The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds support projects that reflect Mr. Wilson’s personal passions and make a lasting difference across southeast Michigan.
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds were established at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan as an endowment to honor Mr. Wilson’s legacy in perpetuity.
The Funds support four areas of interest: Caregivers, Design & Access, Youth Sports, and Grosse Pointe Community Assets. Grants made from these Funds are distinct from, and awarded separately from, grants made directly by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.
In most cases, the Legacy Funds support very localized projects across the seven-county region for which a small grant can make all the difference — and in some cases, an opportunity to test ideas and programs on a smaller, pilot level.
Key Details
- Grant Amount: $10,000-$25,000 for Caregivers, Youth Sports, and Grosse Pointe Community Assets; up to $50,000 for Design & Access
- Grant Term: Typically, 12 months
- Type of Support: Programming, capacity building, and/or capital costs; Design & Access may also include planning costs
- Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, schools and government entities
2026-2027 Timeline
- Application Opens: Oct. 5
- Registration Deadline (MyCF online portal): Oct. 23
- Application Deadline: Nov. 2, 2026, by 7 p.m. EST
- Grant Decisions Announced: May 2027
- Organizations are limited to one application per funding category but may apply to multiple funding categories; multi-year requests will not be considered.
Fund Overviews
Caregivers Fund
This Fund supports efforts to improve support for caregivers — whether paid, voluntary or family — through skills, resources, education and respite. Caregivers are those who look after dependent individuals who require caregiving. Preference is given to requests that support caregivers of older adults.
Design & Access Fund
This Fund supports pre-planning, development, and/or construction costs for projects that increase the walkability and bikeability of local communities and/or expand outdoor recreational activity within the region. Waterways, greenways and recreation corridors are of particular interest.
Youth Sports Fund
The Fund aims to intentionally address systemic retention and participation issues by expanding equitable access to sports opportunities, facilitating high-quality engagement, and strengthening the organizational capacity of youth sports providers.
Grosse Pointe Community Assets Fund
This remains a broad yet competitive Fund that supports projects of anchor nonprofit organizations providing services and experiences to residents of the five Grosse Pointe communities, home to Mr. Wilson during his lifetime.
Who May Apply
Any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, school or government entity in southeast Michigan (Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Livingston counties) may apply for a grant from the Caregivers Fund, the Design & Access Fund, or the Youth Sports Fund.
Any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, school or government entity located in the five Grosse Pointe communities — the City of Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Shores, and Grosse Pointe Woods — may apply for a grant from the Grosse Pointe Community Assets Fund. No grants will be made to individuals.
Before You Apply
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the full program guidelines before beginning an application. The guidelines include eligibility requirements, funding parameters, and additional application details.
Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds Grant Guidelines
Ready to Apply?
Applications are submitted through MyCF, the Community Foundation’s online grant portal. The application opens Oct. 5, 2026, and closes Nov. 2, 2026.