Frey Foundation Grant

The Frey Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing community well-being through initiatives in four key areas: Building Community, Children & Families, Community Arts, and Environment. The foundation supports projects that ensure access to affordable housing, quality child care, and cultural experiences while preserving Michigan’s natural resources. Eligible organizations must meet specific guidelines and can expect a response within 30 days of their inquiry. Funding is available for collaborative projects that promote inclusivity and address community needs.

NOTE: Submit a brief inquiry online. If invited, you will be asked to complete a full application. All funding decisions are made by Frey Foundation Trustees. Those decisions are made quarterly in February, May, August, and November. Please note that the timelines may vary based on several factors, including proposal readiness. Foundation staff will keep you informed throughout the review process.
Program Areas
We have a passion for investing in four key program areas.
Building Community
Our grantees prioritize listening to the lived experiences of our neighbors to understand the root causes of their challenges, learning what they need to thrive, and partnering to build new systems or approaches for a better future.
Our grantmaking priorities currently include:

• Ensuring access to affordable housing for all
• Encouraging well-planned development to create strong city centers and vibrant neighborhoods
• Fostering public-private partnerships to leverage capital investments that enhance local and regional impact
• Supporting workforce development
• Children & Families

Our grantmaking priorities currently include:

• Ensuring access to high-quality child care and preschool programsEnsuring all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential
• Leveraging community systems that ensure students and schools are successful
• Partnering with parents to ensure families thrive
• Community Arts

Arts and culture are key indicators of community health and powerful tools for self-expression. By partnering with organizations that focus on listening to our neighbors and supporting creatives with fresh approaches, we ensure the arts and cultural offerings are accessible and reflect the community.
Our grantmaking priorities currently include:

• Supporting an arts and cultural community that is strong, diverse and valued by local residents
• Improving inclusion and access to high-quality arts and cultural experiences and education for under-resourced populations
• Supporting collaboration and capacity building for arts and culture organizations
• Environment

From the Great Lakes to bike trails and greenways, Michigan’s natural resources are beloved by all who live here, yet they’re always under pressure.
Our grantmaking priorities include:
Preserving and restoring significant lakes and streams in Lake Michigan’s sub-watershedsExpanding and connecting regional trails and greenwayslProtecting critical lands including farmland, parkland, and natural habitat areas
Inquiries are accepted by the foundation throughout the year. Once you have completed the online inquiry

Eligibility

Frey Foundation accepts requests from charitable or tax exempt organizations that impact one or more of the Frey Foundation’s program areas, geographic focus areas and meet our funding guidelines highlighted below.As a collaborative funder, we generally consider funding up to 15% of a program and/or 5% of a capital project.Our geographic focus is primarily Kent, Emmet and Charlevoix Counties or projects that impact the broader West/Northern Michigan regions.We value inclusive practices in board recruitment, hiring and delivery of service.

Ineligibility

We are not likely to fund:Conferences or events;Requests for general operating support, or;Programs that require participants practice or adhere to specific religious beliefs.