Our Story
At Michaels, we share the vision that our residential communities can be a beautiful place to call home, as well as a launching pad for people to move to the next level of their lives. We believe in doing well by doing the extraordinary and that means investing in people.
Michael Levitt, our founder and chairman — and the Mike in Michaels–always says that education is the most effective investment we can make, so him and his wife Pat founded The Michaels Organization Educational Foundation in 1991. Every year since, the foundation has bestowed college scholarships to residents of our rental communities.
The Foundation was the first of its kind in the affordable housing industry when it was established and since its inception, the program has expanded to include residents of Michaels’ military and student living communities, and is monumental to The Michaels Organization’s mission of Creating Communities that Lift Lives.
For Resident Scholars
Scholarship recipients are eligible to receive grants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, which can be used toward educational expenses at any accredited college, university, or vocational training school in the nation. Scholarships are awarded annually, and students may reapply each year of their undergraduate education for continuing grants.
Affordable and Military Programs
Applications for the Affordable and Military Program are now open! Every year, hundreds of Michaels Scholars from the company’s military and affordable properties are awarded funds that can be used toward higher education at any accredited college, university, or vocational training program in the country. Senior residents are also encouraged to apply for $500 grants that can be used toward continuing education courses.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION
Important dates and deadlines:
February 3: Application forms available at all offices of The Michaels Organization.
March 6: Suggested deadline for college students to request grade transcripts from their registrars in order to assure that part of the application will be received prior to April 14, 2023.
April 14: Final deadline for all parts of the application for a 2023 The Michaels Educational Foundation Grant. Mail the application form, references, essay, and grade transcripts to Dr. Bruce W. Johnson, The Michaels Educational Foundation, P.O. Box 90708, Camden, NJ 08101.
June 12: All applicants notified of the outcome status of their application.
June 23: Acceptance forms must be returned by this date if grant recipients wish to accept the offer of a scholarship. Grants not accepted by this date will be awarded to other applicants.
July 31: Scholarship checks, made payable to post-secondary institutions, will be mailed via U.S. mail directly to the post-secondary institution on behalf of the scholarship recipient to help pay for the student’s 2023-24 school year costs.
Student Living Scholarship Program
The Student Living Scholarship Program is now closed. Applications will reopen in September 2023. Students who reside at an on- or off-campus apartment community that is owned or managed by Michaels Student Living are encouraged to apply for this scholarship. The Scholars always represent a diverse group of individuals from all walks of life. Though their backgrounds and interests are all different, their dedication and drive for furthering their education and focusing on their future are all equivalent. Undergraduate, graduate and doctorate students who live at a Michaels community are eligible to apply for this spectacular honor.
Donate
To make Michaels’ deep commitment to giving back possible, foundation funds are raised throughout the year and come from contributions made by companies and private individuals throughout our business network. All donations are then matched $2 for every $1 by The Michaels Organization’s Founder and Chairman, Michael J. Levitt, and his wife, Pat Levitt. All life-changing donations go on to make a invaluable impact on our residents.
To donate any time of the year, please use this secure online link to do so: Click Here
Or you can text to donate by using the information below
Text to Donate: Text TMOEF to 202-858-1233

Learn more about our annual Golf Tournament
Open PDFMichaels Employee Scholarship Program
Click here to download your reference form!
Click here for important information!
Application is available below.
The Michaels Employee Scholarship Program is now officially open for the 2023/2024 academic year and is available to children of eligible Michaels employees. The program offers financial scholarships to distinguished students who are pursuing post-secondary education by attending college or a trade/professional school. Dependents of eligible employees who are 26 or younger with a high school diploma or GED are all invited to apply.
For their children or dependents to be eligible for this program, Michaels teammates must be employed full-time, with a household income below $200,000.
This year, the application window opens March 3rd and all full-time employees should receive a letter in the mail announcing the start of the application process that includes a link to the online application. Official grade transcripts showing students’ grades through the fall 2022 semester and a copy of the summary page of their 2022 federal tax return must be included in the application.
Mike Levitt, our founder and chairman, always says that education is the most effective investment we can make. One of the few programs of its kind in the nation, the Michaels Employees Scholarship Program is fully funded by Mike and his wife Pat. The Levitts created the program in 2008 and have awarded hundreds of Michaels employees’ children since then.
This year’s applications are due Friday, May 19th by 10:00 PM EST.
Best of luck to all students who apply!
Investing In What Matters

12 Million Dollars
Since 1990, The Michaels Organization Educational Foundation has awarded $12 million in scholarship funds.

3,800 Scholars
A total of 3,800 scholars have been awarded grants to use towards their educational pursuits.

32 Years
For 32 years we have been committed to investing in our residents' futures, and we'll continue to change lives for many more years to come.
Thank You for Supporting Michaels Scholars!








Residents of Michaels Communities Awarded $1.5 Million in Scholarships
