The West End Health Foundation (WEHF) offers multiple competitive grant opportunities throughout the year, focused on improving the health and well-being of residents within Marquette County’s West End in Michigan. This includes the cities of Ishpeming and Negaunee and the townships of Champion, Ely, Humboldt, Ishpeming, Michigamme, Negaunee, Republic, Richmond, and Tilden. While priority is given to these local areas, programs serving the broader Marquette County and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula may also be considered.

The 2025 grant cycle is divided into three scheduled offerings: the Spring Capital, Special, and School Grants which open on March 3, 2025; the Proactive Grant which opens May 1, 2025; and the Fall Programmatic Grant which opens September 1, 2025. Applications for the Spring Capital Grants must be submitted by April 1, and applications for the Fall Programmatic Grants are due by October 1. These competitive cycles are scheduled annually by the WEHF Board of Directors depending on available funding.

The WEHF targets specific areas of concern in its grantmaking. These include chronic disease education, general health, wellness, mental health, nutrition, physical fitness, and social and emotional support. Eligible programs may focus on education and support for conditions such as diabetes, asthma, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, prenatal health, dementia, obesity, and suicide prevention, among other health-related issues.

Only certain types of organizations are eligible to apply for WEHF grants. These include those with IRS 501(c)(3) or other nonprofit designations, governmental units, and school districts. Typically, organizations may only receive funding once per calendar year, although exceptions may be made for multi-year programs at the discretion of the foundation.

Award amounts for the competitive grants range from $1,000 to $10,000, and a total of $50,000 is available to be distributed across awarded grants. There is no stated requirement for matching funds. Special consideration may be given to programs that demonstrate a direct benefit to West End communities, though the foundation retains flexibility to support broader regional health initiatives when merited.

As of September 1, 2024, WEHF has transitioned to a new grant application system. All applicants, including returning organizations, must create a new profile or request access to existing ones. Since the system does not provide automatic notifications, applicants who request access must email manager@westendhf.org with their name and organization details for approval.