Sustaining Leaders Initiative is sponsored by Kalamazoo Community Foundation. Supports nonprofit leaders of color in Kalamazoo County with grants for respite, wellness, and professional development to advance racial, social, and economic justice.

Wellness & Professional Development Grants for Nonprofit Leaders | Kalamazoo Community Foundation Sustaining Leaders Initiative Kalamazoo Community Foundation offers individual grants to fund respite, professional development, executive coaching, and wellness grants to nonprofit leaders of color in Kalamazoo County. We recognize many nonprofits are stretched for resources and may face challenges covering essential operational costs.

As a result , leaders may often feel under resourced – through no fault of their own. Within this broader context, we acknowledge that leaders of color, particularly women of color, frequently carry a disproportionate share of the responsibility for advancing racial equity and social justice efforts .

Sustaining Leaders prioritizes support for these leaders while also considering the diverse needs and circumstances of nonprofit leaders more broadly. Grants awarded through this initiative reflect our mission to mobilize people, resources and expertise to advance racial, social and economic justice.  This application is now closed.

A pplicants are eligible for grant funding consideration if your organization is in Kalamazoo County and is a current or previous grant-funded partner (in the last 2 years), including any of the following: A registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. A registered religious organization or governmental agency. A project operating with a registered 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor.

Additionally, applicants must be leaders of color in Kalamazoo County.

Leaders of color are defined as any individuals overseeing and guiding people or an organization regardless of position or title (including community organizers), and who identify as (specifically but not limited to): American Indian or Alaska Native Black or African American Middle Eastern or North African Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander First time applicants to this grant Applicant identif ies as LGBTQ+ Applicant has a disability Applicant is new to their role or in a co-leadership model Applicant is from a grassroots organization Applicant identifies as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or is undocumented Applicant has recently lost employment or been significantly impacted by changes in federal funding or policy (examples include reduced work hours, moved to a different position, etc.) How This Fund & Grants Work Grant funds from this initiative can be used to cover a broad range of expenses , such as rest, respite, wellness and professional development.

Some examples include, gym membership, medical expenses, professional mentorship, sustainable wellness practices, therapy, webinars and even wellness equipment or memberships . This grant is a one-time award , meaning that it will not repeat in subsequent years. KZCF requires a signed grant agreement as well as the completion of an impact survey in May of the following year.

Grant payments are sent directly to the award recipient. We will send one check for the full award amount after your grant agreement is signed. Get started with this grant—it’s easy!

Eligible nonprofit leaders can submit an online application (once per year) by the next deadline. The outcome of your request will be sent via email by early September . If a grant is awarded, you’ll receive a grant agreement to sign and return.

Payment Sent — Keep in Touch! Funds will be sent by late September , and a brief impact survey will open in March 2026 which is the only required reporting for this grant.  This application is now closed.

Have questions about this fund or grant? Ask Stanley. To learn more about our Sustaining Leaders Initiative or get guidance with your application, contact Stanley Steppes via the contact form or call 269.

585. 7238 . Frequent Scholarship Questions Answered What is the timeline for the scholarship process?

The All-in-One Scholarship Application* is available December 1 through March 1 every year. In early March , our Scholarships team reviews applications to ensure successful completion and eligibility. For the remainder of March until May, our Scholarship Review Committees review applications and convene to recommend recipients.

As early as April , KZCF Scholarships staff may begin reaching out to recipients to notify them of our scholarship decisions and update application statuses in Kaleidoscope accordingly. Notifications will continue until June. From late July to the end of August , scholarship payments are sent directly to institutions.

If my scholarship information is incomplete will I be notified? Yes, a member of our Scholarships team will reach out to students regarding any missing documents. Do I need to be a U.S. Citizen or Certified U.S. Permanent Resident to apply?

No, KZCF scholarships are open to students regardless of their citizenship or permanent residence status. What is the FAFSA, and do I need to complete it? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) allows college students to access financial aid for college, including grants, scholarships, work-study and federal student loans.

Visit studentaid. gov for information on the FAFSA and how to apply. While the FAFSA is required to complete our scholarship applications, we can still support students who may be ineligible to complete it .

Please indicate on your application in Kaleidoscope that you are ineligible to complete the FAFSA. You will be prompted with the next steps from there. How do I check the status of my application?

Will I be notified if I am selected? What can scholarship funds be used for, and how is it dispursed? KZCF scholarships may be used for any items related to your school’s cost of attendance (COA).

Each school has a different COA that includes items such as tuition, fees, housing, transportation, food, health insurance, etc. You can find your school’s COA online or by contacting your school’s financial aid office. Scholarship awards are paid directly to your institution, and if there are additional acceptance stipulations related to your scholarship, they will be listed in the individual scholarship’s details.

Where can KZCF scholarships be used? Kalamazoo Community Foundation scholarships can be applied to any accredited academic institution within the United States. Scholarships are not eligible for international use at this time .

What if I need to defer my scholarship? Requests for deferment need to be approved by our Scholarships team. Please contact our team at .

I received a multiyear award, how can I be sure that I continue to receive it? A member of our Scholarships team will email you the link to an online form in February each year your scholarship is eligible for renewal. To ensure you receive this link, please make sure you have shared your current email with us.

This short form needs to be submitted by March 1 to be applicable to the following school year. Some scholarships require you to maintain a minimum GPA or have a specific major to continue receiving your scholarship. Scholarship requirements are always included in acceptance agreements.

Do I pay taxes on scholarships? In certain situations, scholarship awards are considered taxable income for the recipient. You can find information about scholarships and taxes via The Internal Revenue Service .

For questions about how scholarship awards might impact your taxes, please consult a tax professional. Boldly Reimagining Support for Moms & Babies This innovative program supports mothers and babies with a no-strings-attached cash prescription from pregnancy through a baby’s first year of life.

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