Community Foundation Grant Request

Grant Application

The Community Foundation Endowment Fund is housed within and stewarded by CMF with the advice and support of CMF’s Community Foundation Committee. The fund provides support to CMF community foundation members in the areas of organizational capacity building, professional development, technical support and accreditations. The Committee has reserved a pool of funding within the Community Foundation Endowment Fund to inspire and support new ideas and innovative practices in community philanthropy in the areas of advancing racial equity, capacity building and technical assistance as it relates to virtual work.

Grants Available

Technology Grants (includes Cybersecurity)National Standards SupportBoot Camp Scholarship (Currently Unavailable)Foundations on the Hill ScholarshipScholarships (events, trainings, memberships)Project Support to advance racial equity, capacity building, or technical assistancePlease select which grant you are applying for from the list.

Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Community Foundation

Email

Phone

Grant Choice Selected

Technology Grants

The Community Foundation Technology Fund was established to provide a permanent endowment fund to support the ongoing technology needs of Michigan community foundations.

The following options are available:

Software Training
Support for software training of general ledger, donor or grants management systems. This option is limited to 50% of the total cost, with a maximum of $2,500 available per request.
Team-up Grants
Up to $5,000 in support is available for a group technology/software project that benefits at least three community foundations. This support could be used for group training or software development.
Transition Support
Support is avaialble for key staff turnover or for a transition to a third-party accounting provider. This support may be used to assist in the purchase, migration and or training costs related to these transitions. a maximum $5000 is available.
Cybersecurity Audit Subsidy:
Support for community foundations with assets under $50 million is available to support the Digital Elevation Information Technology Security Assessment process. Foundations should first contact Scott Montgomery at Digital Elevation to receive an audit estimate and should include their estimate with this grant application.

Grant levels are as follows:
Assets of $1 - $10 million: $2,000
Assets over $10 - $25 million: $1,500
Assets over $25 - $50 million: $1,000
Equipment Purchase
Support up to $2500 for the Purchase of equipment such as laptops, printers, or other electronic devices (.i.e. OWL Cameras). This option is limited to foundations with assets under $25 million and should be used for one-time purchases such as staff expansions or emergency replacements only.
Other
Limited funds to support other training or technology-related investments are available on a case-by-case basis. In your request, please provide details as to how the funds will advance your foundation't work.

The support period for these grants is the CMF fiscal year, April 1 to March 31. When the funding for the year has been expended, the cycle will begin again the following April 1.

Software Training Amount - Requested Amount?

Team-up Grant Amount - Requested Amount?

Software Transition Support - Requested Amount?

Cybersecurity Audit - Requested Amount

Equipment Purchase - Requested Amount?

Other - Requested Amount?

Team Up Grant Participants

Description of how funds will be spent

Please provide a quote for any contracted services or products that will be purchased with the requested funds.

If you need to submit multiple files, please combine files into a single ZIP or PDF files and upload one file.

TechAmount

National Standards Support

Support will be provided to community foundations who participate in National Standards.

Please attach a copy of your certification

If you need to submit multiple files, please combine files into a single ZIP or PDF files and upload one file.

My Foundation Assets

$1-$10 million$10-$25 million

Amount of support provided

$

.00

Boot Camp Scholarships

BOOTCAMP SCHOLARSHIPS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, PLEASE GO BACK AND SELECT A DIFFERENT SCHOLARSHIP OPTION

Scholarship Information

A limited number of scholarships are available for attendees from community foundations with assets under $100 million.

Asset size of $15 – 100 M will receive a scholarship for $100 off the registration fee
Asset size under $15 M will receive a scholarship for $200 off the registration fee

My Community Foundation has assets of:

Under $15M$15M - $100MOver $100M

Qualified Discount Amount

$

.00

Scholarship Not Available

I'm sorry, due to your Community Foundation's assets, you are not eligible for this scholarship.

Foundations on the Hill Scholarships

The Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF) is pleased to offer scholarships to support community foundation members attending Foundations on the Hill (FOTH) in 2025.

FOTH is taking place Sunday, February 23, to Wednesday, February 26, 2025 in Washington, D.C. The scholarship is intended to fill financial gaps and allow staff and trustees from community foundations to attend FOTH.

The scholarships are limited to CMF member Michigan community foundation staff and trustees.

For more information about the conference please visit the United Philanthropy Forum Website. 

In selecting recipients, priority will be given to applicants who:

Are first-time FOTH attendees or they are new to public policy and advocacy work.
Demonstrate the need for financial assistance to attend the conference.
Self-identify as belonging to a group that has been underrepresented in the philanthropic sector.
Their foundation’s service area includes congressional districts that are not usually represented at FOTH.

Please note- applicants need not meet all criteria listed above.

Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis. These grants are being offered through the Community Foundation Endowment Fund and a limited pool is available. To maximize the number of recipients, please request only what you need to support your engagement. We anticipate all funds will be granted, so please plan to apply by December 20 at the latest.

Amount Requested for Scholarship

$

.00

Estimated Cost to Attend

$

.00

Please note the estimated cost to attend for items like hotel, transportation and registration so we may understand how much your scholarship will offset the cost to attend this event.

Have you attended Foundation on the Hill before?

YesNo

Have you received the Foundations on the Hill Community Foundation Scholarship before?

YesNo

Because CMF is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the sector, these scholarships are intended to support individuals who have been underrepresented in the field. Do you belong to a community that is underrepresented in the philanthropic sector? If so please describe.

Is this scholarship being requested on a financial needs basis?

YesNo

What you hope to gain from attending this conference?

Is there anything else you would like us to consider when receiving this application?

Scholarships for Events, Trainings and Memberships

Community foundations can apply for funds to participate in sector events and online trainings offered by other organizations. You may also use these to subsidize your membership to national philanthropy serving organizations.

There is no maximum on the amount of support you may request and no limitations on the asset size of the requesting organization. Organizations with larger budgets are encouraged to consider making requests for a portion of funding when possible.

Amount Requested for Scholarships

Please provide a short description of how the conference/training/membership will contribute to increased capacity and/or leadership at your foundation.

Project Support

Funds have been set aside from the Community Foundation Endowment Fund to support community foundations in key priority areas.

Priority Area for project

Advancing Racial Equity (one example is support for a consultant to facilitate board training on racial equity)Capacity Building (such as training to advance community leadership, proactive grantmaking, regional collaboration, or economic development)Technical Assistance (such as assistance needed to work remotely and adapt amid COVID-19)Other area or I am not sureWe welcome projects outside of the areas listed. If your need for support does not fall within the three priority areas please use "Other area or I am not sure" as your selection.

Please provide a short description of your project. What do you intend to do and what are your desired outcomes?

Amount Requested for Project Support

Attach your project proposal or scope of work

If you need to submit multiple files, please combine files into a single ZIP or PDF files and upload one file.

Please list additional details about your project not already included in the description above. This may include information on the consultant you plan to engage and any deadlines you are working to meet.

What questions do you have or support do you need from CMF staff related to this project?

CMF staff reviews requests and makes decisions based on the funding available and the guidance of the Community Foundation Committee.

Submit Request

Requested Amount

$

Additional Notes or Comments

Information Accuracy

This information is accurate to the best of my knowledge