• Grants
• General Grant Information
• How to Submit a Grant Proposal
• Grant Proposal Deadlines
• Grant Proposal Process
• Fund Description
• P-3 Grants
• Operational Grants

Philanthropy is fun to say – and fun to do! But what exactly is philanthropy? As defined by the dictionary it literally means, “to increase the well-being of mankind, as by charitable acts or donations”. The Midland County Youth Action Council (MCYAC) is a group of middle and high school age students who have come together to do just that. Through a process of grant making and volunteer service, MCYAC members gain leadership experience and work to meet the needs of youth in Midland County.

Sound complicated? It really isn’t! In fact, we would like to invite your group to participate. As a school, church, scout or other 501(c) 3 nonprofit youth organization, you may have a project that qualifies for MCYAC’s Mini-Grant program - “Positive Philanthropic Power” (P3). The goal of the P3 Mini-Grant program is to promote philanthropy among young people. Remember, philanthropy is to increase the well-being of mankind, as by charitable acts or donations. So MCYAC is offering mini-grants (up to $500) for youth organizations to coordinate a “charitable act” to benefit someone or something other than your own group.
And because philanthropy is fun to say – and fun to do – MCYAC would like to join you. In the criteria listed below, we will recommend a MCYAC representative to be a liaison between your group project and Midland County Youth Action Council. Complete the attached form and submit it by the deadline. If your project is approved, you too will discover the great feeling that being philanthropic can give you.

 Criteria

• - MUST BE A SERVICE-ORIENTED PROJECT!
• (See list below for examples and resources)
  
• Applicant must be a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization serving Midland
  County with a majority of members under the age of 18.
• Project must benefit something or someone other than the applying
  organization (Purpose is to serve others - don’t apply for yourself!)
  Grants up to $500 each will be awarded.
• Grants should be used for program supplies and materials.
  Youth members must write the proposal - adult leaders should only provide assistance. Application should be typed or hand written in black or blue ink.
• A majority of your members should be involved in the project.
  Proposal due date: January 15, 2009 (Applicants will be notified by March 6, 2009 of the application’s status.)
Projects have to be scheduled between March 6, 2009 and August 1, 2009.
Include a letter of support from the group that will benefit from the project.

Project examples:
Participate in food and clothing drives. Hold a community clean-up day. Collect school supplies for poor students. Visit residents at an assisted living facility. Adopt a nature trail. Provide yard maintenance or housecleaning services for elderly or disabled neighbors. Launch a mentoring or tutoring program at a nearby school. Take pets to visit nursing home residents or terminally ill children. Adopt a family.

Volunteer at an animal shelter, food bank, etc. Deliver meals to homebound patients or to the elderly. Deliver handmade cards to nursing homes. Start a flower or tree-planting project in a park or on roadsides in your neighborhood. Adopt a charity. Have a scavenger hunt to collect food for the needy. Send "thinking of you" cards to a homebound sick child or elderly person. Match children up with "adopted" grandparents and organize an activity for them. Start a community service club. Set up a recycling program in your neighborhood or school. Make a list of community needs to share with local schools. Organize a volunteer challenge with another club in your area. Get local civic/corporate
groups to sponsor a community improvement project. Organize a volunteer fair at which the community can get to know local charitable organizations and learn how their volunteer efforts make a difference.