Michigan Civic Education Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately $10,000,000 to Michigan civic engagement projects (cumulative since 2018)
• EIN: 82-4762045
• Founded: 2018 (Tax-exempt status granted April 2019)
• Grant Range: Data not publicly available
• Geographic Focus: Michigan statewide
• Charity Navigator Rating: 3/4 Stars (Score: 76%)
• Application Type: No public application process (collaborative/invitation-based)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.miciviceducationfund.com/

Location: Madison Heights, Michigan

Note: The Michigan Civic Education Fund operates through the Michigan Donor Alliance collaborative model and does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Overview

The Michigan Civic Education Fund (MCEF) was founded in 2018 as the 501(c)(3) pooled fund of the Michigan Donor Alliance. Since its inception, MCEF has raised and granted approximately $10,000,000 to Michigan civic engagement projects while directing nearly $15,000,000 in additional investment from members and values-aligned institutional donors. The organization serves as a pass-through funding mechanism that pools resources from individuals, organizations, foundations, corporations, and labor organizations both in Michigan and nationally. MCEF's mission is "to initiate, cultivate, and fund strategic nonpartisan efforts in Michigan to promote economic and educational opportunity; enhance the quality of life and social welfare; defend and improve government accountability, ethics, and transparency; and strengthen democracy and civic participation." The organization centers justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout its work, with particular focus on supporting sustainable, diverse organizations serving historically under-invested and marginalized communities in Michigan.

Funding Priorities

Strategic Focus Areas

MCEF operates through the Michigan Donor Alliance, which creates a central funding plan investing in:

• Sustained Voter Engagement: Year-round coordination and engagement to ensure election administration serves Michigan citizens
• Shared Infrastructure: Building collaborative systems to support civic participation
• Research and Innovation: Supporting new approaches to democracy strengthening
• Leadership Pipelines: Developing civic leaders, particularly from historically disenfranchised communities
• Program Gaps: Filling funding gaps in Michigan's civic engagement ecosystem

Priority Areas

• Voting Rights Protection: Combating voter suppression efforts and protecting voting access
• Election Integrity Education: Educating the public on election safety and security
• Democracy Accountability: Defending and improving government accountability, ethics, and transparency
• Grassroots Partner Support: Supporting organizations working with historically disenfranchised communities
• Civic Participation: Strengthening democracy through expanded civic engagement

Community Focus

MCEF recognizes historically under-invested and marginalized communities and seeks to support sustainable, diverse organizations in Michigan with long-term strategies, projects, and innovative practices. The organization prioritizes grassroots partners as "the best messengers for expanded education and engagement on democracy issues."

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Jon Hoadley - Brings nearly twenty years of experience managing people, organizations, financial resources, and coalitions to achieve high impact outcomes. Previously served in the Michigan State Legislature.

Executive Deputy Director: Martha Gonzalez-Cortes - Extensive experience in community investment and nonprofit leadership.

Senior Advisor: Amy Chapman - Also serves as Principal Officer. Chapman has stated that MCEF's collective theory of change revolves around two core assumptions: "protecting democratic systems in Michigan requires year-round coordination and engagement to ensure that election administration in Michigan is of service to the citizens of Michigan," and "grassroots partners working with historically disenfranchised communities are the best messengers for expanded education and engagement on democracy issues."

The organization is affiliated with the Michigan Civic Action Fund (a separate 501(c)(4) organization with EIN 82-3995979).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Michigan Civic Education Fund does not have a public application process. MCEF operates as the 501(c)(3) pooled fund of the Michigan Donor Alliance, a collaborative of donors who work strategically together to build consensus around multicycle priorities and goals for Michigan. Grants are made through this collaborative funding model rather than through open solicitation of applications.

The organization functions as a pass-through funding mechanism, receiving contributions from members and institutional funders, then regranting to organizations working on Michigan civic engagement projects aligned with the collaborative's strategic priorities.

