Mental Health Awareness, Education and Outreach Mini-Grants Program

The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation offers the Mental Health Awareness, Education and Outreach Mini-Grants Program to enhance mental health services in Michigan. This initiative focuses on improving treatment programs, promoting early intervention, and reducing stigma associated with mental health. By collaborating across sectors and prioritizing underserved populations, the foundation aims to increase access to quality mental health care and evaluate the impact of its efforts, ultimately fostering a healthier community.

Our VisionThe Ethel and James Flinn Foundation is a private foundation that uses its resources to improve the quality, scope and delivery of mental health services in Michigan.
We continuously evaluate the outcomes and impact of our grantmaking

Application Details

ELIGIBILITY AND AVAILABLE FUNDING
This mini-grant RFP is open to non-profit community organizations located in
Southeast Michigan that are NOT mental health providers but see the need for
mental health awareness and education among the people they serve or within
their community. Examples include faith-based organizations, youth organiza-
tions, community development and grassroots organizations, human service
organizations, etc.
FUNDING PRIORITIES FOR 2025
The Flinn Foundation recognizes the importance to educate and build mental
health awareness to decrease stigma in our community. The Foundation has al-
located $100,000 for smaller one-year grant awards between $3,000 to
$5,000 per organization to improve education, awareness and public outreach
that may include, but are not limited to:

• Education, awareness Community voice Youth led campaigns Prevention and self-
• and outreach or lived experience care mental wellness
• programs campaigns promotion
• 2

You may contact staff at the Foundation to Andrea M. Cole
discuss eligibility and questions regarding this President and CEO
RFP. However, a discussion is discretionary acole@flinnfoundation.org
SUBMISSION
All applications must be submitted through the Foundation’s online application
The Foundation’s grant-
making priorities are outlined in detail and a tutorial is available to help walk you
through the application process.
REQUIREMENTS
When preparing your proposal application, please respond in clear and plain lan-
guage that accurately describes your project and intended outcomes without too
many buzzwords, jargon, or citations. To help you prepare for the on-line grant-
making application process, we have outlined the following elements that should
be included in your answer to each question of the proposal application sections:

• Mission, Accomplishments and Organizational Capacity:
• • Provide a brief history of the organization, current mission and goals and
• description of services.
• Purpose/Need/Population Served:
• • Provide a clear description of the project and rationale/need for services.
• • Identify the age range of your target population, geographical area and
• projected number of individuals to be served directly by this program
• and the vulnerable nature of the population.
• 3

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
Activities and Outcomes:

• • Describe the services and activities to be provided, results and out-
• comes that you wish to achieve during the grant period as well as how it
• would improve mental health awareness, education and/or outreach.
• Executive Summary
• • The Executive Summary will be presented to the Board of Trustees as
• your impact statement so make sure it is a clear, concise and compelling
• overview of the need you are addressing, project goals, activities and
• outcomes expected from the program.
• Attachments: The following report is required along with the application:
• • Budget/Actual Expenditure Report (Click here to download the tem-
• plate - see directions on Page 5 to help you with planning)
• GRANT DECISION PROCESS

The Board of Trustees will review all proposals and make final approvals. The
funding decisions will be based on the following considerations:

• • The degree to which the proposal addresses priority areas as defined in this RFP
• • Ability to reduce inequities and disparities in access to care and treatment
• • Ability to increase mental health awareness, education and public outreach
• REPORTING
• All organizations who receive a grant will be required to sign a Grant Award
• Agreement Letter notifying the Foundation of their ability to comply with all

reporting requirements. Grant funds are dispensed in December, 2025 and the
grant term for funded projects begins January 1, 2026.
APPLY
Please apply online at www.flinnfoundation.org/apply. The Budget/Actual
Expenditure Report templates are available at the bottom of the webpage.