Funding search · water quality and access · Michigan
Who funds water quality and access work in Michigan
15 funders have a record of paying for water quality and access work by Michigan recipients: 110 grants totaling $9.3M, most recently in 2025 — mostly private foundations, plus grantmaking charities. The largest by matched giving are The Fred a & Barbara M Erb Family ($2.7M), National Fish and Wildlife Foundation ($1.9M) and Charles Stewart Mott Foundation ($806,162).
From IRS Form 990-PF and 990 Schedule I filings, 2019–2025. Grants already paid to Michigan recipients — evidence of what these funders back, not open calls.
Largest: $480,202 to HURON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL — program support
National Fish and Wildlife FoundationWashington, DCCharity · may take applications
14 matching grants · $1.9M · through 2023Largest: $57,661 to HURON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL — water quality improvements
Largest: $190,000 to Flint River Watershed Coalition — to provide support to a coalition whose mission is to promote the value of the flint river ecosystem through citizen engagement and restoration efforts.
Largest: $1,200 to The Pathfinder School — the pathfinder school middle school science water quality study on west bay and cedar lake
Largest: $115,000 to HURON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL — environmental leadership
Largest: $46,000 to LAKE SUPERIOR CONSERVANCY & WATERSHED COUNCIL — general operating support
Great Lakes Fishery TrustLansing, MICharity · may take applications
6 matching grants · $358,721 · through 2024Largest: $127,270 to TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED COUNCIL — watershed academy expansion
Largest: $25,000 to CLINTON RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL — assessing high priority restoration, green infrastructure, and impactful water quality improvement projects in the clinton river watershed
Oleson FoundationTraverse City, MI
7 matching grants · $50,046 · through 2025Largest: $34,000 to THE WATERSHED CENTER — bay shoreline mapping and surveying
Largest: $5,000 to THE CONSERVATION FUND — saginaw bay watershed initiative network (win)
Petoskey-Harbor Springs AreaPetoskey, MICharity · may take applications
3 matching grants · $434,360 · through 2024Largest: $156,232 to TIP OF THE MITT WATERSHED COUNCIL — final distribution to close out land and water education fund - tomwc. in the names of, and in memory of, michael thain cameron and martha cavanagh cameron to be used for operation…
Norcross FoundationJacksonville, FL
4 matching grants · $747,236 · through 2025Largest: $250,000 to WALLOON LAKE TRUST & CONSERVANCY — preserve & protect lake & watershed
This is one topic and one state. PaperOrbit reads your actual paper and searches on everything in it — then explains why each funder fits.
Start with one paperBroader: water quality and access funders nationally · all Michigan-based grantmakers