Royal Oak Community Fund Information

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law on March 11, 2021, allocating hundreds of billions of dollars across the country for public health and vaccines, assistance for vulnerable populations, education and housing stabilization, economic recovery assistance, and direct assistance for families and individuals. 

The City of Royal Oak was awarded approximately $28 million in funding through ARPA. 

The Royal Oak City Commission allocated $300,000 of those dollars to fund a local nonprofit services grant program, the Royal Oak Community Opportunity Fund. Grant awards between $25,000 and $50,000 will assist nonprofits who provide community programming in Royal Oak with their recovery efforts from the negative impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Royal Oak is seeking to award grants to nonprofits that administer services in the following areas: education, health, public safety, recreation, seniors, mobility and accessibility and arts and culture. 

Organizations providing the following programs will receive top priority: 

• Implementation of social worker programs to support mental health concerns for youth.
• Implementation of social worker programs to support mental health concerns for the general public. 
• Implementation of programs to support those with food or shelter insecurities. 

This is a competitive grant program and award payments will be made following the execution of a city/grantee contract. Royal Oak is looking to fund programs and services that can start from the time grants are awarded. Nonprofits do not have to be located in Royal Oak to apply, however, nonprofits that are will receive priority. 

Pursuant to ARPA, grants will be reasonably proportional to the negative economic impacts sustained by an organization during the pandemic (capped at $50,000).

All organizations that receive funding under Royal Oak’s ARPA program are expected to read and be in compliance with the necessary ARPA guidelines.