Grants
The Spring Lake Schools Foundation annually awards grants to SLPS educators from two endowed funds: SLSF Fund and Carol Martin Fund. Educators submit grant proposals and a committee of SLSF Board members review the applications and award grants based on set criteria intended to uphold the purpose of each of the two funds.
The Spring Lake Schools Foundation also awards student grants through the Student Enrichment Grant Program. Students submit an application, with the support of a teacher or staff member, and a committee of SLSF Board members awards grants based on a set of criteria.
Student Enrichment Grant Program
The Student Enrichment Grant program launched in 2022 and it provides support for students to pursue innovative ideas/projects that benefit themselves and their classmates, in addition to participating in state and national opportunities, like conferences or camps.
Spring Lake Schools Foundation Fund
The Spring Lake Schools Foundation has a mission to supplement the school district’s available funding to maintain and enhance academic excellence. Awards from the Spring Lake Schools Foundation endowed fund are given annually to K-12 educators from the Spring Lake Public Schools who apply for money to bring innovative academic programs into their classrooms and school buildings.
In 2008, the Spring Lake Rotary President presented Spring Lake Schools Foundation with a check for $10,000. In accepting the donation, Jonas Saunders announced that the Spring Lake Schools Foundation was using the occasion to kick off its "Ladders to Literacy" Capital Campaign to increase its endowment to the $500,000 level. That year, additional donations from the JSJ Corporation, Shape Corporation, Marion A. and Ruth K. Sherwood Foundation, Saunders Winter McNeil Law Firm, Harbor Industries, the members of the Spring Lake Schools Foundation Board, and an anonymous donor, brought the total contributions to the fund to the half way mark of $250,000.
Since that time, many contributions from community donors, the Buy A Brick campaign, and a very significant bequest from the estate of Lynne Sherwood, have sent the fund totals well over the $100,000,000 mark. The endowment is held at the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation.
Carol Martin Fund
Grants from this fund are made possible by the extremely generous bequest from former Jeffers Elementary School teacher, Carol Martin. Carol Martin, a devoted kindergarten teacher, touched many young lives during her thirty-three years at Jeffers Elementary School until she retired in 1993. Ms. Martin passed away in 2009, but her devotion to elementary education continues. Her wish was for “the SLSF to use the funds to optimally benefit and contribute to the education of elementary age children in the Spring Lake Public School system.” Ms. Martin's endowed fund has grown through the years to over $525,000 and is held at the Grand Haven Area Community foundation. Grants from this fund are available for K-6 educators.
The Spring Lake Schools Foundation also awards student grants through the Student Enrichment Grant Program. Students submit an application, with the support of a teacher or staff member, and a committee of SLSF Board members awards grants based on a set of criteria.
Student Enrichment Grant Program
The Student Enrichment Grant program launched in 2022 and it provides support for students to pursue innovative ideas/projects that benefit themselves and their classmates, in addition to participating in state and national opportunities, like conferences or camps.
Spring Lake Schools Foundation Fund
The Spring Lake Schools Foundation has a mission to supplement the school district’s available funding to maintain and enhance academic excellence. Awards from the Spring Lake Schools Foundation endowed fund are given annually to K-12 educators from the Spring Lake Public Schools who apply for money to bring innovative academic programs into their classrooms and school buildings.
In 2008, the Spring Lake Rotary President presented Spring Lake Schools Foundation with a check for $10,000. In accepting the donation, Jonas Saunders announced that the Spring Lake Schools Foundation was using the occasion to kick off its "Ladders to Literacy" Capital Campaign to increase its endowment to the $500,000 level. That year, additional donations from the JSJ Corporation, Shape Corporation, Marion A. and Ruth K. Sherwood Foundation, Saunders Winter McNeil Law Firm, Harbor Industries, the members of the Spring Lake Schools Foundation Board, and an anonymous donor, brought the total contributions to the fund to the half way mark of $250,000.
Since that time, many contributions from community donors, the Buy A Brick campaign, and a very significant bequest from the estate of Lynne Sherwood, have sent the fund totals well over the $100,000,000 mark. The endowment is held at the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation.
Carol Martin Fund
Grants from this fund are made possible by the extremely generous bequest from former Jeffers Elementary School teacher, Carol Martin. Carol Martin, a devoted kindergarten teacher, touched many young lives during her thirty-three years at Jeffers Elementary School until she retired in 1993. Ms. Martin passed away in 2009, but her devotion to elementary education continues. Her wish was for “the SLSF to use the funds to optimally benefit and contribute to the education of elementary age children in the Spring Lake Public School system.” Ms. Martin's endowed fund has grown through the years to over $525,000 and is held at the Grand Haven Area Community foundation. Grants from this fund are available for K-6 educators.
