Past Grants
Grantmaking Policies
Grant Application

Grants

Lapeer County Community Foundation
Grants By Fund

Lapeer County Community Fund
1999:

•Lapeer District Library for DeAngeli Library bench project

•Marathon Township for Marathon Area Fire Authority Otter Lake Station
2000:
•Village of North Branch for North Branch bench project

•Metamora Historical Society for Metamora Old Town Hall project

•Village of Almont for Village of Almont streetscape project
2001:
•Blue Water Center for Independent Living for furnishings for the Lapeer County Branch
•Almont Area Chamber of Commerce for a clock for Main Street
•Trinity Continuing Care Services for wellness program
•Lapeer County KIND for Spanish pre-school program
•Michigan Audubon Society/Seven Ponds Nature Center for Miller Pond Nature Trail
•PIX Arts Council for Greater Lapeer Inc. for PIX State Student Workshop
2003:
•United Way of Lapeer County for Senior Resource Directory
2003,2004,2006:
•Lapeer Community Schools for Stuff- A-Back Pack
2004:
•Lapeer Downtown Development Authority for Lapeer Center for the Arts
2005:

•PIX Arts Council for Greater Lapeer Inc. for leadership training

•Attica Fire Department for Jaws of Life equipment

•Great Lakes Bioregional Land Conservancy for capacity building and marketing
2005 to 2008:
•Flint Area Science Fair, Inc. to support Annual Flint Area Science and Engineering Fair
2006:
•Lapeer Community Schools for Enhanced Learning with Orff Instruments

•Columbiaville Rotary Club for street clock in Downtown Columbiaville

2006:
•Lapeer County MSU Extension for Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Pilot Program
•Girl Scouts Fair Winds Council for Don't Make Me Cry Bullying Program
•Mid-Michigan Work Camp to paint 10 Senior Citizens homes
•MSU Extension 4-H Program Fair Farm Booklet
2007:
•Lapeer County Historical Society to preserve and restore museum exterior plus provide handicap accessibility
•Lapeer County Community Corrections for equipment for Organic Garden of New Flavors project
•Girl Scouts Fair Wind Council to support Fun, Fit and Female summer program
•Lapeer County Center, Inc. for energy and water conservation project
•Lapeer Community Schools for a new dock for the Mike Supernault Nature Center
•Access to Nature Endowment Fund for Kellogg grant match
•Council of Michigan Foundations Transfer of Wealth initiative
•Imlay City DDA for downtown public mural
•Lapeer DBA for downtown kiosks
2008:
•MDA to send a Lapeer County youth to summer camp
•Human Development Corporation for a Early Head Start Parent Support Group Program
•North Branch Middle/High School Forensics for 9 students attendance at the Ohio University Summer Forensics Camp
•Seven Ponds Nature Center for building additions, renovation, and site improvements
•Girl Scouts Fair Winds Council for Home Safe Home and Don't Sweat It Summer Programs
•Lapeer County Historical Society for county wide museum brochure
•The Desert Angels, Inc. for office and display items and software
•Imlay City Schools for “You're a Grand Old Grandstand” historical restoration project
•St. Paul Lutheran School for Community Garden Project fencing
•Dryden Village/Township for gazebo for the Dryden Memorial Park
•Funds for Fun Committee at Murphy Elementary School for new equipment for Murphy Elementary playground

Lapeer County Probate Children’s Fund
2001, 2005, and 2007 :
•Children’s Fund Juvenile Division for operational support of the program

Wakaresku Cultural Fund
1998 through 2006:
•$23,500 in scholarships to 27 students
2007:
•Borland Elementary School for Fine Arts Fund Night Kuungana Drum and Dance Company participation
•Sunrise Kiwanis Club of Lapeer for the Filmmakers Workshop for the student art activities for Lapeer
Celebrates the Arts
•Imlay City Community Schools to support student cultural trip to France

Hazel Simms Nursing Scholarship Fund
1997 through 2008:
•over $36,000 in scholarships to 42 students

Ross P. Broesamle Educational Fund
1998 through 2008:
•over $389,000 in scholarships to 184 students

