Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (WIN), MI

Covering 22 counties, Michigan's Saginaw Bay Watershed feeds America's largest contiguous freshwater coastal wetland system with more than 175 inland lakes and 7,000 miles of rivers. It is also home to 138 endangered or threatened species.

The Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network is a collaborative effort of communities, conservationists, foundations and businesses to enhance the natural resources of the Saginaw Bay Watershed and create a more sustainable future for all its inhabitants.

With help from the Fund, Saginaw Bay WIN identifies issues, sets priorities and develops projects designed to steward natural resources, strengthen local economies and nurture agriculture and nature-based tourism in the region.

To date, WIN and its partners have provided more than $4 million to support projects that help to identify the Saginaw Bay Watershed as a sustainable community. Funding is provided for projects that create opportunities to connect people, resources, organizations and programs. Priority is given to projects that are innovative, cross governmental boundaries and attempt to balance the environment, economy and the community. WIN grants have been matched by more than $6 million.

Ten area foundations and corporations work together as a network to support WIN projects: Bay Area Community Foundation, Consumers Energy Foundation, Harry A. and Margaret D. Towsley Foundation, Midland Area Community Foundation, Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, Saginaw Community Foundation, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation, The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, S.C. Johnson Fund and the Cook Family Foundation. These foundations and corporations contribute $300,000 per year to support WIN investments.

View descriptions of the 2008 WIN grants »

View the 2008 WIN news announcement »