Community Empowerment Awards

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

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 $30,000 and align with:

Promoting safe, stable housing that honors individual dignity or to eliminate transportation barriers that impede access to basic human needs (including, but not limited to, employment, access to health care and other essential services).

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Applicants must be legally established 501c3 public charities by the Internal Revenue Service and have the capacity to directly receive and manage the grant to be eligible.  
• Fiduciary, fiscal sponsor payment arrangements and Type III supporting organizations are not eligible.  
• The organization must be located in and directly benefit a project in the DTE service territory.  
• The DTE Foundation must be the majority contributor to the overall project. 
• Submitted projects cannot be energy-related in any way.  
• The organization must provide a long-term sustainability plan for any future needs of the project.  
• The grantee must provide an annual report detailing the community impact of the grant.  
• The organization must be willing to fulfill press release and grant presentation requests.   
• Organizations currently receiving DTE Energy Foundation grant funding are not eligible to apply.  
  
• Only one proposal per organization will be accepted.

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.
• Implementation Plan: Provide a brief plan for how the project will be implemented. Include a timeline with 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.
• Data & Reporting Plan: how outputs/outcomes will be tracked and reported

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 May 25 through July 3, 2026.