Dow Corning and Community Foundations Create New Funds to Invest up to $150,000 in Great Lakes Bay Region

The Dow Corning Foundation, in partnership with Hemlock Semiconductor Group, the Bay Area Community Foundation, the Midland Area Community Foundation, and the Saginaw Community Foundation, recently announced the creation of three new Donor Advised Funds to better serve the needs of organizations in the Great Lakes Bay Region. 

The funds will distribute up to a total of $150,000 from the Dow Corning Foundation and Hemlock Semiconductor into the region through an advisory panel made up of employees from Dow Corning, Hemlock Semiconductor, and the three area community foundations.  The advisory panel will review all grant requests and make recommendations to the community foundations on how to invest the money in the local communities.

“By creating the Donor Advised Funds, we are able to put $150,000 directly into the Great Lakes Bay Region this year with a primary focus on smaller regional and community investments that might otherwise be overlooked,” said Kimberly Houston-Philpot, President, Dow Corning Foundation.  “Through this fund, we will be well positioned to accomplish the Dow Corning Foundation’s mission now and into the future.”

To be considered eligible, grant requests must align with the Dow Corning Foundation’s mission to:

•  improve scientific literacy through increased access to math, science & technology education;
• improve vitality and quality of life in communities where Dow Corning employees work and reside;
• improve awareness and increase utilization of sustainable, innovative technologies to benefit society. 

The money invested in the funds will be held by the local community foundations.  Grant applications and the initial grant review will also be processed by the community foundations.  Grants up to $5,000 will be considered for support out of the Donor Advised Fund.  Click here for Grant information.

“This grant request process will be similar to the process for other requests submitted to the community foundations,“ said Houston-Philpot.  “We want the process to be simple and easy to follow.”

Instructions for submitting grant requests and complete grant guidelines can be found on the websites of the three area community foundations: the Bay Area Community Foundation, the Midland Area Community Foundation, and the Saginaw Community Foundation.  Questions about the Donor Advised Fund can also be submitted online or by contacting one of the community foundations.