Search Through Foundation Grants for Nonprofits in Detroit, Michigan in the U.S.

Who We Are

The Creag Foundation is a private grant making foundation established in 2009 in Woodinville, Washington.

The founders of the Creag Foundation believe that meaningful change can only be achieved through hard work, creativity and passion. They also understand the practical mechanisms that allow charitable organizations to succeed and grow. As a group, Creag Foundation principals are dedicated to helping today’s most innovative programs improve the human condition in a wide variety of ways.

Our Focus

The broad purpose of the Foundation is to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations who are innovators in the field of human services. Our particular focus is on smaller organizations that are starting out or established organizations that are looking for funding to take their organization in a new direction.

What We Fund

/ What We Fund

The Creag Foundation is focused on innovation in the industry. We will consider proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations that are finding new ways to address societal issues facing the nonprofit community. Applicants must have held 501(c)(3) status for one year before submitting. If your organization has held 501(c)(3) status for over a year, and your believe that your organization has a new approach to an existing social problem or is addressing a previously unaddressed social issue, you are welcome to contact us and request that we consider your organization for a funding opportunity.

Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation

The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation continues the legacy of two lifelong Southeast Michigan residents who were deeply committed to their community. Since 2008, the Foundation has awarded over $180 million to initiatives Fred and Barbara cared about most—supporting the environment, arts and culture, jazz education, sustainable business, and Alzheimer’s research.

In 2022, the Foundation made the strategic decision to spend down all assets by 2034, enabling bold investments in projects that address pressing needs and drive lasting change. It remains dedicated to working closely with its partners, fostering collaboration and continuing its commitment to improving the health of communities.

Our Mission, Vision, and Values

The Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation envisions a flourishing, healthy, and resilient Great Lakes ecosystem and a culturally vibrant, sustainable Southeast Michigan. Toward this end, we strengthen the cultural and environmental organizations that share our vision to make this a reality for generations to come.

Grant Program Area: Arts and Culture

Strengthen Detroit's jazz culture and mentorship traditions by:

• Investing in professional development and opportunities for artists, teachers, teaching artists, and nonprofit staff.
• Providing young musicians pursuing jazz with program participation, lessons, and additional supports.
• Developing future audiences through music instruction and activities that promote an appreciation for jazz.

Strengthen the resiliency and development of arts and culture organizations, leaders, and the sector in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties by:

• Supporting financial stability through earned income generation, reserve development, and best practices for financial management.
• Improving operations through workforce retention, leadership and staff development, system improvements, capacity building, and operationalizing equity.
• Promoting artistic and operational innovation and collaboration, advocacy, audience development, and equitable practices.

Mission

The mission of the Hearst Foundations is to identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States can build healthy, productive and satisfying lives. Through its grantmaking, the Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of focus—culture, education, health and social service—and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support.

Whether providing a scholarship to a deserving student, supporting a rural health clinic or bringing artists into schools so children can see firsthand the beauty of the arts, the Foundations’ focus is consistent: to help those in need, those underserved and those underrepresented in society. Since the Foundations were formed in the 1940s, the scale and capabilities of the grant making have changed, but the mission has not.

Culture Grant

The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer meaningful programs in the arts and sciences, prioritizing those that enable engagement by young people and create a lasting and measurable impact. The Foundations also fund select programs nurturing and developing artistic talent. Supported organizations include arts schools, ballets, museums, operas, performing arts centers, symphonies and theaters.

Funding Priorities in Culture

In the recent past, 25% of total funding has been allocated to Culture. Organizations with budgets over $10 million have received 60% of the funding in Culture.

The Hearst Foundations are only able to fund approximately 25% of all grant requests, of which about 80% is directed to prior grantees and about 20% is targeted toward new grantees.

Types of Support

Program, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

The Skillman Foundation is a Detroit-based philanthropic organization. Through grantmaking and partnerships, the Foundation supports People Powered Education—the power of students, parents, and educators to modernize the education system in lockstep with policymakers and influencers across Michigan.

Founded in 1960, The Skillman Foundation has granted out more than $775 million and has served as a vocal advocate to strengthen K-12 education, afterschool programming, child-centered neighborhoods, youth and community leadership, and racial equity and justice.

