We bring people and resources together to build an equitable community, making a lasting philanthropic impact.
Saginaw Community Foundation’s recent grantmaking is anchored by repeated support for local institutions that shape daily life in Saginaw County, including a $590,742 general-support grant to United Way of Saginaw County in both 2024 and 2025. The foundation also makes sizable awards to education partners: Saginaw Intermediate School District received multiple grants in 2025 tied to programs, college access, reading support, early childhood, and a college and career advisor initiative. That mix points to a funder working across human services, schooling, and community-building rather than a single issue area. The foundation’s portfolio shows both recurring institutional support and project-specific investments. Saginaw Valley State University Foundation received multiple awards for distribution, program, and fellowship activity, while local nonprofits such as Hidden Harvest and the Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square appear with support for operations, capital work, and program needs. Grants also reach arts and recreation groups, neighborhood-serving organizations, and school-linked initiatives. With annual grants above $10.4 million and assets over $105.6 million, the foundation operates at a meaningful local scale while keeping giving concentrated in the Saginaw area.
Education is a major thread in the foundation’s recent grants. Saginaw Intermediate School District received $307,559 in 2025 for the Mridha Foundation Teacher of the Year Award, reading support, early childhood, and support funding of a college and career advisor program, showing attention to school readiness and postsecondary pathways. Saginaw Public Schools also received $83,819 in 2025 for a technology lab. Food security appears through support for Hidden Harvest, which received $119,548 in 2025 for general support, a capital campaign, and Hunger Solution Center expansion, plus another $97,285 that year for support. The foundation also funds arts, culture, and recreation. The Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square received $106,339 in 2025 for general and program support, ultrasound equipment, and a carousel, while the Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra received $64,054 in 2025 for general support and an agency distribution. Community assets are another recurring theme, including $78,423 to Friends of Hoyt Park in 2025 for baseball-related support.
$2.3M
$114.7M
$13.5M
$10.3M
Most grants fall between $9K and $30K, with a median of $14K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$14K
75th Percentile
$30K
RENEE JOHNSTON
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Typical awards cluster in the low five figures: p25 is $9,216, median grant size is $14,084, and p75 is $30,000. That distribution sits alongside a smaller number of larger institutional grants, including seven-figure annual support to major county partners. The pattern is recurring rather than one-off: United Way of Saginaw County, Saginaw Intermediate School District, Saginaw Valley State University Foundation, Hidden Harvest, and others appear in multiple years. The foundation also uses competitive and scholarship programs, including unsolicited applications through its scholarship portal and community grant programs. It is a community foundation, not a DAF or operating foundation, and it does not fund individuals.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 97% of grants go to recipients in Michigan, and the country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Saginaw is the main recipient city, with repeated awards to organizations there such as United Way of Saginaw County, Hidden Harvest, the Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square, and Saginaw Public Schools. University Center also appears frequently through Saginaw Valley State University Foundation and Delta College Foundation. Other in-county recipient locations include Saginaw County institutions and neighborhood-serving groups, reflecting a county-centered pattern rather than a statewide or national one.
The foundation supports community development, education and scholarships, nonprofit capacity building, youth programs, health, and arts and cultural development. Recent grants also show emphasis on early childhood education, college and career advising, workforce and CTE pathways, food security, parks and recreation, and neighborhood revitalization.
Typical grant sizes are $9,216 at the 25th percentile, $14,084 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile. The same grantmaker also makes much larger institutional awards, including repeated $590,742 grants and other six-figure grants to local partners.
Yes. Its scholarship programs use a single application through a scholarship portal, with applications opening November 1 and due by the second Friday in February. It also lists competitive grant programs, including the Community Improvement Initiative and SCF Competitive Grants, as accepting unsolicited applications.
Several organizations appear in multiple years, including United Way of Saginaw County, Saginaw Intermediate School District, Saginaw Valley State University Foundation, Hidden Harvest, Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square, and YMCA of Saginaw. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated awards.
