People Fund Grants
Give Locally and Win $100: The People Fund has raised more than $5 million for non-profit projects since 1999. Round your bill up to the nearest dollar (an average of 50 cents per month) to help your local community and get rewarded.
About the Program
Great Lakes Energy members help to enhance the quality of life for people in our communities through the People Fund. Bills of participating members are “rounded up” to the next dollar amount and grants are awarded to non-profit organizations for charitable activities throughout our service area. Grants are awarded by three independent Boards of Directors representing three geographical regions – south, central and north. There are no overhead costs – 100 percent of the money collected is returned to our communities.
Win $100
All contributors are entered into two annual random drawings where we give away six $100 bill credits. This is our small way of saying “thanks” to every GLE member who supports the People Fund.
How are Grants Invested?
In order to have the greatest impact on people within the GLE service area, the People Fund will generally invest funds in project or activities that:
- Are one-time in nature rather than ongoing or continuous.
- Benefit a large number of people.
- Leverage funds from other sources.
- Distribute funds to individuals or families in crisis.
- Help programs increase their capacity to deliver services.
For more information please download the PEOPLE FUND 2024 ANNUAL REPORT.
See 2025 Grant Recipients
For the first grant cycle of 2025, the People Fund’s north region board awarded 25 grants totaling $116,953.68. The grants awarded include:
- Bay Township, Boyne City: $5,000 for a young Ernest Hemingway sculpture for Bay Township, contingent on raising the rest of the funding.
- Boyne District Library, Boyne City: $1,909 for a Kodo magnet wall in the children’s department.
- C.S. Lewis Festival, Petoskey: $1,999 for a laptop and printer.
- Charlevoix Historical Society, Charlevoix: $8,000 for repair and repainting of the exterior and interior on the Charlevoix South Pier Lighthouse.
- East Jordan Care & Share Food Pantry, East Jordan: $870.68 for a printer, ink, paper, and cardstock.
- Free Rein Farm, Inc., Bellaire: $2,000 for a pavilion for outside learning activities and gathering space, contingent on raising the rest of the funding.
- Harbor Springs Festival of the Book, Harbor Springs: $3,000 for books for K-12 grade students.
- Kiwanis Club of Charlevoix, Charlevoix: $5,000 for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for Charlevoix County.
- Kiwanis Club of Gaylord, Gaylord: $1,500 to repair and install a nonprofit service sign representing 12 nonprofits.
- Lovells Township Historical Society, Grayling: $6,000 to replace windows in the museum.
- Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency, Traverse City: $5,000 for home repair and weatherization improvement aid.
- Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity, Petoskey: $3,500 for tools.
- Otsego Ski Patrol, Gaylord: $1,000 for a reclining wheelchair.
- SEEDS Ecology & Education Centers, Traverse City: $5,000 for a vehicle for EcoCorps.
- Stone Valley’s Ray of Hope Equine Rescue, Mancelona: $2,500 to rebuild and repair barns, feeder bins, and fencing.
- TART Trails, Inc., Traverse City: $5,000 to rebuild the Bartlett Trailhead and provide new amenities.
- The Baseball-Softball Fields of Boyne Inc. dba Waterfront Field of Dreams, Boyne City: $5,000 for installation of a new scoreboard.
- The Refuge in Otsego County, Gaylord: $3,200 for customer relationship management software.
- Tunes Music Makers, Charlevoix: $3,475 for technology, instruments, and sound equipment for the Beaver Island music education program.
- Wagbo Peace Center, East Jordan: $3,000 for a heating system in the fiber arts and culture classroom.
- Wilmot Township, Wolverine: $5,000 for a hand pump well to provide accessible free water.
Special storm-related grants
- In addition, in response to the ice storm recovery in northern communities, the board awarded $10,000 in urgent needs funding to each of the following community foundations: Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan, Otsego Community — –Foundation, Charlevoix Community Foundation, and Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation.
The north region includes the counties of Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Montmorency, Otsego, and Oscoda.
For the first grant cycle of 2025, the People Fund’s central region board awarded eight grants totaling $32,879. The grants awarded include:
- Angels of Action, Big Rapids: $2,500 for a comprehensive security system, contingent on raising the rest of the funds.
