Dollar General Literacy Foundation: STEM Literacy (Michigan)
Grants from Dollar General Literacy Foundation for literacy and STEM programs in K-12 schools with a rural focus.
About This Grant
Dollar General Literacy Foundation funds literacy and STEM programs in communities near Dollar General stores, with particular focus on rural and underserved areas. Michigan has hundreds of Dollar General locations across the state.
Grants typically range from $2,000 to $20,000. Programs addressing basic literacy, workforce readiness, and STEM skills for low-income students are prioritized. Note that the 2026 cycle has already closed.
Rural Michigan schools serving low-income students are well-positioned for this grant. The combination of rural location, proximity to Dollar General stores, and foundational skills focus makes many Michigan schools competitive.
View Dollar General Literacy Foundation: STEM Literacy (Michigan)Eligibility
- K-12 schools in communities with Dollar General stores
- Priority for rural, low-income, and underserved communities
- Programs addressing literacy, STEM, or workforce readiness
- Must demonstrate student need and program impact
Allowable Uses
- Physical computing hardware (coding kits, micro:bits, robotics)
- CS and AI literacy curriculum
- Teacher professional development
- Literacy materials, workforce readiness curriculum, and adult education program costs
Forward Education Products for This Grant
These kits align to the learning outcomes this program funds.
- micro:bit Starter Kit — Physical computing for CS education. Aligns to Michigan CS standards for computational thinking and programming at grades K-8.
- MicroChat AI Literacy Kit — AI literacy curriculum for middle and high school. Addresses AI and data literacy components of Michigan CS standards.
- Coding for Good Kit — Project-based coding curriculum with real-world connections. Strong alignment to Michigan standards.
- micro:bit Robotics Kit — Robotics and physical computing for grades 5-12. Supports CS standards across computational thinking and programming.
Keep in Mind
Applications are tied to proximity to Dollar General stores. Verify there is a store in or near your community before applying.
Dollar General specifically prioritizes rural communities. If your school is rural, lead with that.
The 2026 cycle is closed. Start planning your proposal for the 2027 cycle now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this only for reading programs?
No. The foundation funds STEM and workforce readiness programs as well.
Does Dollar General need to be in our town?
Yes. A Dollar General store must be in or very near your community.
When does the next cycle open?
Dollar General Literacy Foundation typically announces the new cycle in early spring. Check dgliteracy.org.
Can a nonprofit apply on behalf of a school?
Yes.
How can Forward Education help?
We provide curriculum alignment documents mapped to Michigan CS standards, pricing letters for grant budgets, and letters of support. Contact us before you apply.
Related Michigan Grants
Explore more Michigan funding resources
View all Michigan AI & CS grants →Need Help Writing Your Grant Application?
Forward Education works with schools and districts to build strong funding proposals. We can help you connect our tools to your grant requirements.
- Curriculum alignment documents — Michigan CS Standards mapped to our kits
- Program quotes and pricing — classroom sets, bundles, and multi-site pricing
- Letters of support — documentation for grant applications
- Project ideas and scope-and-sequence — ready-to-use program outlines
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