If you’ve already begun an application, you may access My Saved Application.

We have a two-step application process that begins with an inquiry, submitted via an online application system.

This step, Part 1, begins with a data-entry component.

After providing basic information about your organization, you’ll be asked to prepare a narrative describing your grant request. You’ll need to create your own document and submit that narrative as an attachment.

In addition, you’ll be asked to upload several other documents.

If the activity you describe fits one or more of our strategic priorities and our budget, we’ll  request additional information. This will constitute Part 2 of the application process. 

Once you start your application, you will have 120 days to complete it.

Information You’ll Need

When you’re ready to create an online application account, you’ll need your tax identification number.

In addition to basic information about your organization, you’ll be asked to prepare a narrative responding to prompts or questions.

Please note that our Human Services team asks applicants for funding through its two focus areas to address different points.

You may go directly to a preview of those queries via the links the follow.  Be sure to refer to the information that applies to all applicants as well. 

Advancing the effectiveness and resilience of direct service organizations

Leveraging the effectiveness of networks

Advancing the effectiveness and resilience of direct-service organizations

If you are a representative of a direct-service organization, you will be asked to:

• Address the challenges and issues faced by individuals and families in poverty in your service area.
• Discuss the responsiveness of the safety-net system, human services sector (public and private) and your organization, in particular, to those challenges. 
• Describe your primary programs and elaborate ways their organization employs an integrated, multi-service approach.
• Identify the type of grant you are requesting (operating support, project support, or program-related investment), the length of time for support, purpose, goals, and activities.
• Explain ways the requested support would help build your organization’s capacity, improve its resilience and effectiveness; and relate these enhancements to the areas of investment outlined in the Focus Area Overview.

Related research

If you are an applicant seeking support for applied research in this area, you will be asked to:

• Describe your institution’s mission, purpose and primary activities.
• Introduce the research problem, question(s) to be investigated and hypotheses.
• Describe how the project would advance the goals of Kresge’s Human Services Program (new understanding about organizational effectiveness and resilience, and the role of strategic alliances; identifying promising practices and models for co-located or integrated services; informing public policy and public dialogue).
• Describe the project’s relationship to existing work and/or literature and its distinctive contribution to the field.
• State the research design, methods, activities and proposed timeline.
• Describe how findings from the proposed research will be translated and rapidly disseminated.
• Discuss your institution and, if applicable, partners’ capacity to undertake the project and prior experience with similar projects. In addition, describe your commitment of resources including staff and administrative support or other significant signs of investment in and commitment to the proposed work.
• Provide biographical sketches for lead staff members, summarizing relevant professional and academic background, projects and publications.

Please remember that this funding is limited to research into variables that contribute to greater resilience and effectiveness of direct human-service organizations in improving the quality of life and economic security of low-income individuals and families.

Leveraging the effectiveness of networks

If you are a representative of an umbrella organization or human-services network, you will be asked to:

• Describe the purpose and mission of your network, umbrella or membership organization, including a.) the membership of your network or organization (for example, association, affiliated members, network of collaborating partners); b.) the relationship to your members (for example, chapters, dues-paying members); c.) the geographic area your organization serves (national, regional, state or local).
• Discuss the ways you serve to strengthen the organizational effectiveness of your members. 
• Detail your organization’s efforts and activities to influence systems change, public policy, and/or advance promising practices.
• Describe the major challenges, issues and opportunities facing your network or organization in meeting the needs of your membership, as well as your response to members’ changing needs.
• State the type of grant you are requesting (operating support, project support, or program-related investment), grant amount, length of time for support and purpose of the grant.
• Describe how the requested support would help build your organizational effectiveness or the effectiveness of your membership.
• Specify how the requested support would help build your organization’s capacity and/or improve or enhance organizational resilience and effectiveness. Please relate these enhancements to the areas of investment outlined in the Focus Area Overview.

Related research

If you are an applicant seeking support for applied research in this area, you will be asked to:

• Describe your institution’s mission, purpose and primary activities.
• Introduce the research problem, question(s) to be investigated and hypotheses.
• Describe how the project would advance the goals of Kresge’s Human Services Program (new understanding about organizational effectiveness and resilience, and the role of strategic alliances; identifying promising practices and models for co-located or integrated services; informing public policy and public dialogue).
• Describe the project’s relationship to existing work and/or literature and its distinctive contribution to the field.
• State the research design, methods, activities and proposed timeline.
• Describe how findings from the proposed research will be translated and rapidly disseminated.
• Discuss your institution and, if applicable, partners’ capacity to undertake the project and prior experience with similar projects. In addition, describe your commitment of resources including staff and administrative support or other significant signs of investment in and commitment to the proposed work.
• Provide biographical sketches for lead staff members, summarizing relevant professional and academic background, projects and publications.

Please remember that this funding is limited to research into the roles networks, membership organizations, or umbrella organizations play within the human services sector and how they increase the collective impact of member organizations in improving the lives of low-income individuals and families.

All applicants will also be asked to attach:

• The annual operating budget(s) for your current fiscal year and for any additional years covered by your requested grant period. 
• A demographic data sheet: Click to display, then save locally. Complete the entries on the locally saved document, and then upload the final version.
• A copy of your most recent independent financial audit that is in accordance with national accounting practice.

• A line item budget for total project with proposed uses of Kresge funds highlighted.

File Types

Attachments must be submitted as Adobe Acrobat PDFs or in Microsoft Word (DOC, DOCX) or Microsoft Excel (XLS, XLSX) format. PDFs are preferred. Other formats cannot be read by reviewers and will not be accepted.

Reminders

Applications can only be considered if completed in full.

Once you press the “submit” button, you will not be able to retrieve your application to make additional changes.

Questions

Please contact our Grants Inquiry Coordinator by email or at 248-643-9630.

Ready?

Begin Your Application