To support a thriving community by connecting community needs with resources to collaboratively improve quality of life in the Keweenaw.
Focus Areas
arts and cultureeconomic developmenteducation and scholarshipsenvironment and conservationhealth and human servicesyouth developmentoutdoor recreation and accessibilityhistorical preservation
Who They Fund
local community organizations/nonprofitscommunity residents/communitieseducational organizations/schools
Funding Style
About Keweenaw Community Foundation
A $65,751 community-support grant to Allouez Township is the largest recent award in Keweenaw Community Foundation’s grant record, and it points to how the foundation works: local, community-facing, and built around multiple endowed funds that can support projects, organizations, and scholarships across the Keweenaw. In 2025, the foundation made a mix of community support, general support, and educational support grants to organizations in Hancock, Houghton, Laurium, Calumet, and other nearby towns. Recent awards also show support for health services, trails and recreation, family resources, and youth-serving organizations.
The foundation’s structure is broader than a single program area. Its active funds include Field of Interest Grants, the Community Impact Fund, the Joe Freed Empowerment Fund, the Portage Lake Youth Fund, the Kellogg Youth Endowment Fund, the CLK Youth Hockey Fund, the Great Start Early Childhood Fund, and scholarship programs. Those named funds indicate a grantmaker that uses both unrestricted and program-specific support to address needs in education, youth development, recreation, disability services, early childhood, and community well-being. Its 2025 filing shows annual grants of $406,837 and total assets of $12,261,070.
What Keweenaw Community Foundation Funds
Community support is a recurring theme. The foundation awarded $23,250 to the Village of Laurium for community support and $9,071 to the Keweenaw Family Resource Center for community support, showing attention to place-based services and local infrastructure.
Health and human services also appear in the grant list. It gave $10,427 to Copper Shores Behavioral Heath Services for general support, $10,300 to Copper Shores Community Health for general support, and $9,111 to the Copper Country Humane Society for general support. These awards sit alongside support for Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly in Hancock.
Education is another clear focus. The foundation awarded $10,000 to the Copper Country Intermediate School District for educational support, $7,600 to Houghton High School for educational support, and $6,500 to Houghton-portage Township Schools for educational support. The active scholarship funds reinforce that education and continuing learning are part of its grantmaking mix.
How Keweenaw Community Foundation Gives
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$344K
Total Assets
$12.3M
Total Revenue
$1.9M
Total Expenses
$828K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $8K and $10K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$10K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
KIM SALMI
Deep Analysis
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community support/serviceseducational programs/supportgeneral operating funding for local nonprofits
Typical grants cluster tightly around five figures: the 25th percentile is $7,530, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,150. Recent awards include both larger community-support grants and smaller operating or program awards, but the distribution centers on modest local grants rather than very large outliers. The foundation’s active programs are all listed as accepting unsolicited requests, which suggests an open application posture for local organizations and scholarship applicants. Its grantmaking is also multi-channel, combining endowed field-of-interest funds with community and scholarship programs rather than relying on a single annual award cycle.
Where Keweenaw Community Foundation Makes Grants
Grantmaking is entirely local and entirely in Michigan. Every recent grant in the data went to a U.S. recipient, and 100% of grants were awarded in the HQ state. The recipient map is concentrated in the Keweenaw and nearby Copper Country communities, especially Hancock, Houghton, Calumet, Laurium, Mohawk, and Dollar Bay. Named grants also reached Ahmeek and Chassell through local nonprofits and schools. The active program geography extends across Houghton County, Keweenaw County, and, for some funds, Baraga County.
Frequently Asked Questions About Keweenaw Community Foundation
How does Keweenaw Community Foundation usually size its grants?
Its typical grant size is centered around $10,000. The 25th percentile is $7,530, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,150. Active funds also show smaller caps in some programs, including $1,000 for the CLK Youth Hockey Fund and $3,000 for the Great Start Early Childhood Fund.
Does the foundation accept unsolicited requests?
Yes. The active grant programs listed here all accept unsolicited applications, including Field of Interest Grants, the Community Impact Fund, the Joe Freed Empowerment Fund, the Portage Lake Youth Fund, and the scholarship programs.
What kinds of work does the foundation fund?
Its active funds cover community development, environment, youth programs, recreation, early childhood, disability services, education, and scholarships. The recent grants list also shows support for health services, trails, family resources, humane services, and local schools.
Where does the foundation give?
Giving is local and concentrated in Michigan. The recipient distribution shows 100% of grants in the HQ state, with recent awards going to communities such as Hancock, Houghton, Calumet, Laurium, Mohawk, Dollar Bay, Ahmeek, and Chassell.
Does the foundation fund scholarships?
Yes. It administers scholarship programs for graduating high school seniors, current college students, adults pursuing continuing education, and some music-related awards. The scholarship grant size range listed for one cycle is $500 to $6,000.
Latest 990 Filing
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Keweenaw Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: Up to $10K
Grant Opportunities
Community developmentYouthYouth hockey+7 more
Who can apply: Eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, educational institutions, governmental entities, and religious organizations. Projects must support Houghton and Keweenaw Counties, comply with KCF’s Non-Discrimination Policy, be charitable in purpose, and not support political campaigns or attempts to influence government bodies.
Deadline: Fall 2026 applications open September 1, 2026 and close October 15, 2026 at 11:00 PM EST. Applicants will be notified by December 1, 2026. Grant cycles are offered twice annually; the spring 2026 cycle closed April 10, 2026.
Open nowCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: Up to $10K
Community Impact Fund (grant awards)
Broad community needsCommunity improvementPrograms that help communities thrive
Who can apply: Eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, educational institutions, governmental entities, and religious organizations. Projects must support Houghton and Keweenaw Counties and comply with KCF’s Non-Discrimination Policy.
Deadline: Fall 2026 applications close October 15, 2026 at 11:00 PM EST. The fund is included in KCF’s twice-annual grant cycles.
Open nowCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: Up to $1K
CLK Youth Hockey Fund (grants)
Youth hockeyYouth sports
Who can apply: Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, governmental units, and eligible educational or religious institutions. Projects must serve the specified geographic area, be charitable, and comply with KCF’s Non-Discrimination Policy.
Deadline: Fall 2026 cycle closes October 15, 2026 at 11:00 PM EST. The Field of Interest grant program is offered twice annually.
Nonprofit capacity buildingCommunity collaborationGrant application support+3 more
Who can apply: Available to nonprofits, local government entities, and other community-focused groups working to create a positive impact in the Keweenaw. Users must follow the meeting room’s intended purpose and KCF non-discrimination policies.
Deadline: No fixed deadline; requests and scheduling are ongoing subject to availability.
Who can apply: Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, schools, churches, and local governments. Projects must relate to Houghton County and comply with KCF policies.
Deadline: Fall 2026 cycle closes October 15, 2026 at 11:00 PM EST.
Opening soonCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: Up to $2K
Keweenaw Cross Country Skiing Fund
Cross-country skiingOutdoor recreationYouth and community sports
Who can apply: Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, schools, churches, and local governments. Projects must support cross-country skiing in Houghton or Keweenaw Counties and comply with KCF policies.
Deadline: Fall 2026 cycle closes October 15, 2026 at 11:00 PM EST.
Opening soonCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: Up to $3K
David Wiitanen & Slim McLean Memorial Youth Hockey Fund
Youth hockeyYouth sportsPhysical activity
Who can apply: Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) public charities, schools, churches, and local governments. Projects must support youth hockey in the Copper Country and comply with KCF policies.
Deadline: Fall 2026 cycle closes October 15, 2026 at 11:00 PM EST.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
