OVERVIEW: The Kalamazoo Community Foundation supports equity and education in the Kalamazoo region of Michigan.
IP TAKE: The Kalamazoo Community Foundation, after its first century in existence, is “one of the oldest, most respected and successful community foundations in the country.” This community foundation is all about equity, so make sure to focus your proposal about how a particular program, project, or organization is working to make Kalamazoo a more equitable place. It makes both one-time and multi-year grants, but grantseekers must specify their interest in the latter in their grant request. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
PROFILE: Established in 1925, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation is a community foundation based in Kalamazoo, Michigan. W.E. and Carrie Upjohn initially established this foundation with a $1,000 gift and a vision for a better community. The foundation aims to “remove barriers through building relationships and connecting resources so people can reach full potential.” KCF funds local efforts for equity and education.
Grants for Education, Racial Justice, LGBTQ, Environment, and Community Development
The Kalamazoo Community Foundation conducts all grantmaking through an equity lens, supporting organizations that work to break cycles of poverty, expand opportunities, and improve access to resources. KCF invests in community healthcare, social services, economic development, and the arts; however, education and racial equity—specifically projects that combine the two—are the priority. Given Kalamazoo County’s diversity, the foundation works to help disadvantaged and low-income communities improve quality of life and economic opportunity.
Responsive Grants support racial equity and education efforts in the county and prioritize intersectional projects.
In addition to its main grantmaking program, the foundation has two other sources of general funding, each with its own eligibility requirements and process.
Youth Grantmaking program awards grants of up to $5,000 to promote equity and education among marginalized youth in the community.
Community Urgent Relief Fund supports relief and recovery efforts from natural disasters and other unexpected issues impacting the community.
The community foundation has several types of specialty grant funds and programs as well. These address a particular issue, serve a specific community, or meet a pressing need.
The LGBTQ Equality Fund works in the areas of health, human rights and social justice.
The Love Where You Live Environment Fund, supports environmental justice causes and addresses issues of clean water, air pollution, food systems, climate change, waste and lead.
Sustaining BIPOC Leaders initiative supports BIPOC leaders of local nonprofits with “respite, professional development, executive coaching and wellness grants.”
The Animal Fund is a field-of-interest fund that supports the care and protection of domestic animals in the county, especially those with low-income families.
The Impact Investment Loans program supports “transformational projects” that promise to advance equity in the community.
Past local grantees include Can-Do Kitchen, Disability Network Southwest Michigan, and Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Learn more about this funder’s local giving in the grants awarded section of the funder’s website.
The community foundation also offers scholarships to local students, as well as grants for women who have taken “a significant break” from their education and a research grant for graduate students focused on the restoration and preservation of local trout habitat.
Important Grant Details
Grants typically range between about $5,000 and $500,000; however, they occasionally reach into the millions. The most common amount is $1,000. The foundation awarded over $21 million in grants in a recent year and held more than $567 million in assets. Grantmaking focuses exclusively on Kalamazoo County, Michigan.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant requests from nonprofits at any time of the year.
Requests of more than $25,000 typically have due dates in the spring and autumn of each year.
KCF uses an online application system and makes recommendations when selected nonprofits should move forward with full grant proposals.
Direct general questions to the staff at info@kalfound.org or 269-381-4416.
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