Saginaw Community Foundation General Grant Program

The Saginaw Community Foundation is a private philanthropic organization based in Saginaw County, Michigan. Its mission is guided by the wishes of its donors, with a central focus on improving the quality of life throughout Saginaw County. The Foundation provides grants to support nonprofit organizations, local government units, and religious institutions, while also managing designated scholarship funds for individuals. Its approach is rooted in community service and leveraging resources to create meaningful and sustainable impact. The Foundation supports a wide variety of programs and projects that enhance and preserve the quality of life in the community. Priority is given to initiatives that are not adequately addressed by existing resources, those that help generate additional funding or community assets, and projects that encourage collaboration among organizations. Grants are generally awarded for one-year terms, reflecting a commitment to flexibility and responsiveness to community needs. The funding is not intended for projects already funded by municipal or educational budgets, nor for endowments, debt repayment, or sectarian programs, although exceptions may be considered under compelling circumstances. Travel requests for school groups and similar organizations are considered low priority. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, local units of government, and religious institutions that directly benefit Saginaw County residents. The Foundation specifically excludes individuals from general grantmaking, except through its separate scholarship programs. The competitive review process ensures that funds are directed to projects that will have measurable, positive impacts on local communities. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Foundation’s grants program staff prior to applying to confirm eligibility, obtain a grant number, and clarify requirements. The grant application process includes completing the SCF General Grant Application form, preparing a detailed project budget with supporting financial documentation, and submitting a program narrative of up to five pages. The narrative must outline the purpose of the project, its expected community impact, implementation timeline, collaborations, sustainability plans, and evaluation methods. Applicants must also provide an organizational background of no more than two pages, describing their history, purpose, leadership, governance, and staff qualifications. Supporting documents such as IRS Form 990, current operating budget, and financial statements are required to demonstrate organizational capacity and fiscal responsibility. Applications are accepted on a recurring basis with deadlines three times per year, specifically on February 1, June 1, and October 1. Submissions must be received electronically by 11:59 p.m. on the due date, postmarked by the deadline if mailed, or hand-delivered within office hours. Faxed applications are not accepted. Once submitted, applications undergo a comprehensive review by staff and may be shared with external advisors for additional input. They are then evaluated by the grants review committee, which forwards recommendations to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. In some cases, such as applications reviewed by the Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee (FORCE), applicants are invited to present their proposals in person. Applicants are notified of funding decisions within two months following the application deadline. Funded projects must begin after this review period, as retroactive funding for incurred expenses or contracts is not permitted. Grants are designed to serve the broad interests of the county and reach diverse communities across Saginaw County. Questions regarding the process can be directed to Kendra Kempf, Competitive Grants Program Officer, via email at kendra@saginawfoundation.org or by phone at (989) 755-0545. The Foundation’s office is located at 1 Tuscola Street, Suite 100B, Saginaw, MI 48607, and operates Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday mornings.

Contact staff before applying to confirm eligibility and obtain grant number; applications must be clear, concise, and complete with all attachments