4-H County Innovative Mini Grants

The Michigan 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees annually approves the distribution of competitive grant opportunities to encourage development of innovative 4-H program opportunities in local communities. These grants are designed to encourage program planning and participation by 4-H members and volunteers in partnership with county MSU Extension 4 H program staff.

2008-09 County 4-H Innovative Grant Timeline

May 1, 2008: 2007-08 grant reports due to the State 4-H Office
May 21, 2008: Grants applications available
July 20, 2008: Grant applications due
September 30, 2008: Grant recipients announced
May 31, 2009: 2008-09 grant reports due to the State 4-H Office for programs conducted Oct. 1 to Apr. 30.
or September 30, 2009: 2008-09 grant reports due to the State 4-H Office for programs conducted May 1 to Aug. 30.

County Innovative Grant Application Packet & Form NOW AVAILABLE!

4-H County Innovative Grant Application Packet & Application Form (PDF) (MS Word)

County Innovative Grant Report Forms

Attachment A: County Grant Expense Form (PDF) (WordPerfect)
Attachment B: County Grant Final Payment Form (PDF) (WordPerfect)
Attachment C: County Grant Final Report Form (PDF) (WordPerfect)

4-H County Innovative Grants offered for 2008-09:

1. Michigan 4-H Legacy Grants (formerly County Innovative Grants)

The purpose of the Michigan 4-H Legacy grants is to encourage creativity and support the implementation of great ideas that promote positive youth development in communities. A total of (2) two $1,000 grants are available for Michigan 4-H volunteers, 4-H youth members and 4-H staff members, to develop a new program or initiative or to strengthen, enhance or expand a current program that’s making a difference. Innovative local projects that build on solid principles of positive youth development and expand 4-H opportunities for young people will be considered. These grants are funded by the Michigan 4-H Legacy Fund endowment.

2. DTE Energy County 4-H Youth Conservation Council Grants New this year!

The purpose of the DTE Energy County 4-H Youth Conservation Council Grant is to encourage and support development of county-based youth conservation councils. County youth conservation councils would consist of a group of teens, ages 13 to 19, who have an interest in learning about local environmental issues and influencing public policy in their county, city or township governments. Currently eight (8) grants valued at $1,000 in training, curriculum and financial support are available. Each grantee will receive $750 in cash to develop a county-based 4-H youth conservation council and $250 in required training scholarships and handbook for developing a local council. These grants are funded by the DTE Energy Foundation.

3. 4-H Educational Garden Grants

The purpose of 4-H Educational Garden Grants is to stimulate the creation of local 4-H educational gardens in Michigan. This grant is designed to increase opportunities for high quality and high visibility 4-H programming in communities and to help connect 4-H youth and volunteers to resources from the Michigan 4-H Children’s Garden. One (1) $1,000 grant is available. These grants are funded by the Albert A. Albright Memorial Endowment Fund. An award could be made in subsequent years to the same project.

4. 4-H On-Target County Grant

The On-Target County Grant is designed to help county 4-H Shooting Sports programs enhance existing programs, develop a new program or offer a special experience related to 4-H Shooting Sports. Thanks to the generous support of Thomas Cobb, Michigan 4-H Foundation trustee, counties have an opportunity to apply for funds in this area each year. Two (2) $500 grants are available.

5. NorthStar Cooperative 4-H Dairy Science Grants

The NorthStar Cooperative 4-H Dairy Science grants offer opportunity for 4-H youth and volunteers working in 4-H Dairy Science to strengthen existing county 4-H dairy science programs or use as seed money to develop new innovations in the way 4-H Dairy Science learning takes place for young people. Thanks to the generous support of the members of NorthStar Cooperative, Inc., county or state 4-H groups have opportunity to apply for funds to advance their learning. Two (2) $500 grants are available.

6. Land O'Lakes County Citizenship and Leadership Academies Grants

Counties have the opportunity to apply for mini-grants to help start or strengthen county citizenship and leadership academies. The focus needs to include a series of educational sessions and a youth in action project, where the youth and adult members take leadership in identifying a community issue and then planning, implementing and evaluating a community service project that allows the youth to become community ambassadors for change around the issue. Funding can be used to support the work of the academy, scholarship for training and putting into action the work of the team around being ambassadors for change. Proposals are encouraged to demonstrate youth and adult partnership in the design. One (1) $500 grant is available.

7. OMEDA Youth Tractor Safety Education Grants

Helping families living and working on farms develop youth tractor safety practices is the purpose of the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association (OMEDA) grants for county MSU Extension educators. 4-H youth staff members are encouraged to partner with their county MSUE agricultural educators and volunteers to offer learning experiences that promote safe tractor operations. These grants are funded by a gift from the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association. Two (2) $300 grant awards are currently available.

8. Zindel Youth Poultry Science Grant

The Howard Zindel Youth Poultry Science Grant is available for support of both county 4-H and county FFA youth poultry science activities. This grant provides opportunity to advance local youth development activities that strengthen and/or advance youth poultry science learning in local communities. Funding can be used to purchase stock, supplies, learning materials and/or to support county youth leadership development and volunteer training in the area of poultry science. This grant is funded by the Howard Zindel Youth Activity Fund. One (1) $250 grant award is currently available.

Restrictions and Reminders

Civil Rights Compliance Statement for Grant Recipients

The Michigan 4-H Foundation, a public 501(c)(3) corporation, is organized to support Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development programs, and as such, requires that all foundation grantees submit a signed statement of non-discrimination before receiving Michigan 4-H Foundation grant funds and/or using the services and/or collaborating with the foundation to deliver 4-H supported programs.

Grant Acceptance Deadline is December 31

All grants must be accepted and initial grant acceptance paperwork completed and submitted to the state 4-H office no later than December 31. All grants awarded and not accepted by this date will be terminated and re-announced for award in the next Michigan 4-H Foundation County Innovative Grant Cycle.

Grant Report Deadlines

All county innovative grant activity must be completed and expensed by August 30 of the 4-H program year. Grant reports are due to the State 4-H Office May 31 for programs conducted October 1 to April 30. Reports are due September 30 for programs conducted May 1 to August 31.