High Contrast Mode: Off
Search
Search

Diversity Equity Inclusion Fund Grant Application

Title Track

Our Diversity Equity Inclusion Fund is dedicated to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties as well as the sovereign nation of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

The Diversity Equity Inclusion Fund primarily provides support for organizations led by community members of color, including Black and Indigenous people, as well as LGBTQ+, immigrant, neurodiverse, veteran, and/or disability community members.

We also consider other partners, programs, trainings, and opportunities promoting equity and inclusion.

Grant Information

  • Grant Eligibility
    • Nonprofit, educational, governmental, and Tribal entities across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau Counties as well as the sovereign nation of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians are eligible to apply by submitting an online application. Applicants are also welcome to submit a video instead of written responses. More information about video applications can be found below.
    • Grant requests for up to $2,500 will be considered.
    • Grants to an organization cannot exceed $2,500 in a calendar year, which can be split between two or more grants, such as $1,000 in the spring and $1,500 in the fall. Exceptions to this rule are schools. Individual school groups, classrooms, clubs, sports teams, etc. are each eligible to receive up to $2,500 in a calendar year. For school-based applications, it is required that one or more students are involved in submitting the grant application.
  • What We Fund
    • General operating support for organizations led by community members of color, including Black and Indigenous people, as well as LGBTQ+, immigrant, neurodiverse, veteran, and/or disability community members.
    • Events that increase awareness and provide education about communities of color, including Black and Indigenous people, as well as LGBTQ+, immigrant, neurodiverse, veteran, and/or disability communities.
    • Efforts that increase the effectiveness, voice, and visibility of communities of color, including Black and Indigenous people, as well as LGBTQ+, immigrant, neurodiverse, veteran and/or disability communities.
    • Programs or projects that promote equity and inclusion.
    • Diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings or learning opportunities.Please note that priority will be given to organizations hiring a community member of color, including Black and Indigenous community members, to facilitate the training. 

    Note: We are unable to provide grants to individuals.

  • Grantmaking Process
    • Grant decisions are made by a Fund Advisory Committee with a diversity of representation from local community members of color, including Black and Indigenous people, LGBTQ+ community members, disability community members, allies, and equity leaders and advocates from across the five-county region.
    • According to Community Foundation policy, all grants are reviewed and accepted by our Board of Directors. Board acceptance must occur prior to funds being awarded.

How to Apply

Grant applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed quarterly. Application deadlines are December 1, 2024; February 1, 2025; May 1, 2025; August 1, 2025; and November 1, 2025. 

The Diversity Equity Inclusion Fund Advisory Committee meets and reviews applications in February, May, August, and November.

  • Written Application

    Please submit a written application through our Grants Portal. Once you've logged in and are ready to apply, be sure to select "DEI Fund-Written Application".

  • Video Application

    Diversity Equity Inclusion Fund applicants have the option of addressing our application questions in a short video (up to 5 minutes) instead of a written application. Please note that you'll still be required to log into our Grants Portal and complete a simple application with basic organizational information and a link to your video. Please address the following in your video application:

    Organizational Information
    • How does your organization strive to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within your programs, staff, board, and/or volunteers?
    • How are the demographics of your targeted constituents or community reflected in the composition of your staff, board, and/or volunteers?
    Project Information
    • Describe how your request aligns with the Community Foundation's commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in our community.
    • Provide a brief summary of your request including who will benefit, the role of collaboration and partners specific to the request (if applicable), and any other information that will be helpful to reviewers.
    • Please indicate the amount you are requesting from the Diversity Equity Inclusion Fund (up to $2,500 per organization per year will be considered).
    • If applicable, what is the total budget for what you are proposing?
    • If applicable, what additional sources of funding are available for what you are proposing? Please note income sources including other grants (pending or received), any matching funds available, and how far along you are in your fundraising.
    Apply Now

    Please submit your video application through our Grants Portal. Once you've logged in and are ready to apply, be sure to select "DEI Fund-Video Application".

Post-Grant Reports

We value data and how it informs both our ongoing impact and future grants. Grant partners will be invited to complete a grant report within a year of being awarded a grant.

Grant reports are used to understand the outcome of your project or program and allow us to share the successes of your work with our supporters, community partners, and the general public.

