Ford Motor Company Fund: STEM Education
Major STEM education grants from Ford Motor Company Fund with deep Michigan roots and large award sizes.
About This Grant
The Ford Motor Company Fund is one of the largest corporate foundations in Michigan and a major investor in K-12 STEM education. Ford Fund prioritizes schools and communities near Ford's manufacturing and research operations in Southeast Michigan.
Award sizes range from $25,000 to over $1 million for large initiatives. Ford Fund supports engineering, computer science, robotics, and workforce readiness programs.
Michigan schools should list Ford Fund as a top corporate grant target given its headquarters presence in the state and strong alignment to STEM education priorities.
View Ford Motor Company Fund: STEM EducationEligibility
- K-12 public and private schools in Michigan and Ford operating communities
- Nonprofit organizations supporting K-12 STEM education
- Programs with clear connections to engineering, CS, or workforce readiness
- Priority for communities with Ford manufacturing or research presence
Allowable Uses
- Physical computing hardware (coding kits, micro:bits, robotics)
- CS and AI literacy curriculum
- Teacher professional development
- Robotics teams, engineering design projects, and career exploration programming
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
Frame your CS program in terms of future careers and economic mobility, which are core to Ford Fund's priorities.
Ford Fund gives heavily in Michigan, especially Southeast Michigan. Schools in Wayne, Oakland, and Washtenaw counties are well-positioned.
Ford Fund funds both large initiatives and smaller school-level projects. Know what size you are asking for and scope your proposal accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this grant open to private schools?
Yes, both public and private K-12 schools in Ford's operating communities are eligible.
How do we apply?
Grant applications are submitted through fordfund.org.
Can we apply for robotics team funding?
Yes. Robotics is a strong fit for Ford Fund.
Are grants renewable?
Some grants are multi-year. Check with Ford Fund on renewal opportunities.
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
Download the Forward Education Grant Guide
Our grant guide helps educators find the right funding sources and build strong applications for STEM and coding programs.
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