GRAND RAPIDS – The Grand Rapids Public Museum announce it has been awarded a generous grant of $300,000 from the Steelcase Foundation to support the GRPM Immerse Program. This grant will provide critical funding for the program, allowing the Museum to continue offering immersive educational experiences to schools in West Michigan.
The Steelcase Foundation’s $300,000 grant will be distributed over three years, providing essential operational funding for the GRPM Immerse Program. These funds will support program evaluation, professional development for participating teachers, program planning, scheduling, and coordination. The grant will also help offset the program’s operational costs, ensuring financial accessibility to more schools.
“We are thrilled to support the Immerse program at the Grand Rapids Public Museum through this grant,” said Daniel Williams, President of the Steelcase Foundation. “Immerse provides accessible, high-quality learning experiences that align strongly with our mission.”
The GRPM Immerse Program is a significant and innovative educational initiative, providing a unique week-long learning experience for approximately 52 classes each year. Participating teachers collaborate with Museum educators to integrate exhibits and artifacts into their curriculum, emphasizing storytelling, diversity, and problem-solving skills. The program provides professional development for teachers, access to museum resources throughout the school year, and culminates in an Education Showcase to share student projects.
“We are so grateful to receive this generous grant from the Steelcase Foundation,” said Stephanie Ogren, Vice President of Science & Education at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. “The Immerse Program is a cornerstone of our educational offerings, and this funding will allow us to continue providing impactful experiences for students and teachers in our community.”
Aligned with the Museum’s mission, the Immerse Program promotes accessible, high-quality learning experiences. It incorporates Universal Design for learning, catering to diverse backgrounds and learning styles. Furthermore, it offers arts and culture opportunities that enhance youth development, allowing students to connect with artifacts, history, and their community.
For more information about the GRPM Immerse Program and the Grand Rapids Public Museum, please visit grpm.org/immerse.
