MiSTEM Offers Up to $50,000 in Grants to Help Educators Create Innovative STEM Learning Experiences

LANSING, MI —  The MiSTEM Network invites educational partners to apply for up to $50,000 in 2025 MiSTEM Playbook Mini Grants aimed at empowering Michigan educators, schools and community partners to design innovative 3P (Project, Problem, and Place Based) STEM learning experiences that spark curiosity, deepen transferable skills and build stronger community connections. A total of 16 grants will be awarded through the MiSTEM Playbook mini grants.

By supporting meaningful, community-engaged STEM experiences, the MiSTEM Playbook Mini Grant helps students see STEM as relevant to their lives today and as a pathway to future careers in Michigan’s growing innovation economy. It empowers young people to learn by doing, lead with curiosity and contribute to a prosperous Michigan.

“Preparing Michigan students for the high-demand careers of tomorrow starts with giving them hands-on, real-world learning experiences today,” said Megan Schrauben, MiSTEM Network Executive Director. “These grants help educators bring STEM learning to life in ways that connect directly to Michigan’s growing industries—from advanced manufacturing to renewable energy and construction. By investing in innovative classroom experiences, we’re building a stronger, more resilient talent pipeline that keeps opportunity and innovation thriving across our state.”

Until 11:59 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, Michigan Intermediate School Districts (ISDs), Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESAs), Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and MiSTEM Fiscal Agencies are eligible to apply. Tribes and tribal community organizations may apply with an identified eligible fiduciary (ISD, RESA, LEA, or MiSTEM Fiscal Agency). Applications that demonstrate collaboration among community partners across all learning spaces are strongly encouraged.

What is 3P learning?

• Project-Based Learning is where students design solutions and share what they create with their communities.
• Problem-Based Learning is where students investigate real challenges such as local water quality or mobility access.
• Place-Based Learning is where instruction is rooted in local environments and partnerships with organizations and industry leaders. These approaches strengthen student voice, build career awareness from the earliest grades and provide opportunities to co-create solutions with community experts, families and STEM professionals.

In partnership with Michigan State University, these mini grants will “expand opportunities for educators to be innovative,” said Dr. Stefanie Marshall, Associate Professor of Science Education at Michigan State University, who will serve as the Director of the MiSTEM grant. “This funding is an opportunity to bridge local STEM innovations in K-12, professional learning, STEM partners and pathways to various STEM opportunities across Michigan.”

Thanks to the generous support from partners like General Motors, the MiSTEM Playbook Mini Grant invests in educators, schools and community partners who are bringing 3P learning to life.

An informational webinar on the grant and the application portal will be held on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 4:30 p.m. The webinar recordings will be shared online. To register for the webinars, and to learn more about the grants and apply, visit the MiSTEM grants website.

These materials were developed under a MiSTEM grant awarded by the Michigan Department of Education and a grant awarded by General Motors.