To cultivate the power of giving within our community, support long-term transformation, and help ensure all residents thrive by building permanent community capital.
Focus Areas
Economic developmentEducation and youth developmentHealth and human servicesHousing and poverty supportArts and cultureEnvironmentScholarships and postsecondary accessImpact investingInclusion and accessibility
Who They Fund
youth and school-age childrenlocal community residents / neighborhood populationsstudents (K–12)
About Midland Area Community Foundation
A standout feature of Midland Area Community Foundation is its use of local grantmaking to build permanent community capital across Midland County. Recent awards show a foundation that backs large civic institutions, human services providers, arts organizations, and place-based projects all in the same funding cycle. One of the largest recent grants went to Mymichigan Health Foundation for human services, while other major awards supported Greater Midland Community Centers Inc. and Midland Center for the Arts. That mix points to a broad community-investment approach rather than a single-issue strategy.
The foundation’s recent activity also shows steady support for organizations that shape daily life in Midland. Midland Business Alliance Found received multiple six-figure grants in consecutive years, and United Way of Midland County appeared repeatedly as well. In the arts, Midland Center for the Arts received awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, suggesting an ongoing relationship rather than a one-time gift. The funder’s stated purpose aligns with that pattern: supporting long-term transformation and helping residents thrive through permanent capital.
What Midland Area Community Foundation Funds
Education and youth development are central parts of the foundation’s portfolio. Midland County Educational Services Agency received grants of $173,700 in 2023 and $129,463 in 2024 for youth development, showing repeat support in that area. Postsecondary access also appears through the foundation’s scholarship program, which administers more than 250 individual scholarship funds.
Health and human services receive substantial backing. In 2025, Reece Endeavor of Midland received $177,621 for health and community development, and Midland’s Open Door received $136,788 for human services.
Environmental and recreation-related work also appears in the grant list. The Little Forks Conservancy received $245,000 in 2023, $152,654 in 2024, and $154,600 in 2025 for environment-related work, while Chippewa Nature Center received $155,459 in 2024 for community and recreation.
How Midland Area Community Foundation Gives
Typical grant size sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $16,050 at the median, and $47,315 at the 75th percentile, although the recent grant list also includes much larger awards. The pattern is recurring: several recipients appear across multiple years, including Midland Center for the Arts, Greater Midland Community Centers Inc., United Way of Midland County, and The Little Forks Conservancy. The foundation operates as a community foundation with multiple named grant programs, including Foundation Directed Grants, Community Investment Grants, TOWN Grants, youth mini-grants, scholarships, and a giving circle. Several programs accept unsolicited requests.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$5M
Total Assets
$150.6M
Total Revenue
$18.2M
Total Expenses
$15.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $47K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$47K
Geographic Reach
Local12 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
SHARON MORTENSEN
Deep Analysis
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participants in community health and recreation programs
Funding Style
multi-sector community investmentdirect service / program supportyouth-focused fundingeducation & workforce prevention-oriented grants
Topics
human & social services (case management, basic needs)youth development & after-school/recreation programsK–12 education support and educational enrichmentcommunity development and neighborhood improvementhealth services and community health accessenvironmental conservation and outdoor programsarts, culture, and community recreation
Where Midland Area Community Foundation Makes Grants
Giving is overwhelmingly local and lands mostly in Michigan; 88% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Midland, MI dominates the recipient list, with additional grants reaching Ann Arbor, MI and Cincinnati, OH. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 349 grants in the United States and no non-U.S. recipient countries shown. The broadest concentration is in Midland County, with programs and recent awards centered on Midland and surrounding county communities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Midland Area Community Foundation
What kinds of organizations does Midland Area Community Foundation fund?
The foundation funds a broad mix of local organizations: health and human services, education and youth development, arts and culture, community development, environment, housing and poverty support, and scholarships. Recent grants include Mymichigan Health Foundation, Midland Center for the Arts, Greater Midland Community Centers Inc., and The Little Forks Conservancy.
Does the foundation make recurring grants to the same organizations?
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years in the recent grants list. Midland Center for the Arts received awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Greater Midland Community Centers Inc. and United Way of Midland County also appear more than once; and The Little Forks Conservancy received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
What is the typical grant size?
The distribution centers around modest local awards: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $16,050, and the 75th percentile is $47,315. Some programs are smaller, such as TOWN Grants at up to $5,000, while other awards in the recent grants list are much larger.
How can organizations apply for funding?
Several programs accept unsolicited requests. Community Investment Grants are open to eligible nonprofits, educational institutions, and government entities serving Midland County. Foundation Directed Grants, Youth Action Council Mini-Grants, ReliefMidland flood relief, scholarships, TOWN Grants, and The Big Give are also listed as accepting unsolicited applications or nominations.
What scholarship opportunities does the foundation administer?
The foundation administers an annual scholarship program with more than 250 individual scholarship funds. Students apply through a single online application and are matched to scholarships for which they qualify. One named example is the Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Scholarship, which provides $1,000 nonrenewable awards to Bay, Midland, and Saginaw County high school seniors.
Latest 990 Filing
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Midland Area Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses Sep 30, 2026Award: $10K – $30K
Hemlock Semiconductor Community and Regional Empowerment (CARE) Grant
Quality of lifeSTEAMWorkforce development
Who can apply: Open to schools, units of government, and 501(c)(3) organizations for projects and programs aligned with HSC's values and purpose.
Who can apply: Applicants must have a Midland Noon Rotary Club member sponsor their request. The foundation does not fund ongoing operations, and applicants are limited to one application every three years.
Deadline: Two annual cycles; October 1 and April 1.
Who can apply: Eligible organizations include nonprofits, schools, or municipal entities such as public safety groups, parks and recreation facilities, and libraries.
Midland Area Youth Action Council Educator Mini-Grant
educationclassroom enrichmentstudent engagement
Who can apply: Classroom projects that motivate and challenge students who attend school in Midland County; priority for materials that can be used for multiple years or in multiple classrooms.
Deadline: Requests are reviewed most months during the academic year; requests are due by day 10.
Midland Area Youth Action Council Youth Philanthropist Mini-Grant
youth philanthropycommunity improvement
Who can apply: All Midland County students K-12th grade are eligible to apply. Plans must benefit an existing Midland County governmental or educational entity or a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Deadline: Requests are reviewed most months during the academic year; requests are due by day 10.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.