James A. and Faith Knight Foundation Grant Program

The James A. and Faith Knight Foundation Grant Program, established in 1999, focuses on enhancing community support in Jackson and Washtenaw Counties, Michigan. It prioritizes general operating support for nonprofits, aims to protect the natural world, and advocates for women and girls' empowerment. The foundation underscores the importance of sound financial practices, governance, and diversity in grantmaking, fostering trust between funders and grantees while addressing critical societal issues.

Note: The James A. and Faith Knight Foundation will accept grant applications through the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation’s (AAACF) NonProfit Portal. Grant decisions for the James A. and Faith Knight Foundation are made independently from AAACF.
Welcome to the James A. & Faith Knight Foundation
The James A. and Faith Knight Foundation was established in 1999 to honor the memory of James A. and Faith Knight and the many sacrifices they made to enable this foundation to carry on their legacy. The James A. and Faith Knight Foundation tries to make a difference in the organizations and communities it serves.
General Operating Support
General operating support provides unrestricted funding to help support and maintain an organization as it pursues its mission. Core support is integral for nonprofits sustainability, impact, and growth. This type of grant is flexible and gives the grantee the ability to use the funds where they are most appropriate. While general operating support continues to remain relatively scarce among the nation’s largest grantmakers, we feel it is important and necessary to grant to nonprofits. We feel that it signals trust between the funder and the grantee without sacrificing accountability.
Animals and the Natural World
The James A. & Faith Knight Foundation desires to sustain the natural world that is so important to our quality of life. We invest in programs that:

• respect and enhance the care of animals,protect the diversity and integrity of ecosystems, andeducate citizens about the importance of ecological communities.
• Women and Girls

A better future for women and girls is a better future for all. We feel that programs that understand and specifically serve the needs of women and girls have the best chance to improve communities. In addition, national studies have found that less than 7% of the philanthropic dollar goes to programs that are focused on women and girls. For these reasons, we fund programs that:

Eligibility

The foundation giving is focused on Jackson and Washtenaw Counties in Michigan.In general, the foundation supports organizations that believe in good nonprofit practices including sound financial management, developed governance practices, and clarity of mission. Attention to gender, diversity, and outcomes are important.

Ineligibility

Any grants received after the deadline date, will be deferred to the first quarter of 2026.The Foundation does not make grants:to annual appeal campaignsto religious activitiesto political campaignsto individuals