LANSING – The Michigan Community Service Commission announces the availability of up to $5,000 in funding for Michigan communities to develop comprehensive volunteer and donations management plans to be used in times of disaster.
The Disaster Preparedness Grant Program aims to equip communities with disaster recovery plans and train local partners to effectively implement these plans. Successful applicants will be expected to provide training to local partners to understand the plan design and recovery procedures.
“Supporting disaster preparedness initiatives is crucial for our communities’ resilience,” said Michigan Community Service Commission Executive Director Ginna Holmes. “We encourage all eligible organizations to take a proactive step towards strengthening disaster preparedness and response capabilities.”
The program aims to foster collaboration among community organizations, with eligible applicants including:
501c3 nonprofit
Faith-based organization
Local, county, and regional government
School districts, colleges and universities
Other collaborative organizations
Eligible use of funds includes consultant services, communication templates for emergencies and disasters, stakeholder planning meetings, recruitment and training of volunteers that will serve in a disaster, and technology and platforms necessary to implement volunteer and donations management.
The expected outcomes and deliverables of the program are:
Short and long-term recovery plan with procedures and execution steps
Volunteer and donations management plans
Communication plan with sample messages
Plan to activate Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOADS) and other partners
Identified roles and responsibilities of community organizations
The deadline to apply for the grant is Sept. 5. For more information and to apply, visit the Michigan Community Service Commission website.
BACKGROUND: The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) utilizes service as a strategy to address the state’s most pressing issues and empowers volunteers to strengthen communities. With millions in federal funds allocated to local communities for volunteer programs and activities, the MCSC oversees premier programs like the Governor’s Service Awards, Michigan’s AmeriCorps, Mentor Michigan, and Volunteer Michigan. The MCSC is housed in the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. For more information, visit Michigan.gov/volunteer.
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