LANSING, Mich – Committed to getting funds into the hands of Michigan small charitable nonprofit organizations that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) recently announced the $35 million MI Nonprofit Relief Fund application is now live at www.MINonprofitRelief.org.
Nonprofits are required to complete the application to be considered, regardless of whether they previously filled out the “intent to apply” form. Nonprofits do not have to be members of MNA to apply for/receive grant funding.
“We received an overwhelmingly positive response during the ‘intent to apply’ phase from nonprofits expressing interest in the MI Nonprofit Relief Fund,” said MNA President and CEO Kelley Kuhn. “We encourage nonprofits – especially those from underrepresented, underserved and rural areas – to apply. Michigan’s nonprofits have given so much to their communities every day, and this fund helps give back to those who give.”
“LEO is proud to join this effort to provide much-needed support to Michigan’s nonprofit ecosystem,” said Kim Trent, Deputy Director for Prosperity of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. “Nonprofits who are committed to lifting Michiganders out of poverty and removing barriers to economic prosperity are invited to apply for aid that will help them further serve hard-hit communities.”
The $35 million MI Nonprofit Relief Fund, which is being administered by MNA, is designed to provide aid and recovery to nonprofits with annual revenues of less than $1 million that can demonstrate necessary expenditures and/or losses incurred after March 3, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Small nonprofits could receive one-time grant funds from $5,000 to $25,000 in Spring/Summer 2023 to continue or expand their services to areas hit the hardest by COVID-19 and to populations that are underserved and underrepresented. The impact of the ongoing pandemic has been particularly hard on nonprofits located in rural areas and those led by, and serving, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
An additional $15 million MI Nonprofit Impact Grant program will be administered by LEO and is designed for larger nonprofits to support programs that lift people out of poverty and above the ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained, Employed) threshold. This program is expected to launch in Spring 2023.
MNA and LEO have partnered to design the grant program and select grantees as well as manage the application portal and award payments. To be eligible for this funding, organizations must be a Michigan-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit or a fiscally sponsored project by a 501(c)(3). The bipartisan relief program was signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as part of FY23 budget and program funding comes from the federal Coronavirus Relief Funds awarded to the State of Michigan as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP0127 awarded to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Development by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The MINonprofitRelief.org website also includes resources and frequently asked questions. For additional questions, nonprofits can email relieffund@mnaonline.org. Reminder: The application phase will close on May 5, 2023.
