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    Our Vision:

    A Region that is Fair, Thriving & Resilient.

  • slide

    Our Vision:

    A Region that is Fair, Thriving & Resilient.

  • slide

    Our Vision:

    A Region that is Fair, Thriving & Resilient.

  • slide

    Our Vision:

    A Region that is Fair, Thriving & Resilient.

  • slide

    Our Vision:

    A Region that is Fair, Thriving & Resilient.

Resources For Change

Funding

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We provide financial resources to changemakers, investing over $63 million in the 5-county Grand Traverse region since 1977.

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Learning

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We offer learning experiences to help changemakers in our region work better together.

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Connecting

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We connect changemakers with resources and opportunities that support meaningful change in our region.

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Fall grant pipeline now open

Schedule a meeting with Freya for Systems Change Accelerator grants or Sakura for Assets for Thriving Communities grants by August 13. 

Applications are due September 1, 2021.

Applications for the Learning Fund, Changemaker Fellowship and Seed Grant categories are open year-round, and are reviewed on a monthly basis. 

GRANT GUIDANCE DOCUMENT

 

Our Grantees In Action

We've supported hundreds of local organizations over the years who make the five-county region a unique place to learn and grow. We're honored to work in partnership with grantees to build a region that is fair, thriving and resilient. 

Safe Routes to School

$130,000

Support schools and families to navigate Safe Routes to School infrastructure

Peace Ranch

$60,000

Expand equine therapy services

Housing North

$125,000

Advocacy for Affordable Housing

TART Trails

$65,000

Construct a segment of the Traverse City to Charlevoix trail system

Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation

$60,000

Expand Generations Ahead

Leelanau Conservancy

$40,000

Support for the Palmer Woods 1000-Acre Project

Human Nature School

$44,000

Timber Frame Barn

SEEDS

$37,500

Organic waste systems analysis



Working Better Together

We feel fortunate to support good work in our community financiailly, but we are just as proud of our efforts to connect and work alongside changemakers in our region through opportunities to learn and collaborate. Together we create the conditions for more meaningful change.

Our Leadership Learning Lab sweeps lower northwest Michigan:

Our Mission:

We’re working together to address our region’s complex problems & create community assets for all.

Learn With Us

by becky

Reflections from Here: A Letter from Becky

We came together from diverse perspectives to care for one another, work together, and find new ways of addressing the challenges our communities face.

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by Miriam

Honoring History, Revitalization of a Railroad Town

Kalkaska village officials are leading an effort to honor the town's history and revitalize the downtown.

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by admin

Recovery to Resilience: Meeting Changing Needs

We are committed to providing the funding, learning, and connections that changemakers need to be successful in meeting the needs of our region.

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by Miriam

Expanding Access to Healthy Food: A Changemaker+Funder Partnership to Shift a System

A group of Northern Michigan nonprofit organizations and a coalition of food pantries are working collaboratively to tackle food insecurity by going upstream to address its root causes.

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by Miriam

Housing Solutions Not One Size Fits All

Nearly every community in Northern Michigan is experiencing the effects of housing shortages and rising housing costs.

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by Miriam

Guidance for Grant Seekers

As the deadline to apply for our Fall 2021 Grant Cycle approaches, we're sharing some resources that may be helpful as you submit your application.

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by Miriam

More than Bees: The Benzie Hive

Grow Benzie's Benzie Hive initiative will provide partner organizations and networks with tools and resources to help them collaborate and serve the community.

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by Miriam

Exploring and Creating in Beulah



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by Miriam

Sharing Live Dance with Northern Michigan Communities



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by Miriam

Next Generation Aviators Lift Off

The Civil Air Patrol Traverse City Squadron performs search and rescue operations, special missions and prepares the next generation of aviators as they lift off into careers in aerospace, rocketry, and the Airforce.

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by sakura

Looking Back and Moving Forward

A note from Sakura Takano, CEO, on Rotary Charities' direction, and an invitation for coffee & conversation on July 14, 2021.

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by Miriam

A Home for the Arts in Leelanau

The Northport Arts Association's Clay Works Studio will be a unique asset in Leelanau county, offering workshops, open studios, and residencies.

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by Miriam

Another Heart in Kingsley

From their repurposed EMS building downtown, The Rock of Kingsley strengthens their community by providing programming for people of all ages.

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by Miriam

Save, Preserve, and Grow The Garden

The Garden Theater anchors the lively downtown and brings movie-goers to the coastal town of Frankfort not only to enjoy a film but to spend their dollars throughout the community.

