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COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

Contact information:

333 West Fort Street, Suite 2010
Detroit, Michigan 48226-3134
Phone: 313-961-6675
Fax: 313-961-2886

Website: http://www.cfsem.org/

Type of foundation: Community

Types of grants: Project, scholarships. The Foundation prefers projects that reflect regional thinking and cooperation, promote civic participation, foster innovation, help move the region forward, leverage public and private resources, and improve the quality of nonprofit organizations. Low priority is given to requests for ongoing operational costs, capital campaigns, annual fund drives, conferences or other one-time events.

Description: The Foundation makes grants in the seven-county region of southeast Michigan: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Livingston counties. It funds organizations and projects working in the areas of arts and culture, civic affairs, health, human services, neighborhood and regional economic development, work force development, environment and land use.

In addition, the Foundation develops and implements large-scale, multi-year, regional initiatives and programs in partnership with donors, nonprofit organizations, civic leaders, local and national experts and members of the southeast Michigan community. Initiatives include:

  • Access to recreation.
  • Childhood obesity (including partnerships with public TV and radio to promote physical activity).
  • Community Experience Partnership (focused on helping aging people live engaged, productive lives).
  • Detroit Neighborhood Fund.
  • Detroit Safe Community Collective.
  • GreenWays Initiative.
  • New Economy Initiative (to help transition Detroit to an innovation-based economy).
  • Racial Equity Initiative.
  • Senior Engagement Program (helping organizations that don't traditionally serve or target older adults to become more engaged with aging issues).

Sample grants:

  • $200,000 to Detroit Educational Television (WTVS) for children's television programming and community events (2003).
  • $150,000 to Detroit Educational Television for the Because Minds Matter digital conversion campaign (2007).
  • $72,000 to Wayne State University to expand recruitment for the Detroit Radio Information Service (2007).
  • $44,500 to Detroit Educational Television for the Great Outdoors Initiative (2005).
  • $10,000 to Detroit Educational Television for Get Up, Get Out, highlighting metro-area activities for families (year unspecified).
  • $5,250 to National Public Radio (2006).

Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation has invested significantly in local public media, especially television.

Eligibility: Applicants must serve southeast Michigan and most have 501(c)(3) status. The Foundation does make grants to government entities, school districts and universities. The Foundation will not make grants to individuals or to cover deficits.

Deadline: None.

How to apply: Interested organizations should complete the eligibility questionnaire. Then, organizations should review the application guidelines. Next, applicants should contact the Foundation to discuss their project and the amount they are considering requesting. Following that conversation, they should submit a full proposal.

Giving range: $5,000 - $1,000,000. Most grants range from $35,000 - $100,000.

Assets:$484,251,058 (2008)

Total giving: $38 million (2008)

View 2009 Annual Report.