President’s Discretionary Fund

The President’s Discretionary Fund is a $1M annual grant fund for small, one-time grants that support 501c3 nonprofits that serve Detroit youth but fall outside The Skillman Foundation’s grantmaking priorities.  

The fund is not designed to provide continuous support each year to an organization. Grants are typically $2,500 – $10,000 and fund efforts such as:

• Pilot programs or one-time projects
• Projects focused within systems adjacent to education (e.g., health, housing, and justice) that support Detroit youth
• Fundraisers or other event sponsorships (Due to limited funds and high demand in this category, these requests are infrequently funded.) 

Our Mission

The Tony Robbins Foundation is a nonprofit organization created to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of people often forgotten.

We’re dedicated to creating positive changes in the lives of youth, seniors, the hungry, homeless and the imprisoned population, all who need a boost envisioning a happier and deeply satisfying way of life. Our passionate staff, generous donors and caring group of international volunteers provide the vision, inspiration, and resources needed to empower these important members of our society.

Grants

Dedicated to meeting challenges within the global community, creating solutions and taking action, The Tony Robbins Foundation provides monetary donations to various organizations around the world. Funding requests are evaluated on an ongoing basis. We look for organizations that align with our mission to empower individuals and organizations to make a significant difference in the quality of life of those often forgotten.

Americana Foundation Grant

The Americana Foundation was established by Adolph and Ginger Meyer to support, through philanthropy, their varied personal interests. A Detroit area industrialist, Adolph Meyer believed in the American ideals of hard work and self-reliance and held a deep respect for early American farmers, craftsmen, and artists. Ginger Meyer was an avid gardener, award-winning floral arranger, and an active contributor of time and funds to a variety of charitable causes.

This dedication to education and agriculture includes preservation of their 160-acre historic farmstead in southeast Michigan, Tollgate Farm, which provides unique hands-on learning on a working farm in an urban setting. 

The Foundation provides its support mainly through financial grants. Some limited technical assistance in the form of consulting services to the board, staff and volunteers of recipient organizations is available. The technical assistance is provided to assist the recipient group in organizational management and strategic planning.

Our Mission

The Americana Foundation supports the sustainable development of agriculture and community food systems, the protection of natural resources, and an inclusive narrative of early American art and history.

Program Focus: Agriculture and Natural Resources

Adolph and Ginger Meyer believed that farmers were the backbone of America and that farming and the production of food “always will be a required function if any of us are to survive." The Meyers had a lifelong interest in honoring America’s agrarian traditions and were committed to ensuring that people in Michigan maintain a close connection with the land, and with farmers and other producers of our food.

Over the years, Americana has supported projects and programs designed to create rural and urban landscapes in Michigan where the community is connected to the food system, land, and nature; where agricultural producers are prosperous and focused on sustainability, and where agriculture and natural resources support public health, diverse business opportunities and livable communities for all.

Geographic Focus: Geographic Focus: Nonprofit organizations doing work that impacts Michigan are eligible to apply.

Our Current Focus

Our current priority in the Agriculture and Food Systems program area is to support projects and programs that work to transform food systems in Michigan so that they focus on growers, processors, and distributors and provide healthy and culturally appropriate food through ecologically sound and sustainable methods. The goal is for all Michiganders - rural and urban - to be connected to a sustainable local food economy. The program area seeks to benefit those who traditionally have lacked power over and resources to access healthy locally or regionally produced food.

Example Projects

• Connecting Michigan farms and food businesses with new markets, consumers, and communities.
• Empowering Michigan communities to shape the food systems that provide their food.
• Creating opportunities for small-scale and marginalized Michigan farmers and food businesses.
• Supporting systems designed to increase access to healthy, culturally appropriate, locally grown food for Michigan communities.
• Increasing the resilience of the food system in Michigan to the impacts of climate change.

About KIP:D+ (Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus) 

KIP:D+ is a grant program that supports nonprofits in their work to improve the quality of life and strengthen the fabric of community in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. The program is a partnership between The Kresge Foundation, Michigan Community Resources and Co.act Detroit.

Since 2014, The Kresge Foundation has committed over $12 million to fund transformative projects that are shaped by the communities most impacted, building on the strengths and uniqueness of Detroit’s neighborhoods.

Since 2017, Michigan Community Resources (MCR) has worked alongside Kresge to shape the grant program and directly with KIP:D+ applicants and grantees, providing technical assistance, convening cohorts and creating space for grantees to share lessons, attend workshops and engage in conversation.

In 2021, KIP:D+ expanded its geographic reach to Highland Park and Hamtramck, and Co.act Detroit became the administrator of the grant program.

What kind of projects does KIP:D+ fund?

Projects in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park neighborhoods that advance neighborhood priorities and reflect the culture, history and demographics of residents served. We support inclusive, collaborative processes that authentically engage community members in planning, design, and implementation as defined by the residents. KIP:D+ seeks:

• Organizations based in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park serving residents and neighborhoods of those cities,
• Organizations that are reflective of the community served in leadership and organizational demographics,
• Projects that support the vision and creativity of residents in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods or activate something new.
• We define inclusivity as providing equal access to opportunities for those who might be otherwise excluded, like:
  • people who belong to minority racial or ethnic groups
  • the elderly
  • people with disabilities
  • LGBTQ+ individuals
  • people of a lower socioeconomic status
  • those impacted by incarceration

In addition to funding for Planning + Implementation, or Implementation projects, KIP:D+ grantees also get:

• 1-on-1 technical assistance and support from Michigan Community Resources,
• The opportunity to be a part of a unique group of KIP:D+ grantees who learn from and share with one another.

Planning + Implementation Grants

Planning and Implementation Grants are designed to help organizations complete plans and get to work on their projects. If your organization needs a little more help with planning, but can complete a project within 24 months, these grants may be for you!

This year, we anticipate awarding approximately 10-20 total Planning + Implementation Grants and Implementation Grants. Grantees may receive up to $150,000. The grant size may vary based on the unique needs of each project.

About

The Michigan Health Endowment Fund is a philanthropic foundation that works to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents while reducing healthcare costs.

The Health Fund supports organizations across Michigan, from grassroots groups addressing local health challenges to large agencies working in every county. From the urban streetscapes of downtown Detroit all the way to the rural corners of the Upper Peninsula, our partners are doing innovative, evidence-based work to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents.

The Health Fund views capacity building as supporting nonprofits to identify, invest in, and carry out specific changes that they believe will help better achieve and sustain their missions. This grant program is unique among Health Fund initiatives because it invests in the core functions of organizations and their collaboratives, rather than specific project-related objectives.

The intent of this grant program is:

• To assist health-focused, community-based organizations in becoming stronger, more effective institutions within their community, allowing them to spend more time and energy focused on their mission and collaborative efforts.
• To increase or improve collaboration among providers, service agencies, the business community, and community-based organizations within a community to address health issues in a sustainable way.

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan was established in 1984 to ensure residents in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston and St. Clair counties can thrive. Since then, we have grown to be among the top 25 community foundations in the United States. We’ve distributed more than $1.4 billion through more than 85,000 grants to nonprofits in fields as diverse as arts, children and youth, economic stability, health and human services, and the environment.

We convene partners to solve regional challenges and serve as a trusted philanthropic advisor for donors who want to do good.

Robert Stempel Scholarship

The purpose of the Robert Stempel Memorial Scholarship is to provide educational scholarship support for students at selected Detroit high schools, including Cass Technical High School, Detroit School of Arts, Renaissance High School, University Prep Science and Math High School and University Prep High School.

Background

Mrs. Patricia A. Stempel established the Robert Stempel Memorial Scholarship to provide college financial support for the students of select Detroit high schools who plan a career in science and/or engineering.

Payments are limited to tuition and fees, books and supplies and room and board expense. The Robert Stempel Memorial Scholarship is a one-time award.

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan was established in 1984 to ensure residents in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston and St. Clair counties can thrive. Since then, we have grown to be among the top 25 community foundations in the United States. We’ve distributed more than $1.4 billion through more than 85,000 grants to nonprofits in fields as diverse as arts, children and youth, economic stability, health and human services, and the environment.

We convene partners to solve regional challenges and serve as a trusted philanthropic advisor for donors who want to do good.

VVA Detroit Chapter #9 Descendants of Vietnam Veterans Scholarship Fund

The purpose of the V VA Detroit Chapter #9 Descendants of Vietnam Veterans Scholarship Fund is to provide post-secondary educational scholarships for students between the ages of 16 and 30 who are the natural or adopted direct lineal descendent of a qualifying Vietnam veteran.

