Making the Grant Process Transparent
Our Guidelines
The Frey Foundation strives to make the grant inquiry and application process as open and clear as possible. We appreciate your time and interest in learning about the Frey Foundation. If, upon reviewing our grant guidelines, you believe your project may be a fit with our funding priorities, we invite you to submit an inquiry so that we can begin working with you to see if our collective priorities align.
We are not likely to fund:
• Conferences or events;
• Requests for general operating support, or;
• Programs that require participants practice or adhere to specific religious beliefs.
FUNDING STYLE
As a collaborative funder, we generally consider funding up to 15% of a program and/or 5% of a capital project.
GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS
Our geographic focus is primarily Kent, Emmet and Charlevoix Counties or projects that impact the broader West/Northern Michigan regions.
PROGRAM AREAS
The Frey Foundation invests in four program areas: Building Community, Children & Families, Community Arts, Environment
EQUITY & INCLUSION
We value demonstrated practices of inclusion in board recruitment, hiring and delivery of service to beneficiaries that reflect the diversity of the community.
How to Apply
If you believe your project aligns with our eligibility requirements and funding priorities outlined above, we encourage you to submit a letter of inquiry through our online system. You are also welcome to call us at any time to discuss your idea and to ask questions about the process. If you need assistance with the online inquiry, our staff is here to help and can be reached Monday–Friday from 8:30 A.M.–5:00 P.M. by calling (616) 451-0303.
1. REVIEW
Understanding the Frey Foundation’s funding priorities and guidelines will help you determine whether your project is a likely fit and formulate your inquiry in the most strategic way possible.
2. INQUIRE
Once you have completed an online inquiry, you can expect to hear from us within 30 days. While all inquiries are read, not all result in an invitation to apply for funding. The Frey Foundation receives many compelling requests each year and regrettably, we are not able to fund each one.
3. APPLY
Once your inquiry has been reviewed, you may be invited to submit a full grant application. Once a full application is submitted, our staff will contact you within 30 days to discuss your project in detail.
4. MEET
Every applicant is contacted for an in-person or telephone meeting in order to deepen the Foundation staff’s understanding of the proposed work, budget and the applying organization. This is designed to be an opportunity for dialogue and learning.
5. DECISION
You will be notified of Trustee funding decision by Foundation staff. Invited applications typically receive a funding decision in the quarter that follows submittal. Please see the decision timeline below for more information.
Timeline
All funding decisions are made by Frey Foundation Trustees. Those decisions are made quarterly in February, May, August, and November.
Please note that the timelines may vary based on several factors, including proposal readiness. Foundation staff will keep you informed throughout the review process.
