in 2026
- 98
- Total given
- $3.72M
- Median grant
- $15K
- Range
- $5,113–$313K
- By dollars: Michigan 100%. Top recipient cities: Petoskey, MI; Harbor Springs, MI; Ann Arbor, MI.
- 16% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 14% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
Freshwater Future · Petoskey, MI
Fall 2025 grant cycle - development of a petoskey water affordability plan: helping…
$313K
Manna Food Project · Harbor Springs, MI
General support, food 4 kids backpack program, winter storm relief
$299K
Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity · Petoskey, MI
Support for land purchase, affordable homeownership in meadowlands, support for…
$239K
NCMC Foundation · Petoskey, MI
Support of the career and technical education enhancement (catee) project, childcare…
$189K
Little Traverse Conservancy · Harbor Springs, MI
Restoration and recovery of conservancy trails due to ice storm, retiremetn of the…
$170K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Nonprofits
- Hardship
- Human services
Categories
Browse similar grants by category
Related Grants
Open grants from this funder and similar programs
Discretionary Grants
Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
Amount
Up to $1,000
Deadline
Rolling
Heart of Cook Grants
Berrien Community Foundation Inc
Amount
US $100 - US $10,000
Deadline
June 9, 2027
Listed date — confirm with the funder
Community Response Fund
Fremont Area Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Clara Abbott Financial Assistance Grants
Abbott Fund
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Environmental Education Fund
Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
Amount
Up to $500
Deadline
Expected ~October
Based on past cycles
Little Traverse Bay Protection and Restoration Fund Grants
Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation
Amount
US $10,000 - US $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to apply for Essential Needs Fund?
Grantable helps you assess fit, draft narratives, and track deadlines — so you can submit stronger applications, faster.
You found Essential Needs Fund. Now let's win it.