College Access Challenge Grants

With an additional investment of $1.2 million from The Kresge Foundation, the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF) will continue the highly successful Community Foundation Challenge Grant initiative that encourages Michigan community foundations to expand, enhance, strengthen and sustain their local college access partnerships.

The Kresge Foundation and CMF believe that community foundations are ideal candidates to support local college access programs because of their long-standing support of college scholarships, their leadership and commitment to local college access efforts, and their position as vital leaders in Michigan communities. The purpose of the Community Foundation Challenge Grant initiative is to leverage local private investment to engage and sustain college access partnerships, thereby increasing the college-going rate and culture in Michigan. [Read the full press release HERE]

The Community Foundation Challenge Grant Initiative builds on the success of the Michigan College Access Network (M­­­­CAN) and its mission to dramatically increase college participation and completion rates, particularly among Michigan’s low-income students, first-generation students, and students of color, by supporting the creation, expansion, and sustainability of high-quality local college access networks.

The Community Foundation Challenge Grant Initiative is administered CMF. These special grants are available to Michigan community foundations that are in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. Currently there are three opportunities for Kresge Challenge Grant funding:

• Phase I--$25,000 or $50,000 challenge grants
• Phase II--$15,000 challenge grants
• YAC Challenge--$2,500 YAC challenge grants

For additional information contact: