How to Apply for Grants

Step 1

Check out our eligibility requirements. Determine if your organization is eligible to apply for funding from the Keweenaw Community Foundation. 

Step 2

Apply online. The month before the granting period begins, KCF will advertise the upcoming grants. Sign up for our email list, follow us on social media, or look for the announcement in the local paper for more information.

Step 3

Complete your grant application in full. Make sure to double-check your answers and information on any form, and include the letter of determination of 501(c)(3) status if required.

Step 4

We review your grant application. KCF Staff will review your application for eligibility and completeness, and contact you for more information if necessary.

Step 5

We make grant decisions. Volunteer advisory committees meet and evaluate applications. They report their recommendations to the Board of Advisors before the next regularly scheduled Board meeting, where the Board members make the final determinations. You will be notified by KCF staff as soon as possible following the Board’s decision.

Step 6

Request the funds and do the work. Grant awardees will receive a letter that states the conditions of the grant. Funds must be requested at the time they are needed. They will not be sent automatically.

Step 7

You report on your work. You will be asked to make a report responding to the goals and activities articulated in the application. If grant funds are not used within the grant period, the grant is considered canceled and no longer available to the recipient. 

NEW: Submit your grant report online. View the questions on the grant report HERE.

Frequently Asked Questions, Answered

    • 501(c)(3) public charities

    • Governmental units

    • Eligible educational or religious institutions

    • Students applying for scholarships

    • Projects must take place in Houghton and Keweenaw Counties. Some grants are available to the surrounding counties and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Please reach out to our team if you’re unsure about your project.

    • The application form has been filled out completely and correctly and has been double-checked to meet the requirements laid out by the application process and any reference documents provided. View the application questions here.

    • Your project, objectives, or educational goals align with the mission of the fund that is providing the grant or scholarship.

    • Your proposal/project aligns with the Keweenaw Community Foundation’s key purpose: “to strengthen all aspects of the Keweenaw and assist our donors in achieving their philanthropic goals.”

    • Grants cannot be made to individuals

    • Grants must be used for charitable purposes

    • Grants must be used to support programs/projects in Keweenaw and Houghton Counties unless stated otherwise

    • Grants may not be used for a political campaign or to support attempts to influence any government body

    • Grants must comply with our Non-Discrimination Policy.

Have Questions?

For more information or questions about grants, please contact Madelina DiLisi, Director of Programs.