Fremont Area Community Foundation awarded just over $3 million in its fall 2025 community grant round.
More than 40 organizations serving people in Newaygo County received grants. Support was awarded to a variety of programs, including clean water and waterway restoration initiatives, youth job training, hunger prevention, housing, summer reading programs, and more. Most grants targeted one of the Community Foundation’s three focus areas: community development, education, and poverty reduction.
Muskegon River Watershed Assembly received a $27,279 grant as well as $1,000 from a donor advised fund for their Ryerson Lake clean water initiative. The project aims to install three conservation drainage management systems near the lake to reduce nutrient pollution. A similar project has been successful on the east side of the state in the Lake Erie basin.
White Cloud Public Schools received a $7,885 grant for upgrades to their middle school playground. With new and expanded playground equipment, the school hopes to encourage students to be more active, increase social interactions, and even improve educational outcomes.
The Hope Project, Inc. was awarded a $36,400 grant to provide trauma-informed services for vulnerable youth and survivors of sex trafficking in Newaygo County. The Hope Project provides case management, advocacy, mentoring, therapy, and support groups for survivors of trafficking. They have experienced significant growth since their expansion into Newaygo County in 2024.
The Community Foundation accepts community grant applications online twice each year. The next deadline is March 2. For more information, visit facommunityfoundation.org/grants.