Initially, the Fund will award up to $1,500 for part-time students (at least 6 credit hours) and up to $3,000 for full-time students (at least 12 credit hours). The scholarship awards will be renewable for each year of attendance, up to four years.

If selected for this scholarship, applicants must be able to promptly provide the following:

• Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) with social security numbers redacted.
• A notarized affidavit certifying your relationship with the Vietnam veteran. The Community Foundation will provide the form.

Payments are limited to tuition and fees, books and supplies, and room and board expenses. For students attending a trade school, tools and other similar items are considered eligible expenses.

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan was established in 1984 to ensure residents in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston and St. Clair counties can thrive. Since then, we have grown to be among the top 25 community foundations in the United States. We’ve distributed more than $1.4 billion through more than 85,000 grants to nonprofits in fields as diverse as arts, children and youth, economic stability, health and human services, and the environment.

We convene partners to solve regional challenges and serve as a trusted philanthropic advisor for donors who want to do good.

Winnifred Stinson Basile Scholarship

The purpose of the Winnifred Stinson Basile Scholarship is to provide educational scholarship support to business students at private accredited educational institutions located in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Examples include, but are not limited to, Baker College, Davenport University, Lawrence Technological University, Madonna University, Rochester College, the University of Detroit-Mercy, and Walsh College.

The Winnifred Stinson Basile Scholarship is a one‐time award, though students may reapply understanding that it is a competitive process each year and there is no guarantee of an additional award.

Louise Tuller Miller Trust

Grants support charitable organizations serving Metropolitan Detroit and Traverse City, Michigan.

Program Areas

• Education,
• Religious,
• Scientific,
• Animal Welfare

About

The Michigan Health Endowment Fund is a philanthropic foundation that works to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents while reducing healthcare costs.

The Health Fund supports organizations across Michigan, from grassroots groups addressing local health challenges to large agencies working in every county. From the urban streetscapes of downtown Detroit all the way to the rural corners of the Upper Peninsula, our partners are doing innovative, evidence-based work to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents.

Behavioral Health RFP

The Health Fund’s Behavioral Health Initiative aims to improve access to high-quality mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care for Michigan residents with an emphasis on children and older adults. As the initiative works to improve access to care, we endeavor to bridge health equity gaps, advance integrated care, increase cost-effectiveness, and strengthen the behavioral health workforce.

Funding

You may apply for a one- or two-year grant. The Behavioral Health Initiative anticipates making grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000. We welcome proposals toward the smaller end of that range.

Priorities

The Behavioral Health Initiative is interested in funding new projects that address:

• Implementation of innovative care delivery models
• Multi-sector responses aimed at developing and strengthening collaboration to support efficient entry to care
• Use of innovative technology to improve access to care and/or quality of care
• Implementation of team-based approaches to care, including integration at the point of care, sharing health information among providers, and increased provider consultation
• Projects that focus on behavioral health improvements for foster and adopted children

About KIP:D+ (Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus) 

KIP:D+ is a grant program that supports nonprofits in their work to improve the quality of life and strengthen the fabric of community in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. The program is a partnership between The Kresge Foundation, Michigan Community Resources and Co.act Detroit.

Since 2014, The Kresge Foundation has committed over $12 million to fund transformative projects that are shaped by the communities most impacted, building on the strengths and uniqueness of Detroit’s neighborhoods.

Since 2017, Michigan Community Resources (MCR) has worked alongside Kresge to shape the grant program and directly with KIP:D+ applicants and grantees, providing technical assistance, convening cohorts and creating space for grantees to share lessons, attend workshops and engage in conversation.

In 2021, KIP:D+ expanded its geographic reach to Highland Park and Hamtramck, and Co.act Detroit became the administrator of the grant program.

What kind of projects does KIP:D+ fund?

