Grant Types

There are five grant categories. View past grants by category.

• Agriculture/Pollution Prevention
• Communication
• Land Use
• Water Resources
• Wildlife Stewardship

Saginaw Bay Watershed

• State’s largest watershed, encompasses 8,700 square miles in 22 counties
• Home to more than 138 endangered or threatened species, 90 fish species and 1.4 million people
• Contains about 7,000 miles of rivers and streams and 175 inland lakes
• Contains rich resources in agriculture, forestry, industry and recreation

• Fifteen percent of the state’s waterways drain into the Saginaw Bay

• WIN Overview
• Info On Watershed
• Grants
• News & Publications

Grants

Funding Priorities

WIN welcomes proposals that advance the search for sustainable solutions to current watershed and community challenges. WIN is responsive to new ideas, new research and new approaches, recognizing that such innovation is necessary to move the concept of sustainability forward in the Saginaw Bay watershed. The sustainability approach integrates economic goals with environmental and social goals and is based on the premise that meeting human needs for all people today should not impair the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

A strong local economy is at the core of a sustainable community because development and the jobs it creates are the vehicles for meeting human needs.

WIN accepts proposals for projects that advance its work within five focus areas:

• Agriculture and Pollution Prevention
• Communication / Regional Marketing
• Land Use
• Water Resources

• Wildlife Stewardship

In addition to sustainability linkages, WIN evaluates projects by asking whether projects:

• Promote and encourage partnerships by leveraging resources
• Balance long-term focus with short-term results
• Promote excellence by fostering a sense of identification and pride in the watershed
• Serve as pilot or demonstration projects with broad application (can be replicated)

• Fit with WIN’s vision, mission, and guiding principles

Funding Process

Grant proposals are reviewed on a continual basis with financial awards made twice a year. There are no grant deadlines.

Projects are evaluated by a unique network of task groups that are central to WIN’s community-based evaluation process. Through the work of the task groups, proposals are reviewed and refined in cooperation with the applicant. The task groups are formed around WIN’s five focus areas.

If a project receives a favorable nod from a task group, it will be forwarded to WIN’s Resource Group for further consideration. Those projects that are approved by the Resource Group are presented to WIN’s Funders Network for final consideration.

Application Instructions

1. If you are interested in applying for a grant, please contact the WIN office at (989) 892-9171 to discuss your project.

2. Please type or print clearly so that the completed form will be legible. You may retype the form. Send your completed form electronically to info@saginawbaywin.org with a signed, hard copy mailed to:
   Saginaw Bay WIN
   P.O. Box 734
   Bay City, MI 48707

3. Please answer the questions in the space provided. You may include a one-page attachment. When completed, your application packet should not be more than four pages.

4. If you have questions about the form or the project review process, please contact Saginaw Bay WIN at (989) 892-9171 or info@saginawbaywin.org.

5. The “Local Champion” is the not-for-profit organization, entity or government agency that will have primary responsibility for insuring that the project is completed. It will also be responsible for accounting for the funds granted and providing the required reports.

6. Many of the project ideas presented to WIN fit the visions and geographic restrictions of local community foundations. For this reason, we ask that local champions make an effort to present their project ideas to the community foundation serving the region that will benefit most from the project’s goals.