What is the Dream Fund? 

Challenge Scholars who are excited about their future, engaged in learning, and attending school every day will be more prepared for college or career training when they graduate from Union High School. Grand Rapids Community Foundation created the Challenge Scholars Dream Fund to support your ideas for projects in schools and in the community that will accelerate student success.  Our students, parents, teachers and community have already identified the priorities—now it’s your turn to dream big. If you have an idea that will expose students to new ideas, make learning come to life, increase students' voice, build relationships between families and school staff, celebrate student success, or help students and families navigate steps to college or career, we want to help make that idea a reality!  The Dream Fund opens the door for you to make change happen.

If you are a student at a Challenge Scholar school, a parent, a teacher, or a community partner, these grants are for you.

Dream Even Bigger!

Non-profit organizations with a 501(c)3 status or West Side schools (Sibley Elementary, Stocking Elementary, Harrison Park School, Westwood Middle School or Union High School) may now also for grants of $10,001 or more for programs that benefit Challenge Scholars on the West side of Grand Rapids.

Projects should be inclusive. Participation in projects must be open to individuals of any race, ethnicity, gender, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disability. Applications from religious organizations for non-religious purposes will be considered. 

Grant applications must be submitted electronically at grantcentral.smartsimple.com

Click here to download grant application guidelines.