Meet Our Fund Advisory Committee

Our Diversity Equity Inclusion Fund Advisory Committee is a voluntary group of local community members with diverse lived experiences who come together to evaluate and make decisions about our Diversity Equity Inclusion Fund grant applications.

  • Terra Bogart

    Terra Bogart (she/her) is a Supervising Educator for Michigan State University Extension where she works to promote equitable access to nutrient dense food and safe physical activity opportunities for communities throughout Michigan. Terra is a graduate of University of Michigan, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology, as well as Michigan State University, where she completed her Master’s degree specializing in school garden-based nutrition education curriculum. Terra has dedicated her career to working at the intersection of education and public health and has a strong commitment to promoting equity in all aspects of her life. 

  • Marshall Collins

    Marshall Collins (he/him) is the Regional School Health Coordinator and Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Consultant for Northwest Education Services, which includes program oversight of NorthEd’s SNAP ED Program, LifeSPAN, Farm-to-School, and DEIB support. Marshall received a degree in teaching from Concordia College and went on to teach at Northport Public School for 10 years. Marshall has served as Northport’s Varsity Soccer Coach and Athletic Director and his work also involves supporting the Grand Traverse Area in continual efforts in the realms of social justice.

  • Beatriz Moreno

    Beatriz "Bea" Moreno (she/her) has lived in Leelanau County for over 30 years. She moved to Leelanau with her family in the early 90s from Brownsville, Texas. She resides in Leelanau with her three boys who are her greatest blessings. Bea started her work in Leelanau County in 2006 as a Home Vistor for Parenting Communities, serving local Spanish-speaking families. She remained in this role until 2013 when she transitioned into the school system. Since 2013, she has been working at Suttons Bay Public Schools as their Bilingual Liasion and is also employed at Northwest Education Services as their liasion to the local migrant population. As a former migrant child who came to this region, she feels that it's important to support the migrant community that gives so much to us during the short period of time that they are in our area.

  • Brandie Ekren

    Brandie Ekren (she/her) is the Executive Director of Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP), overseeing strategic execution, daily operations, and high-speed internet expansion for this municipally owned utility. With over 20 years in the energy industry, she leads initiatives in sustainability, decarbonization, energy efficiency, and electrification. Prior to TCLP, Brandie served as General Counsel and later as Executive Director of Strategic Planning & Development at the Lansing Board of Water & Light. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctorate from Michigan State University. Brandie’s passion for energy and community resilience drives her leadership toward a sustainable future.

  • Damian Lockhart

    Damian Lockhart (he/him) lives in Traverse City and works as a Financial Advisor and Traverse City Branch Manager at Morgan Stanley. He previously served on two boards in Grand Rapids–the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum and CASA of Kent County. He currently serves on the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors. 

  • Brett W. Sinclair

    Brett W. Sinclair (he/him) is an accomplished diversity, equity, inclusion strategist and project manager with over 14 years of experience in leading transformative projects and fostering organizational change. With a deep commitment to community engagement, Brett excels at aligning teams, streamlining operations, and creating strategies that drive efficiency and sustainable growth. His expertise spans diversity, equity, inclusion training; process optimization; data-driven analysis; and intercultural communication. Known for his leadership in complex environments, Brett has supported over 100 organizations across industries, including nonprofits and higher education institutions. He combines strategic insight with a passion for empowering teams, ensuring impactful outcomes that resonate throughout the communities he serves.

  • Ann Strehle

    Ann Strehle (she/her) is a retired physical therapist from Nebraska who moved to Benzie County from Chicago in 1992. She graduated from the University of Nebraska and the Northwestern University Graduate School. She and her spouse, Barb Skurdall, opened Mobility Now Physical Therapy and provided home care services to all socioeconomic groups in seven counties in Northern Michigan. Ann was active on the state and district boards of the American Physical Therapy Association in both Nebraska and Chicago and was Board President of the Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra. Ann currently serves as Board President for the Darcy Library of Beulah.

  • Mara Van Wagner

    Mara Van Wagner (they/she) is a senior at Kingsley High School. They serve as our Youth Representative on our Diversity Equity Inclusion Fund Advisory Committee.

Questions? Contact Us!

Please reach out to our Senior Community Impact Manager, Gina Thornbury at gthornbury@gtrcf.org or (231) 935-4066 ext. 107.