- Edgetts Wesleyan Church, Luther: $5,000 for an addition to securely store food pantry items, contingent on raising the rest of the funds.
- Oaktree Academy, Ludington: $3,500 for the community green and play space.
- Reed City CrossRoads Theatre, Reed City: $5,000 for a mandated roof replacement, contingent on raising the rest of the funds.
- Riverton Firefighters Association, Scottville: $3,800 for heavy-duty air lifting rescue bags.
- Sandcastles Children’s Museum, Ludington: $1,079 for a light table in the eye care exhibit.
- The TEEM Center, Idlewild: $7,000 for a gas generator and an AED.
- Western Michigan Fair Association, Ludington: $5,000 for a security camera system.
The central region includes the counties of Clare, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee, Osceola, and Wexford.
For the first grant cycle of 2025, the People Fund’s south region board awarded 11 grants totaling $36,700. The grants awarded include:
- Allegan United Methodist Church, Allegan: $1,000 for the Hands of Grace Food Pantry.
- Choose To Stay, Morley: $2,500 for SafeTalk training for suicide prevention.
- Christian Neighbors SE, Plainwell: $2,000 for the food pantry and emergency financial assistance.
- Empowerment Network, Fremont: $3,000 for two upright freezers and an electrical upgrade.
- Mid-Michigan Honor Flight, Inc., Mecosta: $2,500 for Honor Flights for veterans.
- Missionaries Around Ravenna in Service, Ravenna: $1,000 for food and financial assistance.
- Oceana County Council on Aging, Hart: $2,000 for a free medical equipment loan closet.
- Pentwater Historical Society, Pentwater: $1,500 for the Journeys to Pentwater exhibit.
- Shelby Township, Shelby: $10,000 for the Tiger Athletic and Community Center.
- Sylvia’s Place, Allegan: $5,000 for 24/7 domestic violence hotline assistance.
- Trinity Community Food Pantry, New Era: $5,000 for a building addition.
- White Cloud Community Library, White Cloud: $1,200 for automatic door openers on the public restroom doors.
The south region includes the counties of Allegan, Barry, Kent, Muskegon, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, Oceana, and Ottawa.
Enroll in the People Fund
By allowing us to “round up” your monthly electric bill to the next dollar, you put your small change to work right in your own community. All of the money collected goes back to grant recipients. All contributors are entered into two annual drawings where we give away six $100 Great Lakes Energy bill credits. This contest is our small way of saying “thanks” to every Great Lakes Energy member who supports the People Fund. The People Fund has awarded more than $5 million to local charitable groups since 1999.
For an average round up contribution of 50 cents per month, your small change will make a BIG difference. Plus you could win $100! No billing round up contributions are used to fund this contest.
Apply for a Grant
Grants are awarded to non-profit, charitable organizations that provide humanitarian, educational or community development services within our 26-county area. A portion of the funds may be awarded to organizations that help individuals or families in crisis or to tax exempt organizations.
Letters of interest are due April 1 and Oct. 1.
Grant applications and associated paperwork are due by April 15 and Oct. 15.
Grants are awarded by three independent boards of volunteer directors who evaluate every application in their region—north, central or south. They evaluate each application based on the specific project and unique needs of the region, looking for programs that enhance the quality of life in our communities by:
- Promoting good citizenship.
- Increasing the capacity of rural organizations to promote self reliance and independence.
- Supplementing local initiatives.
- Are one-time in nature, rather than on-going.
- Benefit a large number of people.
- Leverage funds from other sources.
- Distribute funds to organizations that help individuals or families in crisis.
- Help programs to increase their capacity to deliver services.
- Are for a tax-exempt, non-profit or 501(c)3 organization.
- Enhance cooperation and collaboration among organizations.
- Avoid duplication of services.
- Help deliver services of an organization more effectively.
Grants are generally not awarded for:
- Daily school operations.
- Normal operating expenses including: stipends, salaries, travel, room & board, rent or lease, and/or planning expenses.
- Fundraising or political campaigns.
- Loans or deficit spending.
- Endowment funds.
- Retroactive projects.
- Individuals.
- Faith-based organizations, unless the project provided services to all community members, regardless of the community member’s religious affiliation or participation, i.e. a food pantry, community dinner, etc.
- Organizations promoting any particular religious doctrine.
- Scholarships or endowments.
