MARQUETTE — From youth programs and cultural activities to environmental work, there’s a wide array of funding opportunities for Alger County nonprofits through the Alger Regional Community Foundation.

“The whole point of foundations and granting money in general is that they’re trying to improve the situations for those people who live there,” Alger Regional Community Foundation administrator Michele McDonald said.

The foundation recently announced that it is accepting grant applications for the following grant funds:

≤ Michigan Community Youth Program Fund, $6,925 is available for youth programs;

≤ Rotary Youth Fund, $5,100 is available for youth programs;

≤ Alger County Unrestricted Fund, $4,275 is available for charitable, educational, recreational, environmental, cultural or social welfare programs;

≤ Richard W. Nebel Fund, $2,275 is available for beautification of the city of Munising;

≤ Peoples State Bank Fund, $1,325 is available as unrestricted funds for charitable, educational, recreational, environmental, cultural or social welfare programs;

≤ PHLAG Fund, $1,350 is available for programs that promote health to youth and seniors;

≤ Alger County Environmental Fund, $900 is available for projects that will encourage sustaining a clean, healthy and productive environment;

≤ J.E.A.N. (bringing Joy, Enrichment, and the Arts to the North) Fund, $625 available to help provide cultural activities and events to Grand Marais;

≤ Munising Senior Center Grant, $1,500 available to help bring cultural activities and events to Munising;

≤ Munising Senior Center Alger County Food Pantry Grant, $1,100 available for helping meet the needs of Alger County residents;

≤ The Munising Senior Center St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank Grant, $1,100 available for helping meet the needs of Alger County residents.

Available grant funds for this year total $22,475.

The deadline for applications is April 1, with the awards of grants taking place at the end of May.

“Our grant process is pretty simple, we just want you to tell us what you’re going to do with it and then we just want you to show us, when you do it, give us some pictures or tell us what happened. We’re not looking for high-level stats,” McDonald said.

Those with questions on grant writing can email algercf@yahoo.com, or call 906-387-3900.

The maximum amount a grant can be applied for is $2,500 through the Alger Regional Community Foundation. Applications are available on the foundation website, www.algercf.com, or at the foundation office at the community center. There is also an after-hours dropoff box on the outside of the community center building.

Some recipients of past grants include:

≤ The Alger Community Food Pantry to purchase bus tickets in order to help Alger community families and those in need to access the food pantry;

≤ Good Shepherd Early Childhood Center to provide new high security model doors at the center;

≤ Greater Munising Bay Partnership for Commerce Development to distribute $2 coupons to Alger County senior citizens for fresh fruit and vegetables at the Munising farmers market;

≤ The Munising Bay Trail Network to construct a pump track at the city of Munising Mountain Bike Park.

The Alger Regional Community Foundation has been able to distribute more than $1.6 million in grant money since its inception in 1992.

It does not use any fund money to operate its office in the community center in Munising. The foundation depends on fundraising to cover the expenses so it can continue to help Alger County through its scholarship and grant funds.

To donate, visit www.algercf.com and click on the “donate” button on the upper right side on the website.

“People who give money to this organization create a legacy to better the future,” McDonald said.

Taylor Johnson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. Her email address is tjohnson@miningjournal.net.