Eleven grants were recently approved by the Midland Area Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees, including two grants recommended by the Midland Area Youth Action Council. The total grantmaking for the second quarter amounted to $359,053. Grantmaking from the Midland Area Community Foundation is made possible by community members who have contributed to funds that support the charitable, cultural, educational, recreational, and scientific needs of the Midland area, in alignment with the Community Foundation’s purpose.
The Community Foundation’s second quarter grant awards ranged from $7,500 to $60,000, with each request focusing on one of the Foundation’s areas of community improvement: Building Our Livelihood, Developing Our Talent, Caring for Our People, and Enriching Our Community. Through their grant applications, community partners shared how the Community Foundation’s investment would strengthen services, expand access, support youth, and increase organizational capacity across Midland County.
The Midland Area Community Foundation is committed to trust-based philanthropy. This framework reflects a commitment to building relationships with nonprofits and making grantmaking responsive to their needs. This funding cycle includes operational grants to nonprofits, a key principle of trust-based philanthropy.
“Grantmaking is one of the ways we see community philanthropy in action,” said Sharon Mortensen, President & CEO of the Midland Area Community Foundation. “These grants are made possible by donors who believe in Midland County and are given to partners who understand the needs of the people they serve. Together, those relationships allow us to invest in practical solutions that strengthen families, expand opportunity, and help move our community toward long-term transformation.”
Second quarter grant awards for 2026 include:
- 2-1-1 Northeast Michigan: $50,000
Operational Support to Increase Call Center Capacity:
Approved funds will support operational costs for the 2-1-1 Northeast Michigan call center staff. This investment will strengthen the organization’s ability to respond to growing community needs by ensuring adequate staffing, training, and support. The grant will help provide timely, high-quality assistance to individuals seeking essential resources.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midland County, Inc. (Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Great Lakes Bay Region): $60,000
Recruitment Strategy 2 Year Pilot Program: Expanding Youth Access to Mentors:
Approved funds will support the launch of a pilot program for a phased recruitment strategy designed to expand youth access to caring mentors. The initiative will strengthen volunteer recruitment systems, reduce wait times for youth, and build a sustainable model that increases long-term support, stability, and developmental assets.
- Bullock Creek Schools: $8,200
Step Up and Lead: Building Tomorrow’s Changemakers (Midland Area Youth Action Council Grant):
Approved funds will support a comprehensive, school-wide leadership initiative that builds students’ leadership capacity. The project will provide students with opportunities to engage with guest speakers, identify community needs, and develop service projects that create meaningful impact within the school and broader community.
“Through courage, kindness, and collaboration, we are building a culture where everyone belongs, and everyone can make a difference. Every Lancer can lead!” said Amy Slabaugh, High School Counselor at Bullock Creek High School.
- Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (Shelterhouse): $60,000
Shelterhouse Comprehensive Services:
Approved funds will support comprehensive services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The project will provide safe shelter, advocacy, and supportive resources to help individuals achieve safety, healing, and long-term stability.
- Midland Business Alliance Foundation (MITCON): $13,000
Consortium Cybersecurity/Phishing Annual Training Program:
Approved funds will support a one-year cybersecurity and phishing awareness training program. This initiative will strengthen organizational resilience by equipping staff with the knowledge and tools needed to identify and prevent cyber threats.
- Midland Child Advocacy Center: $32,853
Expanding Trauma-Informed Services for Children:
Approved funds will support the expansion of trauma-informed services for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. The project will enhance forensic interviewing, family advocacy, and therapeutic resources to ensure children and families receive coordinated, compassionate care.
- Midland Community Cancer Society (Cancer Services): $60,000
Sustaining Client-Centered Cancer Care:
Approved funds will support the continuation of client-centered cancer care services. This investment will ensure individuals and families impacted by cancer have access to supportive programs and resources that improve quality of life throughout their journey.
“This generous gift from the Midland Area Community Foundation will allow Cancer Services to continue providing vital support to local cancer patients and their families. All of our services are offered free of charge and include financial assistance for those who struggle to work during treatment, emotional support through private counseling and support groups, transportation to life-saving appointments, supplies such as prostheses and adult briefs, and more. Cancer Services is the lifeline that allows families to focus on healing, and this thoughtful grant helps ensure that no one has to face this journey alone,” said Eliana Rosen-Fireman, Executive Managing Director of Cancer Services.
- Midland Community Former Offenders Advocacy and Rehabilitation (MCFOAR): $30,000
Reentry Support and Workforce Readiness Program:
Approved funds will support reentry services for individuals transitioning from incarceration. The project will provide workforce-readiness training, mentorship, and support services to help participants successfully reintegrate into the community and achieve long-term stability.
- Sleep In Heavenly Peace Inc.: $7,500
No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town (Midland Area Youth Action Council Grant):
Approved funds will support the building and delivery of beds for children in need. The project will ensure that children in Midland County have a safe, comfortable place to sleep, improving overall well-being and stability at home.
- The Community Shed of Mid-Michigan: $7,500
Tool Access and Community Workshop Expansion:
Approved funds will support the expansion of tool lending and workshop programming. This project will provide community members with access to tools, equipment, and hands-on learning opportunities that promote skill-building, self-sufficiency, and community connection.
- YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region: $30,000
Women’s Economic Empowerment Program (WEEP):
Approved funds will support the Women’s Economic Empowerment Program, which provides education, job readiness training, and financial literacy resources. This initiative will help participants build economic stability and achieve long-term self-sufficiency.
“This project directly addresses the economic divide in Midland County by removing the systemic barriers that keep almost 40% of local households financially constrained. By merging trauma-informed financial literacy with high-growth technical training, our Women’s Economic Empowerment Program and WEEP Works provide the ‘bridging capital’ necessary for local women to confidently navigate the current economic times. This program shifts families out of short-term survival mode, empowering participants to break the cycle of generational poverty and build a permanent foundation of economic mobility,” said Moira Branigan, Executive Director of YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region.
“We are grateful to walk alongside organizations that are doing important work every day,” Mortensen said. “This quarter’s grants reflect both immediate responsiveness and long-term vision. Whether the funding supports access to essential services, youth leadership, safer spaces, or stronger nonprofit capacity, each grant is an investment in the people and future of Midland County.”
Responsive grants are offered quarterly. Grants are open to all 501(c)(3) nonprofit agencies, educational institutions, and government entities in Midland County. To inquire about donating, establishing a fund, or applying for a grant, contact the Community Foundation at (989) 839-9661 or info@midlandfoundation.org.