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Grant Application Window Open May 1 through July 31

May
1

Application Period Opens

July
31

Application Period Closes

August to
November

Applications Reviewed

In
December

Recipients Notified

The Van Elslander Family Foundation exists to support children and human services in the state of Michigan with the goal of inspiring a sense of social responsibility that engages local communities.

Grants must be for charitable purposes and serve a public benefit through a charity recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service, and may not be through a private foundation. Qualifying organizations must be located within Michigan and benefit its communities. A qualifying organization must, in policy and in practice, not discriminate based on age, creed, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Applications should include:

  • Cover letter signed by Executive Director
  • Project Description
  • Goals and Outcomes
  • Project Budget
  • Organization Budget
  • Timeline
  • Amount requested
  • List of Board Members
  • The IRS letter granting tax exempt status to the organization
  • The organization’s latest financial statements (audited)
  • All supporting documents sent as a single PDF

Next Steps

Please call to discuss the application requirements and process before applying directly.

Our 2025 Grants

Angels' Place

Angels’ Place offers an environment of love and compassion, coupled with an atmosphere of acceptance, dignity, friendship, and the potential for personal growth and independence. We are a Christ-centered community that enhances the lives of those we serve and their families by providing loving homes and professional support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 

Detroit Food Academy

At Detroit Food Academy, food is more than a meal — it’s a gateway to learning, leadership, health, and opportunity. Through edible education, mentorship, and industry immersion, we help young people cultivate essential life skills, grow confidence, and build college and career pathways within our food system and beyond.

 

Empowerment Plan

The Empowerment Plan creates significant economic impact by serving as a stepping stone out of poverty into a state of stability. The core of our work stems from our intensive 2-year employment model focused on providing job readiness training and support services to our workforce.

MCHS Family of Services

MCHS Family of Services provides individualized treatment, care, advocacy, and permanency to children and families impacted by childhood trauma. Our Residential Treatment Programs offer a safe, structured environment for  youth aging out of foster care. With a focus on healing, personal growth, and skill-building, our dedicated team provides individualized treatment to help each resident work toward a healthier, more stable future. We’re committed to empowering young people to overcome challenges and reach their full potential.

St. Joseph's Helpers

More than just a nonprofit home repair service, St. Joseph’s Helpers is a Christian-based organization which connects those in need with caring volunteers who offer not only practical assistance with small, safety-related home repairs, but also companionship, encouragement, and a sense of fellowship. Our mission is rooted in service, support, and building lasting community connections.

Peaceful Hugs

Peaceful Hugs is a nonprofit organization grounded in the Christian faith and guided by love, kindness, and non-judgment, dedicated to supporting those in need. We are dedicated to supporting at-risk youth and families experiencing crisis—especially those considered as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households who are working hard but still falling behind. Our mission is to bridge the gap to success by providing compassionate assistance and comprehensive wraparound services that foster personal and professional growth—no matter where you are on your journey.

Our 2024 Grants

Angels' Place

Angels’ Place offers an environment of love and compassion, coupled with an atmosphere of acceptance, dignity, friendship, and the potential for personal growth and independence. We are a Christ-centered community that enhances the lives of those we serve and their families by providing loving homes and professional support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

 

BOLDI

Providing speech language pathology, occupational therapies, social work, psychological services and special education consulting to children with special needs. The agency is driven by two guiding principles: service to the disabled community, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay, and concentration on treating not just the disability, but the whole child. 

Empowerment Plan

The Empowerment Plan creates significant economic impact by serving as a stepping stone out of poverty into a state of stability. The core of our work stems from our intensive 2-year employment model focused on providing job readiness training and support services to our workforce.

Experience Camps

A national, no-cost program for grieving children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver. Overnight camps, year-round programs and content help to reframe the experience of grief, and empower kids with the necessary coping skills to move forward with their lives. Through compassion, connection, and play, Experience Camps allows grieving children to embody a life full of hope and possibility.

Gianna House

Providing support through education and life skills programming to pregnant women and mothers who are at-risk or lack safe housing to transition them to independence.  Gianna house provides a ‘hand up’ instead of a ‘hand out’ in an effort to restore self-esteem and reward initiatives that can enrich their families and futures.

Our 2023 Grants

BOLDI

Providing speech language pathology, occupational therapies, social work, psychological services and special education consulting to children with special needs. The agency is driven by two guiding principles: service to the disabled community, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay, and concentration on treating not just the disability, but the whole child. 

Experience Camps

A national, no-cost program for grieving children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver. Overnight camps, year-round programs and content help to reframe the experience of grief, and empower kids with the necessary coping skills to move forward with their lives. Through compassion, connection, and play, Experience Camps allows grieving children to embody a life full of hope and possibility.

Gianna House

Providing support through education and life skills programming to pregnant women and mothers who are at-risk or lack safe housing to transition them to independence.  Gianna house provides a ‘hand up’ instead of a ‘hand out’ in an effort to restore self-esteem and reward initiatives that can enrich their families and futures.

Little Traverse Conservancy

Supporting the Andreae-Brown Family Endowment Fund at Little Traverse Conservancy’s Environmental Education Department teaches children in nature about nature so they develop a love of nature to value and invest in throughout their lifetime. Research shows that people who are consistently connected to nature report higher levels of happiness and lower levels of anxiety and depression.

 

SAY DETROIT

Providing pathways to success for Detroiters in need. This is achieved by direct efforts and with civic and community partners, through programs such as an after-school motivational learning center for youth, 8-18; a free family medical clinic; a housing program for working families; and other learning, health care and housing initiatives for Detroit’s most vulnerable populations.

STARFISH FAMILY SERVICES

Serving more than 3,000 children and their families annually, they provide high-quality programs and support services that focus on early childhood education and development, behavioral health wellness, and empowered parents. Through their holistic approach, Starfish partners with families so they have access to the right resources at the right time.