2024 MLK National Day of Service Grant Application

To honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) is offering MLK National Days of Service grants to support volunteer projects that respond to community needs such as food insecurity, recent disasters, climate change and environmental sustainability, and activities that promote justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Eligible organizations include nonprofit and faith organizations, municipalities, schools and universities. Projects impacting traditionally underserved or underrepresented communities will be given preference.
 
Funding is based on the quality of the project to meet community needs and for the project to create significant volunteer involvement with a special emphasis on youth engagement at all levels of the activity from planning, coordinating and implementing. There is not a match requirement, but additional sponsors are encouraged.  Additionally, reviewers will evaluate applications based on use of partnerships and equitable geographic representation. Grant awards are available as follows: 
 
$1000 grant to engage 101 volunteers or more
$750 grant to engage 76 to 100 volunteers
$500 grant to engage 50 to 75 volunteers
$250 grant to engage 26 to 50 volunteers
$100 grant to engage up to 25 volunteers 
 
Steps to take in designing your project:
1. Create Project Plan.  Develop a plan to address a community need. Projects will focus one or more of following areas: disaster services, economic opportunity, climate change and environmental stewardship, education, healthy futures, racial equality, diversity, equity and inclusion, veterans and military families, and other community needs.

2. Design Project Budget:    Develop a list of all supplies needed and the costs. Grants are not awarded for staff salary, items volunteers can bring from home (markers, crayons, rakes, etc.,) expensive equipment, gift cards, volunteer meals and there should be an explanation as to how reusable items (i.e., yard equipment) will be stored and available for future service. Funds are reimbursed after the event when proof of expenses and project results are submitted. Awarded organizations must register as a vendor of the state to receive payment.
 
Grant Timelines:
Complete grant applications should be received by December 13, 2023.  Projects should be held between January 5 and January 22, 2024.  MCSC Staff may need further clarification on projects and will reach out with questions. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
 

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* 1. Organization name that matches the Employer Identification Number

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* 2. Group or club name, if different from the organization name

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* 3. Select the type(s) of organization you represent.

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* 4. What is the mission of your organization?

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* 5. What counties does your organization serve?

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* 6. Organization's Identification Information.

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* 7. Organization Contact

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* 8. Project details

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* 9. Describe the project.  Be sure to explain what the project is and what will be accomplished.  Share what activities volunteers will be doing to complete the project.

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* 10. Describe your volunteer recruitment plan

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* 11. How will you invite youth who are not typically asked to serve?  (This may include youth who are differently abled, involved with the justice system, experiencing homelessness, economically disadvantaged or living in foster care.)

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* 12. May we help recruit additional volunteers?

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* 13. Volunteer sign-in sheets are required for the project.  Which method will you use:

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* 14. List your project partners

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* 15. What is your communication plan to inform the community about the project

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* 16. It is a requirement of this grant to provide photos to the MCSC on the day of the event and to have at least one social media post recognizing the MCSC and thanking our national service event sponsors.  Do you agree to provide photos and a social media post?

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* 17. Media/Project Awareness.  Will you start your project with a group gathering that media can join and take pictures?

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* 18. List media you will invite

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* 19. Which social media platforms will you use?

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* 20. Legislative Representatives where the project will be conducted

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* 21. What elected officials or other VIPs will you invite to attend?

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* 22. Funding request

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* 23. If we are not able to award the full amount of your request, can your project still occur on a smaller scale?

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* 24. BUDGET NARRATIVE:   List items directly related to implementing your service project along with the associated cost for each item.  Please be sure to explain why the expense is essential to the overall project.

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* 25. Please upload your prepared budget form. Download budget form here
Please save as PDF before uploading.

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* 26. What in-kind support/resources will be offered by your organization or by your partners

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* 27. What additional funds or sponsors will support the project - list organization name and amount.

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* 28. If your project requires equipment, what equipment (ex shovels, rakes) can be provided by volunteers, city, nonprofits, partners?

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* 29. If your project plan involves purchasing equipment, describe how the items will be stored after the project is completed and by whom to allow it to be available for future volunteer projects.

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* 30. Almost done!  Did you provide the following:

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