As students, families, and educators begin preparing for the new school year in the coming weeks, the Steelcase Foundation is reaffirming its long-standing commitment to quality public education and out-of-school time (OST) programs. Both play vital roles in helping learners, families, and communities thrive by offering enriching learning experiences and emotionally supportive spaces that foster growth inside and beyond the classroom.

This commitment is especially critical now since many of our education partners are navigating considerable funding uncertainties. In early July,
the federal government froze nearly $7 billion in previously approved education funding for the 2025–2026 school year. Amounting to approximately $160 million in Michigan, this freeze affects after-school programs, English language learner support, adult education, and professional development for educators. Although federal afterschool dollars are now expected to be released, the financial instability has already forced school districts and community organizations to revise budgets, delay staffing decisions, and scale back programs, just as they prepare to welcome students back. Further complicating the situation, the Michigan legislature missed its July 1deadline to set the state’s budget, and current proposals being debated would eliminate previously dedicated funding for OST. As one local superintendent recently shared “there’s little life left to navigate the what-ifs [of the funding cuts].”

Despite these disheartening challenges, our grantees remain dedicated to fulfilling their important missions, and we remain steadfast in our support. The Foundation partners with organizations like Leading Educators , which works closely with local school districts to improve instructional leadership and academic outcomes. Their focus on building teacher capacity through customized professional development and coaching support is important to preserve as long-term stability of federal funds remain uncertain. Professional development is not a luxury for educators, but rather, it is an imperative tool that ensures they are equipped to meet diverse student needs and create inclusive, meaningful learning environments.

The Foundation also invests significantly in out-of-schooltime programming. Reflecting the core tenets of high-quality OST, partners such as Grandville Avenue Arts +Humanities, Boys & Girls Club of Grand Rapids, Camp Blodgett, and STEM Greenhouse offer structured programs that combine academic support with mentoring and hands-on experiences in the arts, literacy, and STEM(science, technology, engineering, and math). These programs promote positive youth development and create spaces where young people feel a strong sense of belonging. Furthermore, OST programming helps fill crucial gaps during non-school hours by providing parents and caregivers with low-cost/fee-free activities for their children; in some cases, organizations are also connecting families to other available community resources.

In addition to supporting direct service programs, the Foundation invests in systems-level work through partnerships with the Michigan Afterschool Partnership(MASP)
and Our Community’s Children (OCC), a public-private collaboration between the City of Grand Rapid sand Grand Rapids Public Schools. Together, MASP and OCC are working to ensure that every child in Kent County has access to high-quality OST opportunities. They bring together community partners to strengthen programming through professional development and resource sharing and coordinated advocacy for sustainable funding and supportive policies.

As our education partners lead with determination to continue programs and fight for the restoration of stable funding, the Steelcase Foundation is unwavering in our commitment to helping them stay focused on their core missions. We believe every child deserves an environment that recognizes and nurtures their inherent brilliance, and we will continue investing in the people and programs that uplift learners, empower educators, and strengthen communities. We invite you to stand with us in supporting these and other public education and OST community partners. This may be a time of uncertainty across the education landscape, but we believe in the power of community to offer light and direction, even in these most challenging moments.

In partnership,
Trudy Ngo-Brown
Program Officer