Grant Guidelines
Fund Distribution Guidelines- requests will be reviewed at the next Board meeting following the submission of the request
Since 1919, the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie has supported projects that address unmet needs in our area. The Rotary Grant Committee accepts grant requests from local community organizations for projects and initiatives, and provides financial support for activities and projects that ultimately serve the public interest. Since the inaugural Graver Auction, Rotarians continue their tradition of hard work, creative thinking and dedication towards raising funds to reinvest in our community/region with the sole purpose of distinguishing our area as special place to live. More than $250,000 has been raised for community projects through the years. Our Rotary Club supports a multitude of worthy local projects including maintaining Project Playground, providing books for incoming kindergartners, annual teacher awards, the Kidz Klozit, Project Backpack, the Graver Auction, Special Olympics, the updating of Rotary Park, the Junior Rotarian program, and support of local programs in our schools. Our club boasts that we are home to the author of the Four Way Test, Herbert Taylor, who was born in Pickford, Michigan.
IMPACT
The Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie provides funding for positive youth activities in Chippewa County, Michigan. Projects in the past have included: Basic human needs, Families and Youth.
Requests we will not fund include: buildings on personal property, funding personal accounts (checks cannot be made out to an individual), debt reduction, sectarian purposes, endowments, on-going operating expenses, salaries, etc…
HOW TO REQUEST FUNDS
1. If your request is for $1,000 or less, submit your request in writing, in letter format, with details including the amount requested, the purpose of your event/program/project, how the funds will benefit those served, your complete contact information, and approximately how many community members will be impacted by the donation.
2. If your request is for more than $1,000, you will need to fill out the full grant application found on our website.
3. Applications/requests can be submitted to our club email at rotaryclub.ssm@gmail.com or via regular mail to Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie, P.O. Box 138, Sault Ste. Marie, MI, 49783.
4. No matter the size of the request, the Club may contact you requesting additional information in order to better understand your request and proposal.
5. Requests and applications are considered, and grants awarded, on an ongoing basis.
6. The Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie operates without discrimination as to age, race, religion, disability, sex or national origin in the consideration of funding requests and will award grants only to grant seekers who do not discriminate. Final decisions on all funding requests rests with the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie and their decision is final.
REQUIREMENTS IF YOUR REQUEST IS FUNDED
1. The group or agency receiving funds must brand the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie, if possible, at their supported event, program, or project. This could be on brochures, social media, letterhead or project banners that are displayed at worksites. Email rotaryclub.ssm@gmail.com for the correct and current logo.
2. You will need to schedule a presentation during the Rotary Club’s lunch meeting, so that club members can hear all about your project. Contact our club at rotaryclub.ssm@gmail.com to set this up. The presentation should be approximately 20 minutes long and meetings are held on Mondays at noon at the Antler’s Restaurant. We would enjoy a presentation after your project has been completed so we can view photos and understand your success and impact.
3. We would appreciate you submitting project photos and a summary to rotaryclub.ssm@gmail.com so we can share this on our Facebook pages and club website.