Community foundation’s fall grant round opens.

Community foundation’s fall grant round opens.

PENTWATER — The Community Foundation for Oceana County opened its fall 2021 Community Grant Round.

Applications can be submitted at www.oceanafoundation.org through Oct. 15.

During the spring Community Grant Round, the foundation awarded over $50,000 to area agencies, municipalities, and school districts. Support included Oceana Christian School’s new therapy dog, new picnic tables for Oceana County parks, Hart Historic District’s guide by cell program for the museum, and much more. Total grants and scholarships from all foundation funds totaled $912,188 in 2020, a milestone record.

Earlier this year, exciting new changes were implemented in the foundation’s grant guidelines. The foundation will consider requests up to $5,000 and, if needs arise, organizations are welcome to submit unique applications in both spring and fall rounds. “Foundation asset growth and the partnership of our many donor advisors allows us to better address the great nonprofit need of the times and their innovative program responses to best serve the county,” said CEO Tammy Carey. Grants are reviewed and decided upon on an individual basis by a sub-committee of the board of trustees and the Youth Advisory Council.

The main source of funding for the foundation’s twice-yearly grant applications is the Community Investment Fund. This unrestricted fund is designed to support emerging critical needs and to support community opportunities. Other sources of grant funding are the foundation’s Field of Interest Funds, focusing on arts, youth, health, parks, environmental needs and community development projects. Nonprofit organizations’ requests are still being accepted via the Urgent Needs Fund application process to respond to critical human needs.

Grantees are encouraged to discuss your proposal with the foundation, by calling 231-869-3377 or e-mailing Program Officer Danielle Siegel at danielle@oceanafoundation.org.