Community Empowerment Awards

The Community Empowerment Awards is a DTE Foundation initiative dedicated to uplifting, recognizing and supporting organizations that make significant contributions to community development and empowerment.

Overview:

We invite organizations to participate in this open call for submissions, which will be conducted in a three-step process:

 

STEP ONE:

Proposal Submission Organizations are invited to submit a proposal outlining their initiatives and impact. Please note that this initial submission is not a formal grant application. The purpose of this step is to gather preliminary information about your organization’s work and its alignment with the goals of the Community Empowerment Awards.

STEP TWO:

A committee will review all proposals and score them according to a rubric. Top ideas will be identified, and finalists will move to Step 3. Organizations not selected to proceed will receive notification. This process will take 8-12 weeks after the open call closes. 

STEP THREE:

Formal Application Process Based on the evaluation of the submitted proposals; selected organizations will be invited to move on to the second round. In this round, organizations will be required to complete a formal grant application. The final awards will be determined based on a comprehensive review of these formal applications.

Your proposal should request a grant of up to $50,000 and align with the following priorities of the DTE Energy Foundation:

Placemaking: Programs or initiatives that improve the overall safety, accessibility, or built environment to better reflect the needs of the community.

Positive Family Development: Provide community youth with positive out of school opportunities and wraparound services for the whole family.

Community Driven Solutions: Helping neighborhoods build sustainable, community-owned, and led initiatives through collaboration, shared decision making, and understanding the unique needs of each community.

 

Here are some key elements to include in your one-page project proposal:

  • Project Title, Organization Name, EIN Number: Clearly state the name of the project, the nonprofit organization submitting the proposal, and the organization’s Employer Identification Number (EIN).
  • Project Description: Provide a brief overview of the project, including its purpose, main objectives, goals, activities, and the need it addresses. This section should be engaging and to the point.
  • Community Impact and Alignment: Give a concise summary of how the project will affect the community and how it aligns with the broader goals of the community.
  • Implementation Plan: Provide a brief plan for how the project will be implemented. Include key milestones and the roles and responsibilities of project staff and partners.
  • Budget Summary: Present a high-level budget that outlines the project’s costs and how the funds will be used. Keep this section concise and focused on the most important expenses.
  • Contact Information: Include the contact details of the person responsible for the proposal, so that the reviewers can reach out if they have any questions or need further information.

By keeping the proposal succinct, you ensure that it is easy to read and quickly conveys the most important information about your project. 

 

Project proposals are open now through Friday, May 16.

SUBMIT HERE

Please note, the proposals are submitted through Blackbaud. If you don’t have an existing account, please create one through the program portal linked above.

For questions regarding the Community Empowerment Awards, please email foundation_account@dteenergy.com