Over the years the Hillsdale County Community Foundation has awarded millions of dollars to make a powerful, positive difference in our community. The Foundation administers over 300 funds and awards grants at various times throughout each year.

Funding Opportunities
Several funding opportunities are available through grants to our community. Each grant cycle has its own application, set of criteria, funding focus, and deadline for submission. For more information regarding our scope of funding, please see below or Contact Us directly and we will assist you.

General Foundation Grants
General grants are made from our named unrestricted endowment funds. General Foundation grants focus on improving the quality of life for the citizens of Hillsdale County. Eligible projects generally fall within these categories; education, fine arts, social services, community development, recreation, environmental issues, health, and wellness.

To apply to the Hillsdale County Community Foundation general grant cycle please click below to view our grant policy and application form. Grant applications are due November 1st and May 1st each year. Our guidelines and application forms were revised in February 2022. Please be sure to use the revised version below.

Y.O.U.T.H. Grants
The Foundation’s Y.O.U.T.H. Council is composed of local youth, grades 9-12. The Y.O.U.T.H. award grants from a separate endowment fund; the Kellogg Youth Advisory Fund. Their grant making focuses on issues that affect the youth of our county. If your project involves and impacts young people, please review the Y.O.U.T.H. grant policy and application forms. To learn more please click on Y.O.U.T.H.

Phase I – Statement of Intent

Projects that meet the guidelines and align with one of our grantmaking priority areas are invited to submit a Statement of Intent online. This brief initial application will collect basic information about your organization, a summary of the proposed project, the amount requested, and how the project or program will be implemented to directly support charitable efforts in Hillsdale County.

Once your Statement of Intent is submitted and reviewed by Foundation staff, your application will be moved to Phase II within two business days, if selected to proceed. Please log in to your dashboard to begin Phase II at that time.

*If your project is not selected to move forward, you will receive feedback regarding the decision.

Phase II – Grant Application

Projects demonstrating strong potential will be invited to submit a full proposal by the designated deadline. After review by program staff and the Grant Advisory Committee, funding recommendations will be presented to the Board of Trustees for final consideration.

Phase III – Grant Agreement

Once a grant is approved by the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees, the recipient will receive instructions on how to access their funding. Any contingencies, reporting requirements, and next steps will be outlined at that time.

Phase IV – Grant Final Report

The final phase of the grant process is the reporting phase. Grantees will be required to submit a full financial accounting of how the grant funds were spent, including all relevant receipts and invoices.