Our
GrantsThe Community Grant Program will continue this fall! More details coming in the following weeks. Subscribe to Foundation Matters for up-to-date information.
The Otsego Community Foundation manages over 90 charitable funds established by generous individuals, businesses and families that want to give back to Otsego County. From each fund, grants are distributed back to the community based on the charitable intention of the fund. Some funds are designated for a specific cause or organization such as the Otsego County Historical Society or Little League, others known as Field of Interest Funds, target a specific area of the community such as youth, educators, homelessness or cancer. Funds for the Community are undesignated funds designed to support multiple local charities. In order to effectively distribute grants from field of interest funds and undesignated funds an application is required. See community grant program to learn more.
Community Grant Program
Since 2015, The Otsego Community Foundation has administered the Community Grant Program, a collaborative effort of local funders that increases the effectiveness of grantmaking and grows the capacity of local nonprofits. Collectively, we can make more of an impact on projects and programs. As the administrator of this program, the OCF will serve as your contact through the grant-seeking process. This program addresses the limited capacity of organizations to apply to multiple funding sources. This fall, applicants will complete one online application, which is reviewed by multiple funders, each with their own funding priorities and focus areas. The Community Grant Program is a one-stop grantmaking source for nonprofit organizations serving Otsego County.
2025 Community Grant Program dates include informational sessions August 13th and 21st, application open September 1st-19th, and award notifications October 30th. More details to be announced in the coming weeks. Check OCF Facebook and subscribe to Foundation Matters to be the first to know!
Our Partners
We are proud to partner with the following organizations for the Community Grant Program. Each funding partner makes its own decisions about which projects to support based on available funds and funding priorities. Please see the Funding Partners Fact Sheet.
- Kiwanis Club of Gaylord
- United Way of Otsego County
- Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital Foundation
- Otsego Wildlife Legacy Society
- Rotary Club of Gaylord
- Meemic Insurance/The Drzewiecki Agency
- BCBSM Foundation
Who is Eligible?
- 501 (c) (3) organizations
- Schools
- Government Units that serve the residents of Otsego County
Each funding partner has certain areas of interest. However, all funding partners are particularly interested in supporting applications that:
- Focus on projects that pilot, scale, accelerate, or fill significant gaps.
- Build capacity and support the incredible work of our nonprofits.
- Fully fund grants and champion projects actively addressing identified local needs.
- Support multi-year grants to promote effective planning and programming.
- Leverage greater funds from outside our community through matching grants.
The Community Grant Program does NOT fund the following:
- Capital campaigns
- Membership campaigns
- Event sponsorships
- Retroactive funding
- Debt retirement
- Grants to individuals
- Grants for medical, scientific, or academic research
- Grants that promote political and religious ideologies and doctrines
Together, we granted over $160,000 to meet needs and advance opportunities in our community 2023. The grants awarded by this program ranged from $1200 to $19,000, with an average award of $4368.
Types of Grants
The Community Grant Program offers four types of grants for Otsego County nonprofits: Seed, Expansion, Capacity, and Sustaining. Please refer to the definitions below to determine which fits the needs of your organization.
- Expansion Grant – This grant funds an increase in the size or scope of an existing program.
- Capacity Grant – This grant is an investment that strengthens nonprofit performance or outcomes such as new strategies, improved processes/efficiencies, or staff development.
- Sustaining Grant – This grant funds an established program or project that isn’t altering its size or scope.
- Seed Grant – This type of grant funds a new concept or pilot program.
How To Apply For A Grant
More details coming soon!
To better develop a program that serves OCF staff, funding partners, and organizational partners, our grant application process is going through a slight makeover this year. Check back in August for further details. Thank you for your patience!
Grant Requirements
Congratulations on your recent grant award!
The award letter you received outlines the dollar amount granted, the fund(s) from which those dollars came, as well as the conditions of the grant, including:
Publicize your grant
You may prepare and submit a press release to local media regarding your project and the grant; if you have a newsletter that could be a good outlet as well. Please continue to credit “the fund of the OCF” in printed materials and news stories as a supporter of the project. In order to assist both the experienced and first-time grant recipient, we have produced some suggestions in Tips for Publicizing Your Grant.
Invite us to see it in action
Whether your project is complete or in process members of our team including staff, volunteers and donors would love to see your good work in action. Please contact Amanda Sosa – amanda@otsegofoundation.org or 989-731-0597 to schedule this.
Submit a Final Report form
The Final report form available here will provide guidance and if you have any questions please email amanda@otsegofoundation.org .Your feedback is essential to our work.
Thank you for your partnership!
2024 Giving Together Publication
The Community Grant Program is a collaborative effort made possible by local funding partners, including the Kiwanis Club of Gaylord, Otsego Community Foundation, Otsego Wildlife Legacy Society, Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital, Otsego County United Way, Drzewiecki Agency, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation, and Rotary Club of Gaylord.
This unique program, administered by the Otsego Community Foundation, allows nonprofits to complete one grant application, which is reviewed and considered by all funding partners. See the 2024 Giving Together Publication below.
Established
Grants Awarded
Funds
Current Assets
Get In Touch
Location: 316 W Main Street, Gaylord, MI 49735
Mailing Address: PO Box 344, Gaylord, MI 49734
Telephone: (989) 731-0597
Email: info@otsegofoundation.org
Hours: T-TH: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. (M & F by appt.)
What matters to your organization?
We want to hear your ideas. Call us and we will help guide your request.