Rotary Charities of Traverse City: Learning Fund Grant

The Rotary Charities of Traverse City Learning Fund Grant supports professional development for staff in 501(c)(3) organizations, Native nations, and local governments in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, or Leelanau Counties. Funds can be used for training, workshops, and conferences that enhance skills and community impact. Eligible applicants can receive up to $2,000, fostering collaboration and systems change while aligning with Rotary Charities' mission. Proposals must be submitted two weeks prior to the activity start date.

Note: Requests must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to the start date of the activity.
Organizations flourish when staff feel valued, motivated, and can grow in their careers. Encouraging continued learning ensures that knowledge and skills stay relevant and up-to-date, which is beneficial to the individual, organization, and community.
Support through the Learning Fund may go towards trainings, workshops, conferences, or other professional learning broadly aligned with Rotary Charities’ mission and guiding principles.
How it Works
The Learning Fund covers fees for professional development opportunities, including trainings, workshops, conferences, and other related learning experiences. Matching funds are not required.
Eligibility
Approval of Learning Fund requests will be made based on:
Broad alignment with the mission, vision, and guiding principles of Rotary CharitiesAbility of learning experience to foster one or more of the following:Supportive capacities to help changemakers work better togetherCapacities to support systems changeCapacities to support community developmentAbility of applicants to describe how the learning opportunity will increase their capacity to meet their mission, improve their work, or help create community impact

Eligibility

Applicants must be affiliated as a volunteer, board member, or staff of a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, Native nation, local unit of government, or school district serving Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, or Leelanau Counties.Applications from units of government, governmental departments, organizations, and schools must be approved by the elected body that is ultimately responsible for the grant funds and implementation.Organizations located outside the five-county area may be considered for funding if their work impacts area residents, and those services can be clearly measured and/or documented.Individuals may apply up to $500.Teams of 4 or more are eligible for up to $2,000 per Rotary Charities' fiscal year (July through June).Topics areas may include, but are not limited to:Board developmentCommunications & digital marketingEvaluationFinancial managementFund developmentGoal setting & strategic actionHuman resourcesTime managementCollaborative skillsCommunity developmentDecision-makingFacilitation LeadershipPartnerships & mergersRacial justice, diversity, equity & inclusionSystems changeRequests must be submitted prior to the start date of the activity. We accept proposals from faith-based organizations that have clearly demonstrated public benefit.Direct applicants may not submit more than one application in one category during the same grant cycle.Organizations serving as a fiscal sponsor may be able to submit more than one application for different initiatives with approval.Fiscal sponsors must meet all eligibility requirements and will have reporting responsibilities, including a final report and budget. Fiscal sponsors are encouraged to create and submit an MOU or other official agreements with project partners.It is allowable to have active grants in one of the biannual categories – Assets for Thriving Communities or Systems Change Accelerator – concurrent with a grant in one of the monthly categories – Seed Grants and Learning Fund. Current grants must be closed in order to apply for a new grant in the same category.

Ineligibility

Support through the Learning Fund is not available for programs already underwritten by Rotary Charities (ie. Leadership Learning Lab, Leadership Coaching Cohort, the Fund Development Cohort, or other learning experiences and professional development opportunities that already receive support from Rotary Charities). Funding is not available for school tuition and material expenses, strategic planning, reimbursements or debts, or travel and lodging expenses. Rotary Charities cannot provide funding or reimbursement for activities that are already underway or have already occurred. Private foundations and individuals are not eligible for grant funding.Generally, start-up organizations are not eligible for Rotary Charities grants.No part of a grant may be used for, or applied to:Debt serviceEndowment fundsPlaygroundsImmediate short-term emergency needs of clients (for rent payment, gas money, food, etc.)Educational programs for individual school districts, unless they are intended to eventually serve the five-county Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School DistrictProposals will not be considered for any religious programs or services that:Require a person to hold or accept a particular religious belief, doctrine, or creed as a condition to receive servicesPrimarily address spiritual needsHave evangelism as the primary purpose of the program and do not respect the diversity of religious and spiritual beliefs of all individuals