The North Central Michigan Community Foundation’s (NCMCF) Youth Advisory Councils, or YACs awarded $13,965 in new grants to Crawford, Ogemaw and Oscoda Counties for programs benefiting their peers and their communities.
The NCMCF Board of Directors approved the YAC’s 12 grant recommendations in February 2026. Grants awarded include:
- $2,265 to Ana's Treasures through three grants for the “2026 Ana's Essentials” project providing personal items like clothing, shoes, and hygiene products, and backpacks filled with school supplies for children in all three counties.
- $2,500 to Max-Well Therapy Center for funds to support children to attend equine therapy and riding sessions at no cost to the participants.
- $3,350 to Northern Michigan Children’s Assessment Center through three grants for their “Fuel for Healing” project to eliminate transportation costs as a barrier, ensuring uninterrupted access to victim services for clients and their families.
- $2,850 to Rayola Inc. through three grants for the “2026 Care Packages” project to provide comforting packages to children entering foster care in Crawford, Ogemaw, and Oscoda Counties.
- $500 to River House for their “Adverse Childhood Experiences + Positive Childhood Experiences” project, which strives to create a positive childhood experience for children going through severe, adverse childhood experiences.
- $2,500 to Whispering Hope Ranch Ministries to provide support for 16 children to attend summer day horseback riding camp, who otherwise could not attend due to financial hardship.
The NCMCF YAC is a group of young people ages 12 to 21 from Crawford, Ogemaw, and Oscoda Counties. YAC connects youth to their communities through grantmaking and teaches the impact philanthropy has on the present and future.
The next deadline for grant opportunities through NCMCF is with the Community Impact Grant program. Applications are due June 30, 2026. Nonprofits, schools, and churches interested in applying for a Community Impact Grant can access the online application and criteria at ncmcf.org. If you have questions or need assistance with the application process, please call 877-354-6881.
NCMCF serves Crawford, Ogemaw, and Oscoda Counties, and is an affiliate of the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM). CFNEM serves as the administrative arm for its affiliate foundations. NCMCF is led by a volunteer board of local citizens committed to providing people who care about the future of the region and its communities with unique and effective ways of supporting their community now, and for generations to come. The foundation oversees a group of permanently endowed funds from a wide range of donors. Gifts of all sizes from individuals, families, businesses, and agencies are invested in a balanced, well-managed portfolio to build endowments, enabling support for local community nonprofits now and forever. To donate or learn more about how community foundations work, visit ncmcf.org or call 989-354-6881; toll-free: 877-354-6881.
PHOTO – North Central Michigan Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council members. Left to right: Molly, Madison, Mylee, Hailee, Ocean, Jennifer Dingman, (Community Foundation Program Director), Lucas, and Rikki
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