Search Through Oakland County Grants for Nonprofits in Michigan

Mission

The DanPaul Foundation will use its resources to help train teachers and parents in early childhood development, protect children from abuse and neglect, stimulate children's personal social responsibilities, and offer them opportunities for enrichment and growth.

The Foundation will also encourage children to be concerned and informed about the environment and the underprivileged, particularly with regard to clean air and water, and adequate housing and nutrition for all.

Beliefs

The DanPaul Foundation believes that children should have ample opportunities for enrichment in their lives, and thus strives to provide many different ways to enrich and expand children's minds through direct programs and monetary support to organizations doing similar work.

We have provided or currently provide grants related to the following program areas:

• Workshops, Conferences, + Seminars: We strive to offer educational workshops, conferences, and seminars for parents and teachers on topics related to early childhood development.
• Student Scholarships: We aim to help students attending post-secondary education institutions by providing need-based and academic scholarships.
• Scientific Endeavors: We desire to advance scientific endeavors which seek to improve the quality of life for everyone in the world.
• Clean Air + Water: We hope to pass on knowledge and practical life skills to youth regarding their personal responsibility to the environment, teaching them about issues surrounding clean air and water.
• Child Advocacy: We believe in protecting children from abuse and neglect and particularly love to support programs that provide education and assistance to children as well as organizations advocating or caring for vulnerable children.
• Homelessness: We want to encourage young people to take a personal interest in seeing that adequate housing and proper nutrition, especially for the underprivileged and homeless, are available.
• Poverty + Neglect: We seek to help those in poverty as well as educate youth about their responsibility to consider the underprivileged and take care of those most in need of life's basic essentials like adequate housing and proper nutrition.
• Refugee Enrichment: We wish to help refugee youth by supporting programs that provide them enrichment and help them transition to life in a new country.

The DanPaul Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organizations as defined by the IRS. The Foundation is interested in providing funding to programs that directly serve the health, education, development, and welfare of the world's youth.

Grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $15,000 per calendar year.

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 meaningful progress.

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.

Overview

The McGregor Fund is a private foundation organized to relieve the misfortunes and promote the well-being of humankind. The principal area of interest of the Fund is metropolitan Detroit, although requests will be considered from organizations located elsewhere for programs or projects which significantly benefit the metropolitan Detroit area. 

Grantmaking Priorities

Grounded in the lived examples of Tracy and Katherine McGregor, the McGregor Fund works to support and strengthen a safety net of essential resources and opportunities for vulnerable members of our community, particularly those experiencing sustained and concentrated poverty. The Fund accepts applications from nonprofit organizations in the following areas:

Basic Needs and Housing

A consistent focus dating back to our founders, we support non-profits that provide food, shelter and other necessities for day-to-day living, free of charge and in a high-quality, dignified, culturally aligned manner.

Some examples:

• High quality, culturally aligned providers of rapid and supportive housing, and state-of-the-art shelters designed to connect our community to permanent housing quickly.
• Strategies to address food insecurity and promote food sovereignty that prioritize food quality and honor community preferences on distribution.
• Holistic programs that provide various forms of direct aid or cash assistance that help people pursue housing, transportation, education, employment options, legal, and other material needs.
• Programs that help people navigate and connect to complex systems of public and social supports.
• Providers of other essential resources such as clothing and furniture that serve a city- or county-wide geography, align with other systems of care (i.e., homelessness, workforce development, health and human services), and provide goods free of charge in a highly dignified and culturally appropriate manner.

Recovery & Restoration

We fund supports for people experiencing interpersonal or community violence, substance use, human trafficking, or other highly traumatic circumstances. Resources may include specialized, trauma-informed interventions and holistic pathways to healing.

