Fostering a community of philanthropy, for good, forever.
Michigan Gateway Community Foundation’s recent grantmaking is defined by scholarships: dozens of awards flow through a single application, and postsecondary support appears repeatedly across South Berrien and Cass counties. The foundation also funds local public institutions and community services, pairing education support with equipment, health, and neighborhood projects. In the latest grants, Southwestern Michigan College Foundation received a $93,890 scholarship grant, and Michigan State University received $77,125 for scholarships, showing a steady commitment to students who move through Michigan colleges and universities. That scholarship emphasis sits alongside broader local giving. The foundation supported the City of Buchanan with equipment grants, helped fund a grant to the First Presbyterian Church of Buchanan, and made awards tied to health care, emergency home repairs, and youth-focused community work. Its programs indicate a mix of administered scholarship funds, unrestricted community grants, youth-led mini-grants, and local initiatives such as Buchanan Promise and Kickstart to Career. The result is a funder that combines educational access with place-based support for residents, organizations, and students in its service area.
Education is the clearest theme in Michigan Gateway Community Foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025, the foundation gave $53,159 to Southwestern Michigan College and $49,250 to Grand Valley State University for scholarship grants. It also awarded $36,500 to the University of Michigan for scholarships, reinforcing a pattern of support for postsecondary access. Community infrastructure and public services are another clear focus. The foundation gave $45,200 to the City of Buchanan for equipment grants and $27,075 to the City of Niles for emergency home repairs. Health-related grantmaking appears in a $28,333 grant to Spectrum Health in Niles and a separate $28,333 health center pledge to Spectrum Health - Msu Alliance Corp in Grand Rapids. Youth and local civic life also show up through Buchanan Community Schools, which received $27,042 for multiple education purposes, and the YMCA of Greater Michiana, which received membership grants in three separate awards.
$860K
$29.3M
$2.9M
$1.8M
Most grants fall between $8K and $22K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$22K
MICHAEL ROWLAND
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Typical awards are modest rather than large: the grant-size distribution sits at $7,836 at the 25th percentile, $11,798 at the median, and $22,270 at the 75th percentile. At the upper end, the foundation still makes much larger scholarship and community awards, but most grants cluster well below those figures. The pattern is recurring. The same recipients appear across multiple years, including Michigan State University, Southwestern Michigan College, Grand Valley State University, the University of Michigan, Lake Michigan College Foundation, and the YMCA of Greater Michiana. The foundation’s programs are a mix of administered scholarships, unrestricted general grants, youth mini-grants, and community grants. It also accepts unsolicited requests, and its scholarship program uses a single application for dozens of awards.
Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Michigan, with 89% of grants going to recipients in the state and 126 grants recorded there. The strongest city-level activity includes Buchanan, Niles, Dowagiac, Benton Harbor, East Lansing, and Ann Arbor. Buchanan shows up through awards to the City of Buchanan and Buchanan Community Schools, while Niles appears in grants to the city government, Spectrum Health, Help for Homes, and the YMCA of Greater Michiana. Outside the foundation’s immediate area, awards also reached Allendale, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids.
The foundation funds college and undergraduate students, local nonprofit organizations and service agencies, K-12 youth and camp participants, food-insecure households through pantry-related support, and community residents needing emergency home repairs or health services. Its program list also includes scholarships, unrestricted community grants, youth-led mini-grants, and local civic initiatives.
It administers more than 40 scholarships for postsecondary education across South Berrien and Cass Counties, with additional scholarships for some adult applicants. Dozens of scholarships are available through a single centralized application, and the application window is listed as January 15 to March 15.
The typical grant size is $7,836 at the 25th percentile, $11,798 at the median, and $22,270 at the 75th percentile. That points to a grantmaking pattern centered on smaller awards, with some larger scholarship and community grants above that range.
Recipients reappear across years. Michigan State University, Southwestern Michigan College, Grand Valley State University, the University of Michigan, Lake Michigan College Foundation, and the YMCA of Greater Michiana all received multiple grants in the recent-grants list, showing repeated support rather than one-time giving only.
