IRON MOUNTAIN — From frozen rats to sensory paths, the Dickinson Area Community Foundation provides a number of area initiatives and non-profits a little boost in their efforts through mini grants.

Each year the DACF awards about $20,000 in mini grants of up to $250 each.

“The mini grant outreach in our community is so popular and helps so many different people, projects and programs, we really want to keep it going,” DACF Executive Director Tamara Juul said. “Chances are if you live here, you know someone that has been touched by a mini grant.”

The foundation offers mini grants year-round to non-profit organizations, agencies or groups that are affiliated with schools, churches, municipalities or services in Dickinson County and surrounding Michigan and Wisconsin areas.

U.P. Wildlife Rehabilitation is one of hundreds of area initiatives and non-profits who received a mini grant from the Dickinson Area Community Foundation. The funds are used to purchase food for Journey, a great horned owl now used for education after being injured. Phyllis Carlson has had Journey for 19 years.

Funds can be applied for once in a calendar year, though Juul added, “This isn’t to say an agency couldn’t receive two mini grants in one year if they were for separate projects.”

With less federal, state and local funding available — particularly for non-profits, municipalities and schools — these grants really make a big difference, she explained. “We are trying to meet the needs of the community,” she said.

The foundation over the years has helped hundreds of programs, in line with its mission to invest in enhancing the quality of life for all local residents.

“It’s such a very broad range of things the foundation supports,” Juul said.

Woodland Elementary School and Child Care Center were able to start several programs and purchase items for its students with DACF grant funds, including its Children’s Garden and sensory pathway.

“The Children’s Garden is a phenomenal program — it produced food all summer and taught the kids how to garden,” Juul said. “They were even able to enjoy the produce in the classroom.”

The sensory pathway created at Woodland features floor stickers that are used to create an obstacle course where students combine exercise with balance and agility.  

“It serves as a brain break or fun exercise for many students, while for others it helps with sensory regulation which allows children to focus for longer periods of time in the classroom,” said Kristin Edwards, speech-language therapist.

“We thank DACF for helping to make the sensory path a possibility at our school,” Edwards added.

U.P. Wildlife Rehabilitation will use a mini grant to purchase food for Journey, a great horned owl now used for education after being injured.

“Journey eats a lot and is very expensive upkeep,” Juul said. “She does great things with him visiting all the local schools and hosting educational presentations.”

Phyllis Carlson, who has had Journey for 19 years, said it costs $1,500 to $1,800 a year to feed him.

“Receiving the mini grant helps, because I receive no federal or state funding for him and do not charge for the programs, only accept donations,” said Carlson.

“Although $250 doesn’t sound like a whole lot of money — it makes a huge difference especially for smaller projects,” Juul said. “Projects like the garden couldn’t have been done without it.”

Juul believed there was a need to establish such a program when she took over as DACF executive director 10 years ago. The foundation was able to start its mini grant endowment fund in December 2018 with a $15,000 contribution from a private donor.

The program originally started as an emergency grant fund for agencies such the local food pantries.

“The mini-grant is so much more than $250,” Juul said. “When you look at a $20,000 investment broken down into $250 increments, that’s a phenomenal amount of projects and programs that benefit in one year.”

It’s kept going through donors and the Fall Tailgate and “Christmas in the Wizarding World” fundraisers. The foundation last year invested half of the proceeds from the two fundraisers into the mini grant endowment fund.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the public to help fund different things in the community,” she said.

But with both fundraisers canceled this year due to COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation recently kicked off its marketing campaign hoping to spur donations.

“The mini grant endowment fund currently not at a balance generating a lot of money, so it’s really important we continue to build up that base so that in the future it can support itself,” Juul said. “If we could get $200,000 in that fund, it certainly would be wonderful.”

That also would mean they wouldn’t have to depend on their fundraisers for the mini-grant program.

The Community Foundation generally processes checks for mini grants twice a month, but encourage applicants to apply at least a month or more in advance, if possible.

“These funds are available almost immediately — getting dollars out into the community where it is needed most and urgently,” she said.

Anyone interested in applying for a mini grant can call Juul at 906-774-3131. The one-page application form also is available on the website at www.dickinsonareacommunityfoundation.org.

Juul encourages anyone who isn’t sure if a mini grant would cover their program to contact her because other options may be available.

To make a donation, go to the Dickinson Area Community Foundation’s Facebook page, the website at www.dickinsonareacommunityfoundation.org or call 906-774-3131. Donations can be mailed as well to 333 S. Stephenson Ave., Suite 204, Iron Mountain, MI 49801. Donations are tax exempt and donors will receive a receipt.

Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.