Community Grants

Through fundraising and awareness events, Komen Affiliates raise tens of millions of dollars each year to help achieve the Foundation’s mission to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. Up to 75% of the Affiliate’s net income stays in the local community to fund local breast health education, as well as breast cancer treatment and screening programs. The remaining net income (a minimum of 25%) supports the Komen Foundation Award and Research Grant Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards and educational and scientific programs around the world.

In order to ensure the funds raised make the greatest impact, Komen Affiliates work with local medical experts and community leaders to conduct comprehensive community needs assessments. These community profiles are then used to establish local grant application and review processes consistent with the Foundation’s standards and mission.

Cick here to view the 2005 Grant Recipients

The Grand Rapids Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. is currently offering grants of up to $50,000 for innovative projects in the areas of breast health and breast cancer education, outreach, screening, and treatment initiatives targeting services not otherwise available to the medically underserved populations of Kent, Montcalm Muskegon and Ottawa counties. The grant year for the Grand Rapids Affiliate was changed to coincide with our fiscal year. Therefore the grant cycle for 2006 will begin on April 1, 2006. Grants will be due December 12, 2005.

Important Note
Applications will be accepted for any breast health or breast cancer screening, treatment, education, or support project in the listed counties. However, projects that specifically address the objectives outlined in the following "Statement of Need" on the following page will be given priority. All requests for science research funding should be directed to the Komen Foundation's Award and Research Grant Program. More information on research funding is available at www.komen.org/grants.

STATEMENT OF NEED

Through a community needs assessment, the Grand Rapids Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has identified the following needs:
  • Reaching women who are unemployed or underemployed.
  • Reaching women who are uninsured or underinsured.
  • Reaching women who are African-American, Native American and immigrants, such as Asian and Hispanic women.

APPLICATION DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 12, 2005.

To download the Request for Proposal click here.

A grant workshop will be held on Wednesday, November 9th at 3:30 pm at the Komen Office located in the United Way building at 118 Commerce Ave SW. This is fee of charge and open to anyone seeking information regarding the grant process. Please click here for more information on the workshop.

Please mail completed forms to:
Grand Rapids Affiliate
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
118 Commerce S.W. Suite 100
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

The following information pertains to the 3 types of small grants that can be awarded throughout the year. Please use the 'small grants application' to request these funds.

Please contact the grant chairperson should you have questions. Deb Bisel at 616-391-2652 or deb.bisel@spectrum-health.org.

Small grants

The purpose of this program is to allow funding requests for small amounts throughout the year that promote the mission of the Foundation and increase the capacity of effective breast health programs. Small grant requests can be accepted year-round.

Small grant requests should comply with the following criteria:

  • Specific to breast health/breast cancer.
  • Relevant to the mission of the Komen Foundation.
  • Funding request is less than $2,000.
  • Willingness to acknowledge support of Komen Affiliate.
  • Report financials and project progress to Affiliate.
  • Allow participation of Affiliate representatives where appropriate.
  • Not for a fund-raising activity.

These grants are NOT intended to support salary, services for an individual (e.g., mammography, ultrasound), or development of materials for breast health/cancer projects - that is the purpose of the STEP grants. These grants ARE intended to support some of the "unexpected" costs associated with a project, e.g., purchase of educational materials, food costs of a presentation session, survivor recognition.

Conference Grants

Conference grants may only be awarded to other nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and/or government agencies. For-profit organizations or individuals are not eligible. Requests for conference grants should comply with the following criteria:

  • Specific to breast health or to help further the body of knowledge related to research, diagnosis, treatment, education, and/or other issues related to breast cancer.
  • Funding request is less than $5,000.
  • Acknowledgement of support from Komen Affiliate in all printed materials.
  • Participation of Affiliate representatives where appropriate.
  • Complimentary registration for at least two (2) Affiliate representatives.
  • Display area where appropriate.
  • Activity report following conference that includes number of participants, evaluation of program, and impact of Affiliate sponsorship and participation.

Travel Scholarships

The purpose of this program is to provide travel assistance to grantees, health care professionals and advocates to attend, participate in and/or present at meetings, conferences or symposia that would increase the community knowledge of breast health and breast cancer and facilitate the exchange of ideas and communication between the scientific and lay public.

Requests for travel scholarships should comply with the following criteria:

  • Conference is relevant to breast cancer as demonstrated by agenda, etc.
  • Funding request is less than $1,000 domestic or $2,000 international.
  • Applicant is able to quantify participation and benefit to community.
  • Application should include two letters of recommendation.
  • Applicant must attend majority of conference or apply for the continuing education credits offered.
  • Written report or presentation should be made to Affiliate after Conference.