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Fund Descriptions

Institute of Science Fund
The Institute of Science Fund is the most impactful and powerful way to support Cranbrook Institute of Science’s mission, fueling exhibitions, top-notch educational programs, and the preservation of nearly 200,000 artifacts. Your gift to this fund ensures the continued growth and evolution of the Institute, enhancing our museum spaces, and providing transformative STEAM learning experiences to families and students across Michigan for years to come.

The Michael D. Stafford Freshwater Forum Fund
Celebrate Dr. Mike Stafford’s legacy by supporting the Freshwater Forum, which powers Water on the Go!, delivering environmental programs to K-12 students statewide. The Forum also supports the Great Lakes Effect planetarium show, community "Water Festivals," including our own Rouge River Water Festival, and more. Since its creation, it has impacted over 500,000 Michiganders, promoting stewardship for the conservation of the Great Lakes. Your support ensures these vital programs continue to inspire future generations.

Astronomy Fund
The Astronomy Fund provides continuous support for the Institute’s Observatory, Acheson Planetarium, Acheson Mobile Planetarium, and astronomy-related programs. Funds allow the Institute’s astronomy team to keep its onsite and offsite features and educational content relevant and innovative, and to ensure critical hardware, software, and infrastructural improvements and enhancements can be made each year.

Cranbrook Cares
The Cranbrook Cares initiative brings young cancer patients and their families to the Institute of Science at a time when they need it most – during their treatment for cancer. Through this unique program, young cancer patients and their families enjoy the Institute privately several times each year, away from the crowds, with transportation and lunch provided.

Institute Education and Outreach
The Education and Outreach Fund provides educational programs via field trips to CIS and outreach programs in classrooms across the state. Dollars offset the cost of transportation, museum admission, curriculum development, program delivery, and supplies for thousands of participating students from underserved communities each year.

Earth Science Fund
The Earth Science Fund supports efforts related to storing, curating, and utilizing the Institute’s earth science collections. Additionally, dollars allow for the acquisition of earth science specimens for inclusion in the Institute’s permanent collection. New acquisitions can include specimens from the fields of geology, mineralogy, and paleontology.

Institute Exhibit Fund
The Exhibits Fund at Cranbrook Institute of Science creates a continuous foundation of support to remediate, rejuvenate, and renovate the gallery spaces within the museum in terms of content, theme, and style. Dollars allow the Institute’s exhibition team to keep its onsite features relevant and innovative, and to ensure critical hardware, software, and infrastructural improvements and enhancements can be made each year.

Send a Child to CIS Camp
The Send a Child to CIS Camp fund provides need-based scholarships for students to attend the Institute’s annual Explore Camp experience. Explore Camps give inquisitive campers the support they need to learn through doing. Campers work together to tackle activities, experiments, and investigations as they explore popular science topics in a unique and safe environment. A gift of $495 will cover the cost of one student attending a week of camp.

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