Some examples:

• Organizations offering supports to survivors impacted by domestic or interpersonal violence, human trafficking, gang membership, or other life-threatening, traumatic experiences.
• Trauma-informed, legal, and/or other holistic supports for individuals and families impacted by the justice system.
• Data-informed partnerships that center lived expertise to disrupt and prevent cycles of harm caused by justice and other system involvement.
• Community led efforts to interrupt community violence and promote justice and safety.
• Programs supporting older youth and young adults who have experienced abuse and neglect, particularly those aging out of foster or other state-supervised care.
• Programs offering multi-phased substance use recovery services that are minimally or not supported by government funding.

Skill Building & Employment

We support opportunities grounded in community, relationships and cultural humility that lead to broader personal and career opportunities for teens and adults affected by poverty and inequity.

Some examples:

• Programs for teens and young adults, sometimes tied to identity or passion projects, and focused on building a particular skill set, often in a sport, art form or academic subject, while instilling leadership and other essential life skills. Teens typically connect with these programs over a period of years and reach higher levels of educational attainment and career readiness.
• Programs supporting college students whose circumstances of personal hardship are greater than those of most of their academic peers. To reach their academic potential, these students may require resources beyond scholarships.
• Programs training adults or disconnected youth (age 16-29) facing high barriers to entering the workforce, equipping them with necessary soft and entry-level hard skills, and basic reading and math competencies. These skills enable them to secure and maintain entry-level employment and pursue advanced education and training opportunities connected to career pathways.

Types of Support

The Fund provides a variety of grants to qualifying nonprofit organizations. These types of support are listed below in general order of priority. However, the Fund is flexible and will consider exceptions based on the merits and potential impact of a specific request. The preferred types of support and particular emphasis for each are as follows:

Project Support 

Time-limited support for innovative programs or projects in order to scale, establish proof of concept, or bring proven ideas to our community; grants are expected to leverage other funding sources and may be multi-year (but generally not more than three years) with interim report(s) specified by the Fund. If you are new to the Fund, this is the type of support to pursue.

Operating Support

General operating support is available by invitation for organizations that are previous grantees of the Fund, well managed and governed, and providing services of exceptional quality. Priority is given to organizations that fit within the Fund’s Basic Needs and Recovery and Restoration grantmaking priorities.

Capital Support

Support for the acquisition, construction and/or renovation of facilities of organizations that, typically, are previous recipients of grant support from the Fund.  

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. believed effective change should make an impact from the start, yet carry long into the future. To do both, he earmarked a portion of his estate and the eventual sale of his beloved Buffalo Bills to fund his namesake foundation. The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation began operations in 2015 to continue his legacy—one of generosity and innovation, healthy risk taking and collaboration, and an unshakeable community focus.

And today, his hand-picked Life Trustees have determined to focus the efforts of the foundation on Mr. Wilson’s home and adopted home regions of Southeast Michigan and Western New York.

With a structure that dictates spend-down of our funds by 2035, we match the urgency that people in need feel every day and focus on collaborative investments that consider both immediate impact and long-term benefit.

Our time is short. But with collaboration, vision and a healthy dash of courage, transformation that shifts the very foundations of our communities is possible.

Grantmaking Focus Areas

Active Lifestyles

By supporting access to safe spaces and programs that get kids physically active and moving, the Foundation aims to introduce lifelong healthy habits through its Youth Sports & Recreation grantmaking. Spanning all generations, the Foundation’s investments in Parks, Trails & Green Design looks to connect people and communities to each other, nature and recreation.

Preparing for Success

Strong work ethic, confidence and a desire to learn are attributes that can be instilled at a young age and carried through adulthood. Our Preparing for Success focus area is centered on providing the communication, teamwork and critical-thinking skills people need to grow and adapt throughout their life and career.

Caregivers

There are more than 40 million family members - spouses, daughters, sons, grandchildren - and friends in the United States caring for older adults, a number that will grow dramatically in the coming years. The Foundation aims to elevate caregivers’ critical roles by highlighting the often-hidden value and contributions they make to families and communities every day.  

Entrepreneurship & Economic Development

Several years into recovery after a decades-long economic slide in both Southeast Michigan and Western New York, the Foundation’s investments in Entrepreneurship and Economic Development look to leverage this momentum by spurring small business growth, place-based community and economic development, and talent attraction and retention. 

