Heart of Cook

The Heart of Cook grant application submissions for both mini-grants and the standard grant program are due at the beginning of July. Mini-grants are for small projects requesting $100-$500. The standard grant program is for grants of $501-$10,000. Organizations can apply for only one grant per year. Organizations that have received grant dollars for three consecutive years are ineligible to apply for one year. Also, high school robotics teams are not eligible for the Heart of Cook Grants. 

Grant Process:

The Heart of Cook grant program is green — All grant submissions must be completed online. 

June — Applications open

July 1 — Application deadline

August — Award/decline letters sent out

September — Reception held for all recipients

History of the Program: In 2003, DC Cook Nuclear Plant started The Heart of Cook. This competitive grant program is a way for one of Berrien County's largest employers to give back to the community while involving their employees in the process.

Berrien Community Foundation administers the program which targets grants that assist educational, human services and environmental nonprofit projects in Southwest Michigan and Northwest Indiana (La Porte, St. Joseph, and Elkhart counties).

Applying organizations will be notified of the decisions in late August. Grants will be distributed to receiving organizations at a September reception. Organizations can apply for either a mini-grant or a larger grant; they may not apply for both in a single year.