Additional Grant Resources
Michigan Humanities
Michigan Humanities offers grants of up to $20,000 for projects that emphasize collaboration among cultural, educational, and community-based organizations and institutions in order to serve Michigan’s people with public humanities programming. They are intended to connect us to Michigan’s rich cultural heritage and historical resources through initiatives that help the people of our state reason together and learn from one another.
Arts Midwest
Arts Midwest supports efforts that connect people, ideas, and solutions through creativity. That includes grantmaking initiatives, community programming, and awards celebrating Midwestern creativity. Since Arts Midwest’s founding in 1985, they have awarded more than 6,000 grants to organizations across the region.
Community Foundations
Community foundations are local organizations designed to pool donations into investment and grant making opportunities dedicated to the social improvement of the region(s) they serve. Several areas in the Upper Peninsula have a community foundation; the Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula, based in Delta County, coordinates the efforts of nine other regions. Additional regions in the U.P. have independently operated community foundations.
WESTERN U.P.
CENTRAL U.P.
EASTERN U.P.
Corporate & Foundation Grants
Corporations and foundations often offer funding for nonprofit initiatives including arts and culture projects and organizations that improve quality of life in the region(s) they serve. Each entity will have a different grant application process. Some corporations and foundations that serve the U.P. and offer grant funding are listed below. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and additional companies in your local area may offer grant funding opportunities.
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) provides grant funding for organizations, individuals, and programs covering a variety of initiatives aimed at cultural development in the USA. NEA grants tend to be highly competitive and targeted at large-scale projects with a significant local or regional impact.
Fresh Coast Film Festival
The Fresh Coast Film Festival has a long tradition of recognizing and encouraging new and emerging filmmakers from the Midwest. They offer the Making Waves commitment grant to support filmmakers and film projects from the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest region. Applications are due April 30, 2024.
Need help with the grant process?
Applying for funding can be an intimidating and time-consuming process. There are many resources available for help with the grant application and writing process, from professional grant writing services to free workshops offered by local and regional organizations including the Upper Peninsula Arts & Culture Alliance and the Michigan Arts & Culture Council.