Photo courtesy of Robin Meneguzzo The Keweenaw Area Community Foundation (KCF), located at 236 Quincy St in Hancock, has opened its annual annual grant-seeking proposals from nonprofit organizations. hup while competing in the pasty-eating competition during Pasty Fest Saturday.

HANCOCK — The Keweenaw Community Foundation (KCF) is seeking proposals from local nonprofit organizations, according to an Aug. 15 release. This is an annual grant opportunity is made possible by the Keweenaw Area Community Foundation’s Field of Interest Funds.

Each Field of Interest fund is designed to support a particular cause, population, or geographic area, reflecting the passions and interests of the donor(s) who created the fund.

This year, about $80,000 in Field of Interest grant funding is available for programs and projects that focus on health and social services, youth, outdoor recreation, culture and history, and more.

KCF Executive Director Robin Meneguzzo said 2022 will be quite a robust year of granting for the organization.

“We are making a couple new grants available,” she said.

The newest one makes available $10,000 in granting for community impact programs, which Meneguzzo said, is really broad.

“Most things could fall into that category, I think,” she said. “So, that’s a great length, open opportunity for people to look to apply for. There will be four grants at $2,500 each from that.”

Another great initiative is the combining of the David Wittanen and Slim McClean Memorial Youth Hockey Fund, said Meneguzzo.

Earlier this year, a newly created fund in memory of sheriff Slim McLean, dedicated to youth hockey, was merged into the existing Copper Country Youth Hockey Fund, to create the David Wiitanen and Slim McLean Memorial Youth Hockey Fund.

The primary purpose of this Feld of Interest Fund is to promote and support youth ice hockey programs throughout the Copper Country Junior Hockey Association territory and to expand opportunities for youth to further develop the skills necessary to participate in ice hockey.

“With those grants merged together, there is more money available now for youth hockey initiatives,” she said.

The Environmental Fund is coming back this year, said Meneguzzo. That was supporting a lot of the flood relief work in the past few years, but this year it will be available for general grants.

The Joe Freed Empowerment Fund is not new, said Meneguzzo, but 2022 is the first granting opportunity.

This grant supports projects that promote a cultural shift toward greater empowerment of individuals with mental and/or intellectual or developmental disabilities, with proposals targeting transportation barriers given priority, said Meneguzzo.

These are just a few examples of the Field of Interest grants that are available. For more information on initiatives and funding opportunities, Meneguzzo suggests visiting the KCF website at https://www.keweenawcommunityfoundation.org/fall-granting.

To ease the burden of applying for grants, Meneguzzo said, KCF has crafted a Common Grant Application. Therefore, if an organization’s proposal fits the scope of multiple funds, that organization can easily apply for multiple grants with one application. If the organization has more than one project to be considered for funding, separate applications will still need to be submitted.

There are some restrictions, however:

Grants cannot be made to individuals and they can not be used for a political campaign or to support attempts to influence any governmental body.

Grants are made to the following types of organizations:

• Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations;

• Educational institutions;

• Governmental institutions;

• Religious institutions;

• Grants must be used for charitable purposes;

• Grants must be to support programs/projects in Keweenaw and Houghton Counties unless stated otherwise;

• Grants must comply with the KCF Non-discrimination Policy;

Applications will be accepted onling from Sept.1-Oct. 15, 2022.

For questions or assistance please contact Sara Fletcher, Office Assistant at (906) 482-9673 or email kcf.office@keweenawgives.org.