Lapeer County Youth Initiative Fund
1999:
•Christian Family Services of Lapeer County for Drug Prevention Survey Presentation Information
•Lapeer Community Schools for SADD motivational speaker
•Lapeer County KIND for KIND project
2000:
•Lapeer County Community Fund Youth Advisory Board for Teen Zone
•Lapeer Community Schools for elementary music program
2001:
•Lapeer County Community Fund Youth Advisory Board for Teen Zone
2002:
•Lapeer Community Schools for The Pregnant Teen/Single Teen Parent Program
2004:
•Girl Scouts Fair Winds Council for Choosing Community After School Program
2008:
• Maple Grove Elementary School for “Going Green” Student Council Recycling Program
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lapeer for Bowling for Kids donation
• North Branch High School Forensics program for performance equipment
• Lapeer County Intermediate Program for the Pre-engineering pilot program for advanced studies

Lapeer County Medical Fund
2002 through 2008:
•$17,100 in scholarships to 7 students
2003:
•United Way of Lapeer County for Senior Resource Directory
2004:
•Michigan Association for deaf, hearing and speech services for Camp Chris Williams
•Lapeer Regional Hospital for nursing scholarships
•Lapeer County Community Mental Health Services for child development charts

Lapeer Community Scholarship & Student Loan Endowment Fund
2004:
•$4,000 in scholarships to 4 students
2008:
•$2,000 in scholarships to 2 students

Christopher Jon Dirks Memorial Scholarship
2001 through 2008:
•$3,100 in scholarships to 7 students

Lapeer County Historical Society Endowment Fund
2004 through 2008:

•Lapeer County Historical Society for operational support

Clarke Adams Memorial Fund
2006 to 2008:
•$15,000 in scholarships to 15 students

West Genesee Natural Area Fund
2003:
•City of Lapeer for Ponds and Prairies project

United Way of Lapeer County Endowment Fund
2003:
•United Way of Lapeer County for operational support
2008:
• Agency operational support


North Branch Area Schools Endowment Fund
2005 to 2008:
•$2,000 in scholarships to 4 students

Women's Fund
2005:
•Mini-grant to help build handicap ramp
2008:
• Mott Community College Foundation for Lapeer scholarship program
• Mini-grant to new stove and gas power connect
• SANE/SART for purchase of specimen dryer and printing of brochure
• Mini-grant for water leak repair
• LACADA for children’s summer activities

Irma Gelhausen Scholarship Fund
2007 through 2008:
• $2,000 in scholarships to 2 students

Adam and Corrinne Moore Music Fund
2007:
• Lapeer Community Schools for recorder for music department
• Lapeer Community Schools for equipment for the Lapeer East High School Band
2008:
• Lapeer Community Schools for music for Lapeer High School bands

Carpenter Fund
2006:
•Lapeer Community Schools for operational support

Lapeer County Community Foundation

Grant Making Policy  

Introduction
The Lapeer County Community Foundation, henceforth known as the Foundation, builds and manages permanent endowment funds from a wide variety of donors to provide grants that enhance the quality of life in Lapeer County, now and for future generations.

Various types of permanent endowment funds, often referred to simply as "funds," are entrusted to the Foundation by donors throughout Lapeer County. The Foundation invests and manages these funds with the goal of increasing their principal and returning part of the earnings to the community through grant making.

Donors establish designated funds for a wide variety of purposes, such as providing scholarships, benefiting specific charities, or supporting a particular purpose. Grants from designated funds are awarded considering input from the donor(s) or a committee which advises the fund. Discretionary funds are earmarked for an area of philanthropic interest (e.g., the arts, human services, or environment), or created for unrestricted grantmaking purposes. In the case of area of interest and unrestricted funds, the donor entrusts the Foundation with the task of awarding grants that address current or emerging community needs.

Philosophy
The Foundation funds charitable organizations that are able to demonstrate projects planned with respect to the community's opportunities and needs.

The Foundation gives priority to programs that:
. Provide incentive for generating other funds and community resources
. Reach as many people as possible in Lapeer County
. Increase individual access to community resources
. Examine and address the underlying causes of local problems
. Promote personal independence and achievement
. Seek challenge or matching grants
. Attract volunteer resources and support
. Strengthen the private, non-profit sector
. Encourage and facilitate collaboration with other organizations
. Build the capacity of the applying organization.
 
The Foundation cannot grant monies to:
. Religious or sectarian purposes
. Individuals
. Routine maintenance
. Administrative costs for maintaining the operation of an organization

Eligibility
The Foundation welcomes grant requests from organizations in and/or serving Lapeer County having recognition under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, educational institutions and governmental entities.

