Advancing Equity & Opportunity Across Flint and Genesee County  

At CFGF, we believe the true experts on the needs, opportunities, and future of Genesee County are the people who live and work here. We recognize historical and systemic inequities have disproportionately left communities under-resourced. As a community foundation, our goal is to address root causes of inequality, remove barriers, and partner with local leaders to build a more just and inclusive region where everyone thrives.  

Who Should Apply? 

The Community Foundation of Greater Flint makes most competitive grants to organizations classified as publicly supported charities in the Internal Revenue Service Code, Section 170(b)(1)(A), including local nonprofits, grassroots organizations, and community collectives, schools and universities, churches, synagogues and mosques, and governmental entities. Organizations without public charity status may apply through a fiscal sponsor. We are seeking funding requests that center equity, inclusion, and the lived experiences of residents across Flint and Genesee County.  

 

2026-2028 Focus Areas

At the Community Foundation, we believe lasting change begins when people come together to shape the future of their community. Guided by our mission, we invest in programs and partnerships that create a thriving Genesee County.  

Our work is guided by five interconnected focus areas that strengthen opportunity and well-being across our community. Within each focus area, specific priorities help guide our funding and communicate the types of programs, services, and strategies we are most interested in supporting. 

These priorities are intended to provide direction while allowing flexibility for innovative approaches and emerging community needs. You can review our focus area funding priorities within the dropdown menu below.  

CFGF strives to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by supporting programs that build household resilience and increase access to economic resources and services for underserved residents. 

2026-2028 Grantmaking Priorities: 

  • Access to workforce development and employment opportunities that provide living wage, dignified work conditions, and economic security. 
  • Access to adequate, safe and affordable housing. 

CFGF strives to achieve health equity by investing in programs and partnerships that provide affordable access to essential health services, including interventions to address the social determinants of health.

2026-2028 Grantmaking Priorities: 

  • Access to prevention and treatment of substance abuse 
  •  Access to mental health and behavioral health services 
  •  Access to adequate, safe and affordable housing  
  •  Access to safe and nutritious food and education 
  •  Expanding access to health care and coverage 
  •  Quality of life for individuals and their families experiencing chronic illness, and/or end of life transition or end of life events

CFGF strives to strengthen the quality of education along the continuum from birth through post-secondary enrollment and completion. 

2026-2028 Grantmaking Priorities: 

  • Access to arts education and experiences, including music, theater, and performing and visual arts 
  • Access to extracurricular activities, including educational and enrichment programs.   
  • Access to programs that promote literacy, reading, tutoring and academic success   
  • Access to general education programs and activities, including STEM Education 

CFGF strives to enhance community livability by supporting access to safe and inclusive green and public spaces while preserving cultural and natural resources. 

2026-2028 Grantmaking Priorities 

The Foundation primarily makes investments to achieve our vibrant communities impact through special grant programs including, the Neighborhood Small Grants Program, Geographic Affiliate Funds, and our Youth grant program. Each of these special grant programs have priorities and eligibility criteria, which can be found in the How to Apply section of this page. 

CFGF strives to create a more vibrant and equitable community where everyone can thrive by empowering and promoting social, economic, and political inclusion. 

2026-2028 Grantmaking Priorities: 

  • Nonpartisan Voter Engagement 
  • Civic Education 
  • Civic Media and Journalism  
  • Social Cohesion & Connectedness 

Our Commitment to Equitable Grantmaking  

To align our actions with our values, we commit to the following practices for this funding cycle:  

  • Valuing Lived Experience: We prioritize organizations led by and reflecting the diversity of the communities they serve. Your community trust and local expertise are valued as highly as traditional financial metrics.  
  • Flexible Funding: We are expanding our allocation of general operating support to give our partners the autonomy to use funds where they are needed most.  
  • Allowable Indirect/Administrative Costs: For programmatic funding requests, applicants can allocate up to 20% of their budget towards indirect/administrative costs.   
  • Streamlined Process: We consistently work to simplify our application questions and incorporate your feedback to respect your time and energy.  
  • Grant Request Amount Guidelines: Most grant awards are in the range of $5,000 to $25,000 and may vary based on focus areas and special grant program guidelines. Larger funding needs should be discussed with a program officer. 

How to Apply 

The first step in the competitive grant application process is a pre-application conversation with a program officer. This interchange of information is an opportunity to inform the Community Foundation about your organization’s needs, outline your project, and ask clarifying questions. 

Following your conversation with a program officer, you will submit a grant application through our online portal. Funding decisions are expected approximately three months after the application due date. You can visit the Online Grant Application page to access tutorials, frequently asked questions, and guides on account set-up and management. 

The General Grant Application collects the essential information to evaluate proposals across our grant programs. It also includes the Flint Kids Fund, Geographic Affiliate Funds, and Youth Programs—applicants can simply opt in if their project aligns with these special grant programs. You can review special grant program priorities and guidelines in the attached RFP documents linked below.  

Separate applications are required for the Flint Women and Girls Fund and Neighborhood Small Grants Program. 

Grant Application Due Dates

February 1 Application Due Date:

General application for requests aligned with CFGF Focus Areas. 

Special Grant Programs:

Supports programs and services with the greatest impact on long-term health and development needs of Flint children. 

Provides support to programs that help to improve quality of life for residents in Clio, Davison, Grand Blanc, Fenton Area and Flushing. 

 

Programs that serve Genesee County youth between the ages of 5-21, with strategic focus on supporting programs offering after school recreational activities, meeting basic needs, mental health supports, creative arts, and homework assistance or tutoring programs.

March 1 Application Due Date:

The Neighborhoods Small Grants Program supports established and emerging citizen-based groups or organizations in moderate to low-income neighborhoods in and near the City of Flint to develop projects that address pressing issues within their neighborhoods; build alliances with other community institutions; and develop community-based leadership.

  • Flint Women and Girls Fund: supports programs that encourage the advancement and full participation of women and girls in society by promoting the removal of barriers to their economic, educational, physical, emotional, social, artistic, and personal growth. 
  • Click here to learn more. 
  • Contact Chakara Wheeler, to schedule a pre-application meeting.