Note: This program is now closed.

ALICE Mini Grant Recipients

Kalamazoo

  • Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation
  • Kzoo Leaders
  • AIMS Kidz
  • Girls Build Kalamazoo
  • Peace During War
  • Str8 Motivation
  • Stuart Historical Neighborhood Association
  • Bent Not Broken
  • Michigan Afterschool Association
  • The Associates of Josie
  • LifeCycles Bike4Life
  • Empowered Existence

Battle Creek

  • All Walks of Life
  • Center for Afrocentric Thought
  • Small Business Development Center
  • Junior Achievement of Southwest Michigan
  • Freetail Therapy
  • Let's Drive Forward
  • The Arts and Culture Collective of Battle Creek

 

About These Grants

Through this open funding process, United Way of South Central Michigan (UWSCMI) seeks to support local agencies who are striving to increase the number of households in Greater Battle Creek and Kalamazoo County living above the ALICE threshold (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed) as described in the Michigan ALICE Report.  

UWSCMI invites applications for programs/projects aligned to its Battle Creek & Kalamazoo Impact Goals: 

  1. A Safety Net for ALICE: In the region, all individuals and families with an immediate need for shelter, food or other necessities are connected to a robust support system that can meet their needs. 
  2. Pathways for ALICE: A community that initiates and supports efforts to ensure that individuals and families have pathways to financial stability, living above the ALICE survival budget thresholds. 
  1. Community Building for ALICE: A community that understands challenges individuals and families face and makes commitments to address inequities and improve conditions for those struggling financially.  

Across these goals, UWSCMI has a special interest in supporting organizational efforts designed to assist Black, indigenous and people of color (BIPoc), persons with disabilities, and other individuals who are living below the ALICE threshold with overcoming obstacles ascribable to systemic and social inequalities.

Grantmaking Approach: 

Trust Based · Less prescriptive · More open to holistic programming · More equitable and accessible to smaller, grassroots nonprofits 

Opportunity Overview

501(c)(3) organizations serving residents of Greater Battle Creek are invited to apply for mini grants of up to $5,000.00.

    • Rolling deadline, applications reviewed monthly. Applications due by the 1st of each month.
    • One-time funding, not renewable.
    • Grant funds may be used to support programming, including general operating costs.
    • One funding application may be completed on behalf of an organization for multiple programs or projects and/or that spans across multiple goals during the 10/16/23-6/30/24 time frame.

Note: UWSCMI is committed to ensuring that the dollars invested in Kalamazoo and/or greater Battle Creek specific programming is proportionate to the dollars raised in each community.

Eligibility Criteria

    • Active 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsor
    • Serves residents of Greater Battle Creek
    • Annual operating budget at or below $500,000.00
    • Organization is not currently funded through UWSCMI Multi-Year Grant process
    • Organization serves populations disproportionately living below the ALICE threshold (e.g., BIPOC households, Age 65+, persons with disabilities, ALICE children, geographical area with more than 39% ALICE).  More info on ALICE.
    • Work has outcomes related to one or more of the ALICE budget expense categories. ALICE Budget
    • Work utilizes or increases equitable practices, policies, and knowledge to benefit communities most affected by inequities.

 

For questions or accommodations, please contact UWSCMI Staff Contact Andrea Mackli at  269.250.9843 or submit the form below

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