Sturgis Area Community Foundation

09/04/2026

📚 Teacher Mini-Grants are back and now open to all teachers and staff of Sturgis Public Schools! Those who apply have an opportunity to receive up to $500 to bring creative classroom projects to life.

Start your application today: https://form.jotform.com/223244325637050

Questions? We're here to help!
Call us at (269) 659-8508
Or email us at [email protected]

Sturgis High School - Michigan Sturgis Middle School Eastwood Elementary Congress Elementary Wenzel Elementary Wall School

09/03/2026

08/31/2026

Last week, the world lost a beloved icon. Dolly Parton was known around the globe for her music, but she gave just as much of herself to the causes closest to her heart, especially children and families.

For Dolly, literacy was personal. Her father, Robert Lee Parton, was one of the smartest people she knew, yet he never learned to read or write. In his honor, she founded Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in 1995 with a simple belief: put books in children's hands early, and never let cost stand in the way. Each month, the program mails a free, age-appropriate book to every enrolled child from birth until age five.

That same spirit guides our work at the Sturgis Area Community Foundation. Thanks to our generous community donors, fundholders, local libraries, and partners, we are proud to be a program partner bringing Dolly Parton's Imagination Library to various communities across St. Joseph County, sending free books each month to registered children at no cost to families.

If you have a little one at home, we invite you to carry Dolly's legacy forward. Follow the link to learn how to sign up your child for free monthly books and find the program serving your zip code.

In loving memory of Dolly Parton.

Branch County Community Foundation White Pigeon Township Library
The Huss Project Burr Oak Township Library Nottawa Township Library
Mendon Township Library Colon Township Library Sturgis District Library
Constantine Township Library

At the Community Foundation, we believe that fostering a love for reading from an early age is one of the greatest gifts we can give our community's children. Through our commitment to early childhood literacy, we are proud to offer Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that puts high-qual...

08/28/2026

Congratulations to the St. Joseph County United Way on the beautiful new facility!

08/28/2026

Kari Hatt talks with SACF Board Trustee Joe Haas about some of the unique bourbon distilleries coming to the Bourbon, Bacon, and Bands event in downtown Sturgis on September 12th! If you're a bourbon fan or bourbon-curious, come sample distilleries you won't find in local stores on Sept 12th. Check out the Bourbon, BBQ, and Blues - Sturgis, MI event page to get your pre-sale ticket!

08/27/2026

Constantine Public School District employees recently got a firsthand look at the local resources available to them and their community. YAC Advisor Elizabeth Whitehead and Constantine YAC President Parker Sharp presented to staff about the opportunities available through the Community Foundation and the Youth Advisory Council, from grants and scholarships to ways to get involved and give back!

Constantine Area Community Foundation

08/20/2026

Today, leads from the Southwest Michigan Child Care Coalition, Region 8, came together to celebrate county-level successes, talk through shared challenges, and map out where we're headed next.

The conversation focused on the goals that matter most: closing gaps in access, learning from what's working county to county, and building a strategic plan for the coming fiscal year to strengthen child care systems across our region.

Grateful for a team this committed to making quality child care a reality in Region 8!

Pulse at the W.E. Upjohn Institute, Michigan Transformation Collective, Branch County Community Foundation, Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber

08/19/2026

The Sturgis Area Community Foundation is currently experiencing an internet and phone outage. At this time, we are unable to take phone calls and will be slower to respond to emails. Our team may be in and out of the office until service is restored.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience! We’ll share an update once our services are back up and running.

Thank you for your understanding!

08/11/2026

Do you know an outstanding Sturgis Public Schools educator who goes above and beyond in their dedication to students? Nominate them for the 2026 John E. Oster Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching! This prestigious award recognizes educators who make a significant impact on the Sturgis community.

If you have a teacher in mind, please take a moment to complete the nomination form: https://form.jotform.com/SturgisFoundation/oster-nomination-form

Nominations are open until Friday, September 4th! 📚✨

08/07/2026

📰 Now Open: The Independent Journalism Grant Program

Trustworthy, local news helps all of us stay connected, informed, and engaged with the community we share. That's why the Sturgis Area Community Foundation has launched the Independent Journalism Grant Program. Now open and accepting applications!

This program provides funding to nonprofit newsrooms, public media outlets, and journalism initiatives that produce original, public-service reporting on issues affecting St. Joseph County residents.

If your organization tells the stories of our community, we'd love to hear from you. Learn more and apply here: sturgisfoundation.org/grants/