News & Events

Fremont Area Community Foundation recently awarded $2 million in its first community grant round of 2023.

Grant support was awarded to a variety of organizations serving Newaygo County residents, including programs to provide food for local pantries, summer enrichment, library materials, general operating support, and more.

Fremont Lions Club and the City of Fremont were awarded up to $20,000 for the Students in Need of Eyecare (SINE) program. For several years, Fremont Lions Club has partnered with Ferris State University to provide eye exams and glasses to Fremont and Hesperia students whose families cannot afford or do not have access to eyecare. This year, the program is being expanded to include students in Newaygo and White Cloud public schools.

The County of Newaygo was awarded a $99,000 grant for recycling services. The grant will support recycling sites throughout Newaygo County. An individual donor also contributed $1,000 from their donor advised fund to support the program.

Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency was awarded a $255,000 grant for its Parents as Teachers (PAT) program. PAT is an early childhood parent education program based on the philosophy that parents are their children’s first and most influential teachers. Parents receive information, support, and coaching to help them build skills.

Several area summer camps were also awarded grants totaling up to $10,500 to provide support and camp scholarships for Newaygo County youth.

The Community Foundation accepts community grant applications online twice each year. The next deadline is September 1. For more information, visit facommunityfoundation.org/grants.

The application periods for grants from the Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund and The Amazing X Charitable Trust are now open. Completed applications are due by July 17.

The Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund was established at the Community Foundation in 2002 by what is now BlueTriton Brands. In 2018, Ice Mountain renewed its support with a $2 million commitment over the next 20+ years. More than $800,00 has been awarded from the fund since its inception.

Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund grants are made to sustain the waters and water-dependent natural resources of the Muskegon River Watershed by supporting conservation, enhancement, and restoration projects. In 2022, grants from the fund supported hazardous waste collection, the creation of a buffer zone at Sandy Beach, work on the Dragon Trail at Hardy Dam, and more. For more information or to begin an online grant application, visit facommunityfoundation.org/icemountain.

The Amazing X Charitable Trust is a supporting organization of the Community Foundation and was established in 1978 by members of the Gerber family. Grant applications are accepted for projects or programs that serve people with disabilities and address general charitable needs. Past grants have supported respite programs, equine therapy, adult day groups, accessibility projects, and more. For more information or to apply, visit our supporting organization grants page.

Applications for both grant rounds are accepted once each year, typically by July 15. However, because the 15th falls on a weekend this year, applications are being accepted until 11:59 p.m. on July 17.

The Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund is celebrating 20 years of funding programs that protect and enhance the Muskegon River watershed.

The fund was established at Fremont Area Community Foundation in 2002 through the generosity of Great Spring Waters of America, Inc., now BlueTriton Brands. In 2018, Ice Mountain renewed its support with a $2 million commitment over the next 20+ years. As an endowed fund of the Community Foundation, this fund is a permanent, ever-growing resource dedicated to improving the overall health of the watershed.

“We have been proud to partner with Ice Mountain over the last 20 years to support sustaining the waters of the Muskegon River watershed,” said Shelly Kasprzycki, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “The Muskegon River has always been a critical resource to our communities. Thanks to Ice Mountain’s generosity and the work of partner organizations throughout the watershed, we are striving to ensure that the river and its watershed are protected and enhanced for generations to come.”

More than $800,000 has been awarded from the fund to projects focused on conservation, enhancement, and restoration of the watershed.

Since 2002, grants have supported erosion control and bank stabilization projects, environmental assessments and studies, clean up and waste collection programs, educational programs for local students and property owners, and more. Grant recipients have included multiple school systems, conservation districts, parks commissions, municipalities, and other organizations doing important work in the watershed.

“BlueTriton Brands and Ice Mountain are committed to supporting initiatives to protect and enhance the health and natural beauty of the Muskegon River Watershed, which as Michigan’s largest watershed, is important as an ecologic and economic resource,” said Arlene Anderson-Vincent of the company’s commitment to the IMESF. “We value our longstanding partnership with Fremont Area Community Foundation to fund conservation, community, and environmental group projects across the entire stretch of the watershed.”

This year, grants totaling $56,500 were awarded to five projects, including Mecosta Conservation District’s hazardous waste collection, the Dragon Trail at Hardy Dam, and Central Michigan District Health Department’s scanning of septic and well records. A full list of grants awarded can be found on the Community Foundation’s website.

Grant applications for the Ice Mountain Environmental Stewardship Fund are accepted online each year from June 1 until July 15. Individuals and organizations interested in supporting the health of the watershed are also invited to contribute to the fund at any time. More information on the fund, how to donate, and how to apply for a grant can be found at facommunityfoundation.org/icemountain.

Fremont Area Community Foundation recently awarded $3.1 million in its second community grant round of 2022, bringing the total awarded in both rounds in 2022 to more than $5.6 million.

