Five Northern Michigan Initiatives Receive Rotary Charities Grants Totaling $350,000

Miriam • Dec 10, 2024

Contact: Miriam Owsley, Strategic Communications Manager

Rotary Charities of Traverse City is proud to announce the recipients of our Fall 2024 Grant Awards, a total investment of $350,000 to regional nonprofits and collaboratives. These grants, part of our continued commitment to fostering community development and resilience, support projects aimed at enhancing public places, protecting the environment, and expanding access to the arts and affordable housing. 

One grant was awarded through our Systems Change Accelerator grant program, which provides support to collaborative initiatives targeting the root causes of complex community problems. 

Four grants were awarded through our Assets for Thriving Communities grant program, which provides support to initiatives that develop, strengthen, or build community assets that are available to all, or make an existing asset more widely available.  

Learn more about these and other grant opportunities at RotaryCharities.org/Funding 

“By supporting these diverse initiatives, we’re not only investing in tangible community assets but also empowering regional nonprofits and collaboratives to address some of our most pressing challenges,” said Sakura Takano, CEO of Rotary Charities. “From advancing water quality protection and contributing to the region’s cultural vitality, to promoting arts accessibility, preserving natural spaces, and laying the groundwork for future affordable housing projects, these initiatives will help create a more resilient, inclusive, and thriving region for everyone.” 

Grant recipients include: 

Benzie Conservation District, Northwest Michigan Watersheds Coalition 
Protecting Water Quality in Northwest Michigan — $150,000 Systems Change Accelerator grant 
The Northwest Michigan Watersheds Coalition, through fiscal sponsor Benzie Conservation District, has been awarded a $150,000 grant to strengthen local systems for water quality protection in the region. This initiative aims to enhance collaboration among stakeholders, raise awareness of water-smart decision-making, and address regulatory gaps that threaten the health of local watersheds. 

Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology  
Hatchquarters Creative Campus — $50,000 Assets for Thriving Communities grant 
Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology has been awarded a $50,000 grant to support the development of “Hatchquarters,” a creative campus near Bellaire focused on community building, artistic innovation, and education. The funding will help establish the lodge, which will serve as a venue for workshops and programs, laying the foundation for future additions like a regenerative farm, makerspace, and artist residency.  

New Community Vision 
Land Acquisition Campaign — $50,000 Assets for Thriving Communities grant 
New Community Vision has been awarded a $50,000 grant to support the acquisition of over 200 acres of land on the Leelanau Peninsula. The former Timber Shores Campground, a critical property that includes wetlands, wooded dunes, and a cold-water trout stream, will find its new purpose as a nature preserve, with a dedicated 24-acre section allocated for a future attainable housing development.  

Thompsonville Area Revitalization Project 
Thompsonville Junction — $50,000 Assets for Thriving Communities grant 
The Thompsonville Area Revitalization Project (TARP) has been awarded a $50,000 grant to support the construction of a trailhead and visitors’ pavilion at the historic Thompsonville Junction. This placemaking project will enhance the Betsie Valley and SMART trail systems by creating a welcoming and accessible destination for cyclists, walkers, and visitors. 

Traverse City Dance Project 
Traverse City Dance Festival — $50,000 Assets for Thriving Communities grant 
The Traverse City Dance Project has been awarded a $50,000 grant to support the inaugural Traverse City Dance Festival. The festival will feature a wide range of performances by professional dance companies, workshops, community events, and film screenings, with a vision to reduce cultural barriers and foster a deeper appreciation for dance in Northern Michigan by offering accessible, inclusive experiences in approachable settings. 

About Rotary Charities of Traverse City:  

Following the 1976 discovery of oil and natural gas reserves on property owned by the Traverse City Rotary Club, Rotary Charities of Traverse City was established as the steward of the financial resources. Since that time, over $76 million in grants have been awarded to support nonprofits, municipalities, networks, and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, fostering resilient and thriving communities across Antrim, Benzie, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties. 

Working in partnership with changemakers, Rotary Charities provides funding, learning, and connections to address our region’s complex problems and create community assets for all.  

Learn more at RotaryCharities.org