Foundation Grants
Community Funds
- Ionia County CF
- Lowell Area CF
- Southeast Ottawa CF
- Sparta CF
- Wyoming Cf
- Fund Toolbox
- Fund Xpress
Starting an Endowment
The Sparta Community Foundation gives priority to projects that address the areas of art & culture, community development, education, environment, health, or social needs and that:
- represent an innovative, start-up effort or are capital in nature (e.g., construction, renovation, equipment)
- promote cooperation among agencies without duplicating services
- obtain the necessary additional funding to implement and maintain the project
- are located in Sparta and its surrounding areas
- strengthen or improve agency self-sufficiency or efficiency
- yield substantial community benefits for the resources invested
- serve a broad segment of the community
- encourage additional and permanent funding or matching gifts from other donors
- have non-profit, 501(c)(3) status
Grant applications are accepted July 1 - September 4.
Click here for information about recent grants.
The Foundation generally does not support:
- annual fundraising drives
- films, videos or television projects
- endowments or debt reduction
- capital projects without site control
- medical research
- individuals
- ongoing operating expenses of established institutions
- organizations located outside greater Sparta
- political projects, or those that are primarily cause-related
- religious organizations for religious purposes
- sabbatical leaves
- scholarly research
- travel, tours or trips
- underwriting of conferences
- venture capital for competitive profit-making activities
The Foundation will consider proposals for the following only if they:
are highly unique, collaborative, and community-oriented; have limited access to other resources; demonstrate substantial impact; or will address the needs of a substantial or underserved portion of the community.
- hospitals
- nursing or retirement facilities
- K-12 schools
- computers
- child care centers
- motorized vehicles
- commonly accepted community services already supported by tax dollars
Download the Guidelines
For more information, please email Becky Cumings at
© Grand Rapids Community Foundation - 185 Oakes Street SW - Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 - 616.454.1751