Grant support was awarded to a variety of organizations serving Newaygo County residents, including programs addressing watershed restoration, post-secondary education opportunities, summer reading, and more. Most grant awards concentrated on the Community Foundation’s focus areas of community and economic development, education, and poverty to prosperity.

More than 50 grants were awarded in total, including a $12,500 grant to Goodwill Industries of West Michigan for their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. VITA offers free tax preparation services to low- and moderate-income families in Newaygo County. It also helps families identify tax credits they might be eligible for, like the earned income tax credit. For more information, call 2-1-1 or visit vitawestmichigan.org.

Another grant for up to $43,450 was awarded to Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency (NC RESA) for their 2023 summer internship program. Local young adults ages 16-21 can apply for paid summer internships at a variety of work sites throughout the area, gaining valuable career-related work experience.

Other grants included more than $53,000 for summer camp scholarships for Newaygo County youth and $59,000 for new materials at several local libraries.

The Community Foundation accepts community grant applications online twice each year. Applications for the first grant round of 2023 are due on March 1.

On November 30, Fremont Area Community Foundation hosted 50 representatives from nonprofit organizations across the region at a grantwriting workshop at the Center for Hope and Healing in White Cloud. The workshop was held in partnership with the Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University.

Past grant recipients of the Community Foundation and its affiliate foundations in Lake, Mecosta, and Osceola counties were invited to participate in the free learning opportunity led by Tamela Spicer, senior program manager at the Johnson Center. The presentation covered the basics of writing a grant proposal, provided guidance on finding the right voice and writing style, and shared tips for building relationships with potential funders. Organizations were able to submit grant application examples of their own for feedback during a small group peer review exercise.

During the workshop, Community Foundation staff members also provided information for making future grant applications more successful. They shared tips specific to Community Foundation grant rounds and talked about reporting impact. Staff members also answered questions about the grant application and decision-making processes.

“This capacity building workshop was designed to help our community partners and grant recipients be better equipped to secure support not only through the Community Foundation’s grant rounds but through other funding sources as well,” said Lindsay Hager, vice president and chief philanthropy officer at the Community Foundation. “We look forward to hosting more learning opportunities in 2023.”

The Community Foundation’s next grant application deadlines are February 1 for Bridging Generations Fund grants and March 1 for Youth Advisory Committee and community grants. For more information, visit facommunityfoundation.org/grants.

Fremont Area Community Foundation recently awarded nearly $2.5 million in its first community grant round of 2022.

Grant support was awarded to a variety of organizations serving Newaygo County residents, including programs addressing economic growth, literacy, housing, food insecurity, and more. Most grant awards concentrated on the Community Foundation’s three focus areas of community and economic development, education, and poverty to prosperity.

More than 40 grants were awarded in total, including a $25,550 grant to The Right Place Foundation. The grant will support the development of a strategic plan to preserve and showcase the communities of Woodland Park and Idlewild and promote economic development. An experienced consultant will be hired to lead the collaborative project. In addition to the grant, three donors contributed a total of $4,450 from their donor advised funds.

Grant Public Schools received a $3,809 grant, along with contributions totaling $1,500 from two donor advised funds, for their Salmon in the Classroom program. This hands-on learning opportunity will allow Grant third graders to observe and study the life cycle of salmon, raising them from eggs until the fish are released into the Muskegon River.

A $39,200 grant was awarded to Hope 101 Ministry’s transitional housing program. The organization serves individuals and families in Newaygo County experiencing homelessness and provides mentors and case management to help residents set goals and achieve self-sufficiency.

The Community Foundation accepts community grant applications online twice each year. Applications for the second grant round of 2022 are due on September 1.

View a full list of grants awarded, as well as information on how to apply for a grant, at facommunityfoundation.org/grants.

The Community Foundation awarded $3.3 million in its second community grant round of 2021, bringing the total awarded in both rounds in 2021 to nearly $5.6 million.

Grant support was awarded to a variety of organizations serving Newaygo County residents, including programs addressing economic development, college and career access, housing, literacy, and more. Most grant awards concentrated on the Community Foundation’s three focus areas of community and economic development, education, and poverty to prosperity.

More than 50 grants were awarded in total, including a $100,000 grant to Newaygo County for recycling services, continuing the Community Foundation’s long history of supporting recycling. Another grant for $133,000 was awarded to Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency (NC RESA) to support WE CAN! Newaygo County and the Newaygo County Area Promise Zone. Both NC RESA programs work to increase access to post-secondary education and training as well as help address barriers to success for local students.

Several local youth camps were also awarded grants to support summer camp scholarships. These scholarships help to cover the cost of a camp experience for local children who may have difficulty affording it otherwise. Scholarships typically cover 75 percent of camp registration.

The Community Foundation accepts community grant applications online twice each year. Applications for the first grant round of 2022 are due on March 1.

View a full list of grants awarded, as well as information on how to apply for a grant, at facommunityfoundation.org/grants.

The Elderly Needs Fund—a supporting organization of Fremont Area Community Foundation—recently announced it has changed its name to the Bridging Generations Fund.

