Apply For A Grant

To apply for a grant, send a proposal letter using the following guidelines to: SJACF, PO Box 33, St. Johns, MI 48879, or email to info@sjacf.com. Proposals will be reviewed within 60 days of receipt.

The St. Johns Area Community Fund helps seed and support new initiatives, programs and projects to advance our Fund’s mission to improve the quality of life in the St. Johns area. We are always looking for creative new projects to fund so please tell us your ideas! Requests are reviewed by the Board and considerations will be given (but not limited) to: how St. Johns area citizens will benefit from the project, how it will enhance the community, will it help us stay current with the times, does it make our community a more desirable place to live or visit, will it enhance our community in a creative way, etc.

Funding for qualifying projects is generally not available for current operating expenses or to aid individual community members. Proposals are accepted at any time. The granting and local fund decision-making is done by our Board of Directors.

Grant Proposal Guidelines

Please submit a grant proposal letter that includes the following information:

* Group or individual requesting grant funds and appropriate contact information

* Purpose of the grant (one sentence only)

* Amount requested

* Total project cost

* Project beginning and ending dates

* Project Proposal -- Summarize the project: Describe who will benefit, the project’s goals, how the project will meet the goals, why you believe this is a good approach, and how you think the project fits the St. Johns Area Community Fund’s mission.

* Outcomes and Sustainability: How do you define success for your project? How will the project continue after start-up?

How we helped

Recent SJACF grant-funded projects:

2025

$2,000 SJ Honor Guard - New winter uniform jackets for veterans
$1,460 SJ Boys Basketball - Uniforms for Peter's Sunny Day charity game
$1,000 Giving Paws - Tales with Tails - Mental Health and Literacy
$2,000 Elevated Equine Assisted Therapy - Wheelchair Accessible Carriage
$10,000 Clinton Co Arts Council - Improvements to Performance Shell
$1,350 SJ Public Schools - Student Referee Prep Courses MHSAA
$900 SJ Call-in Coalition - YAC for Labyrinth in City Park

2024

$1,500 Girl Scouts - Participation Needs
$1,200 St. Johns PS 8th grade trip - Student Needs
$1,500 Elevate Equine Assisted Therapy - Mental Health
$4,616 SJ Call-in Coalition - Labyrinth in City Park - Mental Health
$4,000 SJ High Youth Action Committee - Student Needs
$2,500 Clinton County Historical Museum - Carriage House Repair
$10,000 St. Johns Youth Baseball Assn - Inclusive Restroom Project
$1,000 4 Local Food Distribution Entities - Community Needs
$75,000 City of St. Johns - Fantasy Forest 2.0

2023

$2,200 Good News Kitchen Food Pantry - Freezer
$500 Equine Assisted Wellness - Mental Health
$1,500 St. Johns Public Schools - South Sudan Health symposium
$2,500 Clinton Co Arts Council - Gilroys's Mural (2nd Half)
$2,000 Mint City Off Road Foundation - Jeep Park
$5,000 Briggs District Library - Renovation
$4,000 SJ High Youth Action Committee - Student Needs

2022

$900 CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for training
$5,000 City of St. Johns First Responders Mural
$4,000 Mint City Off Road Park
$4,080 Brown Bag Concert Series
$3,000 Giving Paws - Support Dog Initiative Program
$5,000 St. Johns Fire Department - Jaws of Life
$3,000 St. Johns High School Youth Action Committee - Student Needs

2021

$1,000 Diamond Cutters Baseball - Improve Bishop Field/Youth Clinics
$1,000 Peter's Sunny Day Foundation - Musical Instruments in the Park
$4,000 Clinton County Arts Council - Brown Bag Lunch Concert Series
$7,500 City of St. Johns Soap Box Derby Event - Equipment
$3,000 The Pantry at St. Johns High School

2020

$3,000 IQ Hub at Agro-Liquid
$2,500 The Pantry at St. Johns High School
$2,500 St. Johns Middle School Pantry
$1,000 St. Vincent De Paul Society
$2,500 Compassion in Action
$3,355 Covid Relief Funds - Compassion in Action, St. Vincent de Paul, Basic Needs Center, The Pantry at St. Johns High School, Beacon of Hope
$1,500 Peter's Sunny Day Foundation - Drums in the Park
$1,500 CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) - Client Financial Assistance
$500 Clinton County Economic Alliance - Support Area Economic Development