Between May 9 – Oct. 9, 2025, Saginaw Community Foundation (SCF) granted $773,187.75, supporting 45 programs and projects via its designated, donor advised and competitive grant processes.
“Every person who has supported the foundation – whether through donations, volunteering or advocacy – has assisted us in giving much needed support to the programs and projects helping to make our community a better place,” said Reneé Johnston, president and CEO of the foundation. “We strive to grant funds to support programs that will make a difference in our community and align with the charitable desires of our donors.”
Currently, SCF manages 32 unrestricted funds, 87 designated funds and 64 donor advised funds.
Organizations interested in applying for a grant through SCF can learn more at saginawfoundation.org/grants, or contact Kendra Kempf, competitive grants program officer, by email at kendra@saginawfoundation.org. Application deadlines for SCF’s competitive grants are Feb. 1, June 1, and Oct 1 each year.
The following SCF funds provided designated and donor advised (non-competitive) grants, supporting a variety of programs/projects, May 9 – Oct. 9, 2025:
Bay/Saginaw Health Plan Donor Advised Fund – $250,000
SCF – Rx Kids: Prenatal and Infant Cash Prescription Program
Damuth Family Fund – $3,672.86
First Ward Community Service – Saginaw Gators Basketball Team – $1,400
New Covenant Christian Center – WNBA Youth Basketball Experience – $2,272.86
YMCA of Saginaw – Swim Safely Program – $1,000
Dow communityGives – $11,000
Birch Run Schools: 6th-12th Grade Band Program – $1,000
Bridgeport High School: Girls Basketball – $1,000
Carrollton High School: Varsity Volleyball Team – $1,000
First Ward Community Center – $1,000
Freeland High School: Equestrian Team – $1,000
Freeland High School: Football Team – $1,000
Great Lakes Community Resource Association – $1,000
Let’s Dance Summer Camp – $1,000
Merrill High School: Football Team – $1,000
Swan Valley High School: Varsity Girls Volleyball – $1,000
Youth Empowering Services – $1,000
Ederer Family Donor Advised Fund – $4,721.05
Thomas Township Public Safety Department – 10 sets of bullet-proof helmets & vests for volunteer firefighters
Flegenheimer Family Fund – $25,000
Bay Area Soccer Association – $5,000
Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra – $1,000
Emmaus House of Saginaw – $5,000
Friends of Hoyt Park – $5,000
Friends of Point Betsie Lighthouse – $5,000
Saginaw County Food Club & Kitchen (SCF) – $4,000
Hemlock Wetland Mitigation Fund #1 – $5,000
Preservation Stewards of Michigan
Lucille & James Martineau Family Fund – $2,000
Andersen Enrichment Center
McQuillan Philanthropy Fund – $7,050
Mustard Seed Shelter – $2,350
Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan – $2,350
Underground Railroad – $2,350
National Association of Investment and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Fund – $4,364.84
CAN Council of the Great Lakes Bay Region – $2,182.42
The Diaper Alliance – $2,182.84
Neighborhood Association Grant Program – $4,000
Saginaw County Community Action Committee – Robocall services to neighborhood associations
Nexteer Community Improvement Fund – $2,500
Putting Others Before Ourselves
Carl H., Jr. and Sandra Werth Fund – $300,000
SCF – SISD College Advisor Fund
SCF Staff Discretionary Grants – $4,750
Power of Dad – National Veterans Golden Age Games – $1,250
Saginaw County Community Action Committee – Mental Health and Opioid Awareness Event – $1,500
Victorious Believers Ministries – travel expenses for youth to attend a conference – $2,000
Stevens Family Fund – $4,000
Backpack Program (SCF)
The following organizations received grants to support programs/projects via various competitive grants available through SCF, May 9 – Oct. 9, 2025:
CAN Council of the Great Lakes Bay Region – $10,000 ($3,539 from the YWCA Fund for Women and Children; $6,461 from the At-Risk Youth Fund)
Parent Cafés
Castle Museum of Saginaw County History – $14,590 (from the SCF Unrestricted Endowment Fund)
Building Community: First Ward
Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan – $3,539 (from the YWCA Fund for Women and Children)
Saginaw County Girl Scouting
Hope for the Forgotten – $10,000 (from the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund)
Small Home Repairs 2025
Rescue Ministries of Saginaw – $10,000 (from the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund)
Higher Purpose Parking Lot Project
Saginaw Choral Society – $10,000 (from the SCF Unrestricted Endowment Fund)
2025-2026 90th Anniversary Season Production
Saginaw County Circuit Court – $20,000 (from the Lulah C. McMullen & Family Endowment Fund)
Saginaw Court Legal Self‐Help Center
Saginaw Valley State University – $12,000 (from the SCF Unrestricted Endowment Fund)
The 2026 Triennial Roethke Poetry and Arts (RPA) Festival
TempleArts – $25,000 (from the SCF Unrestricted Endowment Fund)
TempleArts Stage Equipment & Technology Modernization
Victorious Community Development – $30,000 ($4,258 from the Mildred Culbert Kelly & Fred W. Kelly Fund; $10,040 from the Arthur H. Webster Fund; $15,702 from the Saginaw Community Development Fund)
Bishop Marvin C. Pryor Impact Center