Foundation Initiative: Nonprofit Support & Innovation

Without strong, healthy nonprofits that have the resources and support to meet their mission, none of the work the Foundation invests in across its focus areas can happen. While the Foundation works with individual grantees to help them build their own capacity through project-specific grants, it also is taking a sector view of nonprofit support as a special initiative of the Foundation in order to help strengthen communities.

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.

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. 

Improving access to capital for small-scale arts activity in Southeast Michigan

Creative activity of all scopes and scales can contribute to the vitality of communities. With this as a core belief, the Creators of Culture program launched in 2019 as an annual funding opportunity to support people, groups, collectives, and entities that do not traditionally receive philanthropic support but contribute greatly to our creative ecosystem in Southeast Michigan.

Creators of Culture aims to nurture a more equitable, diverse ecosystem of regional arts activity, specifically as a counterbalance to the access to resources possessed by large, established nonprofits.

Program Focus

For our 2023 program, CultureSource looked to our partner WolfBrown’s An Investment Framework for Supporting the Artists Ecosystem for inspiration. The report recommends support for those who strengthen ties between artists and audiences, recognizing their critical role in enhancing a flourishing, local arts ecosystem.

From these recommendations, three profiles of people will be eligible for the 2023 Creators of Culture program:

• Arts Curator — Someone who independently curates and pulls together exhibitions or performances as the focus of their creative practice. They primarily work to organize and present artistic products or processes other than their own. Examples of curators include people spotlighting artists through performing arts festivals, visual arts exhibitions, literary readings, and more.
• Arts Organizer — Someone who unites a group of people around a shared artistic activity that is not focused on the organizer’s own artistic work. Examples of arts organizers include people who facilitate regular playwriting workshops, quilt-making groups, ceramics classes, people who are responsible for monthly arts events at local venues, etc.
• Arts Journalist — Someone who consistently writes about local artists and arts activity in order to share the impacts and importance of that work with a greater audience. Examples of arts journalists include podcasters who feature local musicians, writers who highlight upcoming theater and dance performances, and critics who review recent visual arts exhibition openings, etc.

The roles of curator, arts organizer, and arts journalist are each different but thematically share the responsibility of highlighting artists and uplifting their careers to audiences who may or may not already be familiar with their work. They help to build a culture of support, appreciation, curiosity, and engagement through their writing, events, exhibitions, performances, workshops, and more.

Successful applicants will clearly fit the eligibility criteria, identifying either as a curator, arts organizer, or arts journalist. All successful applicants will share and split the total funding amount equally. We expect grants to be around $2,000-$3,000 each. This funding program is focused on curators, arts organizers, and arts journalists working independent of 501(c)3 nonprofits, meaning they are not receiving funding for their work at these institutions but external to them

William G. & Myrtle Hess Charitable Trust

Grants are made to Catholic charitable organizations in Oakland County, MI, with particular preference given to organizations working in Waterford and White Lake Townships.

Program Areas

• Education,
• Scientific

Mission

Our mission is to advance the work of organizations that cultivate creative and cultural expression in Southeast Michigan.

Digital Access for the Arts Funding

DAAP recognizes the need for arts and cultural organizations to embrace the futures of their work online, in-person, and all of the spaces between. This funding opportunity as a part of the initiative will make sixteen (16) grants of $5,000 to CultureSource member organizations to make informed investments in technology that enhance their work and sustain their digital, online, and hybrid futures.

Applications can support an organization’s investment in equipment that enhance their programmatic work, software that helps with internal processes, or even work with a consultant or implementation specialist to help boost the organization’s capacity to grow their digital, in-person, and hybrid arts and culture work.

Grantmaking is the heart of the Community Foundation’s work enhancing the quality of life in the Greater Rochester area. With years of history in our community and expertise in effective philanthropy, we are in the position to assess community needs and opportunities. The Foundation welcomes grant requests, especially those that support innovative projects focusing on Culture, Community, Development, Education, Environment, Human Concerns and Youth.

