Mission
The fund supports initiatives that meet the needs of the low-income community in the area of the arts, community and economic development, education and human services. The fund may, from time to time, emphasize one area over another when emerging needs or opportunities require special attention. Within the four areas, projects receive priority if they fall within one or more of the following areas:
- Newly developed collaborative or organizational efforts that address budget or service deficiencies resulting from funding shortages
- Efforts that address underlying causes of community problems or that are preventive
- Initiatives that help organizations resolve crises within our community
- Work that builds an organization’s program and/or management capacity or quality
- Responses to well-documented community needs
- Efforts requiring a moderate amount of grant money but producing significant results in the service area
The following areas are of low priority and usually will not receive funding:
- Capital and equipment requests
- Ongoing program support
Grant awards cannot provide permanent support. Organizations must have the financial potential to sustain a program. In some cases, the fund can provide more than one year of support to ensure the stability of a new organization or program or to support existing exemplary services that benefit the community.
The following are representative but not exclusive examples of projects:
- Community arts projects, especially for those who otherwise could not afford to participate
- Low-income housing
- Money management programs
- Parenting education
- Career and job development
- Transportation to allow access to services and programs
- Prevention programs for youth
Projects not eligible for funding include:
- Endowments
- Religious organizations for religious activities
- Medical research
- Debt retirement
- Requests from re-granting organizations for funding for their own grant-making
- Individuals
- Political organizations or campaigns
- Tickets for benefits
- Telephone solicitations
- Fundraising drives or activities
- Organizations that work to influence legislation as a substantial part of their purpose
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for funding, an organization must:
- Be classified as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or classified as an organization under Section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code or have a fiscal sponsor classified as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or an organization under Section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code
- Be located in or provide services to low-income residents of the Silver Bay Charitable Fund service area, defined as the communities of Silver Bay, Finland, Little Marais, Isabella, Beaver Bay, Murphy City, Cramer and Illgen City. This area is the school service area for Silver Bay. If more information or clarification is needed on the service area, applicants are encouraged to contact the Silver Bay Charitable Fund.
Grant range
Grants generally range from $1,000 to $10,000.
Application timeline
Spring 2024 Grant Cycle
- Application available January 2, 2024 – March 1, 2024 at 5 pm
- Grant begin date: June 1, or later.
- If awarded, funds would be available in June. Notifications will be emailed at the end of May.
