Good Works Grants

The mission of the Good Works Fund is to support projects that address unmet needs in established priority areas within the Rotary Club of Traverse City’s service area — primarily Grand Traverse County. Grants are awarded in amounts not to exceed $5,000 to nonprofits organizations doing important work in our community.

Priority Funding Areas

Arts and culture
Basic human needs
Education
Environment
Health and Safety
Recreation

Project Priorities

Capital expenditures
Equipment
One-time special opportunities/events
Start-ups and new projects

Upcoming Application Deadlines

August 4, 2023
November 3, 2023
February 2, 2024
May 3, 2024

Apply for a Good Works Grant

Download the application below. Once completed, submit applications via email to GoodWorks@TraverseCityRotary.org. Submissions are reviewed by a committee member, who may contact you with further questions. Following their review, your grant proposal will be reported to the committee for consideration at our quarterly meeting. Successful applicants will be notified following approval by the Club Board.

Download Application

The Good Works Fund provides important financial support to our community on a smaller scale than Rotary Charities grants. They are two distinctly different grant-making programs.

Examples of previous Good Works Grants Recipients

FY 2022-23 Good Works Grants
5Loaves2Fish Northern Michigan	Kitchen Equipment Purchases	$1,350
Acme Christian Thrift Store	Water Drainage Engineering	$500
Arts For All	Program Equipment Purchase	$2,500
Boots for Kids	Boots for At-Risk Children	$1,100
Families Against Narcotics	Community Forum and Outreach Project	$1,500
Glen Arbor Players	2023 Troupe Capital Expenses	$400
Goodwill Northern Michigan - Food Rescue	Equipment for Repacking Frozen Produce	$1,750
Grand Traverse Community Enrichment	Youth Travel Seminar	$1,000
Habitat for Humanity GTR	Equipment Purchase	$1,000
Inland Seas Education Association	Campus Maintenance Equipment Purchase	$2,500
Kids on the Go	Adaptive Furniture and Supplies for New Camp Venue	$1,000
Light House Center for the Arts	Start-Up Expenses	$500
MIchigan Medical Response	Portable Ultrasound Equipment Purchase	$2,400
Music House Museum	Security Equipment Purchase	$1,000
Northern Michigan Rowing Club	Dock Equipment Purchase	$1,000
Project Feed the Kids	Cooler Purchase	$2,500
Skegemog Raptor Center	Raptor Rehabilitation Enclosure Improvements	$1,000
Step Up Northern Michigan	Food Pantry Program Supplies	$2,500
Traverse City Area Public Schools	Peer to Peer Program Supplies	$2,000
United Way of NW MI	Safer Kids, Safer Schools Program	$500

FY 2021-22 Good Works Grants
Acme Christian Thrift Store & Food Pantry (ACTS)	Pallet Jack Purchase	$1,100
American Legion Post 399	Roof Repair	$1,000
Benzie Wellness and Aquatic Center	Phase II of Feasibility Study	$500
Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan	Visitation Room Renovation	$1,700
Child & Family Services of Northwestern Michigan	Youthwork Conservation Corps training	$500
Crooked Tree Arts	Pilot drop-in family arts program	$1,200
Friends of Historic Commons	Tree Survey	$1,000
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities	Building Resilient Communities food coolers	$2,000
Kids on the Go	Program Expansion	$500
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital	Play equipment at Munson	$1,700
Mid-Michigan Honor Flight	Honor flight veterans' travel expenses	$1,470
National Alliance on Mental Health (N.A.M.I.)	Virtual Learning Equipment	$1,000
TART Trails	Trail Maintenance Equipment	$1,000
The Friendship Community Center	Roof Maintenance	$2,500
Traverse City Fencing Club	Flooring Installation	$830
Trinity Lutheran Church and School	Playground Equipment	$500
VASA Ski Club	Ski Equipment Trailer	$1,000
Women’s Resource Center	DEI Training	$500

FY 2020-21 Good Works Grants
Acme Christian Thrift Store & Food Pantry	Refrigerator/Freezer Equipment	$ 1,000
Bike Leelanau	Bike Trail	$ 500
Child and Family Services of NW Michigan	Voicemail Attendant	$ 3,190
Discovery Center Great Lakes	Wheelchair lift and platforms	$ 1,000
Food Rescue of Goodwill Northern Michigan	Loading Dock Door Replacement	$ 3,000
Generations Ahead	Equipment and Office Supplies	$ 2,225
Habitat for Humanity Grand Traverse Region	Give Hope project	$ 1,000
Kids on the Go	TC Program Expansion	$ 1,000
Old Town Playhouse	HVAC Improvements	$ 1,000
Parallel 45 Theatre	Safe Return to the stage	$ 1,810
PoWer Book Bags	Growing Pains - software and PC	$ 2,500
Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center	Landscaping Costs for Building Addition	$ 2,300
Traverse Bay Children's Advocacy Center	AC Unit	$ 5,000
Veterans in Crisis	Veterans Treatment Court Assistance	$ 2,500
Women's Resource Center for the Grand Traverse Area	Emergency Shelter Chimney Repair Project	$ 2,000

FY 2019-20 Good Works Grants
Child and Family Services of NW MI	Building Windows	$ 3,300
Crooked Tree Arts	Video Streaming Equipment	$ 1,200
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library	Books	$ 2,200
Father Fred Foundation	Freezer	$ 750
Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan	Flooring and Couch Replacement	$ 4,500
Grass River Natural Area Inc	Outdoor Classroom Equipment	$ 550
Great Lakes Children's Museum	UV Light	$ 1,200
Habitat for Humanity	Computers, Phones, Software upgrades	$ 5,000
Habitat for Humanity	PPE	$ 1,400
Hospice of Michigan	Grief Support Services & Telehealth/Virtual Training	$ 2,000
Mt. Holiday Inc.	Technology Upgrade	$ 1,250
National Alliance on Mental Illness	Ending the Silence Program	$ 2,000
Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency	Host Homes	$ 2,000
Old Mission Peninsula School	Science Curriculum for all	$ 500
Parallel 45 Theatre Inc	Washer and Dryer	$ 2,500
Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear	Equipment for Historic Preservation in the National Park	$ 2,250
SPIRIT Pantry	Food and Hygenic Supplies	$ 1,000
Stigma Busters	PSA Video	$ 500
TART Trails Inc	Boardman River Trail	$ 2,000
TCAPS Preschoolers Explore	Preschoolers Explore and Learn Program	$ 500
TCAPS Westwood Elementary	Westwood Solar Project	$ 500
The Brook Trout Coalition	Onion Bag Dispensers	$ 1,936
Traverse Health Clinic and Coalition	Laptops and software	$ 5,000
Women's Resource Center of Grand Traverse	Emergency Shelter Playground	$ 5,000
Young Peacebuilders	Special Events/Training	$ 1,000