Supports community-led efforts to protect and restore freshwater resources, build local capacity, and connect Great Lakes and freshwater communities through grantmaking, programs, and resources.
A recurring pattern defines Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund Inc.: large, repeated support for Midstory in Toledo, Ohio, with awards of $135,000 in 2023 and again in 2025, plus $118,125 in 2024 for tech assistance to build communications capacity. That scale sits alongside a broader portfolio of smaller grants for drinking water protection, habitat restoration, flood mitigation, and contamination prevention across the Great Lakes region. The foundation’s recent awards also point to practical, community-facing work: funding Evergreen Community Development in Flint for water testing equipment and supporting Black Autonomy Network Communications in Benton Harbor for clean drinking water. Other grants reach local watershed groups, advocacy coalitions, and organizations working on lead, PFAS, toxic mine pollution, and rain garden implementation. Across the recent grants list, the funder backs community-led efforts that combine technical help, equipment purchases, outreach, and local advocacy. Its grantmaking reflects a mix of communications capacity, on-the-ground water protection, and support for groups addressing specific freshwater threats in Great Lakes communities.
Water access and contamination prevention are central themes. In Flint, the foundation gave $12,594 to Evergreen Community Development for water testing equipment, and it also awarded $9,500 and $10,000 to Black Autonomy Network Communications in Benton Harbor for clean drinking water. Lead-related work appears in New York, where Sterling Water Stewards received $8,000 in 2024 and $7,800 in 2025 for clean drinking water. The foundation also supports broader environmental protection and restoration. West Grand Boulevard Collaborative in Detroit received $9,000 for rain garden reinvigoration, while Superior Rivers Watershed Association in Ashland, Wisconsin, received $7,100 for watershed protection. In mine-impacted areas, Capital Area Friends of the Environment in Lansing received $7,100 for prevent coal contamination, and WaterLegacy in Duluth received $6,600 for prevent toxic mine pollution.
Typical grants are small: the 25th percentile is $6,725, the median is $8,000, and the 75th percentile is $11,579. The recent record also shows a few much larger awards, including repeated six-figure support for Midstory. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Evergreen Community Development, Black Autonomy Network Communications, Sterling Water Stewards, WaterLegacy, and Midstory, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. The foundation is an independent grantmaker rather than an operating charity, and it does not fund individuals or program-related investments. Its active grant programs include several unsolicited options, including Special Opportunity Grants, Project Grants, Freshwater Future Grant Programs, and New York Drinking Water Grants.
$150K
$1.1M
$1.7M
$1.8M
Most grants fall between $7K and $12K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$12K
Jill Ryan
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Grantmaking is regional and concentrated in the Great Lakes area. Michigan receives the largest share of grants, and 44% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Recent recipients cluster in Toledo, Flint, Benton Harbor, Detroit, Fair Haven, Lansing, and Wausaukee, showing a strong Michigan footprint with additional awards in Ohio, New York, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The grant list is entirely U.S.-based in the recent sample, with 18 grants and 100% going to U.S. recipients.
The middle of the distribution is modest: the 25th percentile is $6,725, the median is $8,000, and the 75th percentile is $11,579. The recent list also includes a few larger awards, including repeated six-figure grants to one recipient.
Yes, several active programs accept unsolicited requests. Those include Special Opportunity Grants, New York Drinking Water Grants, Great Lakes Network Grant, Project Grants, Freshwater Future Grant Programs, and 2026 Spring Grants Program (Project Grants).
Its grants support drinking water protection, lead mitigation and testing, water affordability, water infrastructure, water privatization advocacy, climate impacts on water, PFAS contamination, harmful algal blooms, invasive species, community coaching, and local freshwater project grants.
Michigan receives the most grants, and 44% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipient cities include Toledo, Flint, Benton Harbor, Detroit, Fair Haven, Lansing, and Duluth.
The record shows repeated support for several recipients across multiple years, including Midstory, Evergreen Community Development, Black Autonomy Network Communications, Sterling Water Stewards, and WaterLegacy. That pattern points to ongoing funding relationships in addition to smaller one-time awards.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: For projects that do not coincide with the Project Grant Program application timeline or funding period.
Deadline: No fixed deadline stated; emergency grants may be requested outside the Project Grant timeline.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midstory | Toledo, OH | $135,000 | 2026 | Tech Assist to Build Comm Capacity |
| Black Autonomy Network Commun | Benton Harbor, MI | $9,244 | 2026 | Clean drinking water |
| WaterLegacy | Duluth, MN | $6,200 | 2026 | Prevent Toxic Mine Pollution |
| Midstory | Toledo, OH | $135,000 | 2025 | Tech Assist to Build Comm Capacity |
| Sterling Water Stewards | Fair Haven, NY | $7,800 | 2025 | Clean drinking water |
| Superior Rivers Watershed As | Ashland, WI | $7,100 | 2025 | Watershed Protection |
| Capital Area Friends of the E | Lansing, MI | $7,100 | 2025 | Prevent Coal Contamination |
| WaterLegacy | Duluth, MN | $6,600 | 2025 | Prevent Toxic Mine Pollution |
| Black Autonomy Network Commun | Benton Harbor, MI | $6,250 | 2025 | Clean drinking water |
| Midstory | Toledo, OH | $118,125 | 2024 | Tech Assist to Build Comm Capacity |
| Evergreen Community Developme | Flint, MI | $12,594 | 2024 | Water testing equipment |
| Black Autonomy Network Commun | Benton Harbor, MI | $9,500 | 2024 | Clean drinking water |
| Sterling Water Stewards | Fair Haven, NY | $8,000 | 2024 | Clean drinking water |
| Detroit Strategic Framework I | Detroit, MI | $8,000 | 2024 | Flood focus |
| Water Insecurity Correction C | Greenwich, NY | $5,700 | 2024 | Drinking water advocacy |
| Midstory | Toledo, OH | $135,000 | 2023 | Tech Assist to Build Comm Capacity |
| Evergreen Community Developme | Flint, MI | $12,105 | 2023 | Purchase equipment |
| Black Autonomy Network Commun | Benton Harbor, MI | $10,000 | 2023 | Clean drinking water |
| West Grand Boulevard Collab | Detroit, MI | $9,000 | 2023 | Rain garden reinvigoration |
| WaterLegacy | Duluth, MN | $5,750 | 2023 | Prevent Toxic Mine Pollution |
| Coalition to Save the Menomin | Wausaukee, WI | $5,450 | 2023 | Protect freshwater river |
Midstory
$135,000Tech Assist to Build Comm Capacity
Black Autonomy Network Commun
$9,244Clean drinking water
WaterLegacy
$6,200Prevent Toxic Mine Pollution
Midstory
$135,000Tech Assist to Build Comm Capacity
Sterling Water Stewards
$7,800Clean drinking water
Superior Rivers Watershed As
$7,100Watershed Protection
Capital Area Friends of the E
$7,100Prevent Coal Contamination
WaterLegacy
$6,600Prevent Toxic Mine Pollution
Black Autonomy Network Commun
$6,250Clean drinking water
Midstory
$118,125Tech Assist to Build Comm Capacity
Black Autonomy Network Commun
$9,500Clean drinking water
Sterling Water Stewards
$8,000Clean drinking water
Water Insecurity Correction C
$5,700Drinking water advocacy
Midstory
$135,000Tech Assist to Build Comm Capacity
Black Autonomy Network Commun
$10,000Clean drinking water
West Grand Boulevard Collab
$9,000Rain garden reinvigoration
WaterLegacy
$5,750Prevent Toxic Mine Pollution
Coalition to Save the Menomin
$5,450Protect freshwater river