The Love Where You Live Environment Fund supports environmental justice programs and projects in Kalamazoo County.

The Love Where You Live Environment Fund's purpose is to support environmental justice programs and projects in Kalamazoo County. More specifically, environmental justice efforts seeking to ensure the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people in issues impacting health and sustainability of the environment.

Grants from this fund will prioritize community-driven programs, projects and events supporting communities disproportionately impacted by environmental harms and risks (i.e. communities of color, low-income communities and populations in our community experiencing housing insecurity).

Request For Proposals

Annually the Kalamazoo Community Foundation requests proposals supporting environmental programs and projects in Kalamazoo County according to the following priorities:

We are seeking projects designed to engage, educate and empower residents to better understand local environmental issues and also address the changes needed to build a more sustainable, equitable and healthy community.

You can apply for the Love Where You Live Environment Fund even if you've already submitted, or plan to submit, a request for our responsive grantmaking in 2024.

Due Dates & Process

Projects We Have Funded Previously

The Love Where You Live Environment Fund was originally created to preserve and protect Kalamazoo County’s natural environment. Over the years, we have learned that a healthy environment is an important piece to the holistic approach to helping individuals and families to live well.

Based on the current needs of community, the Love Where You Live
Environment Fund purpose as of 2023 has evolved to focus on funding
environmental justice efforts with an emphasis on ensuring the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people in issues that impact health and sustainability of the environment.

AACORN Farm Inc Produce Protected from Pests - Naturally!
Building Blocks of Kalamazoo Resident Led - Reforesting Initiatives
Community Homeworks Handy@Home Series: Green Edition Workshops
Edison Neighborhood Association Summer Youth Tree Stewardship
Growing Community Garden Operations Funding to Support Garden Attendants/Ambassadors
Kalamazoo Parents for Clean Air Air Quality Monitoring
Urban Exposure Initiative Urban Exposure Love where you Live Garden Workshops

  • Funding paused in 2023

  • Community Homeworks | 2022 Green Living Series: Virtual & In-Person Education Workshops
  • The Urban Arts Exploratory and Mediation Center | The Hot Pink Graffiti Project-Phase II

  • Funding paused in 2021

  • Community Homeworks | Green Home Education Virtual Series: Conserving Energy at Home
  • Comstock Public Schools | How Healthy is the Land and Water of Our Communities?
  • Fresh Fire AME | Growing Community Garden
  • Sunnyside United Methodist Church | Growing Community Garden - 2021 Season

  • Kalamazoo Conservation District | Conservorama
  • Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy | Creating Universal Access to Nature at Bow in the Clouds Preserve – Phase 2
  • Hope for Creation | Capacity Expansion and Program Development
  • The Urban Folk Art Exploratory | Zoo City Food and Farm Network

  • City of Parchment | Envisioning Our River
  • Kalamazoo College | Lillian Anderson Arboretum Pollinator Friendly Landscape Restoration Project
  • Kalamazoo Conservative District | Conservorama
  • Merze Tate Explorers | Exploring Our Water: Where Does It Come From? (Student-led documentary)
  • Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy | Augusta Creek and Gull Lake Watershed Conservation & Water Resources Awareness Project

  • Kalamazoo Conservation District | Kalamazoo Conservation District 2018 Educational Programming
  • Four Township Water Resources | Building Community Through Watershed Management
  • Oshtemo Township | Prairie Restoration and Interpretive Signs at Drake Farmstead Park for Environmental Protection, Economic Development, and Education

  • Kalamazoo River Watershed Council | Jump on Board: Green Infrastructure Community Training
  • Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy | Bow In the Clouds Preserve Enhancements
  • Kalamazoo County Drain Commission | Interfaith Community River Cleanup

  • Kalamazoo Conservation District | Kalamazoo Conservation District 2015-2016 Educational Programming
  • Kalamazoo River Watershed Council | Eat Safe Fish Kalamazoo

  • Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy | KL Avenue Preserve Public Access Project
  • Kalamazoo River Watershed Council | Refining the Kalamazoo Water Festival: Focusing on the Future of Freshwater
  • Kalamazoo Nature Center | Conservation Leadership Program
  • Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition | Heritage Water Trail, Kalamazoo River

  • Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools | Taking Advantage of aTeachable Moment for Environmental Education
  • Kalamazoo Nature Center | Kalamazoo Butterfly Network Urban Youth Outreach Program
  • IDEA Association | Trybal Revival Garden Vermiculture Composting
  • IDEA Association | Event Greening and Community Education Campaign
  • Kalamazoo River Watershed Council | Updating the Kalamazoo River Watershed Management Plan to Protect Our Shared Water Resources
  • Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition | Water Wizards