Our Community SEEDS Corporate
Giving Program

Michigan Sugar Company is committed to giving back to the communities our grower-owners and employees call home and reinforcing our purpose of Making Life Sweeter. One way we achieve this is through our Community SEEDS Corporate Giving Program. Like the seeds our growers plant each spring to cultivate that year’s crop, donations, grants, and sponsorships awarded by Michigan Sugar Company encourage growth and support in our communities.

To manage the growing number of requests, Michigan Sugar Company has transitioned to a quarterly review process for monetary grant and sponsorship requests. If you have a request that meets our criteria (listed below), please plan accordingly.

For sugar and auction/raffle item requests, please proceed to the end of this page for the appropriate request forms.

Important Dates To Remember

• Jan. 1: Deadline for events taking place between April 1 and June 30.
• April 1: Deadline for events taking place between July 1 and Sept. 30.
• July 1: Deadline for events taking place between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.
• Oct. 1: Deadline for events taking place between Jan. 1 and March 31.

Please note that you may submit your request in an earlier award window if desired.
Annual (year-long) funding requests may be submitted in any award window.

Qualifications for Funding

Our Community SEEDS Corporate Giving Program provides Michigan Sugar Company with the opportunity to respond to requests and partner with nonprofit organizations whose work
aligns with at least one of our focus areas.

Focus Areas

• Support Agricultural Education
• Empower Youth Development
• Eliminate Hunger
• Develop Tomorrow’s Workforce
• Sweeten Life

Criteria for Support

In addition to aligning with one of our focus areas, organizations and the program for which they are requesting funding must meet these criteria:

1. Must be an IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization
2. Must be a qualified organization in their relative field
3. Promote a culture of positive community growth

Applications meeting one or more of the following criteria will receive special consideration:

1. Provide a measurable impact on one or more communities within Michigan Sugar Company’s growing region
2. Applications for direct support for programming versus fundraising events
   (i.e., luncheons, dinners, golf outings, award banquets, etc.)

Ineligible Requests

• Open-ended requests (i.e., “Anything you’d like to give). All requests must be specific.
• Individuals
• Political campaigns/candidates
• For-profit organizations
• Activities or organizations outside the Michigan Sugar Company growing region
• Travel expenses, conference fees, or tournament fees
• Dues or memberships
• Organizations that are part of a quid pro quo arrangement
• School yearbook advertising
• School sporting teams

How to Request Funds

Applications must be submitted to Tyler Kring, Community Relations Manager, via mail or email.
Mail submissions must be postmarked by the submission deadline date.