Fulfilling its promise to serve the Battle Creek community for good, forever and for all, the Battle Creek Community Foundation (BCCF) has announced the recipients of its first grant round for this year, awarding more than $300,000 in grants to 25 nonprofit organizations.
This funding will support public initiatives that build the Battle Creek area and lift up families. This is the first of two BCCF general competitive grantmaking rounds during its 2025-2026 fiscal year.
“For 51 years, the Battle Creek Community Foundation has focused on lifting up the Battle Creek area through stewarding strategic funding and convening and collaborating with local partners to grow resources as a way to guarantee a strong future for this region,” says Mary Muliett, BCCF CEO. “Thanks to the generosity of our donors and this vibrant community, these funds will support projects focusing on our key priorities of education, livable communities, and health and well-being.”
Of the 25 grant recipients, the majority were awarded at least 75% of the amount they requested in their grant applications, and 14 organizations’ grant requests were fully funded. The average grant award in this round was $12,240. Grants are decided by a dedicated volunteer grants award committee. The grants will be applied across multiple communities in Calhoun County, supporting programs in the arts, education, equity, safety and STEM.
Organizations receiving BCCF grants from the spring round of awards:
- Art and Culture Collective of Battle Creek – ArtBridge community workshops
- Battle Creek Latin-American Heritage Initiative, a fiscally sponsored community project of Encourage BC! – to support the Hispanic Heritage month celebration 2025
- Battle Creek Public Schools– funding Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) tours/visits
- Binder Park Zoo – conservation education programs
- Boy Scouts of America Michigan Crossroads Council, Kalamazoo County Service Center – growing scouting in Battle Creek
- Brass Band of Battle Creek – to support 2025 arts education programming
- Burma Center (Burmese American Initiative) – for support of the THRIVE Rising Leaders program
- Catching the Dream Learning Center – to support the “Empowering Families: Connection, Coaching & Mental Well-Being Support” initiative
- Color the Creek, a fiscally sponsored community project of Encourage BC! – to support this year’s weeklong arts festival
- Communities In Schools Michigan, Inc. – for the School- Based Basic Needs initiative
- Disability Network of Southwest Michigan – to help fund the Home Accessibility-Ramp Up program
- Dream of Kalamazoo Foundation – to support the Battle Creek Community Adopt & Foster Hair program
- Eastend Studio & Gallery – to fund visual art classes at the Student Resilience & Empowerment Center
- Family Enrichment Center – supporting the Kinship Connection program
- Harvest 2 Hands, a fiscally sponsored community project of Encourage BC! – to fund the Nourishing Health: Fresh Produce for low-income patients with Diabetes project
- Heart For Home – to enhance foster care through comprehensive, yearly trainings
- Leila Arboretum Society – towards the Seasonal Mentorship & Career Readiness program
- MCCT, Inc./Franke Center for the Arts – to support the Expert Artist Workshop program in Battle Creek public schools
- R.I.S.E. Corp – for its youth-peer mentorship & workforce development initiative
- Samaritas–to fund post-resettlement services supporting 30 refugees residing in Battle Creek
- The Arc of Calhoun County – to support Calhoun County Self- Advocates Connect & Educate for Livable Inclusive Community programs
- UnSilenced Battle Creek Anti- Human Trafficking Coalition, fiscally sponsored by the Kalamazoo Area Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition – funding the launch of Hope Through Street Outreach and survivor support in Calhoun County
- Voces – to support the Strengthening Battle Creek program, empowering community through youth education and leadership
- Washington Heights United Methodist Church and Community – to support the Community Carnival & Car Show
- Women’s Network Inc. /Woman’s Co-Op – to support its Work Experience program
The BCCF is now accepting applications for its second and final competitive, general grant round of its fiscal year through noon on Oct. 8. Find more information about grant applications, other funding opportunities, deadlines and requirements go to www.bccfoundation.org/grantopportunities or call 269-962-2181.
–John Hendler
Originally Published at Battle Creek Shopper News