A vehicle for receiving charitable gifts that will remain forever in Gratiot County; to improve the quality of life for those who live and work in Gratiot County through grants, scholarships, donor funds and community engagement.
A $175,000 grant to the City of Alma for a park restroom stands out in the recent record, alongside a consistent stream of support for schools, local facilities, and community services across Gratiot County. Gratiot County Community Foundation uses grants, scholarships, donor funds, and community engagement to improve quality of life for people who live and work in the county. Its recent giving shows a practical mix of capital projects, student supports, and operating or program-specific awards rather than a narrow emphasis on one sector. The foundation’s larger awards often back visible community assets. It gave $39,985 to the Gratiot County Historical and Genea Logical Society for renovations and $28,200 to St Louis Public Schools for renovations. Education is also a recurring part of the portfolio: Ithaca South Elementary School received $22,900 for student support, and Washington Township received $20,000 for a hall addition. Across the record, the foundation appears to favor projects that serve broad local audiences and fit Gratiot County’s schools, civic spaces, and public-serving organizations.
Education and youth support are central to the foundation’s recent work. It awarded $34,900 to Ashley Community Schools for student support and $18,006 to Breckenridge Community Schools for gym and music equipment, showing support for both direct student services and school facilities. Another school-focused award went to Ithaca North Elementary School for student support. Community infrastructure also receives attention. The foundation gave $20,465 to Gratiot County Fair for Youth for fair support, $20,000 to Washington Township for a hall addition, and $15,000 to His Place Family Enrichment Center for renovations. Public safety and health appear as well: Alma Police Department received $15,000 for public safety, and Mymichigan Health Foundation received $15,000 to help build a surgical unit.
The typical grant size clusters in the low five figures: p25 is $7,500, the median is $12,234, and p75 is $15,400. That spread matches a portfolio built around mid-sized local awards, with occasional larger capital grants at the top end. The foundation also shows repeated support to some recipients across years, including Ashley Community Schools, St Louis Public Schools, Ithaca South Elementary School, Ithaca North Elementary School, Breckenridge Elementary School, Fulton Elementary, and Senior Activity Building Board. It accepts unsolicited applications through competitive grant cycles and YAC grants, and it administers more than 35 scholarship funds.
$341K
$20.3M
$1.2M
$979K
Most grants fall between $8K and $15K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$15K
JIM WHEELER
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Grantmaking is entirely local and entirely in Michigan: 100% of grants in the dataset go to recipients in MI. The most frequent recipient cities include Ithaca, Alma, St. Louis, Ashley, and Breckenridge, with Middleton also appearing in school support grants. The recent record reflects county-level distribution rather than a single municipal focus, reaching schools, township government, civic groups, and service organizations across Gratiot County.
The foundation funds community improvement projects, school support, youth projects, scholarships, healthcare, public safety, housing and basic needs, and arts and culture. Recent grants include student support at local schools, renovations to community facilities, and support for public safety and healthcare projects.
Yes. Its Competitive Grants program and Youth Advisory Council grants both accept unsolicited applications, and the foundation runs three competitive grant cycles per year. Scholarship funds are also part of the grantmaking structure.
The distribution centers on mid-sized awards. The 25th percentile is $7,500, the median grant is $12,234, and the 75th percentile is $15,400. Recent grants also show larger project awards at the top end.
Grantmaking is local to Gratiot County, Michigan. Every grant in the dataset goes to recipients in MI, with repeated awards in cities such as Ithaca, Alma, St. Louis, Ashley, and Breckenridge.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Ashley Community Schools, St Louis Public Schools, Ithaca South Elementary School, Ithaca North Elementary School, Breckenridge Elementary School, Fulton Elementary, and Senior Activity Building Board. That pattern suggests repeated support for ongoing local priorities.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Gratiot County Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects must improve the quality of life for citizens of Gratiot County. Competitive grant guidelines apply.