The Foundation administers over 150 funds and awards grants at various times during the year. While some donors recommend that their funds help specific charitable organizations, others make unrestricted contributions that allow the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees to meet the most pressing community needs. Our goal is to link people who care with causes that matter.

Our grants are awarded to respond to new programs, emerging needs and innovative services for the benefit of our community. Applications for grants are accepted from tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations serving the Greater Rochester area and to individuals for educational scholarships through the Foundation's Scholarship Program. The Community Foundation does not make grants for normal operating expenses or political campaigns.

A Letter of Intent outlining the proposed project and the funds requested may be submitted at any time. Although not required, many organizations have found that this informal approach gives them a helpful start in communicating their vision and also in understanding the Community Foundation’s role within the community. If the proposal meets the Community Foundation’s criteria and funding capability, applicants will be invited to submit a grant application. 

Women's Fund

The Women’s Fund is looking for non-profit organizations that are in need of assistance and can benefit from its grants. heir goal is to help women in need become financially independent ….to have a “purse of their own”. 

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.

Focus Areas

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Funds support grants in separate key areas that honor the lifetime interests of Mr. Wilson:

Caregivers Fund

• support for projects within southeast Michigan that assist caregivers of persons who are unable to fully care for themselves and are part of an underserved community, with a preference for requests to provide support to caregivers of older adults.

Design & Access Fund

• support for projects in southeast Michigan that serve to increase the walkability and bikeability of local communities and/or increasing outdoor recreational activities within the region.

Youth Sports Fund

• support for projects in southeast Michigan that bring high-quality sports programs to youth.

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.

Please check FAQ here for additional informations.

About Our Grants

At Impact100 Metro Detroit we provide high-impact grants that support local nonprofits in reaching underserved populations, and meeting unmet needs in our community.

Through our grant-making process we familiarize ourselves with the programs, services, and communities that our nonprofits serve; we invest not only financially, but also by becoming a partner to them. In return our partners are able to think bigger and more strategically about the work they do and the impact they have.

Focus Areas

We provide nonprofit organizations with grants of up to $100,000 across five broad Focus Areas:

• Arts & Culture
  • Projects that foster greater exposure to or participation in the arts and culture, expand arts education, or use art as a medium for creative expression.
• Education
  • Projects that expand or improve learning opportunities, primarily for children,  focused on literacy, tutoring, mentoring, GED,  or college prep.
• Family & Individual Support
  • Projects that support the lives of individuals and families, focusing on housing, transportation, living wage, food insecurity, job skills training or other basic needs.
• Health & Wellness
  • Projects that improve physical and/or mental health, foster healthy living habits or life skills programs that promote independent living.
• Revitalization, Recreation & Environment
  • Projects that revitalize or create public spaces for the community, support environmental awareness and/or promote a positive and sustainable relationship between people and their environment; or promote the welfare of animals in our communities.

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.

Clarence and Lillian Constantakis Environmental Scholarship

The purpose of the Clarence and Lillian Constantakis Scholarship Fund is to provide post-secondary educational scholarships for students who are pursuing an undergraduate degree in environmental science, conservation, or a related field at Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, or Wayne State University.

Payments may be applied toward tuition, or miscellaneous educational expenses as designated by the recipient, such as fees, books and supplies or room and board expense.

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.

Hellen Tallman Fund

The purpose of the Helen Tallman Scholarship is to provide educational scholarship support to engineering and medical or pre-medical students at Wayne State University.

Background

As the last member of her family line, Helen Tallman established a fund at the Community Foundation to live out her family’s legacy. The Tallman family owned an antique store on the east side. A successful business, they were always committed to taking a portion of their earnings and giving back. One of Helen’s interests was education, which led her to direct a portion of the permanent fund’s assets each year to support students at Wayne State University.

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.