It is strongly local. The foundation gives most often in Michigan, and 89% of its grants go to recipients in its HQ state. The active grant programs are aimed at South Berrien County, Cass County, and the Buchanan area.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Michigan Gateway Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects generally must benefit South Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan. Applicants should contact Jennifer Popielski before submitting a request. Requests are reviewed by community-based review committees, and an application or expression of interest does not guarantee funding.
Deadline: Two annual grant cycles: February 1 and August 1.
Who can apply: Schools, libraries, youth-serving organizations, and community nonprofits are encouraged to apply for projects benefiting young people across the region. Proposals aligned with YAC priorities receive priority consideration, although proposals outside those areas may also be considered.
Deadline: February 1 grant cycle; the website identifies this as a recurring annual cycle but does not provide a separate opening date.
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY | EAST LANSING, MI | $77,125 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE | DOWAGIAC, MI | $53,159 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY | ALLENDALE, MI | $49,250 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| CITY OF BUCHANAN | BUCHANAN, MI | $45,200 | 2025 | EQUIPMENT GRANTS |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BUCHANAN | BUCHANAN, MI | $44,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR, MI | $36,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| LYONS MCBRIDE LLC | DOWAGIAC, MI | $34,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| YMCA OF GREATER MICHIANA | NILES, MI | $29,954 | 2025 | MEMBERSHIP GRANTS |
| WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY | KALAMAZOO, MI | $26,409 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| LAKE MICHIGAN COLLEGE | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $25,546 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| HELP FOR HOMES | NILES, MI | $24,479 | 2025 | GRANT |
| REDBUD AREA MINISTRIES | BUCHANAN, MI | $21,915 | 2025 | AGENCY GRANT SUPPORT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY NILES | NILES, MI | $20,000 | 2025 | REPLENISH FOOD BANK |
| FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY | BIG RAPIDS, MI | $17,750 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| BUCHANAN DISTRICT LIBRARY | BUCHANAN, MI | $17,271 | 2025 | TUTOR/CAMP BUILDING |
| ROTI ROTI ART CENTER | BUCHANAN, MI | $16,994 | 2025 | GRANT |
| LAKE MICHIGAN STEAMWORKS | BUCHANAN, MI | $16,215 | 2025 | OPERATIONAL GRANT |
| FERNWOOD BOTANCIAL GARDENS | NILES, MI | $15,907 | 2025 | NEW EQUIP & MAINTENANCE |
| UNITED WAY OF SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $15,040 | 2025 | GRANT FOR LOCAL UNDERGRADUATE |
| MICHIGAN TECH UNIVERSITY | HOUGHTON, MI | $15,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| MISSOURI WELDING INSTITUTE INC | NEVADA, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| NILES-BUCHANAN YMCA | NILES, MI | $12,623 | 2025 | GRANT |
| BRANDYWINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | NILES, MI | $12,450 | 2025 | MULTIPLE EDUCATION PURPOSES |
| MICHIGAN COLLEGE ACCESS NETWORK | LANSING, MI | $12,000 | 2025 | COLLEGE ADVISORY GRANT |
| CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY | MT PLEASANT, MI | $11,250 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| BUCHANAN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | BUCHANAN, MI | $10,749 | 2025 | MULTIPLE EDUCATION PURPOSES |
| CASS COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING | CASSOPOLIS, MI | $10,382 | 2025 | AGENCY GRANT |
| CHICKAMING OPEN LANDS | SAWYER, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| DISCOVER SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN | ST JOSPEH, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY | STILLWATER, OK | $8,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| MARCELLUS AREA EMERGENCY SERVICES ASSOCIATION | MARCELLUS, MI | $8,416 | 2025 | EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT |
| BETHEL COLLEGE | MISHAWAKA, IN | $8,125 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| RISING KITES | BRIDGMAN, MI | $8,082 | 2025 | GRANT |