Projects in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park neighborhoods that advance neighborhood priorities and reflect the culture, history and demographics of residents served. We support inclusive, collaborative processes that authentically engage community members in planning, design, and implementation as defined by the residents. KIP:D+ seeks:

• Organizations based in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park serving residents and neighborhoods of those cities,
• Organizations that are reflective of the community served in leadership and organizational demographics,
• Projects that support the vision and creativity of residents in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods or activate something new.
• We define inclusivity as providing equal access to opportunities for those who might be otherwise excluded, like:
  • people who belong to minority racial or ethnic groups
  • the elderly
  • people with disabilities
  • LGBTQ+ individuals
  • people of a lower socioeconomic status
  • those impacted by incarceration

In addition to funding for Planning + Implementation, or Implementation projects, KIP:D+ grantees also get:

• 1-on-1 technical assistance and support from Michigan Community Resources,
• The opportunity to be a part of a unique group of KIP:D+ grantees who learn from and share with one another.

Implementation Grants

Implementation Grants are designed to help organizations turn existing plans into action. If your organization has done all the planning, but needs support and funding to complete a project within 24 months, this grant may be for you!

In 2024, we anticipate awarding approximately 10-20 total Planning + Implementation Grants and Implementation Grants. Grantees may receive up to $150,000. The grant size may vary based on the unique needs of each project.

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

Annual Grant Focus

Each year, we seek to partner with and support non-profit organizations making an impact in the focus areas listed here.  The focus areas for 2025 are:

• Animal Wellbeing: We are dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that nurture compassion and respect for all living animals. We must have animal-focused organizations that advocate for animal rights and provide humane treatment across all spectrums.
• Early Childhood Education: We are looking for schools that are providing young children with a creative and balanced approach to education. Things we love in early childhood curriculums:
  • Life Skills
  • Collaboration With Their Peers and Teachers   
  • Having Fun   
  • Montessori Teachings   
  • Project Based Teachings   
  • Diversity   
  • More Time Outside   
  • Less Screen Time
• Teachers: Teachers are essential to providing children with the best possible education. We must invest in their future and are always looking for teams that help them succeed in educating future generations.
• Get Outside: Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure, and more! We support organizations that facilitate and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities. 

At Ally, our purpose is to advance economic mobility and reduce inequities through innovative philanthropy and programing that inspires social change, with a focus on:

• Affordable Housing
  • To impact affordable housing, we make grants to nonprofit organizations that focus on expanding access to quality affordable housing and enabling pathways toward permanent housing solutions.
• Financial Education
  • To impact financial education, we make grants to nonprofit organizations that focus on providing underserved communities with the tools and resources that address key financial concepts to help end disparities and advance economic mobility.
• Workforce Development
  • To impact workforce development, we make grants to nonprofit organizations that focus on providing individuals with access to college and career pathways that will help advance economic mobility in underserved communities.

Our philanthropic giving strategy is aligned to these focus areas to increase impact through purposeful collaboration and community engagement.

History

The Mary Thompson Home for Old Ladies was founded in 1876 by Mrs. David Thompson and a group of 31 philanthropic Detroit area women. Its purpose was to provide a home for ladies 60 or older – a residence for their “golden years.” The building, designed by George Mason and built in 1884, still stands at the corner of Hancock and Cass Avenue. It had 40 rooms and was able to house 31 residents, who were able to furnish their own rooms for their comfort. There was an infirmary, and common sitting rooms on each floor. Annual expenses per resident were about $1500. The Home was also supported by an endowment fund and donations.

Activities were arranged, such as travel talks, musical programs, hymn singing, and religious services. Meals were provided and residents could invite guests. Funeral expenses of residents were paid by the Home.

The Board of Trustees and the staff made great efforts to make the Thompson Home a warm and secure place for the ladies who resided there, and worked to provide a homelike, non-institutional environment. A past President wrote, “Let us try to make this home a place where love, beauty, and joy will abide always, and where our ladies may live their lives comfortably, with pride and dignity.”

In the 1970s, the Board decided to close the doors of the Home, and the remaining residents moved to other senior communities in the Detroit area. The building was donated to Wayne State University, and the present-day Mary Thompson Foundation was created in 1979. Today the Foundation’s purpose is to provide aid, assistance and services to the elderly through funding.

Our Mission

The Mary Thompson Foundation is an organization consisting of a Board of Trustees which allocates small grants to other organizations in need. We abide by our Mission Statement which states that we provide aid and assistance to the elderly through our funding, mostly throughout the Michigan area.

Impact

Over the years, the Mary Thompson Foundation has donated many different types of grants to organizations, all of which benefit our senior communities in several diverse ways.

