As a foundation, we remain focused on empowering and providing hope to nonprofits who are making a difference in their communities. Through the disparities of the pandemic, we’ve taken action to support nonprofits who are impacting the lives of individuals of color and focused on meeting the extreme needs that exist now.
The DTE Foundation has awarded $420,000 in grants to support Washtenaw County community organizations with a long history of improving lives, creating powerful learning communities and supporting social change.
Strong, vibrant communities benefit from the support, resources and commitment of community-based organizations focused on ensuring individuals, families and businesses have the tools needed to flourish. The following recipient organizations and community centers are improving lives and supporting positive social change for Washtenaw County families, businesses and the communities they serve.
The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation provides support to nonprofits committed to improving the lives of African Americans and people of color who reside in Washtenaw County.
A recent DTE Foundation donation of $100,000 in support of the African American Endowment Fund’s (AAEF) “Our Community Cares!” campaign will allow the fund to achieve its mission and goals for years to come. In addition, the foundation is matching AAEF grants of $25,000 respectively to provide two neighborhood centers (Parkridge Community Center of Ypsilanti and Peace Neighborhood Center of Ann Arbor) with additional resources that will result in positive outcomes for seniors, children and youth, students and families.
“The overwhelming generosity of both individuals and the business community has been awe-inspiring,” said David Barfield, “Our Community Cares!” campaign co-chair. “The DTE Energy Foundation grants illustrate their on-going commitment to serving the community and creating greater equity within underserved communities as well. We sincerely thank the DTE Foundation for their support to help make this important campaign successful.”
Since 1993, NEW has worked to connect leaders and organizations with essential tools and services that free up focus for mission-related work. With the support of a $270,000 DTE Foundation grant, NEW and the Foundation will continue a collaboration that began in 2019 to support nonprofit fundamentals training for grantees aligned under four pillars (board governance, strategic planning/visioning, nonprofit finance and grant writing). Additionally, the first Advancing Racial Justice cohort is set to begin October 1 and runs through March of 2022. This virtual cohort offers monthly programming around leadership fundamentals and racial and social equity, opportunities to gain insight and deepen understanding of nonprofit administration concepts, as well as networking opportunities.
“For NEW, creating cultures of inclusion is core to our work,” said Will Jones III, NEW Communications & Contributions Director. “We can never realize our vision of a just and thriving society until our nonprofits and communities are places in which every person feels they can belong. We’re excited to work with the DTE Foundation to ensure that nonprofits eager to advance justice have the tools they need to thrive.”
For more information on Ann Arbor Community Foundation, please find their campaign here.
For more information on Nonprofit Enterprise at Work, please visit their website.