The Kalamazoo Community Foundation is funding the Sustaining Leaders Initiative to provide respite, professional development, executive coaching and wellness grants to local nonprofit leaders.

Eligible applicants must be BIPOC leaders in Kalamazoo County. More specifically as follows but not limited to:

The following intersecting identities will be prioritized in the application process:
 

Why this is important

We recognize many nonprofits are stretched for resources and may have difficulty covering costs for their operations. As such, leaders may feel overworked, underpaid and under-resourced to no fault of their own. Leaders of color, particularly women of color, often carry the greatest load in advancing racial equity and social justice work. These grants are a direct reflection of our mission to mobilize people, resources and expertise to advance racial, social and economic justice.
 

Grant Details

  • Identify as Black, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC), Latino/a/e/x, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, multiracial, has a disability, is LGBTQ+, an immigrant, is undocumented or DACAmented in Kalamazoo County.
  • Leaders are defined as any individual who is overseeing and guiding people or an organization regardless of positional title. This includes community organizers.
  • Current or previous grant-funded partner in the last 2 years.
  • First-time applicants will be prioritized as well as leaders from grassroots organizations.
  • You can apply for the BIPOC Leaders Wellness Grant even if you've already submitted, or plan to submit, a request for our responsive grantmaking in 2024.

February 5, 2024
Application opens. All applicants will receive a confirmation email once they have applied.

February 28, 2024
Application closes. We may reach out with additional questions after reviewing your application.

April 2024
Funding awards will be made by mid-April.

January 2025
A required impact survey will go out to all recipients. This is the only required reporting for this grant.

Partners can request a maximum of $3,000.

  • Executive coaching
  • Gym membership
  • Medical expenses
  • Professional mentorship
  • Rest & respite
  • Sustainable wellness practice
  • Therapy
  • Webinars
  • Wellness equipment

Apply for the Sustaining Leaders Wellness Grant

The grant application window for the Sustaining Leaders Wellness Grant is now closed.

NOTE: KZCF requires a signed grant agreement as well as the completion of an impact survey in January of the following year.

If you require funds for tuition, please visit our Scholarships page for more information.