Community Foundation for Muskegon County

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $9,640,055
• Total Assets: $233 million
• Grant Range: $500 - $216,985 (varies by program)
• Number of Funds: 900+
• Geographic Focus: Muskegon County, Michigan
• Grants Awarded Annually: Approximately 179 grants

Contact Details

Address: 425 W. Western Ave, Suite 200, Muskegon, MI 49440

Phone: (231) 722-4538

Website: https://muskegonfoundation.org

Grant Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cffmc

Program Officer: Jocelyn Hines - (231) 332-4118 or jocelyn@muskegonfoundation.org

Overview

The Community Foundation for Muskegon County was established in 1961 and received IRS tax-exempt status in December 1966. With total assets of $233 million, the foundation manages over 900 funds, scholarships, and grants supporting hundreds of projects and programs each year. The foundation's mission is to build community endowment, effect positive change through grantmaking, and provide leadership on key community issues. Under the leadership of President/CEO Todd Jacobs since January 2019, the foundation has continued its commitment to fostering a culture of giving in Muskegon County. The foundation earned a Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator with a perfect score of 100%, reflecting its strong financial health and commitment to accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Empowerment Grants: $500 - $3,000 (rolling monthly reviews)

• Designed for grassroots groups with annual operating budgets under $100,000
• Average awards range from $500-$2,000, maximum $3,000 per year
• Rolling timeline with monthly reviews (first of each month)
• Awards paid second Monday of the month

Committee Grants: $10,000 - $216,985 (bi-annual competitive rounds)

• Environmental Endowment Fund: $64,300
• Greater Muskegon Service League's Women and Children's Fund: $27,100
• La Colombe Community Impact Fund: varies
• Love is Love LGBTQ+ Fund: at least $10,000
• Muskegon County Lions Club Fund: $59,300
• Muskegon County Medical Society Fund: $22,700
• White Lake Community Fund: $216,985
• Youth Advisory Council Fund: $68,400
• Spring round: Letter of Intent due early February, full application mid-February
• Fall round: Letter of Intent due early September, full application late September

Teacher Mini-Grants: Small grants for classroom projects

• Application deadline typically in October

Scholarships: Over $1 million distributed annually

• 500+ new and renewed scholarships awarded each year

Strategic Priority Areas

Hope and Opportunity for Youth

• Empowering youth to have aspirations for a bright future
• Creating opportunities for youth to realize their dreams
• Increasing career- and college-ready high school graduates
• Improving access to high quality extended learning programs after school and summer

Collaborative Community Goals and Decision Making

• Supporting active partnerships working together
• Sharing power, resources, and decision-making for the common good

An Inclusive Community

• Building a welcoming, accepting community that respects difference
• Actively promoting full participation by all people

Specific Focus Areas

Arts & Culture

• Improving access to cultural programs, especially for children and youth
• Promoting financial stability and organizational development for arts organizations
• Supporting community development projects that improve quality of life

Education

• Advancing educational attainment
• Supporting career and college readiness
• Providing scholarship support for post-secondary education
• Enhancing extended learning programs

Youth & Families

• Promoting responsible parenting through outreach and education
• Addressing special needs of at-risk parents
• Teen pregnancy prevention
• Promoting high quality childcare choices
• Programs for children birth through age six

Environment

• Protection and restoration of green spaces, shorelines, dune areas, and wildlife habitat
• Water and air quality initiatives
• Environmental education and pollution reduction
• Land conservation

Health & Human Services

• Programs meeting basic quality of life needs for children and youth
• Health programs emphasizing low-income families and children
• Programs embracing racial diversity and multiculturalism
• Promoting healthy lifestyles

Community & Economic Development

• Fostering a dynamic, local economy
• Capital projects with county-wide impact and benefit
• Capital renovation projects providing new and expanded programming

Community Trust

• Enhancing community trust and promoting prosperity for all

What They Don't Fund

• Religious programs that serve, or appear to serve, specific religious believers or require participants to practice or adhere to specific religious beliefs
• Grant recommendations that would benefit a specific individual
• Grants that fulfill a personal obligation
• Political campaigns
• Private foundations

Governance and Leadership

President/CEO: Todd Jacobs (since January 2, 2019)

• Former scholarship recipient of the foundation
• Succeeded Chris McGuigan, who led the foundation since 1999

Board of Trustees (as of March 2024)

Officers:

• Brad Hilleary - Chair
• Priscilla Wilcox - Vice Chair
• Katie Hensley - Treasurer
• Todd Jacobs - Secretary/President
• Dick Kamps - Immediate Past Chair

Trustees:

• Angelita Valdez
• Anthony Wilson
• David Hazekamp
• David Shafer
• Deidre Briegel
• Duane Bennett
• Dwight Vines
• Edward Garner
• Gary Allore
• Maria Ladas Hoopes
• Jane Otrhalek
• Michele Vanderlinde
• Rozelia Patino
• Troycie Nichols

Special Advisor:

• Asaline Scott - Special Advisor to the Board

Key Staff:

• Jocelyn Hines, Program Officer - (231) 332-4118
• Diana Giles, Scholarship Coordinator - (231) 332-4104

Leadership Quotes

Todd Jacobs on joining the foundation: "It is an honor to succeed Chris McGuigan and to join the community foundation team...As a former scholarship recipient of the community foundation, this is an opportunity to give back to our Muskegon community."