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by Miriam

Sparking "Aha Moments" for Students in STEM

Newton’s Road Northwest is dedicated to STEM learning, sparking “aha moments,” and guiding students through career pathways that lead to in-demand and family-sustaining jobs in Northwest Michigan and beyond.

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by Miriam

Taking TADL on The Road

Traverse Area District Library's new Bookmobile will bring books, resources, and educational materials to communities throughout Northern Michigan

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by Miriam

From Hopelessness to Homeownership

The topic of affordable housing is having its moment in the news, but assisting families and individuals to secure stable housing is nothing new for Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region.

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by Courtney

Celebrating the 2020-2021 Leadership Learning Lab Graduates

An appreciation and celebration of the thriving leaders in our community.

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by Miriam

Meet Sakura Takano, Rotary Charities' new CEO

Sakura's experience, community leadership, and vision for the future of the organization solidified her selection. 

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by Miriam

An Anniversary and 30 Years of Tremendous ROI



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by Miriam

How can impacts truly be measured?

Ripple Effects Mapping blends appreciative inquiry and mind mapping to measure a broad range of program impacts.

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by Miriam

Transform Your Organization by Creating a Learning Culture

Open opportunities by elevating individuals.

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by Miriam

Transforming Disruption into Resilience

Resilient responses to crisis reveal hidden capacities and opportunities to reimagine and improve

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by Miriam

Tech Tips, Part Two

Tools For Engagement And Collaboration In The Virtual Space

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by Miriam

From Seed Grant to Systems Change

It started as a group of colleagues who just wanted to better understand recycling in our region.  But thanks to a Seed Grant, their work grew into a Systems Change Accelerator grant matched with State funding.

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by Courtney

Tech Tips, Part One

Lessons From Navigating One Year Of Remote Work

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by Miriam

Service At The Center

Becky Ewing reflects on 14 years at Rotary Charities and the impact of service on her career, personal life, and community.

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by tori

The Rock looks toward the future

This center of community care is growing with Kingsley neighbors in mind.

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by tori

Michigan Legacy Art Park goes virtual

When COVID-19 changed the way they interact with educators, the art park leveraged years of materials to create a beautiful field guide for online learners.

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by tori

Power of partnership

We chat with Dan Buron from Goodwill and Christina Barkle from Groundwork Center about community care during COVID-19.

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by admin

New habits for collaborative leaders

In this video series, Leadership Learning Lab alums share how their practice has shifted.

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by tori

Julie Clark

Tori talks with Julie about the deep relationship building it takes to create a community asset.

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by becky

2020: Rooted & Resilient



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by freya

Community of Practice tries new things



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by Amelia

Protecting Our Lakeshore

Environmental organizations work together to tackle invasive plant species threatening our dunes - but they can't do it without the community.

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by Amelia

Our Community Health Clinic Steps Up

In a country where health and wellness is so closely linked to social class, Traverse Health is a haven for dignified care for all - especially during COVID-19.

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by tori

Seth Bernard

Tori and Seth talk about anti-oppression work, white allyship and creative practice in the first episode of our Connected for Change podcast.

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by becky

A new world is possible

Justice for George Floyd

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by tori

Connecting to Meet Needs during Covid-19

As we rearrange the way we work together during COVID-19, the CHIR is making it easy for health and social service supporters to work together from a distance on Basecamp.

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by tori

Local Food For All During Covid-19

Our local food relief system is relying on their partnerships to make sure no one is left behind during the crisis.

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by becky

Shifting my mindset about social distancing

Becky reaches out and shares how she is staying resilient during CoVID-19

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by admin

Revitalizing Mancelona, house by house

In this video, we hear from Mancelona residents about the potential blight removal brings to this Northern Michigan community.

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by tori

Evaluating systems change: Meg Hargreaves

An evaluator who studies systems change around the world shares some advice with us.

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by sakura

Impact Investing attracts new resources

We've unlocked a portion of our endowed assets for financial & social returns, in support of nonprofit projects

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by admin

Community of Practice flocks together

Mark VanderKlipp opens a window into our learning community

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by admin

Why we're aiming for transformative change

In this video, our community reflects on our strategic shift.

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by tori

Becky & Marsha on Leadership

Two Rotary Directors on tape sharing their thoughts on servant leadership.

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by freya

Renewed hope for changing the odds

Systems practice offers a new way forward to make durable progress on complex problems.

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by becky

We Can Stress Less

Daunted. Stressed. And yes, a little terrified. This is where I found myself as I began the journey to take over for a well-loved, long-time leader of our foundation. I knew my relationship with stress had to change.

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by colleen

Less prep, more presence

On rearranging your expectations to make space for what is important

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by lucille

Adults can learn new things

You can rewire your brain and improve your leadership capacity. How, you ask?

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