It administers a centralized scholarship program with 255+ donor-funded scholarships for college or career and technical education, plus other donor-established scholarship funds such as CTE scholarships and regional awards. The scholarship programs are aimed at students in Saginaw County.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Way of Saginaw County | Saginaw, MI | $235,467In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Ramp/Mobility Program, Imagination Library, Program support and For the benefit of Saginaw County |
| Saginaw Valley State University Foundation | University Center, MI | $174,572In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | WATROUS/STARK ENDOWMENT, DR. BENJAMIN STARK BIOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP, AL WATROUS GOLF INVITATIONAL, Waheed & Raana Akbar Scholarship, Scholarships, SVSU Musical Artist in Residence, and Ruth and Ted Braun Fellowship Program |
| Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra | Saginaw, MI | $86,860In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | General Support and 2024 Agency Distribution |
| Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan | Saginaw, MI | $72,469In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | General support, Higher Purpose, and Agency Distribution |
| Children's Zoo at Celebration Square | Saginaw, MI | $60,898In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Edward and Erna Ederer Memorial Saginaw Children's Zoo Fund, General support |
| Hidden Harvest | Saginaw, MI | $56,785In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | General support, Hidden Harvest - Capital Campaign, and Hunger Solution Center Expansion |
| Saginaw County Convention & Visitors Bureau | Saginaw, MI | $55,645In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Tourism Economic Development Project |
| Covenant Academies Foundation | Muskegon, MI | $52,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Saginaw Covenant Academy, General support |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region | Bay City, MI | $51,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Program support and Building Brighter Futures Capital Campaign |
| Saginaw County Youth Protection Council | Saginaw, MI | $50,359In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Program support |
| Major Chords for Minors | Saginaw, MI | $44,500In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Expanded Services |
| CAN Council | Saginaw, MI | $43,182In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Program support, parent cafes program implementation, & general support |
| Great Lakes Bay Health Centers | Saginaw, MI | $42,500In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Robert E. Stark & Martin H. Stark Foundation Fund, Health Care |
| Saginaw Public Schools | Saginaw, MI | $40,195In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Saginaw United Bowling Team, SASA Teacher Mini-Grants, Jackson State University Trip and Library/media center materials |
| HELP Community Violence Intervention Program | Saginaw, MI | $40,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | HELP STEM and CVI Immersion Camp |
| Saginaw Valley State University | University Center, MI | $37,620In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | STEM@SVSU Innovators Hub |
| Saginaw Arts & Enrichment Commission | Saginaw, MI | $36,541In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | General Support, Lucille E. Andersen Memorial Garden, Art for All, and Agency Distribution |
| Underground Railroad | Saginaw, MI | $33,250In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Program/General support and New GOTR Curricula to meet the current physical and mental health needs of adolescent girls |
| MyMichigan Health Foundation | Midland, MI | $33,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Improving Breast Feeding Rates in Midland and Gratiot Counties |
| Regents of the University of Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI | $33,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Promoting Sustainable Futures |
| Saginaw-Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity | Saginaw, MI | $32,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Neighborhood Revitalization with Covenant and General Support |
| Mid-Michigan Children's Museum | Saginaw, MI | $31,262In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | General/Program support, Field trip transportation, and Computer Replacement |
| Michigan Breastfeeding Network | Lansing, MI | $30,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Region 5 PQC mini grant, Journey Flow Journey |
| Thomas Township | Saginaw, MI | $29,295In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Thomas Township Public Safety |
| Frankenmuth Historical Association | Frankenmuth, MI | $27,992In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Agency Distribution |
| Temple Arts | Saginaw, MI | $26,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | General support, TempleArts Stage Equipment and Technology Modernization Project |
