TRAVERSE CITY -- Several community organizations are set to get a big gift thanks to Rotary Charities.
Grants awarded this year include improving the State Theatre, finishing the Greilickville Harbor Park and renovating the Historic Elk Rapids Township Hall.
Twenty four grants totaling $686,500 were announced Thursday.
Dr. Bob Portenga, Chairperson of Rotary Charities of Traverse City stated, "During the course of our 34-year history, we have invested more than $42 million in our five-county region. Our investments in the work of nonprofits and local units of government have resulted in improving the quality of life in our region."
"Regional prosperity is inextricably linked to our sense of place," said Marsha Smith Executive Director of Rotary Charities. "As a region, we have come together to plan for a prosperous future by way of the Grand Vision. Many projects have arisen out of that process and the Grand Vision is moving to implementation across our region. You will see evidence of this in our grants as well - many are for projects that align with the Grand Vision."
These grants were awarded based on applications received during the fall 2011. The following grants were awarded in the single year program and capital category:
Single Year Capital and Program Grants: Total $161,500
Elmwood Township: Capital Grant $38,500
To complete the improvements to Greilickville Harbor Park at the entry to Leelanau County, designated as a corridor of significance in the Grand Vision.
Historic Elk Rapids Township Hall: Capital Grant $33,000
To provide funding for the first phase of renovations to the cultural center in the village.
TART: Program Grant $40,000
To support the creation of a complete streets initiative along with outreach and a tool kit for communities throughout the region
Traverse City Film Festival: Capital Grant $50,000
To provide a $1 for $1 challenge grant to fund the renovation of the State Theatre façade
In addition to single year grants, Rotary Charities also makes three-year grants for programs and organizational capacity building. This change occurred eight years ago, when the board recognized the importance of innovation, collaboration, and creating stronger, more effective nonprofits.
The Board also recognized the time it takes for programs and organizations to reach their full potential, and thus created the multiple year grant category. The following grants are new multiple year grants and renewals of multiple year commitments.
New Multiple Year Organizational Capacity Building and Program Grants Total: $165,000
Honor Area Revitalization Project (HARP): Program Grant, Year 1 $30,000
To support Grand Vision implementation in the village of Honor through creation of a leadership program, recreation plan, DDA and TIF
American Red Cross: Organizational Capacity Building Grant, Year 1 $40,000
To assist with fund development, communications and marketing, community outreach, leadership succession and transition planning
Junior Achievement: Organizational Capacity Building Grant, Year 1 $12,500
To support the creation and implementation of a communications and marketing plan
United Way: Program Grant, Year 1 $35,000
To assist with a volunteer program designed to connect and support diverse groups of volunteers
Women's Resource Center: Organizational Capacity Building Grant, Year 1 $47,500
To aid in the completion of a community needs assessment, creation of partnerships and alliances, and implement new technology
Renewals of Multiple Year Organizational capacity Building and Program Grants Total: $360,000
Antrim County Conservation District: Organizational Capacity Building Grant, Year 2 $24,000
To support community outreach, marketing and communications, fund development and volunteer management for the District, which protects and restores natural resources in the county, with over 31,000 acres of inland lakes and 25 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline
Brickways: Organizational Capacity Building Grant, Year 3 $36,000
To support a development director, administrative assistant and office renovation for the organization, which provides supportive and independent living options for special needs adults
Communities in Schools, Mancelona: Organizational Capacity Building Grant, Year 2 $34,000
To help develop board, management capacity, fundraising and financial operations for CIS, which has been operating in Mancelona for ten years providing proven programs and comprehensive support for at-risk students
Goodwill - Food Rescue: Program Grant, Year 3 $24,000
To support the continued development of programs to retrieve fresh food and supply local food pantries. Since its inception in 2009, Food Rescue has provided over 1 million pounds of fresh food to people in need
Goodwill - PaperWorks: Program Grant, Year 2 $31,000
To support the development of a national sales program, allowing them to hire some of the 100 wait-listed disabled and disadvantaged adults who are looking for work
Grand Traverse Conservation District: Program Grant, Year 3 $16,000
To support development of 12 new Nature Education for Students and Teachers (NEST) programs at the District's Nature Center
Grand Traverse County Health Department: Program Grant, Year 3 $31,000
To increase health care services for youth ages 10-24 in Traverse City and Kingsley
Leelanau Children's Center: Program Grant, Year 2 $17,000
To support the Parenting Communities program, which provides screening, home visits, play groups, and counseling to parents and children in Leelanau County
Leelanau Conservancy: Program Grant, Year 3 $14,000
To support the FARMAbility program in Leelanau, which encourages farmers to permanently protect agricultural land by providing stipends, tax planning and educational programs
Maritime Heritage Alliance: Program Grant, Year 3 $10,000
To support the SAIL Champion program, which provides intensive training and counseling to at-risk youth in the foster care and court systems
Old Town Playhouse: Organizational Capacity Building Grant, Year 3 $ 19,000
To support board development, fundraising and technology to increase the sustainability of our regional community theater
Regional Collaborative Alliance: Program Grant, Year 3 $25,000
To provide infrastructure and support to agencies and nonprofits working in our five-county region to reduce poverty
Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center: Program Grant, Year 2 $32,500
To support the Family Advocate position, which works directly with families whose children have been abused. The Center has seen over 240 cases this year
Traverse Health Clinic: Organizational Capacity Building Grant, Year 2 $22,500
To support marketing and public relations for the clinic, which provides service to underinsured and uninsured adults
The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay: Organizational Capacity Building, Year 3 $24,000
To support staff for marketing, outreach and fund development, increasing sustainability for the organization that advocates for and educates about the importance of clean freshwater in the Grand Traverse Bay watershed Planning Grants
In addition, Rotary Charities provides planning grants to organizations for capital or program planning (up to $5,000) and organizational capacity assessments (up to $8,000). These grants are made on a continuing basis. During the period June 2011 to November 2011, $36,900 was awarded for six planning grants.
The next opportunity for single year grants (program and small capital under $100,000) will be March 1, 2012. Multiple year grant applications will be accepted September 1, 2012.
For more information on applying for a grant and forms click here, or contact the Rotary Charities office at 231.941.4010.
Since its inception in the mid-70s, Rotary Charities has distributed $42,079,636 in the form of 924 grants to organizations and non-profits in Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Kalkaska and Antrim counties.
The public foundation was formed following the discovery in July of 1976 of oil and natural gas reserves on property owned by the Traverse City Rotary Club. Its purpose over the years has been to distribute interest income generated from the oil and gas royalties to organizations throughout the five-county region of Northwest Michigan.