Jeptha Wade Schureman Scholarship Program

The purpose of the Schureman Scholarship Program is to assist students who are residents of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Lenawee, Washtenaw, Livingston and St. Clair counties attend one of the 15 public universities in Michigan. Up to ten scholarships of $7,500 each will be awarded to students each year. The scholarship is not renewable, but Schureman Scholars may reapply for scholarship consideration. Notification of the Schureman Scholarship Program is sent to the Financial Aid Office at each of the 15 nonprofit, public universities in Michigan with a request to make the information available to their students.

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.

Miguel Cabrera Family Scholarship

The purpose of the Miguel Cabrera Family Scholarship Fund is to provide educational scholarships that benefit students graduating from high schools in Michigan, with a preference for students from Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston and St. Clair counties, or Florida, with a preference for students from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Initially, the Fund will award $1,000 to one student from Michigan and $1,000 to one student from Florida. Scholarship awards will be renewable awards for each year of attendance, up to four years. If a suitable candidate from Florida is not identified, then a second student from Michigan may be awarded the scholarship.

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.

Otis Smith Scholarship

The purpose of the Otis M. Smith Scholarship Program is to provide scholarships to selected single parent mothers to assist them in obtaining post-secondary education at selected accredited institutions. Non-renewable scholarships of up to $3,000 will be made with assistance of advisors to the Otis M. Smith Scholarship Program, including Otis Smith’s brother. While scholarships are not renewable, prior recipients are eligible to apply. 

Payments may be applied to tuition and fees, or miscellaneous educational expenses as designated by the recipient.

Background

The Otis M. Smith Scholarship Program was established by Mr. Otis M. Smith to honor the memory of his mother who, as a single parent, encouraged and supported her children to attain post-secondary education. Mr. Smith worked at many odd jobs as a youth after his father died when he was age 11. He attended Fisk University and received a law degree from Catholic University. He served as Auditor General and Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Michigan. He was Vice President and General Counsel of General Motors and upon retirement, served as ‘of counsel’ to the law firm of Lewis, Clay & Munday. Although a modest man throughout his life, he was a leader and role model and active volunteer serving on numerous local and national board.

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.

Kids need to play.

The Skatepark Project believes encouraging free play and providing youth with opportunities to develop active, healthy lifestyles are key to ensuring their well being. With childhood obesity rates more than tripling since 1980*, access to parks is no longer a luxury—it’s essential to the health of our children.

Children in low-income families are particularly at risk, in part because they have fewer opportunities to participate in organized sports leagues and activities. Fighting obesity has become a critical national priority, with long-term health risks including—but not limited to—heart disease, high cholesterol, depression, and even cancer**. More importantly, healthier kids are happier.

Two of the nation’s most prominent advocates for youth have joined together to address this issue. The Skatepark Project has partnered with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to promote the creation of free, public skateparks in the 16 counties of Southeast Michigan and Western New York served by RCWJRF.

With grant funds of up to $250,000, the Built to Play Skatepark Program supports community groups and municipalities seeking to create free, public skateparks that serve low-income communities. Built to Play Skatepark Grants also include an additional $50,000 to fund processes and design features that lessen the environmental impact of the skatepark. The Built to Play Skatepark Program also provides advisory services and advocacy training to assist groups in organizing and managing their efforts.

While we realize that not every community can afford to build a world-class skatepark, we believe that every community deserves a quality facility created by experienced skatepark contractors. We believe that a small, excellent skatepark is better than a large, flawed one. We also believe that local officials should treat public skateparks the same way they treat public basketball courts or tennis courts, meaning that anyone may show up and use them during regular park hours, unsupervised. We know that kids everywhere love their local skateparks and that more skateparks will result in even more healthier, happier kids. 



The Built to Play Skatepark Program primarily considers skatepark projects that:

• are designed and built from durable, low-maintenance materials by qualified and experienced skatepark contractors.
• include local skaters in leadership and volunteer roles throughout the planning, fundraising, and design process.
• will serve low- to middle-income areas and/or areas with a high population of “at-risk” youth.
• can demonstrate a strong grassroots commitment to the project, particularly in the form of fundraising by local skateboarders and other community groups.
• encourage skaters to look after their own safety and the safety of others without restricting their access to the park or over-regulating their use of it.
• are open during daylight hours, 365 days a year.
• don’t charge an entrance fee or require registration.
• are in areas that currently have no accessible skateboarding facilities
• are committed to a process that minimizes the environmental impact of the skatepark.

