The St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club Foundation is now accepting grant applications for the 2022 funding cycle.
This year, a total of up to $76,000 will be awarded, which is an increase of $8,000 from last year. To be eligible, a request must be for a minimum of $5,000 and must be submitted by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or governmental unit within the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor area.
Emphasis is given for efforts that seek to provide better opportunities for youth and special needs populations. Requests for sectarian religious projects and programs, national fundraising efforts, political organizations or funds for program deficits or previously incurred obligations are ineligible.
The application deadline is September 23, 2022 and the grant application form and all the details can be found at www.sjbhrotary.org.
Applications must either be postmarked on or before September 23, 2022 and mailed to PO Box 143, St. Joseph, MI 49085-0143 or hand-delivered to Berrien Community Foundation at 2900 S. State St., #2E in St. Joseph by 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 23.
Previous awards
Established in 1980, the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club Foundation has awarded over $1,000,000 in grants to area causes. The recipients of $68,000 in grants from 2021 include:
- African American History & Literature Museum: $10,000 to support the United Civic Monuments project.
- Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety: $11,6850 to purchase defibrillators and trauma response kits.
- Berrien County Council for Children: $2,500 to support the Children’s Advocacy Care Closet for supplies.
- Community Healing Center: $8,065 to provide crisis intervention and resource navigation in Berrien County at Carol’s Hope Engagement Center.
- Feeding America West Michigan: $7,750 to support the Mobile Food Pantry program in Berrien County.
- New Heights CCDA: $10,000 to support New Heights Auto Services to provide reliable transportation to 10 financially struggling individuals.
- Senior Nutrition Services – Meals on Wheels : $8,000 to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables to homebound seniors.
- Summit Financial Wellness: $10,000 for general operations support to expand services to the community.