| Council of Michigan Foundations | Detroit, MI | $25,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Council of Michigan Foundation |
| Tittabawassee Township | Freeland, MI | $25,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Hayes Park Accessibility and Safety Improvements |
| YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region | Bay City, MI | $25,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | WEEP and WEEP Works |
| YMCA of Saginaw | Saginaw, MI | $24,850In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Camp Timbers Summer Staff Scholarship, General Support, YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, Scholarships for swim lessons, and Health Equity Council Grant |
| Covenant HealthCare Foundation | Saginaw, MI | $23,575In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Program/General support |
| Saginaw Amateur Athletic Union | Saginaw, MI | $23,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Books and Balls, Equipping At-Risk Student Athletes for Academic and Athletic Success |
| Saginaw County Chamber Foundation | Saginaw, MI | $21,606In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Scholarhips for Saginaw Leadership Program and General support |
| Saginaw Choral Society | Saginaw, MI | $21,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | General support, Campfire Stories with Johnathon Rand, and Agency Distribution |
| Tittabawassee Township Historical Society | Freeland, MI | $20,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Pay contractors, Account Buffer |
| Great Lakes Bay Foundation | Bay City, MI | $20,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Support for Operation 40K |
| Saginaw County | Saginaw, MI | $20,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Saginaw Court Legal Self-Help Center |
| St Charles Community Schools | St Charles, MI | $17,752In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Agency Distribution |
| Houghton-Jones Neighborhood Task Force Inc | Saginaw, MI | $17,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | General support |
| Historical Society of Saginaw County | Saginaw, MI | $16,611In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | General support, Building Community at First Ward |
| Bay County Health Department | Bay City, MI | $16,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Family Educator and Certified Lactation Educator in Bay County |
| Growing Forward Together | Ann Arbor, MI | $16,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Region 5 PQC mini grant |
| The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society | Detroit, MI | $15,975In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Light and Night Midland |
| Isabella Citizens for Health | Mount Pleasant, MI | $15,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Region 5 PQC mini grant |
| CMU Medical Education Partners | Saginaw, MI | $15,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Region 5 PQC mini grant |
| Covenant HealthCare | Saginaw, MI | $15,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Region 5 PQC mini grant |
| ROOTEDin Hope | Saginaw, MI | $15,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Read Lead Succeed Literacy Program |
| Making Choices and Facing Consequences | Saginaw, MI | $15,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Stop Gun Violence in School |
| Bay Area Community Foundation | Bay City, MI | $15,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | Trees for Tomorrow |
| New Beginnings Enrichment Center | Saginaw, MI | $15,000In-kind (goods, not cash) | 2026 | One Week, One Street |
Ramp/Mobility Program, Imagination Library, Program support and For the benefit of Saginaw County
Saginaw Valley State University Foundation
$174,572In-kind (goods, not cash)WATROUS/STARK ENDOWMENT, DR. BENJAMIN STARK BIOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP, AL WATROUS GOLF INVITATIONAL, Waheed & Raana Akbar Scholarship, Scholarships, SVSU Musical Artist in Residence, and Ruth and Ted Braun Fellowship Program
Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra
$86,860In-kind (goods, not cash)General Support and 2024 Agency Distribution
Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan
$72,469In-kind (goods, not cash)General support, Higher Purpose, and Agency Distribution
Children's Zoo at Celebration Square
$60,898In-kind (goods, not cash)Edward and Erna Ederer Memorial Saginaw Children's Zoo Fund, General support
Hidden Harvest
$56,785In-kind (goods, not cash)General support, Hidden Harvest - Capital Campaign, and Hunger Solution Center Expansion
Saginaw County Convention & Visitors Bureau
$55,645In-kind (goods, not cash)Tourism Economic Development Project
Covenant Academies Foundation
$52,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Saginaw Covenant Academy, General support
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Great Lakes Bay Region
$51,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Program support and Building Brighter Futures Capital Campaign
Saginaw County Youth Protection Council
$50,359In-kind (goods, not cash)Program support