Since 1992, the fund has made grants to benefit and enrich life for older adults in Newaygo County. Grants have been awarded to projects focused on physical and mental wellbeing, support and respite for caregivers, social enrichment activities, day programs, and more. While support for this important work continues, the fund’s board of directors has also looked for opportunities to support programming that encourages intergenerational partnerships.

“In 2019, we began learning about a concept called ‘age to age’ programming, designed to bring different generations together,” said Maria E. Gonzalez, foundation manager. “We have also been actively exploring ways to reframe aging in our community and looking at the language we use. Through all of this work, we realized it was important to choose a new name to reflect these priorities and our desire to support programming that builds stronger connections between generations.”

The fund’s recent efforts and learning were inspired by a 2016 survey of older adults in Newaygo County. The survey results, conversations with local partners, and opportunities to learn from communities in other parts of the country were all critical components of the board’s recent action planning and enhanced understanding of the power of different ages learning from each other.

“We believe building greater connections between different generations benefits the whole community,” said Gonzalez. “It is crucial not only in helping us all better understand the experiences and needs of our neighbors but also in helping people remain more connected to the community, no matter their age.”

The Bridging Generations Fund continues to accept grant applications twice per year, with deadlines of February 1 and September 1. The fund is currently accepting applications online for the next grant round. For more information, visit the fund’s page.

Fremont Area Community Foundation awarded $3.35 million to local organizations and programs in its most recent community grant round.

Grant funding was awarded to a wide variety of organizations and projects addressing critical local needs. The grant round included general community grants along with grants targeting each of the Community Foundation’s three focus areas: community and economic development, education, and poverty to prosperity.

The Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency (NC RESA) received a two-year $120,000 grant for its Family Information Service Hub (F.I.S.H.) program. In this program, families work with trusted advisors—individuals who received public assistance themselves—to get help with things like applying for assistance or connecting to housing resources.

In the area of community and economic development, the Community Foundation partnered with the County of Newaygo to support Michigan’s Dragon at Hardy Dam trail with a $500,000 grant. The Dragon is a planned 47.5 mile circular biking and hiking trail around Hardy Pond. Designed and endorsed by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, the trail is expected to become a premiere regional and national attraction and create new jobs in the area.

Grant Public Schools was awarded a $10,000 grant for its teacher-developed pilot program: Readers Into Leaders. The reading intervention program will pair elementary school readers with proficient middle school readers over the course of three months. In addition to reading support, the pairs will participate in community service projects together.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church was awarded a grant to support Vera’s House, a community wellness center. The $14,500 grant will support two programs at Vera’s House. Women in Transition offers support and resources for women who have experienced grief or loss. Project Illuminate is a counseling program that provides access to mental health support and treatment.

Organizations located in or directly serving the people of Newaygo County are eligible to receive Community Foundation grants. Applications for community grants are due on March 1 and September 1.

To learn more about the Community Foundation’s strategic grantmaking, contact a member of the community investment team at 231.924.5350 or visit facommunityfoundation.org/grants.

Fremont Area Community Foundation awarded nearly $1.98 million to local agencies and programs in its most recent community grant round.

Grant funding was awarded to a wide variety of organizations and projects addressing critical local needs. In addition to grants impacting the focus areas of community and economic development and poverty to prosperity, more than $978,000 was awarded to the area of education.

Newaygo Public Schools received a $43,025 grant to help launch a new program, Pride Page Prowlers, to provide additional literacy training for teachers and take-home literacy materials for families. The district will host family literacy nights and will introduce the new “Lions Literacy Den” this school year. Parents will be able to check out reading kits put together by teachers that include a book and a corresponding activity for families to do at home.

Hesperia Community Schools and Fremont Public Schools will partner to bring Kagan Cooperative Learning Strategies to their districts. The program provides teachers with strategies designed to promote cooperation and communication in the classroom as well as boost student confidence. A $12,950 grant will help support training of over 100 teachers in both Hesperia and Fremont schools.

While many education-related grants are awarded to schools, partnerships with agencies that provide educational programming are also taking place throughout the county. Arbor Circle has provided substance abuse prevention programs in Newaygo County since 2011 and received a $12,000 grant for new curriculum and staff training for their programming in local schools. They offer interactive programming to help students develop essential life skills as well as programs that provide prevention, intervention, and pretreatment services for young people making high-risk choices.

“We’re proud to support so many outstanding programs and organizations working to strengthen and expand educational opportunities in Newaygo County,” said Carla Roberts, Community Foundation president and CEO. “We’re grateful to partner with these and other organizations and with the donors who make each grant possible.”

The Community Foundation works closely with agencies that are located in or directly serve the people of Newaygo County. Applications for the next community grant round are due by September 1 and notifications take place in December.

To ask questions or learn more about the Community Foundation’s strategic grantmaking, contact a member of the FACF community investment team at 231.924.5350 or visit facommunityfoundation.org/grants.