Consumers Energy Foundation- 2026 Planet Awards

We are excited to announce that the Consumers Energy Foundation is currently seeking letters of intent from nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and tribal governments for the 2026 Planet Awards!  The Planet Awards will provide as much as $250,000 to two or more Michigan organizations aiming to make a positive impact on the State’s land, water, or air. The letter of intent is the first step in a two-step application process that will result in the award of up to $250,000 in funding per recipient ($500,000 total).

This year, we are accepting letters of intent to support projects improving Michigan’s environment in the following categories:

• Land. The Consumers Energy Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that aim to protect, preserve, and restore land in Michigan, which includes protecting and improving Michigan’s natural beauty and wildlife habitat.
• Water. Our freshwater and lakes demand great care. Therefore, we support nonprofit organizations seeking to preserve and improve water quality in our Great Lakes, and our freshwater bodies that flow into them.
• Air. We support nonprofit organizations seeking to reduce carbon in Michigan’s air and improve air quality.

The Consumers Energy Foundation’s Planet Awards are the first of three $500,000 grant rounds in 2026, totaling $1.5 million. Examples of previous Planet Award recipients include:

• 2025 -  City of Eastpointe, City of Parchment & MSU IPF
• 2024– Muskegon County Parks & Six Rivers Regional Land Conservancy
• 2023 – The Nature Conservancy Genesee Conservation District

You can access the letter of intent on our website at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/community/foundation/planet.  Please note that the deadline for submitting a letter of intent for the 2026 Planet Awards is 5:00 PM on February 4, 2026.  I always like to note that the Letter of Intent is actually not a letter, but an online application form that you need to complete.  The first form is relatively simple.  If you’re LOI is accepted for the next round, then a more thorough application will be required.