Supply Vs. Demand

As the benefits of skateparks are felt within a community, the demand for grants from the Built to Play Skatepark Program will become increasingly competitive across the region. If your proposed skatepark does not reflect the priorities outlined above, your project is unlikely to receive a grant through this program.

All Built to Play Skatepark Grant Applicants will receive a detailed review of their projects, whether a grant is awarded or not.

Focus of Built to Play Skatepark Grants

The principal focus of Built to Play Skatepark Grants is to encourage and facilitate the design, development, and construction of new quality skateboard parks and facilities, located in eligible communities in the 16 counties served by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. Skatepark projects in communities outside this service area or those seeking funds for anything other than the construction of a skateboard park may not apply for a Built to Play Skatepark Grant. Built to Play-funded skatepark projects must also incorporate processes and design features that minimize the environmental impact of the skatepark.

More information about The Skatepark Project’s Skatepark Grant program can be found here.

Lula Wilson Trust

Charitable, benevolent, religious, educational and civic institutions, groups, societies and corporations in the City of Pontiac and the county of Oakland, Michigan.

Program areas

• Education.
• Scientific.
• Religious.
• Civic Activities.
• Human and Social Services.
• Health and Medical Research.

Impact 100 Oakland

Impact100 Oakland County awards grants to nonprofits in our community in the focus areas of Arts & Culture; Education; Family; Health & Wellness; and Environment, Recreation & Restoration. Applicants may apply for grant funding of around $100,000 in a focus area that supports their mission, programs, or services.

Focus Areas

• Arts & Culture
  • Cultural programs, participation in the arts, arts education
• Education
  • Educational opportunities for children and/or adults, especially those that address lingering educational disparities affecting our community
• Family
  • Strengthening and enhancing the lives of children and families, including seniors
• Health & Wellness
  • Improvement of people’s mental and/or physical well-being.
• Environment, Recreation & Restoration
  • Conservation and preservation of natural resources; environmental justice; parks and recreation; agricultural sustainability; environmental education and climate action.

Levitt Music Series Grants - VIBE

Levitt VIBE is a multi-year matching grant opportunity that brings the joy of free, live music to public spaces in city neighborhoods where access to arts experiences may be limited.

Geared to large cities with a population over 250,000, Levitt VIBE (Vibrant Inclusive Beats for Everyone) brings the free outdoor concerts to neighborhoods where there is limited access to arts programming and live music. Each Levitt VIBE concert series features a diverse lineup of acclaimed, emerging talent to seasoned, award-winning artists on the local, regional, and national circuits, ensuring access to high-caliber performances for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Levitt VIBE Music Series create a community destination, connecting people to each other and inspiring neighborhood pride of place. Levitt VIBE was launched as a two-year pilot program this past year with three city neighborhoods: the Belmont Cragin neighborhood of Chicago; the Near Southside neighborhood of Indianapolis; and the East Oakland neighborhood of Oakland, California. 

In addition to financial support, the Levitt Foundation provides grant recipients with valuable resources including best practices, program frameworks, toolkits, and trainings to deepen impact in their communities.

Funding

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible to receive a three-year matching grant of up to $40K/year (up to $120K total) to bring 7-10 free concerts to your community each year!

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 purpose of this fund is to support small to mid-sized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that have arts and culture as core of their mission. This is a broad yet competitive fund which supports organizations physically located in and/or operate in one or more of seven counties of the Community Foundation’s service area: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston and St. Clair.

We anticipate proposals that reflect the importance of organizations and programming that:

• Increase accessibility—ensure affordable, high-quality arts experiences reach all corners of Southeast Michigan.
• Boost organizational capacity—enable growth in programs and operations.
• Drive regional economic impact—position arts as a key contributor to community vitality.

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.