The mission of the Sturgis Area Community Foundation is to make a positive, lasting, impact in local communities through charitable giving, leadership, and action.
A $500,000 grant to Michigan Community Capital stands out in the Sturgis Area Community Foundation’s recent giving, and it sits alongside a pattern of large local awards to civic institutions, schools, health providers, and community organizations. In 2024, the foundation backed projects such as the Sturgis Youth Center, the City of Sturgis, and Sturgis Hospital, reflecting a mix of capital, operating, and program support. Their grants also reach community history, youth development, recreation, and food access, with several awards directed to organizations serving Sturgis and the wider St. Joseph County area. The foundation’s mission centers on making a positive, lasting impact in local communities through charitable giving, leadership, and action. That local orientation is visible in the grantee list: Sturgis Public Schools received support for educational programs and program support, while Camp Fort Hill Inc. received multiple renovation-and-support awards. The foundation also funds community-facing services such as public safety training, health equipment, and fresh food distribution, showing a grantmaking profile that connects quality-of-life needs with place-based institutions.
In education, the foundation supported Sturgis Public Schools with awards for educational programs and program support, and it also maintains scholarship activity through named and additional scholarship funds. Youth-serving work appears through the Sturgis Youth Advisory Council fund, which backs youth-related programs and projects in the Sturgis area. Community development and civic life are another clear thread. The City of Sturgis received grants for splash pad construction, general support, and rec center renovation, while Main Street Media was funded for community news. Housing also appears in the recent record through a grant to Keystone Place for housing. Health and food access show up in grants to Sturgis Hospital for a mammography machine and operational support, and to South Michigan Food Bank for fresh food programming.
Typical grants cluster around a median of $15,000, with the middle half running from $8,070 at the 25th percentile to $36,156 at the 75th percentile. The foundation also makes smaller awards through several programs capped at $500 or $5,000, alongside larger community-impact grants that can reach $80,000. It operates as a mixed community foundation and uses a combination of competitive and year-round grant programs. Recipients appear repeatedly in the 2024 record, including multiple awards to the same local institutions, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off support. Unsolicited applications are accepted in several active programs.
$1M
$38.8M
$2.9M
$2.2M
Most grants fall between $8K and $36K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$36K
ERIN MELCHI-BAKER
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Grantmaking is highly local: 96% of grants go to recipients in Michigan, and the recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. Sturgis is the main city in the recent record, with repeated awards to organizations there. Other Michigan places that appear include White Pigeon, Battle Creek, Centerville, and Three Rivers. Outside Michigan, one recent grant went to Goshen, Indiana, making Indiana the top state by grant count even though the headquarters are in Sturgis, Michigan.
The recent record shows support for civic and nonprofit institutions in the Sturgis area: schools, a hospital, the city government, a youth center, a historical society, a food bank, recreation groups, and housing-related organizations. The foundation’s active programs also point to community support, food assistance, education, and youth projects.
Yes. Several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including Community Support Grants, SACF Micro-Grants, Food Assistance Program Grant, Community Impact Grants, Classroom Support / Teacher Mini-Grants, Sturgis Teacher Mini-Grants, Sturgis Youth Advisory Council competitive grants, and the Newell A. & Grace A. Franks Fund.
The typical grant size is $15,000 at the median. The middle range runs from $8,070 at the 25th percentile to $36,156 at the 75th percentile. The foundation also runs smaller programs at up to $500, $5,000, or $10,000, depending on the program.
Michigan recipients receive 96% of the grants, and the recent grants are concentrated in Sturgis and nearby Michigan places such as White Pigeon, Battle Creek, Centerville, and Three Rivers. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Yes. The 2024 list includes repeated awards to several organizations, such as the City of Sturgis, Sturgis Public Schools, Sturgis Hospital, Sturgis Historical Society, Camp Fort Hill Inc, South Michigan Food Bank, and Thurston Woods Village. That pattern suggests ongoing support across multiple purposes and grant types.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Sturgis Area Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Supports youth-related programs and projects in the Constantine area. Applications are accepted during two competitive cycles each year.
Deadline: 2026 fall cycle deadline: November 1, 2026. Two competitive cycles per year.
Who can apply: Designed for smaller organizations or projects benefiting residents in the Sturgis area and surrounding St. Joseph County. General SACF eligibility rules apply, including eligible tax-exempt organizations and exclusion of individuals, sectarian religious programs, deficits, and previously incurred obligations.
Deadline: Applications may be submitted throughout the year; decisions are generally communicated within 60 days.