Some of these include: 

• Medical (hospital programs, nursing care, etc.) 
• Church programs, libraries, universities, centers, cemeteries, etc.
• Entertainment (music, theaters, symphonies, etc.)
• Food programs and transportation
• Animals (comfort/companionship to seniors)
• Accounting aids

The Mary Thompson Foundation is proud to be a beneficial part in giving comfort and aid to our seniors.

About

The Michigan Health Endowment Fund is a philanthropic foundation that works to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents while reducing healthcare costs.

The Health Fund supports organizations across Michigan, from grassroots groups addressing local health challenges to large agencies working in every county. From the urban streetscapes of downtown Detroit all the way to the rural corners of the Upper Peninsula, our partners are doing innovative, evidence-based work to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents.

MIHEF Community Health Impact RFP

The Community Health Impact program supports bold ideas that empower communities to solve their most pressing health challenges. Grantees are health-focused and community-based, and include grassroots organizations, neighborhood groups, and small to medium nonprofits. They’re working across issues ranging from oral health to health literacy, but they all share a commitment to solutions driven by those most affected by a particular issue.

These organizations are reducing health disparities, improving health equity, building community-wellness, increasing social integration for marginalized populations, bolstering community support systems, and expanding community engagement efforts. By responding to community needs and drawing on the expertise of lived experience, they’re building stronger, healthier communities throughout Michigan.  

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award recognizes outstanding nonprofit organizations in the United States that have shown exemplary leadership by facilitating partnerships with public, private or social sector leaders who are working together as equal partners, not as donors and recipients, to build a cohesive community that serves as a model for collaborating with others for the greater good.

Each year, the Mutual of America Foundation sponsors a national competition in which hundreds of organizations demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues.

Six organizations are selected by an independent committee to receive the Community Partnership Award.

• The Thomas J. Moran Award is given to the national award-winning program and includes $100,000 and a documentary video about the program.
• The Frances R. Hesselbein Award is given to a partnership that is addressing social challenges in more than one community, or which demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other communities. This recipient receives $75,000.
• Four other organizations are named Honorable Mention recipients for their programs, and each receives $50,000.

Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 262 partnerships from cities and towns across America. Like so many of our clients working in the nonprofit community, Mutual of America is dedicated to having a direct, positive impact on society.

Purpose

The Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) Charitable Foundation Fund supports grants to charitable organizations that make a lasting impact on the lives of children and youth in southeast Michigan.

Impact

The DADA Charitable Foundation Fund provides support to nonprofit organizations in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, St. Clair, Monroe and Livingston counties, with a primary focus on charitable organizations and activities that assist children and youth. The fund is supported by proceeds from the North American International Auto Show Charity Preview.

Since its inception in 1999, the DADA Charitable Foundation Fund has provided more than $6.4 million to support nonprofit organizations that are improving the lives of children and youth in southeast Michigan. This partnership is unique among auto trade associations nationally — a permanent legacy to benefit our region for generations to come.

Our Priorities

While the Community Foundation has a large footprint in terms of the types of organizations we fund, there are common priorities that we look for in any application, no matter how large or small, and no matter what topic area. While we do not expect that all of these priorities will be addressed in every application to the Community Foundation, we want to give you a sense of what kinds of lenses we look through when reviewing applications. Our current priorities include:

Sustainability

We view sustainability in two ways. First, we want to support projects and ideas tied to a longer term vision for an organization. We do not want to make grants for projects that end the moment the grant is over. We will look closely at the overall financial health of your organization, as well as your programmatic and fundraising visions. We will want to support you at key moments in time along your path as a growing organization —helping to put new strategies in place, or building out existing strategies in more comprehensive ways.

Regional Impact

We actively serve a seven-county area and think about issues from a regional perspective. While we know that every grant we make will not touch all seven counties, we are particularly interested in projects that serve a large portion of the region, build relationships across communities in the region, and/or serve to test a new model in a specific geography that could later be adopted by other nonprofit organizations in the region.

Leverage

We want our funds to help you leverage other dollars into your organization and for the region. As such, we look closely at proposals to understand what kind of leverage will occur.

Collaboration

Beyond leveraging dollars, we like to see good models, ideas and human resources leveraged as well. We encourage collaboration among nonprofit organizations and also between nonprofit and/or government entities when it makes sense.

