Detroit
We aspire to change the city of Detroit’s trajectory to one of long-term economic opportunity that advances social equity, promotes cultural expression, and re-establishes our hometown as the center of a vibrant region.
Program Overview
We are a national foundation with deep roots in Detroit. Since our founding in 1924, we have provided continuous philanthropic support to the area’s nonprofit organizations and community initiatives. In recent years we have taken a proactive approach, engaging and collaborating with others seeking to renew the city that was once a place of opportunity.
The Detroit metro region is home to 4 million people. Decades of economic disinvestment have undermined the tax base and destabilized public finances. However, there is a strong sense that Detroit’s challenges are offset by a significant window of opportunity.
Working with other philanthropic organizations, nonprofits, business, government and other partners, we are investing in areas that leverage Detroit’s strong assets and present opportunities for helping Detroit residents imagine and build a vibrant 21st-century version of their city. We believe that if we can make headway against the extreme social and economic challenges here, the lessons will have broader applicability to other communities.
Our lens for viewing our Detroit work is a comprehensive framework we call Re-Imagining Detroit 2020. Its nine components are closely integrated.
Those areas of investment are:
Detroit arts and culture
Education: Cradle to career
Entrepreneurial development: Growing small business
Green economy: Sustainable city
Health care: Innovation and excellence
Mass transit development: M-1 Rail
Neighborhoods of choice
Reshaping the city: Roadmap for land-use reform
Anchor institutions: Woodward creative corridor
Embracing Strategic Philanthropy
We believe that in highly challenged cities, philanthropy can no longer work at the margins.
Our Re-Imagining Detroit 2020 framework seeks to provide focus, strategy, integration, and alignment to a wide range of civic activities focused on Detroit’s stabilization and revitalization.
In 2010, we provided 128 grants for the Re-Imagining Detroit 2020 framework for a total investment of $26 million.
Funding Process
Our Detroit team members are deeply engaged in the community and aware of emerging and ongoing initiatives with potential to accomplish our goals. As a result, we proactively invite the proposals funded through the Detroit Program.