8/20/2026
CHEBOYGAN—The Straits Area Community Foundation (SACF) recently awarded $19,218 through its 2026 Community Impact Grants serving Cheboygan County and Mackinaw City. The SACF Board of Directors approved the 13 grants to local nonprofits on August 6, 2026.
New SACF Community Impact Grants were awarded to:
- $2,000 to McLaren Northern Michigan Foundation to purchase an emergency handheld radio system.
- $2,000 to Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium to provide short-term flexible support to working individuals to overcome transportation or childcare barriers.
- $2,000 to North Central Michigan College Foundation to launch a dental hygiene teaching program and low-cost clinic.
- $2,000 awarded to Samaritas to enhance Grebe Village Senior Housing's vegetable and fruit gardens and provide a safe place to park bikes.
- $2,000 awarded to Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan to provide supportive services to women pursuing higher education, career training, and workforce credentials.
- $1,555 to Cheboygan County Humane Society for spaying and neutering feral cats.
- $1,555 awarded to Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity to help build four new homes in Mackinaw City.
- $1,108 to Child & Family of Northwest Michigan to provide basic needs to families with foster children or children who have experienced domestic violence.
- $1,000 to CCE (Charlevoix Chebogyan Emmet) 911 Central Dispatch Authority to expand their “Community to Console” initiative by enhancing public safety education and increasing student participation.
- $1,000 to Cheboygan Area Arts Council for the Missoula Children's Theatre residency at the Cheboygan Opera House.
- $1,000 to Chelsea's Closet to purchase unique sizes of formal wear.
- $1,000 to Great Lakes Great Responsibility to work with youth to install beach cleanup stations in Cheboygan County.
- $1,000 awarded to PoWeR! Book Bags to expand their Little Learners literacy program to Cheboygan County.
SACF awards Community Impact Grants once a year, with applicants applying for specific needs within their organization. Funding for grants during this cycle comes from SACF’s Straits Area Community Needs Fund, Cheboygan County Health and Education Fund, Straits Area Health Care Fund, and the Straits Area Tobacco Settlement Fund.
The next opportunity for submitting grant applications through SACF is the Straits Area Youth Advisory Council (YAC). The application deadline is March 15, 2027. These grants are for youth-related projects and programs serving Cheboygan County and/or Mackinaw City. Applications are available at sacf.net.
SACF is an affiliate of the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM), accredited by National Standards for U.S Community Foundations®. CFNEM serves as the administrative arm for its affiliate foundations. SACF 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 sacf.net or call 989-354-6881; toll-free: 877-354-6881.
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