Funding Model

MCEF receives funding from:

• Individual donors (Michigan and national)
• Organizations and foundations
• Corporations
• Labor organizations

Recent institutional funders include:

• Park Foundation ($150,000 annually for general operating support, 2020-2024)
• Kelly Ann Brown Foundation (2021 recipient)

Financial Overview

Based on available 2020 data:

• Total Revenue: $906,018
• Total Expenses: $503,353
• Grants Paid: $342,703
• Total Assets: $553,667
• Employees: 0 (operates through consultants and contractors)

The organization has distributed approximately $10,000,000 in grants since 2018 while facilitating an additional $15,000,000 in investment from collaborative members.

Notable Impact

In spring 2022, Michigan-based advocacy organizations, LGBTQ+ organizations, and national partners created the #HateWontWin voter engagement campaign, funded by the Michigan Donor Alliance and Movement Voter Project. This was the first and largest LGBTQ+ statewide coalition focused on voter engagement work in the country. Turnout among the voters targeted by #HateWontWin was 61%, compared to Michigan's overall voter turnout of 58% in 2022. In the first 100 days of the 2023 legislative session, Michigan passed comprehensive, statewide nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people on a bipartisan basis.

Understanding This Funder

Collaborative Model: MCEF is not a traditional foundation with an open application process. Instead, it operates as a pooled fund where multiple donors coordinate their giving through a collaborative strategic planning process led by the Michigan Donor Alliance.

Strategic Alignment: Funding decisions are made collectively by the donor collaborative based on shared priorities and a multicycle strategic plan focused on democracy strengthening and civic engagement in Michigan.

Relationship-Based: Organizations that receive funding are typically identified through the network's strategic planning process, existing relationships with donor collaborative members, or through demonstrated alignment with the collaborative's priorities.

Regranting Function: MCEF serves primarily as a fiscal intermediary, pooling funds from multiple sources and regranting to organizations implementing civic engagement work on the ground in Michigan.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not a traditional grantmaker: MCEF operates through a donor collaborative model without public applications. Organizations seeking funding should focus on building relationships with Michigan Donor Alliance members and demonstrating alignment with their strategic priorities.

• Focus on grassroots civic engagement: The collaborative prioritizes organizations working directly with historically disenfranchised communities on democracy strengthening, voting rights, and civic participation.

• Year-round engagement matters: MCEF's theory of change emphasizes sustained, year-round coordination rather than episodic campaign work. Organizations with long-term strategies and infrastructure are preferred.

• Equity-centered approach required: The fund explicitly centers justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Organizations should demonstrate how their work serves historically under-invested and marginalized communities.

• Collaborative mindset valued: Given the pooled fund structure, organizations that can work collaboratively within coalitions and shared infrastructure are more likely to align with MCEF's approach.

• Alternative pathways: Organizations interested in this funding ecosystem should explore joining Michigan civic engagement coalitions, participating in statewide democracy initiatives, and building relationships with other Michigan Donor Alliance-funded organizations.

• Institutional funder route: Organizations might also reach MCEF's donor members through other foundations that fund Michigan civic engagement work, such as the Park Foundation or Kelly Ann Brown Foundation, which have supported MCEF directly.

References

• Michigan Civic Education Fund Official Website: https://www.miciviceducationfund.com/about (Accessed February 2026)
• Cause IQ Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/michigan-civic-education-fund,824762045/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Kelly Ann Brown Foundation - Michigan Civic Education Fund page: https://www.kellyannbrownfoundation.org/michigan-civic-education-fund.html (Accessed February 2026)
• Park Foundation Grantee Profile: https://www.parkfoundation.org/grantees/michigan-civic-education-fund/ (Accessed February 2026)
• InfluenceWatch Profile: https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/michigan-civic-education-fund/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Charity Navigator Rating: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/824762045 (Accessed February 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy - "Funders Must Step Up to Engage Pro-Equality Voters This Year": https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2024-5-22-pro-equality-voters-can-save-democracy-funders-should-pay-attention (Accessed February 2026)
• National Civic League - Michigan Donor Alliance: https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/ecosystem-map-items/michigan-donor-alliance/ (Accessed February 2026)