Alaska

The Juneau Community Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2023 Individual Artist Awards. Awarded through the foundation’s Arts Vibrancy Endowment, the grants are aimed at fostering local artists and support them in the creation of original works. Four artists will receive $5,000 and one will receive $2,500. The winners are textile artist Monica Mesdag, visual artist Christine Kleinhenz, actor and storyteller Jake Waid, memoirist Summer Koester, and teaching artist Bonilyn Parker.

Hawai‘i

Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) has announced a $4 million gift from Oak Foundation in support of its Maui Strong Fund—the largest single gift the fund has received from a philanthropic entity. As of October 10, HCF has awarded more than $25 million from its Maui Strong Fund to over 120 organizations. With Oak Foundation’s contribution, the fund has received a total of $146.6 million from donors in Hawai‘i and around the world.

Indiana

The Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) has announced that its Artist Ambassadors have awarded grants totaling $89,931 to 22 recipients. These micro-grants were to provide flexible funding for travel within North America to pursue opportunities that would expand or strengthen artists’ creative practice. Formed in 2019, the CICF Artist Ambassadors cohort was brought together to explore how CICF grant funding could directly support artists—specifically, artists of color, from the LGBTQ+ community, and artists with disabilities.

Louisiana

The Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) has announced the winners of its $1.2 million Next 100 Years Challenge. Launched in March in celebration of GNOF’s centennial year, the the challenge is a regional competition designed to inspire and attract plans for community-centered and cost-effective infrastructure improvements that will reduce the threat from storms and other disasters, including nature-based solutions, in 13 parishes of southeast Louisiana. GNOF awarded $100,000 each to 10 collaborative teams that demonstrate strong potential to secure additional infrastructure dollars from the federal government, the State of Louisiana, and other funders. The foundation also awarded $40,000 each to an additional five teams to further develop their project concepts.

Maine

The Maine Community Foundation has announced grants totaling more than $328,000 in support of historic preservation projects across the state. Recipients include the Gardiner Library Association, Moosehead Marine Museum, Porter Memorial Library, and Reversing Falls Sanctuary.

Michigan

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the Midland Area Community Foundation has announced a gift of $10,000 to the Construction Trade Talent Attraction Program. The initiative aligns with the community’s focus area of talent development, through efforts that foster an environment of talent development and retention, postsecondary success, and youth engagement.

Mississippi

The Community Foundation for Mississippi (CFM) has announced that its LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi awarded 2023 commitments totaling more than $131,000, including $98,187 for 10 programs serving LGBTQ Mississippians, $10,500 to update the statewide Needs Assessment by the Mississippi LGBTQ Study, $8,100 to sponsor LGBTQ events in the state, and $15,000 for micro-grants and training provided by the Campaign for Southern Equality. Grant recipients include Big House Books, Growing Up Knowing, Pride Resource Center, and the TRANS Program.

Montana

Whitefish Community Foundation awarded more than $6.2 million to 77 Flathead Valley nonprofit organizations during the Great Fish Awards Celebration, the Whitefish Pilot reports. The total amount awarded included $5,298,898 donated by 3,111 donors during the five-week Great Fish Community Challenge, plus $924,331 from the Great Fish Match Fund.