| BERRIEN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT | BENTON HARBOR, MI | $8,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| CULTURAL ARTS EVERYWHERE | BUCHANAN, MI | $8,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| GLEN OAKS COMMUNITY COLLEGE | CENTREVILLE, MI | $8,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY | FORT COLLINS, CO | $7,500 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| NEWBERG FIRE & EMS ASSOCIATION | JONES, MI | $7,368 | 2025 | EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT |
| MARCELLUS TWP WOOD MEMORIAL LIBRARY | MARCELLUS, MI | $7,360 | 2025 | LIBRARY EXPANSION |
| HUDSON MEMORIAL BULDING VILLAGE OF MARCELLUS | MARCELLUS, MI | $7,360 | 2025 | COMMUNITY RESTORATION |
| GREATER NILES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | NILES, MI | $7,000 | 2025 | GRANT |
| IU SOUTH BEND | SOUTH BEND, IN | $6,875 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY | BOURBONNAIS, IL | $6,250 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| GRACE COLLEGE | WINONA LAKE, IN | $6,250 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| BERRIEN COUNTY CANCER SERVICE | STEVENSVILLE, MI | $6,152 | 2025 | GRANT |
| BUCHANAN AREA SENIOR CENTER | BUCHANAN, MI | $6,023 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY | MILLCREEK, UT | $6,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY | TEMPE, AZ | $5,875 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS |
| NILES DISTRICT LIBRARY | NILES, MI | $5,804 | 2025 | GRANT |
| PIERCE AUDIO LLC | MISHAWAKA, IN | $5,750 | 2025 | GRANT |
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
$77,125SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN COLLEGE
$53,159SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
$49,250SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
CITY OF BUCHANAN
$45,200EQUIPMENT GRANTS
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BUCHANAN
$44,000GRANT
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
$36,500SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
LYONS MCBRIDE LLC
$34,000GRANT
HELP FOR HOMES
$24,479GRANT
REDBUD AREA MINISTRIES
$21,915AGENCY GRANT SUPPORT
THE SALVATION ARMY NILES
$20,000REPLENISH FOOD BANK
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
$17,750SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
BUCHANAN DISTRICT LIBRARY
$17,271TUTOR/CAMP BUILDING
ROTI ROTI ART CENTER
$16,994GRANT
LAKE MICHIGAN STEAMWORKS
$16,215OPERATIONAL GRANT
FERNWOOD BOTANCIAL GARDENS
$15,907NEW EQUIP & MAINTENANCE
MISSOURI WELDING INSTITUTE INC
$15,000SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
BRANDYWINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
$12,450MULTIPLE EDUCATION PURPOSES
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
$11,250SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
BUCHANAN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
$10,749MULTIPLE EDUCATION PURPOSES
CASS COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING
$10,382AGENCY GRANT
DISCOVER SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN
$10,000GRANT
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
$8,500SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
MARCELLUS AREA EMERGENCY SERVICES ASSOCIATION
$8,416EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
RISING KITES
$8,082GRANT
BERRIEN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
$8,000GRANT
CULTURAL ARTS EVERYWHERE
$8,000GRANT
GLEN OAKS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$8,000SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
$7,500SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
NEWBERG FIRE & EMS ASSOCIATION
$7,368EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
MARCELLUS TWP WOOD MEMORIAL LIBRARY
$7,360LIBRARY EXPANSION
HUDSON MEMORIAL BULDING VILLAGE OF MARCELLUS
$7,360COMMUNITY RESTORATION
GREATER NILES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$7,000GRANT
IU SOUTH BEND
$6,875SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY
$6,250SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
GRACE COLLEGE
$6,250SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
BERRIEN COUNTY CANCER SERVICE
$6,152GRANT
BUCHANAN AREA SENIOR CENTER
$6,023SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
$6,000SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
$5,875SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS
NILES DISTRICT LIBRARY
$5,804GRANT
PIERCE AUDIO LLC
$5,750GRANT