Excellence Program

The Grants for Excellence program is administered by the Saginaw Community Foundation to support creative educational initiatives developed by educators in Saginaw County. This funding opportunity is designed to support projects that lie outside the boundaries of traditional school budgets while encouraging instructional innovation and professional development. The program fosters classroom environments that are engaging, imaginative, and student-focused. All P-12 educators working in Saginaw County are eligible to apply. Although applicants may submit multiple proposals, only one grant will be awarded per individual in each grant year. Projects must supplement the P-12 curriculum and provide opportunities to improve student understanding, enhance educator tools, and foster long-term impact within the classroom setting. Grant proposals are reviewed competitively by an advisory committee and are evaluated on several factors. These include the number of students impacted, how well the project supplements the curriculum, potential for enhancing understanding of subject matter, opportunities for replication or continuation in future school years, and how effectively the project enhances educator skillsets or available resources. Grants may request up to $1,500. Applications must be submitted by November 1, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Award decisions will be communicated in December 2025, and funded projects should be implemented during the 2025–2026 school calendar year. Grantees must submit a written evaluation report to the Saginaw Community Foundation no later than July 1, 2026. Additionally, grant recipients may be asked to present their project outcomes to the advisory committee in April 2026 to support continued improvement of the program. Applicants must contact Chamika Ford, the program officer, at chamika@saginawfoundation.org or 989-755-0545 to obtain a proposal number before submitting their application. Completed applications must include the signed application form, a detailed project narrative addressing purpose, impact, timeline, and evaluation methods, and a completed budget summary. Submissions are accepted via email, fax, or postal mail.