Deadline: Three competitive grant cycles each year; the next Competitive Grant Cycle deadline is October 1, 2026.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's Resource Center | Alma, MI | $16,200 | 2026 | Renovations |
| Gratiot Emergency Housing Corp | Alma, MI | $16,000 | 2026 | Housing |
| Ithaca South Elementary School | Ithaca, MI | $15,050 | 2026 | Student Support |
| Ashley Community Schools | Ashley, MI | $15,050 | 2026 | Student Support |
| Fulton Elementary | Middleton, MI | $15,050 | 2026 | Student Support |
| Eugene M Nikkari Elementary | St Louis, MI | $15,050 | 2026 | Student Support |
| Breckenridge Elementary School | Breckenridge, MI | $15,050 | 2026 | Student Support |
| Carrie Knause Elementary | St Louis, MI | $15,050 | 2026 | Student Support |
| Ithaca North Elementary School | Ithaca, MI | $15,050 | 2026 | Student Support |
| United Way of Greater Central Michigan | Alma, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | Designated |
| Heroes Center | St Louis, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | Renovations |
| Gratiot County Hope House | St Louis, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | Shelter |
| Alma Police Department | Alma, MI | $12,000 | 2026 | Public Safety |
| Mid-Michigan Big Brothers Big Sisters | Lake Isabella, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | Donor Advised - Food Program |
| United Way of Greater Central Michigan | Mt Pleasant, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | Community Support |
| Village of Breckenridge | Breckenridge, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | Playground Renovations |
| Commission on Aging | Ithaca, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | Equipment |
| Office of Human Services | St Louis, MI | $9,000 | 2026 | Food Pantry |
| Ashley Community Schools | Ashley, MI | $8,500 | 2026 | Donor Advised - Student Support |
| Ithaca Adventist Community Service Center | Ithaca, MI | $8,000 | 2026 | Clothing |
| Mid-Michigan District Health Department | Ithaca, MI | $7,735 | 2026 | Health Supplies |
| Alma Little League | Alma, MI | $7,500 | 2026 | Renovations |
| Breckenridge Wheeler Township Volunteer Rescue Fire Department | Breckenridge, MI | $7,117 | 2026 | Fire Hall |
| Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan | Saginaw, MI | $7,000 | 2026 | General Support |
| St Louis Area Fire Department | St Louis, MI | $6,925 | 2026 | Public Safety |
| MidMichigan Health Foundation | Midland, MI | $6,300 | 2026 | Surgical Services |
| Breckenridge Wheeler Area Historical Society | Breckenridge, MI | $6,000 | 2026 | Designated - General |
| Gratiot String Association | Alma, MI | $5,820 | 2026 | Program Support |
| Gratiot County Sherriff Department | Ithaca, MI | $5,796 | 2026 | Student Programs |
| Michigan Arts Access (MiAAA) | Detroit, MI | $5,500 | 2026 | Student Support |
| City of Ithaca | Ithaca, MI | $5,373 | 2026 | Public Safety |
| Alma Highland Festival | Alma, MI | $5,250 | 2026 | Renovations |
| Healthy Pine River Inc | Alma, MI | $5,033 | 2026 | Research |
| GRATIOT COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEA LOGICAL SOCIETY | ITHACA, MI | $39,985 | 2025 | RENOVATIONS |
| ST LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS | ST LOUIS, MI | $28,200 | 2025 | RENOVATIONS |
| ITHACA SOUTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ITHACA, MI | $22,900 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT |
| WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | ASHLEY, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | HALL ADDITION |
| SENIOR ACTIVITY BUILDING BOARD | ITHACA, MI | $16,550 | 2025 | DESIGNATED |
| CARRIE KNAUSE ELEMENTARY | ST LOUIS, MI | $15,400 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT |
| ITHACA NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | ITHACA, MI | $15,400 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT |
| BRECKENRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | BRECKENRIDGE, MI | $15,400 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT |
| EUGENE M NIKKARI ELEMENTARY | ST LOUIS, MI | $15,400 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT |
| ASHLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | ASHLEY, MI | $15,400 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT |
| FULTON ELEMENTARY | MIDDLETON, MI | $15,294 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF GRATIOT COUNTY | ALMA, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | DESIGNATED |
| WINGS OF MERCY EAST MICHIGAN | BAY CITY, MI | $14,530 | 2025 | DESIGNATED MEDICAL |
| COMMISSION ON AGING | ITHACA, MI | $12,100 | 2025 | ELDERLY SUPPORT |
| ASHLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | ASHLEY, MI | $12,072 | 2025 | STUDENT STEM |
| ASHLEY AREA FIRE AUTHORITY | ASHLEY, MI | $11,600 | 2025 | PUBLIC SAFETY |
| ST LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS | ST LOUIS, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY PROJECTS |
Women's Resource Center
$16,200Renovations
Gratiot Emergency Housing Corp
$16,000Housing
Ithaca South Elementary School
$15,050Student Support
Ashley Community Schools
$15,050Student Support
Fulton Elementary
$15,050Student Support
Eugene M Nikkari Elementary
$15,050Student Support
Breckenridge Elementary School
Student Support
Carrie Knause Elementary
$15,050Student Support
Ithaca North Elementary School
$15,050Student Support
United Way of Greater Central Michigan
$15,000Designated
Heroes Center
$15,000Renovations
Gratiot County Hope House
$15,000Shelter
Alma Police Department
$12,000Public Safety
Mid-Michigan Big Brothers Big Sisters
$10,000Donor Advised - Food Program
United Way of Greater Central Michigan
$10,000Community Support
Village of Breckenridge
$10,000Playground Renovations
Commission on Aging
$10,000Equipment
Office of Human Services
$9,000Food Pantry
Ashley Community Schools
$8,500Donor Advised - Student Support
Ithaca Adventist Community Service Center
$8,000Clothing
Mid-Michigan District Health Department
$7,735Health Supplies
Alma Little League
$7,500Renovations
Breckenridge Wheeler Township Volunteer Rescue Fire Department
$7,117Fire Hall
St Louis Area Fire Department
$6,925Public Safety
Breckenridge Wheeler Area Historical Society
$6,000Designated - General
Gratiot String Association
$5,820Program Support
Gratiot County Sherriff Department
$5,796Student Programs
Michigan Arts Access (MiAAA)
$5,500Student Support
City of Ithaca
$5,373Public Safety
Alma Highland Festival
$5,250Renovations
Healthy Pine River Inc
$5,033Research
GRATIOT COUNTY HISTORICAL AND GENEA LOGICAL SOCIETY
$39,985RENOVATIONS
ST LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$28,200RENOVATIONS
ITHACA SOUTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$22,900STUDENT SUPPORT
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
$20,000HALL ADDITION
SENIOR ACTIVITY BUILDING BOARD
$16,550DESIGNATED
CARRIE KNAUSE ELEMENTARY
$15,400STUDENT SUPPORT
ITHACA NORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$15,400STUDENT SUPPORT
BRECKENRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$15,400STUDENT SUPPORT
EUGENE M NIKKARI ELEMENTARY
$15,400STUDENT SUPPORT
ASHLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
$15,400STUDENT SUPPORT
FULTON ELEMENTARY
$15,294STUDENT SUPPORT
UNITED WAY OF GRATIOT COUNTY
$15,000DESIGNATED
WINGS OF MERCY EAST MICHIGAN
$14,530DESIGNATED MEDICAL
COMMISSION ON AGING
$12,100ELDERLY SUPPORT
ASHLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
$12,072STUDENT STEM
ASHLEY AREA FIRE AUTHORITY
$11,600PUBLIC SAFETY
ST LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$10,000COMMUNITY PROJECTS