Major Chords for Minors
$44,500In-kind (goods, not cash)Expanded Services
CAN Council
$43,182In-kind (goods, not cash)Program support, parent cafes program implementation, & general support
Great Lakes Bay Health Centers
$42,500In-kind (goods, not cash)Robert E. Stark & Martin H. Stark Foundation Fund, Health Care
Saginaw Public Schools
$40,195In-kind (goods, not cash)Saginaw United Bowling Team, SASA Teacher Mini-Grants, Jackson State University Trip and Library/media center materials
HELP Community Violence Intervention Program
$40,000In-kind (goods, not cash)HELP STEM and CVI Immersion Camp
Saginaw Valley State University
$37,620In-kind (goods, not cash)STEM@SVSU Innovators Hub
Saginaw Arts & Enrichment Commission
$36,541In-kind (goods, not cash)General Support, Lucille E. Andersen Memorial Garden, Art for All, and Agency Distribution
Underground Railroad
$33,250In-kind (goods, not cash)Program/General support and New GOTR Curricula to meet the current physical and mental health needs of adolescent girls
Improving Breast Feeding Rates in Midland and Gratiot Counties
Regents of the University of Michigan
$33,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Promoting Sustainable Futures
Saginaw-Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity
$32,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Neighborhood Revitalization with Covenant and General Support
Mid-Michigan Children's Museum
$31,262In-kind (goods, not cash)General/Program support, Field trip transportation, and Computer Replacement
Michigan Breastfeeding Network
$30,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Region 5 PQC mini grant, Journey Flow Journey
Thomas Township
$29,295In-kind (goods, not cash)Thomas Township Public Safety
Frankenmuth Historical Association
$27,992In-kind (goods, not cash)Agency Distribution
Temple Arts
$26,000In-kind (goods, not cash)General support, TempleArts Stage Equipment and Technology Modernization Project
Council of Michigan Foundations
$25,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Council of Michigan Foundation
Tittabawassee Township
$25,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Hayes Park Accessibility and Safety Improvements
YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region
$25,000In-kind (goods, not cash)WEEP and WEEP Works
Camp Timbers Summer Staff Scholarship, General Support, YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, Scholarships for swim lessons, and Health Equity Council Grant
Covenant HealthCare Foundation
$23,575In-kind (goods, not cash)Program/General support
Saginaw Amateur Athletic Union
$23,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Books and Balls, Equipping At-Risk Student Athletes for Academic and Athletic Success
Saginaw County Chamber Foundation
$21,606In-kind (goods, not cash)Scholarhips for Saginaw Leadership Program and General support
Saginaw Choral Society
$21,000In-kind (goods, not cash)General support, Campfire Stories with Johnathon Rand, and Agency Distribution
Tittabawassee Township Historical Society
$20,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Pay contractors, Account Buffer
Great Lakes Bay Foundation
$20,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Support for Operation 40K
Saginaw County
$20,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Saginaw Court Legal Self-Help Center
St Charles Community Schools
$17,752In-kind (goods, not cash)Agency Distribution
Houghton-Jones Neighborhood Task Force Inc
$17,000In-kind (goods, not cash)General support
Historical Society of Saginaw County
$16,611In-kind (goods, not cash)General support, Building Community at First Ward
Bay County Health Department
$16,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Family Educator and Certified Lactation Educator in Bay County
Growing Forward Together
$16,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Region 5 PQC mini grant
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
$15,975In-kind (goods, not cash)Light and Night Midland
Isabella Citizens for Health
$15,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Region 5 PQC mini grant
CMU Medical Education Partners
$15,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Region 5 PQC mini grant
Covenant HealthCare
$15,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Region 5 PQC mini grant
ROOTEDin Hope
$15,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Read Lead Succeed Literacy Program
Making Choices and Facing Consequences
$15,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Stop Gun Violence in School
Bay Area Community Foundation
$15,000In-kind (goods, not cash)Trees for Tomorrow
New Beginnings Enrichment Center
$15,000In-kind (goods, not cash)One Week, One Street
Current and upcoming funding from Saginaw Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations interested in applying for a grant through SCF can learn more at the grants page. Competitive grant deadlines are Feb. 1, June 1, and Oct. 1 each year.
Deadline: Competitive grant deadlines are Feb. 1, June 1, and Oct. 1 each year.
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