We seek to partner with organizations and groups that strongly and directly align with our vision, mission, and funding priorities.

• We partner with organizations and groups that work to change the systems and root causes that lead to intergenerational poverty.

• We focus on supporting organizations that are led by and serve Black people people of color, and other communities that have been left out or left behind in the past.

• We only fund work that serves the community of Kalamazoo County, Michigan.

• We partner with organizations and groups that:

  • Prioritize diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts;

  • Are actively being and becoming anti-racist and anti-oppressive; and

  • Are led by and accountable to the people most impacted by the issues their organization works on.

You may be eligible for SJF funding if:

• You are one of the types of organizations listed below:

  • A legally registered 501(c)(3) Public Charity (NOT classified as a 501(c)(3) Private Foundation), or you have a confirmed fiscal sponsor that is a legally registered 501(c)(3) Public Charity; OR

  • A Governmental agency; OR

  • An educational institution (school, college, university).

• Your organization, program, or project mainly serves the community of Kalamazoo County, Michigan.

• You have a board approved nondiscrimination policy. This policy shows your organization’s commitment to equal opportunity for all people. It is inclusive of race, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, and any other legally protected status. We expect this policy to cover staff, board, volunteers, and clients of your organization.

PLEASE NOTE: Each grant applicant will be asked to provide a copy of their organization’s nondiscrimination policy with their Application. An organization will not be eligible to receive grant funds if their nondiscrimination policy is not inclusive of the information listed above. If an organization’s board policy is not compliant, it may be updated during the grant application process in order to be considered for a funding decision. If you have questions regarding this, please contact our team.

We provide funding for:

• General operating support

• Multi-year funding requests

• Specific projects or programs

• Collaborations or collective action efforts

• Capacity building

• Capital campaigns — A limited portion of our grant funds go towards capital campaigns.

We DO NOT provide funding for:

• Individuals looking for personal funding

• Political or lobbying campaigns

• Organizations that exist to influence legislation or voting

• Organizations, programs, or projects that primarily benefit communities outside of Kalamazoo County, Michigan

• Event sponsorships

• 501(c)(3) Private Foundations

• 501(c)(7) Social Clubs

• SJF has two grant processes each year when organizations may submit grant applications. Please see the Apply page for more information about our due dates.

• Each grant process begins by submitting an Application through our online system.

• If an organization’s Application aligns with SJF’s eligibility criteria, mission, and funding priorities, the organization may be invited to meet with the SJF team or may be asked to provide some additional information about the grant request.

• SJF team and board members review grant applications and additional information collected during the application process. We aim to make funding decisions and notify applicants of those decisions as quickly as possible.

• The length of this process will vary depending on the request. We suggest submitting Applications six months before funding is needed.

We consider the following when reviewing grant applications:

• Alignment with the SJF’s vision, mission, funding priorities and eligibility

• Organizational leadership and vision

• Resources and capacity to complete the proposed work

• Strategy and approach that focus on addressing the root causes of issues

• Clear intended goals, outcomes, and plans for evaluation/learning

• Commitment to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), anti-racism, and anti-oppression in their organization and work

• Communities impacted by the program or project are directly involved in shaping it

• Engagement in collaborations and partnerships