Monday, March 27, 2023

“Meet the Board Monday”! Today we want to introduce you to Debra Kruttlin. Deb sits on the CFNEM Board and served a term as Board President from March 2021 – March 2022. Deb lives in Harrisville with her husband Dennis. After receiving her degree in Elementary Education from Central Michigan University in 1973, she began teaching at Alcona Community Schools. Now retired, she still spends time volunteering with different community projects. She also served as treasurer for the Michigan Education Association. Why does Deb love our region? “What I love most about living in Northeast Michigan is the abundance and beauty of its natural resources, especially the water. I have come to appreciate more and more our responsibility for preserving our precious piece of Michigan, and doing everything we can to be good stewards of the land and water around us. Being part of CFNEM has made me aware of the huge community of people who spend their lives trying to preserve these resources for us and our children. I am proud of CFNEM for supporting their efforts to protect our little slice of the world.”

Thursday, March 23, 2023

A new round of Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council (NEMYAC) grants are putting $29,400 in funding toward youth projects and programs in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, Presque Isle Counties. Grants include support for healthy lifestyle programs, daycare, a foster care support project, and more. Check out the full list! https://bit.ly/3YTlSyk.

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

CFNEM is proud to support this project with a $2,500 Community Impact Grant!

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

During CFNEM’s Winter 2023 Community Impact Grant cycle, nearly $90,000 was awarded to nonprofits serving Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle Counties. Grants include support for environmental projects, senior programs, ADA accessible playground equipment, mental health programming, and more. See the full list of grants at https://bit.ly/3YTlSyk.

Monday, March 20, 2023

It’s our first “Meet the Board Monday”! Today we would like to introduce you to our current past-president, Andy Stone. He just completed his term as CFNEM Board President last week. Andy has lived in Northeast Michigan since 1995 and has worked for Cadillac Products Automotive Company for 28 years. He is currently on its Executive Staff as Corporate Quality Director. Andy is also involved in other areas of the community, particularly in Presque Isle County where he and his wife reside. That involvement includes the Posen School Board, Presque Isle County Economic Development Commission, and past member of the Presque Isle Harbor Association Board of Directors. Why does Andy love our region? “Northern Michigan is great for many reasons. I personally enjoy the variety of activities available from skiing and ice fishing, to boating on both inland lakes and the Great Lakes; but most of all I love the people in our community. Core values are strong in Northeast Michigan, and this really makes it a great place to live!”

Friday, March 17, 2023

It is great to see one of our grantees and newer nonprofits, The Sunset Project, that is doing so much good work for northeast Michigan featured on Rural Innovation Exchange!

Thursday, March 16, 2023

shared a story. More →

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Grants totaling $30,000 have been awarded to four community projects aimed at protecting and enhancing the water quality of Lake Huron. The grants come from the Lake Huron Forever initiative, which aims to advance water quality protection and sustainability on both sides of the lake. Grants include funding for the Northeast Michigan GLSI for green infrastructure place-based learning; $5,000 to Alcona Community Schools to build a rain garden at Harrisville Harbor; $5,000 to MSU Extension Rogers City for the Sunrise Side Community Garden and stormwater capture; and $10,000 to the City of Bay City for a renaturalization project on Middlegrounds Island. Check out the full story at http://bit.ly/3T2m3pP.

Monday, March 13, 2023

Attention Iosco County nonprofits! The Iosco County Community Foundation is accepting grant applications for its 2023 Community Improvement Grant. 501c3 nonprofits serving Iosco County may apply for up to $5,000 in funding. The application deadline is May 1. Apply online at https://www.cfnem.org/iccf/grants/community-improvement-grants.html.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Attention nonprofits! Spring and summer are right around the corner, and it’s not too early to start planning for grant deadlines that occur in our warmer months. If any of these deadlines apply to you, mark them on your calendar so you don’t miss it! May 1 – Iosco County Community Improvement Grant (for a broad range of projects serving Iosco County) June 1 – Straits Area Community Foundation Community Impact Grant (for a broad range of projects serving Cheboygan County and/or Mackinaw City) June 30 – North Central Michigan Community Foundation Community Impact Grant (for a broad range of projects serving Crawford, Ogemaw, and/or Oscoda Counties) July 1 – Northeast Michigan Women’s Giving Circle Grant (for projects and programs in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and/or Presque Isle Counties that address issues important to women) July 15 – CFNEM Community Impact Grant (for a broad range of projects serving Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and/or Presque Isle Counties)

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

added photos. More →

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Friendly reminder for nonprofits serving Cheboygan and/or Mackinaw City! Grant applications for the final Youth Advisory Council grant cycle of 2023 are due in one week. Visit sacf.net to apply!

Monday, March 6, 2023

In case you missed The Sunset Project's Focus 45 photography contest, here are some snapshots from this cool new event. A $3,000 Northeast Michigan Women’s Giving Circle grant and a $1,000 CFNEM Community Impact grant provided funding for this first-time event. Provided as a platform for talented local photographers to showcase their work and win valuable prizes, the contest engaged over 60 contestants, garnered 500 online voters, and hosted nearly 100 people at a gala and award ceremony. Of the seven finalists, four were younger contestants age 16-18. Project organizer Gavin MacDonald says “a platform to showcase creativity on a big stage and win valuable prizes does not typically happen in the rural communities of Northeast Michigan. Many of the contestants came up to our staff after the event and thanked us personally for providing this opportunity for them.” Such a cool project!

Friday, March 3, 2023

So you applied for a Community Foundation scholarship. Now what? For those who completed and submitted our scholarship application hang tight. Over the next two weeks our staff will be making sure each applicant is able to be considered for every scholarship for which they are eligible. Then our scholarship committees will gather over the next several weeks to review applications and make their recommendations. Applicants can expect to hear about the status of their application by mid-May. In the meantime, if you make any changes to the school you plan to attend or field of study, please contact Jennifer Dingman at CFNEM (jdingman@cfnem.org).

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Our Youth Advisory Councils are doing cool things in their communities! If you know a young northeast Michigander with a big heart who might be interested in joining, contact Kara Bauer LeMonds at our office. Want to support what these kids are doing? A donation to the Kellogg Youth Funds for your community can help them do more.

Monday, February 27, 2023

A $3,800 Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council (NEMYAC) grant helped Rogers City Elementary School with a project to purchase books that expose students to different cultures, traditions and disabilities. Project organizer Meaghan Duly shared that during a story time with upper elementary classes, the story of Jim Thorpe, "Unstoppable" by Art Coulson was read. Many students asked questions about the Carlisle Indian School and then checked out another book called "I Am Not a Number" by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer that told another story of the residential schools created for Indigenous Peoples. Duly also says the 2nd grade was really moved by "A Walk in the Words" by Hudson Talbott, a story about a boy struggling to read and finally learning to accept the fact that everyone does things in their own unique way to be successful.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Only one week left to nominate an Iosco County resident!

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Scholarship applications are due in one week! If you’ve started an application, it’s not done until you hit “submit”. The deadline is March 1st. Students in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, or Presque Isle Counties should look for the blue piggy bank: https://www.cfnem.org/scholarships/ Students in Cheboygan, Crawford, Iosco, Ogemaw or Oscoda Counties, or Mackinaw City should look for the green piggy bank: https://www.cfnem.org/iccf/scholarships/apply-for-scholarships.html

Thursday, February 16, 2023

A permanent endowment fund has been established to care for these properties forever. Donations help Huron Pines to manage and care for these local treasures. https://www.cfnem.org/funds/give.html?fund=1216

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

These applications are due in one month!