News
Announcing Recipients of the 2026 Michigan History Alliance Grant Program
The Historical Society of Michigan™ (HSM) has announced the recipients of its third annual Michigan History Alliance® Grant Program. The Society awarded grants totaling $55,029.83 to 26 of its member organizations throughout Michigan.
A generous grant of $25,000 from the Consumers Energy Foundation and a donation of $5,000 from Dr. Mark Jenness and Dr. Cheryl Lyon-Jenness has allowed HSM to double its total award amount. “It’s a thrill and an honor for us to be able to support so many history organizations around the state,” said Becky Kurtz, the Society’s senior director of development and member services. “As a medium-sized nonprofit ourselves, we are grateful for the Consumers Energy Foundation and HSM member support of this grant program. Along with the funds from the Historical Society of Michigan’s annual endowment draw, their generosity has allowed us to more than double the impact for our member organizations.”
The Michigan History Alliance® Grant Program is intended to provide funding for small- to medium-sized history organizations in Michigan through a straightforward application and reporting process. The Society invited its member organizations with annual operating budgets under $250,000 to submit proposals for a maximum grant amount of $2,500.
The grant funds can be used for a variety of projects; past grants have funded everything from internet access and printers to exhibit signage and archival storage supplies. For this year’s grant cycle, the Historical Society of Michigan received 61 applications requesting over $130,000—demonstrating the need for a grant program for this sector of Michigan’s cultural community.
“The grant landscape is very competitive right now for history organizations,” said Executive Director and CEO Larry Wagenaar, “and we know that our member organizations are doing extraordinary work in preserving and interpreting our history at the local level. Our grant application has been designed to be accessible to smaller institutions who might have little grant-writing experience. These grants are relatively modest, but they will go on to create significant community impact in the hands of these recipients.”
The 2026 grantees are:
- Friends of Historic Meridian in Okemos
- Owosso Historical Commission in Owosso
- Historical Society of Greater Lansing in Lansing
- Leslie Historical Society in Leslie
- Antique Toy and Firehouse Museum in Bay City
- Imlay City Historical Commission in Imlay City
- Argus Camera Company Museum in Ann Arbor
- Iosco County Historical Society in East Tawas
- Forty Mile Point Lighthouse Society in Rogers City
- Traverse Area Historical Society in Traverse City
- Northville Historical Society in Northville
- Selfridge Military Air Museum in Harrison Township
- Royal Oak Historical Society in Royal Oak
- Algonac-Clay Township Historical Society in Algonac
- Bernard Historical Society and Museum in Delton
- Cass County Historical Society in Cassopolis
- Edwardsburg Museum Group, Inc. in Edwardsburg
- Schoolcraft County Historical Society in Manistique
- Hessel School House Corporation in Hessel
- Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw in Houghton
- Historic Ottawa Beach Society in Holland
- The Terry Wantz Historical Research Center in Fremont
- Olive Township Historical Society in Holland
- Oshtemo Historical Society in Kalamazoo
- Ada Historical Society in Ada
- Tri-River Historical Museum Network in Greenville
Four Alliance grants are awarded to organizations in the central area of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula: the Friends of Historic Meridian, the Owosso Historical Commission, the Historical Society of Greater Lansing and the Leslie Historical Society.
More Information: https://www.hsmichigan.org/announcing-recipients-2026-michigan-history-alliance-grant-program
Return to News
