Organizations serving women, children, families and communities across Northeast Michigan will receive a combined $70,350 through the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan’s 2026 Northeast Michigan Women’s Giving Circle grants.
The grants cover Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and Presque Isle counties. Applications were reviewed and recommended by a committee of 10 Women’s Giving Circle members, with awards focused on issues important to women in the region.
Alpena-area projects receiving funding
Several Alpena organizations and projects were included in this year’s awards. The Boys and Girls Club of Alpena received $5,000 for its S.M.A.R.T. Girls of the Future program. Friends Together received $5,000 for the Move Through Your Cancer Journey project, while St. Vincent de Paul — Alpena received $5,000 for a building expansion.
The Thunder Bay Transportation Authority was awarded $5,000 for Moving Women Forward. The Alpena Childcare & Development Center received $4,200 for the Rest & Recharge Naptime project.
Other Alpena-area awards included $2,500 for the Thunder Bay Surf Club’s effort to expand access to Great Lakes surf culture through The Sunset Project; $2,500 for Alpena High School band uniform replacements through Thunder Bay Band Boosters; and $2,000 for a collaborative youth-development project involving Alpena Gymnastics and the Boys and Girls Club.
The Delta Kappa Gamma Society Alpha XI Chapter Michigan Foundation received $2,500 for restoration of the Historic Green School at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan. The Alpena-Montmorency Conservation District received $2,000 for “Harvesting for the Environment,” while the Besser Male Chorus received $2,000 for its 2026-2027 concert series.
Additional local awards included $1,950 for the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative’s EcoCareers Expo, $1,200 for United Way of Northeast Michigan’s Project Connect in Presque Isle County, and $1,000 for Alpena First United Methodist Church’s “Hearts to Home” project.
Regional awards and next application opportunity
The remaining grants support projects throughout the four-county service area. Harrisville Arts Council received $5,000 for a rural women artists micro-grant project, and Lincoln Pop-Up Pantry received $5,000 for food and trucking costs. PoWeR! Book Bags received $5,000 for its Little Learners of Montmorency and Presque Isle project.
New Beginnings Ministries received $4,500 for food distribution in Montmorency County. Hubbard Lake Baptist/Bible Church received $3,000 for Feeding the Hungry, while Bearded Ladies Foundation and Captain of My Own Ship each received $2,500 for the Mighty Girls of Northeast Michigan project and the Shipshape Shuffle 5K, respectively.
Rayola Inc. received $1,000 for foster-care packages for children in Alcona, Alpena and Montmorency counties.
The awards come from the Northeast Michigan Women’s Giving Circle Fund, a permanent endowment held by the Community Foundation. Additional support came from the Marion E. Lamy Fund, Nethercut Fund, and Lucas and Janet Pfeiffenberger Fund.
The next grant opportunity will be offered through the Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council for youth programs in Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency and/or Presque Isle counties. Applications can be submitted through the Community Foundation Grant Portal at cfnem.org and are due Oct. 15.