Programmatic Grants

Purpose: Supports programming or operating needs that drive meaningful community impact

Geographic Scope: Mid-Michigan, Southeast Michigan, Northern Michigan, West Michigan, Chicago (10-mile radius), and Northern Illinois. Eligible nonprofits must be located within a 35-mile radius of an MSUFCU branch (10-mile radius for Chicago area).

Review Cycle: Three times per year (Quarterly)

Eligibility

• 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Located within service areas (35-mile radius of MSUFCU branch, or 10-mile radius in Chicago)
• Must align with at least one of the Foundation's five philanthropic pillars

Philanthropic Pillars

• The Arts: Foster access and creativity in the arts to enrich communities
• Entrepreneurship: Empowers and educates to encourage entrepreneurs to develop core skills
• Financial Education: Support educational programs that facilitate financial wellness and empower financial freedom
• Stable Housing: Strengthen lives through support of organizations that provide access to safe and reliable housing for individuals and families
• Youth Empowerment: Empower youth to learn, grow, create, and lead

What the Foundation Does NOT Support

• Special event sponsorships
• Universities and colleges
• Public or private K-12 schools or school foundations
• Government agencies
• Political campaigns
• Research projects
• Individuals or individual projects (including salaries and benefits)
• Sectarian, denominational, or religious organizations (except for programs broadly promoted, available to anyone, and free from religious orientation)
• Reduction or liquidation of debt (outside of naming facility costs)

2026 Application Timeline

• Cycle 3: LOI Opens August 1, 2026 | LOI Deadline September 1, 2026 | Full Application Due October 1, 2026 | Decisions November 2026

Application Process

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

• Submit a Letter of Inquiry to the Foundation
• LOIs are reviewed by Foundation Management within four weeks of submission
• Selected nonprofits will be invited to submit a full grant application

Step 2: Full Grant Application (by invitation only)

• Invited organizations submit a complete grant application
• Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis

Step 3: Board Decision

• Final grant decisions are made by the Desk Drawer Foundation Board of Directors
• Decisions communicated within the specified timeline for each cycle

Required Information

• Nonprofit must be a 501(c)(3) organization
• Organization must be located within service area (35-mile radius of MSUFCU branch)
• Proposed project/program must align with at least one of the Foundation's five philanthropic pillars
• For Chicago-area nonprofits: must be within 10-mile radius of an MSUFCU branch