Guidelines
Detailed funding priority information for specific funds is available by contacting the Foundation office. Grants from unrestricted funds are made in the areas of education, arts and culture, the environment, health care, human services, recreation and other project topics.

Precedence is given to projects that:
. Have clear, defined goals and measurable outcomes
. Demonstrate a clear and convincing need and target gaps in current services
. Encourage cooperation, not duplication of services
. Include a long-term, sustainable financial plan
. Increase the capacity of the community and its citizens to participate in identifying community needs and in developing and implementing solutions
. Develop self-reliance and eliminate dependency
. Mirror the diversity of our community and promote equity among its various segments.

Organizations interested in applying are strongly encouraged to discuss their project with the Executive Director prior to submitting an application.  If the project meets the basic eligibility criteria and is consistent with the Foundation's program interests, a formal application will be sent to the applicant. The Foundation reserves the right to request additional information about the organization, the project, and added financial details.

Application Procedures
Applications for grants are accepted at any time. Application forms are available by contacting the Foundation office. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation for further information, either through the Grant Review Committee or by contacting the Executive Director.

The Grant Review Committee meets regularly to consider applications. Organizations may submit grant applications throughout the year. Deadlines occur at 5:00 p.m. on the final business day of each month. Specific application deadlines may be announced for particular funds or through Requests for Proposals.

Each application will be reviewed when all application information has been received. Members of the Grant Review Committee and/or staff for the Foundation may conduct a site visitation and/or ask to meet with or interview representatives of the applicant organization.

Grant applications shall be submitted sufficiently in advance to provide Foundation staff and the Grant Review Committee time to completely review the funding request. Any circumstances that require consideration of expedited review must be explained in the proposal.

Grant requests should be sent to:
Lapeer County Community Foundation
220 W. Nepessing St., Suite 202
Lapeer , MI 48446
(810) 664-0691
lccf@charterinternet.com  

Unrestricted Grant making Policies

1) CAPITAL FUNDING
Unless linked to a valuable program and/or quality-of-life enhancing effort, the construction or purchase of buildings or other physical facilities, in and of themselves, rarely solve community problems or maximize community opportunities. In deciding whether or not to fund a capital grant request, the Foundation will evaluate the link between the capital request and such efforts. Of equal importance is a realistic, written plan for maintaining the physical facility and sustaining the related programs and/or quality of life enhancing efforts.

As a matter of policy, the Foundation will consider applications for capital grants only if they protect current programs, implement new ones, or improve the quality of life of the community.

2) DEBT RETIREMENT
The Foundation encourages the development of strong, fiscally responsible, self-sustaining not-for-profit organizations. Investing in organizations with outstanding debt is inconsistent with this stance.
As a matter of policy, the Foundation does not provide grants for debt retirement.  

3) GRANTS TO OTHER ENDOWMENTS
Serving the community as a community endowment builder is one of the fundamental ways in which the Foundation improves the quality of life in Lapeer County . The Board of Trustees believes the Foundation is the best place to invest endowed dollars for the good of the community. The Foundation is able to meet the needs of the full range of donors with either general or specific charitable interests and can offer sophisticated investment management as well as other benefits associated with the economies of scale afforded by a large diversified portfolio.
As a matter of policy, the Foundation does not award grants to other endowments.  

4) SECONDARY GRANTS (RE-GRANTING)
The Foundation boasts a sophisticated, knowledgeable, committed board/staff team sensitive to community needs. It is in the best interest of the community that this team be as directly linked as possible to the beneficiaries of the grants it awards. Remaining close to the end results of the efforts allow the Foundation to be both visible and accountable to the public served.
As a matter of policy, the Foundation does not provide organizations with funds for making grants to other organizations. Significant exceptions to this policy are situations in which the Foundation initiates a re-granting arrangement as part of one of its own strategic initiatives and is therefore closely and visibly involved. An example would be granting funds to a neighborhood based 501(c)(3) for the purpose of re-granting mini-grants to support grass roots efforts that strengthen children and families.

