The Community Foundation marked a milestone year in 2025, awarding more than $6.53 million in grants, the largest total in its history, as investments poured into nonprofit organizations, infrastructure projects and essential community services across the region.
“Grantmaking in 2025 reflected a clear focus on areas where need and opportunity intersected,” said Board Chair Will Oldford. “The largest share of funding supported initiatives tied to Community & Economic Prosperity and Basic Needs & Human Services, reinforcing the Foundation’s commitment to both long-term economic growth and immediate quality-of-life improvements.”
A list of all 2025 grants may be found here.
The record-breaking year was fueled by a mix of large-scale fundraising success and targeted, high-impact grants. A major contributor was The Big Give, the Community Foundation’s 24-hour online giving event that happens every three or four years, which raised more than $625,000 for 70 local nonprofits, underscoring both donor generosity and the breadth of community need.
Significant infrastructure investments also played a key role in pushing grant totals to new heights. More than $940,000 was awarded for Phase II of the Bridge to Bay Trail, supporting trail connectors designed to enhance accessibility, recreation and economic vitality. In addition, a $242,500 grant helped advance the Memphis Lions Community Hub, a project aimed at strengthening neighborhood connections and expanding community-based resources.
The Community Foundation was also there to support basic needs in times of crisis.
The disaster response fund SCC Strong, created with the goal of supporting any local community that may be impacted by a disaster and the hope that it would never have to be used, ended up supporting two small-scale disasters at the request of the St. Clair County director of Homeland Security & Emergency Management – more than $34,000 was awarded to support individuals impacted by the Bree Road apartment fire in East China and the St. Clair Landings flood in Port Huron.
The newly established Community Assistance Fund also awarded almost $52,000 to food pantries and programs that supported federal employees and others who needed it during the federal government shutdown.
Oldford said the scale of 2025’s grantmaking demonstrates what’s possible when donors, nonprofits and community partners align around shared priorities. With record-setting investments now on the books, the year stands as a defining chapter in the Foundation’s ongoing mission to build a stronger, more resilient community.