Non-profits around southwest Michigan can now apply for grants through the Southwest Michigan Cares Fund. The fund was created in 2020 by the United Way of Southwest Michigan and the Berrien Community Foundation to help individuals and non-profits during the pandemic. United Way of Southwest Michigan spokesperson Jennifer Tomshack tells WSJM News it’s been supported by a handful of major donors and the public.
“The fund raised more than $1.1 million and distributed close to $700,000 to 72 different organizations across Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass counties,” Tomshack said. “A lot of that went to basic needs like food-related expenses, nearly half of it went to help people with mortage, rent, and utilities assistance.”
That served more than 41,000 individuals. The deadline for a non-profit to apply for a grant through the Southwest Michigan Cares Fund in the next round is January 14. The grants will have a maximum value of $5,000. Tomshack says non-profits saw their fundraising drop during the first year of the pandemic. According to the Michigan Nonprofit Association, over a year into the pandemic, small nonprofits reported that financial support generated through annual fundraising events was down 53% and individual donations were down 46%. The place to apply for a grant is right here.
