Grant Seekers
We believe collaboration, community partnership, and shared knowledge is the key to improving the lives of children in Michigan.
Our grant making efforts aim to further our partner’s work in improving the health and health equity of kids in Michigan. Together, we are creating meaningful change for kids today and into the future.
The Children’s Foundation empowers our grant recipients with an easy application process. Below is a description of who we fund, how to apply, and our grants timeline.
To learn more about the Children’s Foundation
Our grant making aligns with the following areas:
- Mental Health
- Physical Health
- Substance Use Disorder
- Health Equity
- Children’s Hospital of Michigan Legacy Initiatives
Our Commitment to
Grant Seekers
Our Commitment to Grant Seekers
- Be transparent, respectful, open and honest.
- Review, consider and respond to all applications and inquiries with the utmost attention.
- Provide opportunities to give feedback —and use that feedback to make continuous improvements.
Eligible Organizations
Be a publicly supported charity recognized as tax exempt under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
In policy and practice, offer opportunity and service to all, regardless of age, race, creed, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.
Be an organization dedicated to serving young people, specifically those aged from infancy through to 24 years old.
Serving the state of Michigan, with concentration on southeastern Michigan.
What Do We Fund?
- Community programs aligned with our focus areas
- Initiatives that improve the health and welfare of children in our community
- Pediatric research, medical education programs, and legacy initiatives at Children’s Hospital of Michigan
What We Don't Fund?
- For-profit institutions
- Political campaigns, to support political activities or to lobby for or against legislation
- Events, sponsorships, or fundraising activities
- Projects that exclusively serve religious purposes
- Individual scholarships
- Building campaigns, debt, or capital costs, including construction, renovation, or equipment
- Endowments*
*If interested in establishing an endowment or learning about its benefits, please contact Vice President of Strategy, Brian Kilkelly at [email protected].
5 Steps
How to Apply for a Grant
STEP 1Review your eligibility
Before you begin the request process, be sure you’ve reviewed whether you are an eligible organization and have reviewed The Children’s Foundation’s focus areas to ensure that your organization and proposed project are a good fit with our requirements and grantmaking goals. If you have questions, you are welcome to contact us at [email protected] to ask a question or request a call with an Impact Director at the Foundation to discuss your proposed project.
STEP 2Submit an Inquiry Form
The Children’s Foundation’s Inquiry Form is your opportunity to briefly share the problem you are trying to address, how you plan to address it, outcomes you hope to achieve, how your project addresses Health Equity, Access, or the Social Determinants of Health, your plans for evaluation and sustainability, and an estimate of the funding needed.
We accept Inquiry Forms at any time. However, if you’re targeting a specific grant deadline, the concept paper must be received at least 90 days before the application deadline. The Inquiry Form (PDF) a downloadable fillable PDF form. Please complete the form, save it, and then email it to [email protected]
STEP 3Feedback from an Impact Director
Impact Directors review submitted Inquiry Forms throughout the year. Once your Inquiry Form has been reviewed, an Impact Director will contact you with information on the next steps. If your request appears to be a good fit with The Children’s Foundation’s mission and funding priorities, you will be invited to meet with staff so that we can learn more. This is an important opportunity for you and The Children’s Foundation’s to ask questions and explore the various aspects of your proposed project. Meetings will be scheduled at least 60 days prior to upcoming grant deadlines. Organizations will be notified via email if their proposed project is invited to submit a full application for an upcoming grant deadline. Email notice will be timed to allow organizations at least 45 days to begin working on their request.
STEP 4If You are Invited to Submit a Proposal
If your organization is invited to submit a grant application, an Impact Director will provide instructions on submitting an application package through our online grant portal to meet one of our two annual application deadlines (April 15 or September 15) for funding consideration at one of our two Grant Committee meetings (June or November). Our online application portal opens 30 days prior to each application deadline. You can review our Grant Application Requirements, required Program Attachments (SMART Objectives Table and Planned Participant Table), other required attachments, and notes on budgeting here.
STEP 5Decision notification
After the review of your application at one of our two Grants Committee meetings, you will receive an email with our funding decision within 10 business days.
Grant Timelines
Grant Timelines
We conduct two grant cycles per year:
September 15 application deadline for approved grants that begin January 1
April 15 application deadline for approved grants that begin July 1
Inquiry forms, as described in the How to Apply for a Grant section, are required to be submitted 90 days prior to grant application deadline
Other Funding Sources
Local Nonprofit
- Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan supports projects that improve the lives of those who live in Southeast Michigan.
- Council of Michigan Foundations leads, strengthens, and supports Michigan’s community of philanthropy.
- The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation collaborates with other funders to leverage mental health resources in Michigan.
- Michigan Health Endowment Fund works to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents while reducing cost of health care.
- Michigan Women Forward is a community development financial institution whose mission is to expand economic opportunities for women.
- The Skillman Foundation partners with people to transform the education system, nurturing the brilliance and power of Detroit youth.
- The Priority Health Total Health Foundation has a mission to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Detroit by investing in organizations dedicated to serving the needs of the community.
- Superior Health Foundation is a health-centered, grant-giving organization serving the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by providing funding to address equipment, health education and program needs.
Local Government
- Michigan Department of Health and Human Services provides services for people who have a mental illness or a developmental disabilities and offers care for those in need of substance use disorder treatment.
National Nonprofit
- The Annie E. Casey Foundation is a private charity dedicated to building brighter futures for America’s children, youth and families.
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is a foundation dedicated to advancing health equity for underserved populations.
- The Commonwealth Fund supports health care research and funds initiatives to improve access, quality, and efficiency, especially for vulnerable groups.
- Council on Foundations is a national nonprofit membership association committed to expanding trust in philanthropic organizations and providing guidance for the greater good.
- The Fetzer Institute helps build the spiritual foundation for a loving world by catalyzing organizations and funders to apply spiritual solutions to social challenges.
- Grantmakers in Health is an educational organization dedicated to helping foundations and corporate giving programs improve the health of all people.
- The Jed Foundation is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults,
- Kresge Foundation works to expand equity and opportunities in America’s cities through grants and social investing, focusing on arts, education, environment, health, human services and community development.
- The National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to transforming health care through evidence and collaboration.
- The Pew Charitable Trusts is dedicated to improving public policy through rigorous analysis, inform the public with relevant data, and invigorate civic life by promoting democratic participation and strong communities.
- The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation focuses on promoting active lifestyles for kids, preparing them for success, supporting caregivers, and fostering entrepreneurship and economic development.
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is dedicated to working with communities, practitioners, and institutions to achieve health equity for all.
- The Steve Fund is dedicated to supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color.
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports families and communities to help vulnerable children achieve success by meeting their full potential.
National Government
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is the health services research arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- National Institutes of Health is the largest public funder of health research in the world.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.
OUR MISSION
The Children’s Foundation is a catalyst for change, partnering with the community to advance solutions and discoveries that improve the physical and mental health of children in Michigan.