5) UNITS OF GOVERNMENT (city, county, township, etc.)
Units of government are supported by taxpayer dollars. They spend those dollars on providing essential goods and services to the residents of their municipalities. There are, however, programs, goods and services that are not essential, yet are important to enhancing the quality of life for residents. It is rare that taxpayer dollars are available to fund these nonessential but important enhancements. Funding from the Foundation to units of government is most appropriately considered when used to provide nonessential, quality-of-life enhancing programs, goods and services not typically funded through taxes. The examples below are meant to be used as a guide only in determining whether or not to consider funding a particular request.

Typically Supported by Taxpayers:
Road Repair
Snow and Garbage Removal
Sewers

Typically Not Supported by Taxpayers:
Accessible playground in a public park
Beautification projects  

As a matter of policy, the Foundation will consider requests from units of government when the request for support is judged by the Foundation to be for programs, goods or services that would not be considered essential and therefore not typically funded through taxpayer dollars.  

6) REPEAT FUNDING
The Foundation does not consider it a wise use of the entrusted community resources to fund programs, services or organizations on a long-term basis. Rather, the intent is to encourage nonprofits to develop realistic written plans for long-term sustainability that do not depend upon any Foundation support. The Foundation recognizes that there are certain situations such as start-up periods for new programs, services and/or organizations, in which requests for repeat funding are legitimate. The Foundation also acknowledges that in some instances, start-up periods may reasonably be extended for up to three years.  

A) Multi-Year Requests for Start-up Funds
The Foundation will consider multi-year requests during a three-year period of time. Requests for extended funding beyond three years will be reassessed at the time of the request.

B) Repeat Requests for Start-up Funds (for same program, service and/or organization)
The Foundation recognizes that a grant seeker may not always accurately estimate the length of time required to stabilize a new program, service and/or organization. This may result in an initial request for one-time-only start-up funds, followed by another request to extend the funding for a longer period of time. The Foundation will consider this type of request on a case-by-case basis. The criteria for consideration will be the outcome achieved with the initial investment and the viability of the plans for sustainability.

Note:
The Foundation recognizes that there are many instances when the same organization approaches the Foundation for funding several times, each time with a request for a different program. If the program is truly new and different each time, the Foundation considers these requests entirely legitimate and not technically a form of repeat funding.

As a matter of policy, the Foundation will consider repeat funding for at most a three year period of time for the start-up costs involved with new programs, services or organizations. Applicants will be considered for repeat funding if, in the Foundation's judgment, a realistic written plan for long-term sustainability of the new program, service or organization for which funding is requested is in place.  

7) OPERATIONS OR MAINTENANCE
The Foundation believes that the best use of the entrusted community resources is to fund start-up costs rather than the costs of sustaining programs, services and/or organizations. Operations including salaries and maintenance costs are typically considered to be costs involved in sustaining these endeavors.
As a matter of policy, the Foundation will only consider funding operations including salaries and/or maintenance in start-up situations.

8) FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
Churches and other faith-based organizations are increasingly playing a key leadership role in addressing human service needs particularly at the grass roots level. The Foundation welcomes their involvement. In considering applications for funding from faith-based organizations, however, it is extremely important to acknowledge that the Foundation does not fund religious activities. The Foundation will consider funding secular activities sponsored by churches and other faith-based organizations when participation in those activities is not based on religious beliefs and/or affiliations.
As a matter of policy, the Foundation will consider funding programs and/or services offered by churches and other faith-based organizations when they are secular in nature. To be considered for funding, participation in the programs must not be based on religious beliefs and/or affiliations.  

9) NONDISCRIMINATION IN GRANTMAKING
The Foundation believes that a community-wide commitment to lifelong learning, development and growth for all citizens is essential to sustaining a healthy community. It is the Foundation's belief that a diversity of individuals, organizations and perspectives is essential to any effective community effort. The Foundation actively seeks to promote access, equity, and inclusiveness, and to eliminate discrimination. The Foundation does not knowingly support organizations that discriminate.

Adopted: 10/13/04
Revised: 9/18/07

Grant Application (grant requests of $1,000 or more) :
The following file is in Adobe .PDF format and must be opened with the Acrobat reader. You may download this software here:

To apply for the Lapeer County Community Foundation Grant please download an Application by following this link.

Mini Grant Application (grant requests under $1,000) :

The following file is in Adobe .PDF format and must be opened with the Acrobat reader. You may download this software here:

To download a Mini-Grant application follow this link

 

Office: 810-664-0691
Email: lccf@charterinternet.com