Making the Grant Process Transparent
Our Guidelines
We work to make our grant inquiry and application process as open and clear as possible.
Please review our grant guidelines to learn more about the way we work. If you believe your project matches our funding priorities, we invite you to submit your inquiry.
Funding Eligibility
We accept inquiries from charitable or tax-exempt organizations that impact our geographic area(s) of focus, and involve one or more of our program areas: Building Community, Children & Families, Community Arts, Environment.
We are not likely to fund:
- Requests for general operating support
- Programs that require participants practice or adhere to specific religious beliefs
Funding Style
We value public-private partnerships, and typically fund up to 15% of the private sector portion of program expenses and/or 5% of capital.
Place-Based Focus
We fund in Kent, Emmet, and Charlevoix Counties or projects that impact the broader West/Northern Michigan regions.
Equity & Inclusion
We value demonstrated practices of inclusion in board recruitment, hiring, and delivery of service that reflect the diversity of the community.
Health & Wellness
Mental health and wellness are fundamental for communities to thrive, and we prioritize them in our grantmaking.
How to Apply
If you believe your project aligns with eligibility, location, style, and program area(s), we encourage you to submit an inquiry through our online grant portal.
We welcome potential grantees to call our office to ask questions. Our staff is here to help.
Monday - Friday | 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM | (616) 451-0303
1. Review
We encourage every potential grantee to read through our program areas and guidelines to determine whether your project is a good fit. This step will also help you write your inquiry in the most strategic way possible.
2. Inquire
Use our online grant portal to submit your inquiry. You can expect to hear back from us within 30 days. While all inquiries are read, regrettably, the Frey Foundation is not able to fund each request we receive. If you are not invited to submit a full application, we encourage you to seek other resources to fund your project.
3. Apply
After reviewing your inquiry, we may invite you to submit a full grant application. Once we receive your application, our staff will contact you within 30 days to discuss your project in detail.
4. Meet
We contact every applicant for an in-person or virtual meeting where foundation staff can deepen their understanding of your organization, proposed work, and budget. We look forward to listening and learning about your experience, challenges, and goals.
5. Decision
The Frey Foundation Grants Committee makes funding decisions four times a year. You can expect to hear from us in the quarter that follows the submission of your full grant application. (See the timeline below.)
Timeline
The Frey Foundation uses a two-stage application process. Letters of inquiry are accepted at any time. Funding decisions on full applications are typically made four times a year, in February, May, August, and November.
The exact timeline for funding decisions vary depending on proposal readiness and other factors. Once you submit your full application, our staff will keep you informed throughout the review process.