The Center for Cooperative Media, a grant-funded program within the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University was founded in 2012 in response to the downsizing of New Jersey news organizations and the changes in the ownership of regional public media. These shifts in the news and information landscape hurt the volume of local news available in a state that has historically had limited news coverage, due to its proximity to the major metropolitan areas of New York City and Philadelphia. With 564 municipalities packed into a densely populated state, New Jersey was—and is—ripe for innovation in local journalism.

The mission of the Center for Cooperative Media is to grow and strengthen local journalism and support an informed society in New Jersey and beyond. The Center coordinates statewide and regional reporting, connecting more than 300 local news and information providers through its flagship project, the NJ News Commons. We offer innovative professional development seminars, with training sessions on topics such as data and investigative journalism, fact-checking, OPRA, podcasting, video production, digital sales, and business planning, among many others. We also offer one-on-one coaching. The Center’s research agenda is focused on issues impacting local journalism, especially collaboration and sustainability questions.

About Civic Science Media

At its core, civic science media is created when journalists and other storytellers work intentionally with diverse community members and scientists to collaboratively address issues of shared interest. Civic science media serves as an important bridge between scientists or scientific organizations and the people most impacted by scientific discovery, and promotes a dynamic conversation between scientists, media, and the public. The goal is both to inform and support active participation in solving or addressing community-identified concerns related to science, including climate change, public health, and artificial intelligence.

Civic Science Media Project Funding

The Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University is delighted to announce a funding opportunity for civic science media projects, thanks to support from the Rita Allen Foundation. The awards aim to accelerate civic science media collaborations across the United States with funding and coaching.

This is the second open call for pilot awards in support of projects that can bridge the gap between scientists, media, and communities, with a focus on increasing public participation in science, expanding public deliberation about emerging science and creating opportunities for science to be informed by diverse communities.

• The award builds on a global research project conducted in 2020 and 2021 by the Center that studied how and why journalists and civil society organizations around the world collaborate to achieve and increase impact. Led by Dr. Sarah Stonbely and funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the research showed that journalists have become more willing to partner with civil society organizations in order to achieve tangible impact on issues such as corruption, governance, climate and environment, and human rights.
• With new openness among journalists and media makers to partner with civil society and community organizations, rapid advances in scientific discovery and debate, and increased polarization across communities, there is an urgent need to create a culture of civic science — where all people feel a sense of belonging in, and benefit from, the practice of science so they can inform meaningfully deliberation about society's most pressing problems.
• Rita Allen Foundation recently published the industry’s first in-depth analysis of civic science media, in a report that highlights a broad range of civic science media initiatives from across the country. The landscape scan showcases a range of civic science media projects and insights from leaders in this emergent field; potential award applicants should familiarize themselves with the paper.

The Award

A total of 10 awards up to $15,000 each are available. This opportunity is not meant to fund long-term, multi-year partnerships, but rather short-term pilots that:

• Foster ongoing, multidirectional dialogue between media organizations, scientists, and local communities.
• Include direct community participation in the scientific and/or media-creation process, ensuring that local concerns and perspectives substantially influence the conversation.
• Enhance science literacy by making complex scientific topics more accessible and engaging.

In addition to funding, participants will receive hands-on coaching, including regular check-ins, peer-to-peer meetings, and tailored support to align goals, address challenges, and ensure robust and impactful community engagement.

Priority areas include artificial intelligence, climate science, and neuroscience, which align with the broader goals of the Rita Allen Foundation’s overall civic science program.

The awards are intended to cover the cost of the applicant’s and co-collaborator’s time, project materials, equipment, and associated production/editing costs to complete the project. Audience participation incentives are also encouraged; applicants should ensure they are not being extractive when it comes to involving members of the public.

Corporate Contributions

Community involvement and corporate citizenship are an example of Insperity’s mission in action. We are committed to helping the communities where we live and work because together, we know we can make great things happen.

Grants

Philanthropic grants are a strong part of our community outreach and aid institutions needing financial support to meet important service goals.

Event Sponsorship

Fundraising events are an important part of nonprofit support. Insperity provides event sponsorships to approved charities to assist them in meeting their financial and community goals.

Purpose

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds were created to provide permanent, endowed support for programs and initiatives that reflect the personal passions of Mr. Wilson. Those areas of support are: Caregiving, Design & Access, Youth Sports, and Grosse Pointe Community Assets.

Background

On November 18, 2015, The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation announced a series of grants to fund projects and initiatives that reflect the personal passions of the late Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., a Detroit native and the founder and longtime owner of the Buffalo Bills professional football team.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of southeastern Michigan and western New York, reflecting Mr. Wilson’s devotion to his hometown of Detroit and the people of greater Buffalo, home of his Bills franchise. Among the grants announced were funds to create the permanent Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation, to align with some of the key priority areas of the Foundation in perpetuity.

The Community Foundation is honored that The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation trustees, as part of their investments, have chosen to work with the Community Foundation in this way, to permanently support organizations and causes that Mr. Wilson cared about so deeply. The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Funds support grants in separate key areas that honor the lifetime interests of Mr. Wilson:

• Grosse Pointe Community Assets Fund: support for projects of anchor nonprofit organizations that provide services and experiences to residents of the 5 Grosse Pointe communities, home to Mr. Wilson during his lifetime.

Key Facts

• Individual grants from each of the funds will typically range between $10,000 – $25,000. Grants from the Access and Design Fund may be up to $50,000.
• Most grants will be for a 12-month period. However, applicants may identify other time frames that would be more beneficial to spend the grant over. For example, if it is more beneficial to the proposed project to spread the grant over an 18- or 24-month period, please simply state that in the application.

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation Vision

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation, "A Foundation for All", was established in 2002. It was begun in order to give a clear voice for those who wish to be a part of the many, worthy, forces for change in our world.

We are a foundation whose purpose is to look ahead towards the future, giving the past its due by remembering where we came from, and how much we can all accomplish together. We aim to make the critical difference on our planet by recognizing and having respect for our ever changing world. We respect all Life, the Environment, and all People, no matter who they are.

Helping Build Better Futures

Our mission is to deliver great value to our customers every day. For over four decades, our deep commitment to the principles of providing value and caring for others has helped define our culture. It extends beyond the walls of our stores, distribution centers, and offices, and into our local communities around the world. The intersection of these principles defines our global community mission:

Deliver great value to our communities by helping vulnerable families and children access the resources and opportunities they need to build a better future.

Our Social Impact Areas

We bring our community relations mission to life around the world by focusing our giving on four social impact areas where we believe we can have the most impact and are critical to helping families and children succeed and thrive.

Basic Needs

We are passionate about supporting nonprofit organizations that help fill critical basic needs such as a warm meal, clean clothing, and a safe place to sleep for vulnerable families.

Education & Training

Our efforts have focused on quality enrichment and extracurricular programs that provide skills, resources, and opportunities to support school and career success for children, teens, and young adults.

Patient Care & Research

We support organizations that deliver services to families and children facing health challenges and life-threatening illnesses.

Empowering Women

We support programs that provide services ranging from help for those fleeing domestic violence, to others that offer education, training, and job placement resources.

Detroit Arts Support provides multi-year operating support grants to arts organizations in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

DAS in supported by The Kresge Foundation, Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation, and Hudson Webber Foundation.

The fund was launched by the Kresge Foundation in 2007, and the Erb Family and Hudson-Webber foundations joined in 2010 and 2018, respectively. The fund is administered by CultureSource, a coalition of more than 170 nonprofit arts organizations in Southeast Michigan

For over 10 years, the Detroit Arts Support (DAS) initiative has provided unrestricted operating funding to arts and cultural organizations in the metro Detroit region. The program aims to strengthen the sector broadly through consistent support for a diverse set of organizations that contribute to the quality of life in metropolitan Detroit, and provide opportunities for creative expression to people of all backgrounds. 

General operating support is not tied to a specific initiative, allowing nonprofits to use these grants to support their day-to-day work, and lessen the impact of unexpected costs such as canceled gigs or shifting funding priorities. This type of support for an organization’s core work helps them to sustain and grow their business over an extended period of time. 

The three participating foundations share a single application and review process before making their independent decisions. This partnership streamlines the application process for nonprofit arts organizations, while offering shared learning opportunities and improving systems for data collection and analysis necessary for the participating foundations to make funding decisions.

Individual grant sizes will range from $5,000 to $100,000 per year. All grants will be made in three year commitments.