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Community Foundation Of Greater Flint

Annual Giving
$11.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.5M
Decision Time
4mo

Community Foundation Of Greater Flint

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $11,047,381 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months
  • Grant Range: $500 - $500,000
  • Geographic Focus: Genesee County, Michigan
  • Total Assets: $279.5 million
  • Grants Since Inception: Over $186 million

Contact Details

Address: 500 S. Saginaw Street, Suite 200, Flint, MI 48502

Phone: 810-767-8270

Email: info@cfgf.org

Website: https://www.cfgf.org

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Pre-Application Contact: All applicants must schedule a pre-application conversation with a program officer before submitting a full application.

Overview

Established in 1988, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint serves Genesee County by engaging people in philanthropy and developing the community's permanent endowment. Since its founding, the foundation has grown from $10 million to over $279.5 million in assets, with more than 34,000 donors enabling the distribution of over $186 million in grants to the Flint and Genesee County community. The foundation awarded approximately 149 grants totaling $11,047,381 in 2023. In 2024, Dan Kildee, a soon-to-be-retired U.S. Representative, was appointed President and CEO, bringing significant political experience and deep community connections to the role. The foundation's mission focuses on building bridges—connecting people, resources, and opportunities—with strategic priorities including children and youth, access to healthy food, literacy, community development, and racial healing through initiatives like Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Flint Kids Fund: Launched in 2016, this 20-year fund has invested over $15 million to address and mitigate the impact of lead poisoning and trauma suffered by Flint children, particularly those ages 0-8. Grant applications accepted with a March 1 deadline.

Neighborhoods Small Grants Program: For over 30 years, this program has provided small grants to strengthen neighborhood groups and create safe environments. Grant amounts range from:

  • $500 for neighborhood inventory grants
  • Up to $1,000 for traditional mini-grants
  • Up to $5,000 for "next level mini-grants"
  • Up to $25,000 for a single transformational grant Over $2.2 million has been granted to 377 organizations through this program. Application deadline: March 15.

FlintNOW Fund: In 2024, this fund announced its first round of grants totaling $1,595,000 to support essential programs including prenatal and infant allowances, vision care access, safe play spaces, and coordinated health services for children.

Women and Girls Fund: Supports programs that encourage the advancement and full participation of women and girls by removing barriers to their economic, educational, physical, emotional, social, artistic, and personal growth. Over $321,000 awarded since inception. Application deadline: March 15.

Health and Human Services: Addresses current or emerging community health problems, supporting constructive health programs, innovative projects, professional training, and medical education in Genesee County.

Community Funds: Specific funds for Clio, Davison, Fenton, Flushing, and Grand Blanc communities. Application deadline: March 1.

General Competitive Grants: For programs outside specific initiatives, typically funded in the $500-$3,000 range. Deadlines: February 1, May 1, and August 1.

Priority Areas

  • Children and Youth: Programs serving Genesee County youth ages 5-18, with special focus on education and development
  • Access to Healthy Food: Initiatives to increase access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food
  • Literacy: Programs promoting reading and educational opportunities
  • Community Development: Projects that strengthen neighborhoods and build community connections
  • Racial Healing: Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation initiatives
  • LGBTQ+ Support: Pride Fund grants supporting the LGBTQ+ community in Genesee County
  • Marginalized Populations: Programs providing access to resources for underserved communities

What They Don't Fund

  • Sectarian religious purposes or religious activities
  • Loans or debt reduction
  • Annual appeals
  • Organizations that discriminate based on ethnicity, race, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, economic circumstance, physical/mental abilities and characteristics, or marital status
  • Projects without direct relevance to Genesee County residents (if activities extend outside Genesee County, the majority must be within the county)

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Dan Kildee - Appointed in 2024, Kildee is a former U.S. Representative who brings extensive political experience and deep community ties to the foundation. On joining CFGF, he stated: "Everything I am, everything I have, I owe to this community. So, I feel like this is a way for me to continue to pay this place back, for the opportunities it gave me, recognizing that not everybody starts with the same opportunities." Kildee describes the foundation's mission as "building bridges — connecting people, resources, and opportunities."

Board Chair: Mark Piper - Led the search committee for the new President and CEO.

Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications: Alexandria Dawson - Media contact (810-382-0062, adawson@cfgf.org)

The foundation's funds and assets are governed by an independent board of trustees composed of respected community leaders from diverse backgrounds. Recent trustee appointments include DeAndra Larkin, Chief of Staff to the Office of the President at Mott Community College.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Community Foundation of Greater Flint uses a structured, two-stage application process:

Step 1: Pre-Application Conversation (Required) The first step in the competitive grant application process is a mandatory pre-application conversation with a program officer. This interchange serves as an opportunity to:

  • Inform the Community Foundation about your organization's needs
  • Outline your project
  • Ask clarifying questions
  • Receive guidance on which program best fits your proposal

Step 2: Online Application Submission Following your conversation with a program officer, you will submit a grant application through the foundation's online portal. The streamlined online system allows nonprofits to:

  • Complete the grant application
  • Submit supporting materials
  • Check the status of applications
  • Communicate directly with the Community Foundation
  • Submit required grant reports

Eligibility: The Community Foundation makes most competitive grants to organizations classified as publicly supported charities in the Internal Revenue Service Code, Section 170(b)(1)(A), including schools and universities, churches, synagogues and mosques, and governmental entities. Organizations must demonstrate non-discrimination in hiring and providing services.

Decision Timeline

Review Process: Applications are reviewed by Community Impact staff. During this process, a program officer may request more information or conduct a site visit.

Notification: All applicants are notified of the final funding decision within 3-4 months of the application due date.

Application Deadlines:

  • February 1: General competitive grants (decisions expected April/May)
  • March 1: Community Funds and Flint Kids Fund (decisions expected mid-May/mid-June)
  • March 15: Women and Girls Fund and Neighborhoods Small Grants Program (decisions expected mid-May/mid-June)
  • May 1: General competitive grants
  • August 1: General competitive grants

Success Rates

The foundation awarded 149 grants in 2023, with grant activity ranging from 131-159 awards annually over the past five years. Specific application success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly disclosed. Applicants should discuss reapplication possibilities during their pre-application conversation with a program officer.

Application Success Factors

The Community Foundation evaluates applications based on specific criteria that applicants should address directly:

Alignment with Funding Priorities: Does the proposal align with stated funding priorities? Applicants should clearly demonstrate how their project supports one or more of the foundation's focus areas: children and youth, access to healthy food, literacy, community development, or racial healing.

Collaboration and Cooperation: Does the proposal include collaboration and cooperation with other organizations when appropriate? The foundation values partnerships and collective impact approaches.

Community Involvement: Are those being served involved in designing or evaluating the program? The foundation seeks evidence that programs are developed with—not just for—the communities they serve.

Learning Organization Commitment: Is there evidence the organization is committed to being/becoming a learning organization, e.g., willing to capture lessons learned and modify programs accordingly? Applicants should demonstrate openness to evaluation and continuous improvement.

Recent Successful Projects: Examples of 2024 FlintNOW Fund awards illustrate the foundation's priorities:

  • Michigan State University's Rx Kids initiative ($500,000 over two years) providing prenatal and infant financial support
  • Vision to Learn ($300,000 over two years) for school-based vision care access
  • Communities First, Inc. ($120,000) for safe recreational spaces in the MLK+ neighborhood
  • Greater Flint Health Coalition ($75,000) to expand coordinated child health services

These awards demonstrate the foundation's preference for programs addressing systemic needs, serving vulnerable populations (particularly children), and providing direct services with measurable impact.

Pre-Application Conversation: The mandatory pre-application conversation is critical—use this opportunity to test your ideas, understand nuances of different grant programs, and build a relationship with program staff.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application conversation is mandatory: Budget time to schedule and prepare for this conversation with a program officer before applying—it's a strategic opportunity to refine your proposal and understand which program fits best.
  • Geographic focus is strict: Your project must have direct relevance to Genesee County residents, with the majority of activities occurring within the county.
  • Demonstrate community voice: The foundation explicitly asks whether those being served are involved in designing or evaluating programs—build this into your proposal from the start.
  • Show willingness to learn and adapt: Evidence of being a "learning organization" is a specific evaluation criterion—include plans for capturing lessons learned and adapting based on feedback.
  • Collaboration strengthens applications: The foundation values partnerships—identify and highlight collaborations with other organizations when appropriate.
  • Children are a priority: With the Flint Kids Fund investing over $15 million since 2016 and multiple programs focused on youth, projects serving children (especially those affected by the water crisis) align strongly with foundation priorities.
  • Plan ahead for deadlines: With 3-4 month decision timelines and specific deadline dates (February 1, March 1, March 15, May 1, August 1), work backward from your project start date to ensure adequate processing time.

References

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