SNAP-Ed Grants
The Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF) is a State Implementing Agency of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for the education component of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed). MFF offers competitive grants to conduct SNAP-Ed programming throughout the state of Michigan.
Grant proposals are solicited annually for one year of funding. In addition, funding may be awarded annually to programs that build local capacity to deliver SNAP-Ed interventions, that reach underserved audiences, or that establish programs relevant to Michigan communities. This funding stream follows the federal fiscal year. Awards are made on a reimbursement basis for pre-approved expenditures.
SNAP-Ed requests for proposals are released in February, are due in April, and are provisionally awarded in June for program funding beginning October 1. Requests for applications for capacity building programs or for reaching underserved audiences are issued in December for short-term awards beginning in February.
Michigan organizations are eligible to submit an RFP or an RFA if they serve SNAP-Ed qualified audiences (based on income or location criteria) or reach Michigan residents who qualify for SNAP.
Proposals are reviewed by a panel of state and national experts. Both grant opportunities are posted on the MFF website and are also distributed via partners and social media outlets.
Safe Routes to School Grants
The Michigan Fitness Foundation’s Safe Routes to School team assists schools and communities in planning and applying for our two grant programs:
Mini Grant
The Mini Grant provides funding to schools to develop active transportation programs that encourage students in grades K–12 to walk and bike to school. Examples of these programs include walking school buses, bike mechanics clubs, or bike train programs but could be other programs that encourage more students to walk and bike to school on a regular basis.
From January to March each year, requests for proposals are accepted. Applicants can apply for up to $15,000 per school, and up to $120,000 for those applying for 8 or more schools. Eligible recipients include public, charter, or non-public schools or school districts that serve at least one grade in the K–12 range. Also eligible to apply are nonprofits of 501(c)(3) type who have an approved working partnership with qualified school(s).
Mini Grants can originate in various ways, from parents speaking with a school to districts looking to provide support across multiple schools. MFF staff will work with you, discussing your idea to discover how it might be possible to begin programming.
Major Grant
The Major Grant’s purpose is to identify and correct barriers which inhibit students from walking or biking to school. These barriers might be behavioral or infrastructural. Eligible communities may apply for up to $300,000 is available per school in infrastructure funds, and up to $15,000 per school in programming non-infrastructure funds that serves at least one grade K–12.
Communities may apply for the major grant through the Michigan Department of Transportation Grant System. All communities must meet eligibility and competitiveness requirements and must complete the required planning process to qualify for funding. This planning process is a collaboration between the school(s), municipality, and other agencies who have a vested interest in the program.
Examples of eligible infrastructure projects include crosswalk updates, multi-use pathways, sidewalk installation or repair, traffic calming measures, or pedestrian and bicyclist safety signage.