On the foundation's equity journey: The foundation "can't prescribe without taking on the journey itself" when discussing internal diversity, equity, and inclusion work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All grant applications must be submitted electronically through the foundation's online Grant Portal (GLM) at: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cffmc

Applications are general applications that are matched by foundation staff with the best-fitting fund based on the project's alignment with specific fund priorities.

Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations, churches, schools, agencies, and governmental units serving the greater Muskegon County area.

Application Types and Timelines

Community Empowerment Grants (Rolling)

• Applications accepted year-round on a rolling basis
• Grants reviewed monthly on the first of each month
• Awards paid second Monday of the month
• Program start date must be AFTER grant award
• 30-day follow-up report required after program completion

Committee Grants (Bi-annual Competitive Rounds)

• Two competitive rounds per year
• Spring Round:
  • Opens December
  • Letter of Intent deadline: Early February (February 5)
  • Full application deadline: Mid-February (February 19)
• Fall Round:
  • Opens July
  • Letter of Intent deadline: Early September (September 10)
  • Full application deadline: Late September (September 24)

Teacher Mini-Grants

• Application deadline typically in October

Decision Timeline

Community Empowerment Grants: Approximately 5-6 weeks from submission to award

• Review: First of the month following submission
• Payment: Second Monday of the month

Committee Grants: Approximately 2-3 months from Letter of Intent to decision

• Initial screening: Letter of Intent stage
• Full review: After full application deadline
• Notification method not specified in available information

Reapplication Policy

Organizations are eligible for up to a maximum of $3,000 per year through Community Empowerment Grants, suggesting annual reapplication is possible for this program.

Grants are typically one-time awards; however, the foundation does consider multiyear requests for projects with large impact.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values in Grant Proposals

The foundation explicitly states that the best grant proposals are "collaborative, comprehensive, and sustainable" and should:

Prevention-Focused Approach

• Prevent problems rather than just addressing effects
• Provide startup or seed funding for innovative projects
• Demonstrate forward-thinking solutions

Leverage and Sustainability

• Leverage grant dollars to attract additional funding
• Show how the project will be sustained beyond the grant period

Strongest Proposals Come From Organizations That:

Organizational Capacity

• Have adequate organizational capacity to implement the project
• Demonstrate sound fiscal management
• Can measure and report grant impact effectively

Diversity and Representation

• Have staff and board reflective of their audience
• Demonstrate commitment to serving diverse communities

Collaboration and Community Understanding

• Demonstrate ability to cooperate with other organizations
• Understand how their project relates to local services
• Show awareness of community needs and gaps

Specific to Community Empowerment Grants:

• Program must be available to the entire community
• Must be a Muskegon County resident or organization
• Collaboration with other nonprofits is encouraged
• Programs should align with strategic focus areas: advancing educational attainment, fostering local economic development, or enhancing community trust

Past Funded Project Examples

Community Empowerment Grants:

• QPR Suicide Prevention Training
• West Michigan Filipino Cultural Seminar
• White Lake Dramatic Club Community Theater

Committee Grants Recipients:

• Boys Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore
• Muskegon Farmers Market
• Muskegon Covenant Academy

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Emphasize collaboration: The foundation strongly values partnerships and collaborative approaches. Demonstrate how you work with other organizations and share resources.

• Focus on prevention and innovation: Frame your proposal around preventing problems rather than just addressing symptoms. Highlight innovative, forward-thinking approaches.

• Match with the right fund: Applications are matched by staff to appropriate funds, so clearly articulate how your project aligns with the foundation's strategic priorities (education, economic development, community trust) and specific Committee Grant focuses.

• Show sustainability: Demonstrate how grant funds will leverage additional resources and how the project will continue beyond the initial grant period.

• Demonstrate organizational capacity: Be prepared to show sound fiscal management, ability to measure impact, and that your staff/board reflects the community you serve.

• Consider timing strategically: For smaller grants ($500-$3,000), the monthly rolling Community Empowerment Grants offer faster turnaround. For larger requests, target Committee Grants with specific alignment to one of the eight committee funds.

• Highlight community-wide benefit: Particularly for Community Empowerment Grants, ensure your program is available to the entire community and serves Muskegon County residents.

References

• Community Foundation for Muskegon County official website: https://muskegonfoundation.org (accessed January 2026)
• Community Empowerment Grants page: https://muskegonfoundation.org/community-empowerment-grants/ (accessed January 2026)
• Committee Grants page: https://muskegonfoundation.org/committee-grants/ (accessed January 2026)
• Grants overview page: https://muskegonfoundation.org/grants/ (accessed January 2026)
• GuideStar Profile: https://www.guidestar.org/profile/38-6114135 (accessed January 2026)
• Foundation Directory (Candid): https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=MUSK001 (accessed January 2026)
• Crain's Grand Rapids Business article on Todd Jacobs appointment (accessed January 2026)
• Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce announcement on Todd Jacobs (accessed January 2026)
• Charity Navigator rating: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/386114135 (accessed January 2026)
• Council of Michigan Foundations article on equity journey (accessed January 2026)