Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan

10/15/2026

We are excited about bigger grants, and bigger possibilities as we introduce our Vision Grants and Community Grants for Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle Counties. This update to our Community Impact grantmaking comes from a simple idea: We want the ability to invest more in promising ideas and projects while continuing to support the smaller needs and opportunities that are important to our communities.

This means our former Community Impact grants are now two distinct grant opportunities: Vision Grants of up to $15,000 in the winter and Community Grants of up to $3,000 in the summer. Other CFNEM and Affiliate Foundation grant opportunities are not affected by this change.

Learn more at cfnem.org.

10/13/2026

💦How fun! This new Wibit equipment at the Alpena Plaza Pool has increased the number of people attending open swim events, offered an accessible play option for younger and smaller children, and quickly became a popular pool party rental. With support from a $2,500 Northeast Michigan Women’s Giving Circle grant, the Friends of Alpena Plaza Pool were able to purchase this “Kidsrun” system that is benefiting many families and children.

10/10/2026

♦️ One last reminder! Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council (NEMYAC) grant applications are due October 15. If you've started an application for a youth project in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, or Presque Isle Counties, don't forget to complete your submission! Apply online at https://www.cfnem.org/grants/yac-grant-guidelines.html.

10/08/2026

Did you know today is “DAF Day”? DAF is short for donor-advised fund - one of the fastest growing charitable giving tools, and for good reason: big tax savings and easy giving. When you start a DAF at the Community Foundation, you get even more: local expertise to support you in making an impact through your giving. Learn more about Donor Advised Funds – link in the comments!

10/06/2026

Learning the importance of being good stewards of our resources starts young, and we love this project! Supported with a $2,500 Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council Grant, Great Lakes Great Responsibility helped local youth select and install beach clean-up stations at popular beaches in the region. The grant helped purchase the supplies for the stations, which allow beach goers to easily clean up debris and litter.

The project empowered young people to become environmental advocates, deepened their understanding of the marine debris issue affecting the Great Lakes, and taught about the critical role they can play as individuals in preserving freshwater ecosystems and our shared waters. Great project!

10/03/2026

The Community Foundation recently awarded $70,350 through the annual round of Northeast Michigan Women’s Giving Circle grants. These grants are reviewed and recommended annually by a committee of ten WGC members who serve two-year terms. WGC grants are awarded for issues important to the women of northeast Michigan from the WGC Endowment Fund.

Some of the 2026 WGC grants include:

• Boys and Girls Club of Alpena - $5,000 for the S.M.A.R.T. Girls of the Future program.
• Friends Together - $5,000 for the Move Through Your Cancer Journey project.
• Harrisville Arts Council - $5,000 for the Rural Women Artists Micro-Grant — Northeast Michigan project.
• Lincoln Pop-Up Pantry - $5,000 for food and trucking costs.
• PoWeR! Book Bags - $5,000 for the Little Learners of Montmorency and Presque Isle project.
• St. Vincent de Paul - Alpena - $5,000 for the St. Vincent DePaul Building Expansion.
• Thunder Bay Transportation Authority - $5,000 for the Moving Women Forward project.

See the full list of grant funded projects at https://www.cfnem.org/about-us/resources/news/over-70000-in-new-womens-giving-circle-grants-awarded.html.

10/01/2026

👉️ A friendly reminder! Nonprofit organizations in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle Counties, churches (for non-religious purposes), schools and government agencies are welcome and invited to apply for funding. For more information and to apply online, visit https://www.cfnem.org/grants/yac-grant-guidelines.html.

09/29/2026

The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) recently awarded a new round of Community Impact grants totaling $95,208 and covering a four-county area that includes Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle Counties.

The recently awarded grants include:
• $5,000 awarded to Rogers City Area Seniors to purchase medical equipment for their loan closet.
• $5,000 awarded to Presque Isle Conservation District to help repair spring flood damage to the Herman Vogler Walking Bridge.
• $5,000 awarded to Northeast Michigan Family Resource Center to provide prevention-focused education promoting safe environments where children can thrive.
• $5,000 awarded to NEMCSA to purchase winter gear for students at Lewiston Elementary School.
• $5,000 awarded to Friends of the Harrisville Train Depot to build ADA-compliant restrooms at the Depot.

See the full list of grant funded projects at https://www.cfnem.org/about-us/resources/news/95000-in-new-community-impact-grants-awarded-for-northeast-michigan.html.

09/25/2026

It's your LAST CHANCE to register for ONE WATER GATHERING, led by Huron Pines, happening Oct. 1-2 in Alpena, Mich.

🌧️ Tour new green stormwater infrastructure and see rain gardens being installed in Alpena

🏖️ Join your colleagues in a beach clean-up on the Lake Huron shore

🔥 See how prescribed fire is restoring rare habitats at Emily Min Hunt Preserve

🤖 Catch an underwater ROV demonstration and challenge your friends to a round of Great Lakes trivia during happy hour

💡Learn, connect and grow with fellow Lake Huron fans

Learn more & get tickets now at lakehuronforever.org/onewater2026.

09/23/2026

Registration for this gathering is still open, but there are only a few spots left! The Lake Huron Forever One Water Gathering is October 1-2, 2026, in Alpena.

Anyone from the US or Canada interested in the protection of Lake Huron is invited to attend. This includes but is not limited to municipal leaders, watershed groups, regulatory agencies, engineers, landscape architects, school administrators / educators and volunteers.

The Lake Huron Forever initiative was developed in 2019 by shoreline community foundation and conservation partners from the US and Canada to advance water quality protection and sustainable communities on both sides of the lake - and we are proud to be a part of it!

LAKE HURON FOREVERONE WATER GATHERINGOctober 1-2, 2026 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯Alpena, Michigan CONFERENCE OVERVIEWThe One Water Gathering is an international event bringing people from both sides of Lake Huron together to explore solutions, share best practices and celebrate a sustainable futur...