The Mackinac Island Community Foundation exists for one reason: to strengthen Mackinac Island today while protecting its future for generations to come.

Founded by donors who love the Island deeply, the Mackinac Island Community Foundation works to combine generosity with strategy, identifying real community needs and directing resources where they can make the greatest impact.

From supporting beloved traditions to funding critical infrastructure, their work touches nearly every corner of Island life.

Guided by a community needs assessment and stakeholder input, the Mackinac Island Community Foundation grantmaking centers around four key pillars:

Capacity Building

Providing general operating support and multi-year grants to help local nonprofits build strength and sustainability.

Culture

Preserving Mackinac’s unique identity, historic places, and cherished traditions, including its distinctive horse culture.

Health

Supporting essential services such as the medical center and emergency response. A recent example includes a grant for an ATV ambulance designed to access remote areas of the Island like Sugarloaf.

Vibrant Island Life

Investing in the people and organizations that maintain the Island’s infrastructure year-round, from education to public services, ensuring Mackinac remains more than a seasonal destination.

Together, these pillars reflect a thoughtful, long-term approach to community investment.

One of the Foundation’s most significant focuses over the past decade has been housing.

As housing units increasingly shifted into second homes, availability for year-round residents became a growing concern. In partnership with the City of Mackinac Island and the Mackinac Island Housing Corporation, the Mackinac Island Community Foundation has contributed to the development of five new homes and 28 new apartments over the past nine years.

Those numbers represent more than buildings. They represent stability for families, workforce retention, and a commitment to ensuring Mackinac remains a living, working community year-round.

The Mackinac Island Community Foundation is currently accepting applications for its Spring Grant Cycle. Local nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, and governmental entities serving Mackinac Island are encouraged to apply. The deadline for submissions is March 1 at 11:59 p.m.

Through strategic investment, collaboration, and a deep commitment to Mackinac, the Community Foundation continues to help ensure the Island thrives not just in season, but all year long.

This season, the Mackinac Island Community Foundation will host a special gathering called Nominate and Celebrate, designed to bring the community together in a meaningful way. The event will shine a light on local nonprofits and offer a new way for residents to engage with the Mackinac Island Community Foundation’s mission.

More details will be shared soon, but organizers hope it becomes a feel-good Island tradition.