Who can apply: Open to nonprofit newsrooms, public media outlets, and journalism initiatives that produce original, public-service reporting on issues affecting St. Joseph County residents.
Deadline: No fixed deadline stated; application is currently open and applicants should expect a response within 60 days.
Who can apply: SACF grants are limited to eligible 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, government entities, school districts, and universities. Religious organizations may be considered, but sectarian religious programs are not eligible; individuals, deficit funding, and previously incurred obligations are excluded.
Deadline: Quarterly review; award notifications are expected in April, July, October, and January.
Who can apply: Open to nonprofits, food pantries, faith-based organizations, and community groups serving St. Joseph County. General SACF eligibility requires eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities, school districts, or universities; sectarian religious programs, individuals, deficits, and previously incurred obligations are not eligible.
Deadline: Rolling basis until funds are depleted.
Who can apply: Grants are made only to federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, government entities, school districts, and universities. Religious organizations may be considered, but sectarian religious programs are not eligible. No grants to individuals or to cover deficits or previously incurred obligations. Applicants must have submitted all final reports due on previous grants. Grants must serve residents of the Sturgis community or surrounding area.
Deadline: Available throughout the year; funded at any time based on donor interests.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAMP FORT HILL INC | STURGIS, MI | $185,350 | 2026 | RENOVATION & SUPPORT |
| STURGIS DDA | STURGIS, MI | $140,546 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STURGIS PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL | STURGIS, MI | $122,150 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITY OF STURGIS | STURGIS, MI | $113,322 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STURGIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY | STURGIS, MI | $75,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROOTED OF ST JOESPH COUNTY INC | CENTREVILLE, MI | $62,213 | 2026 | ROOFING PROJECT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER SW MI | GOSHEN, IN | $60,350 | 2026 | FORMULA FOR IMPACT |
| STURGIS YOUTH CENTER | STURGIS, MI | $40,090 | 2026 | PERFORMING ARTS |
| KLINGER LAKE ASSOCIATION | WHITE PIGEON, MI | $28,000 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| YOUTH FOR CHRIST | STURGIS, MI | $24,338 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| THURSTON WOODS VILLAGE | STURGIS, MI | $23,602 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STURGIS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | STURGIS, MI | $17,857 | 2026 | EDUCATION PROGRAMS |
| ST JOSEPH COUNTY UW | CENTERVILLE, MI | $17,502 | 2026 | CAMPAIGN |
| CHILDRENS TRAUMA ASSESSMENT GROUP | CENTREVILLE, MI | $12,780 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| OPEN DOOR ART CENTER | STURGIS, MI | $12,502 | 2026 | ELECTRICAL UPGRADES |
| STURGIS WOMEN'S CLUB | STURGIS, MI | $12,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DOYLE COMMUNITY CENTER | STURGIS, MI | $11,875 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THREE RIVERS HOSPICE | THREE RIVERS, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THREE RIVERS DDA | THREE RIVER, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CONSTANTINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS | CONSTANTINE, MI | $9,648 | 2026 | WELL REPLACEMENT |
| WHITE PIGEON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS | WHITE PIGEON, MI | $7,768 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STURGIS BAND AND ORCHESTRA PARENTS | STURGIS, MI | $6,834 | 2026 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| STURGIS PUBLIC LIBRARY | STURGIS, MI | $5,417 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KEYSTONE PLACE | CENTERVILLE, MI | $5,350 | 2026 | HOUSING |
| MICHIGAN COMMUNITY CAPITAL | — | $500,000 | 2024 | — |
| STURGIS YOUTH CENTER | STURGIS, MI | $261,483 | 2024 | PERFORMING ARTS |
| CITY OF STURGIS | STURGIS, MI | $216,000 | 2024 | SPLASH PAD CONSTRUCT |
| CITY OF STURGIS | STURGIS, MI | $206,794 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STURGIS HOSPITAL | STURGIS, MI | $119,818 | 2024 | MAMMOGRAPHY MACHINE |
| STURGIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY | STURGIS, MI | $92,016 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STURGIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY | STURGIS, MI | $90,486 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STURGIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS | STURGIS, MI | $87,871 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| STURGIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY | STURGIS, MI | $87,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITY OF STURGIS | STURGIS, MI | $81,082 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STURGIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS | STURGIS, MI | $64,782 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| STURGIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS | STURGIS, MI | $64,761 | 2024 | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS |
| CAMP FORT HILL INC | STURGIS, MI | $45,096 | 2024 | RENOVATION & SUPPORT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER SW MI | GOSHEN, IN | $40,000 | 2024 | FORMULA FOR IMPACT |
| STURGIS HOSPITAL | STURGIS, MI | $37,281 | 2024 | OPERATIONAL SUPPORT |
| THURSTON WOODS VILLAGE | STURGIS, MI | $35,030 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CAMP FORT HILL INC | STURGIS, MI | $34,555 | 2024 | RENOVATION & SUPPORT |
| STURGIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY | STURGIS, MI | $30,000 | 2024 | PARAMEDIC CLASS |
| KLINGER LAKE ASSOCIATION | WHITE PIGEON, MI | $28,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CITY OF STURGIS | STURGIS, MI | $25,032 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MAIN STREET MEDIA | THREE RIVERS, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | COMMUNITY NEWS |
| KLINGER LAKE ASSOCIATION | — | $24,800 | 2024 | — |
| CAMP FORT HILL INC | STURGIS, MI | $22,640 | 2024 | RENOVATION & SUPPORT |
| SOUTH MICHIGAN FOOD BANK | BATTLE CREEK, MI | $22,060 | 2024 | FRESH FOOD PROGRAM |
| STURGIS BAND AND ORCHESTRA PARENTS | STURGIS, MI | $20,000 | 2024 | PERCUSSION REPAIRS |
| CITY OF STURGIS | STURGIS, MI | $19,901 | 2024 | REC CENTER RENOVATE |
CAMP FORT HILL INC
$185,350RENOVATION & SUPPORT
STURGIS DDA
$140,546GENERAL SUPPORT
STURGIS PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$122,150GENERAL SUPPORT
CITY OF STURGIS
$113,322GENERAL SUPPORT
STURGIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$75,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ROOTED OF ST JOESPH COUNTY INC
$62,213ROOFING PROJECT
FORMULA FOR IMPACT
STURGIS YOUTH CENTER
$40,090PERFORMING ARTS
KLINGER LAKE ASSOCIATION
$28,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
YOUTH FOR CHRIST
$24,338PROGRAM SUPPORT
THURSTON WOODS VILLAGE
$23,602GENERAL SUPPORT
STURGIS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$17,857EDUCATION PROGRAMS
ST JOSEPH COUNTY UW
$17,502CAMPAIGN
CHILDRENS TRAUMA ASSESSMENT GROUP
$12,780PROGRAM SUPPORT
OPEN DOOR ART CENTER
$12,502ELECTRICAL UPGRADES
STURGIS WOMEN'S CLUB
$12,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DOYLE COMMUNITY CENTER
$11,875GENERAL SUPPORT
THREE RIVERS HOSPICE
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THREE RIVERS DDA
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CONSTANTINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$9,648WELL REPLACEMENT
WHITE PIGEON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
$7,768GENERAL SUPPORT
STURGIS BAND AND ORCHESTRA PARENTS
$6,834PROGRAM SUPPORT
STURGIS PUBLIC LIBRARY
$5,417GENERAL SUPPORT
KEYSTONE PLACE
$5,350HOUSING
MICHIGAN COMMUNITY CAPITAL
$500,000STURGIS YOUTH CENTER
$261,483PERFORMING ARTS
CITY OF STURGIS
$216,000SPLASH PAD CONSTRUCT
CITY OF STURGIS
$206,794GENERAL SUPPORT
STURGIS HOSPITAL
$119,818MAMMOGRAPHY MACHINE
STURGIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$92,016GENERAL SUPPORT
STURGIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$90,486GENERAL SUPPORT
STURGIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$87,871EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
STURGIS HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$87,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CITY OF STURGIS
$81,082GENERAL SUPPORT
STURGIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$64,782PROGRAM SUPPORT
STURGIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$64,761EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
CAMP FORT HILL INC
$45,096RENOVATION & SUPPORT
STURGIS HOSPITAL
$37,281OPERATIONAL SUPPORT
THURSTON WOODS VILLAGE
$35,030GENERAL SUPPORT
CAMP FORT HILL INC
$34,555RENOVATION & SUPPORT
STURGIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
$30,000PARAMEDIC CLASS
KLINGER LAKE ASSOCIATION
$28,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
CITY OF STURGIS
$25,032GENERAL SUPPORT
MAIN STREET MEDIA
$25,000COMMUNITY NEWS
KLINGER LAKE ASSOCIATION
$24,800CAMP FORT HILL INC
$22,640RENOVATION & SUPPORT
STURGIS BAND AND ORCHESTRA PARENTS
$20,000PERCUSSION REPAIRS
CITY OF STURGIS
$19,901REC CENTER RENOVATE
