DTE Energy Foundation announces winners of first ever $300,000 Community Transformation Grant Program
Twelve nonprofits across Michigan will receive a portion of the grant to help transform their communities
Detroit, Mich. (Nov. 26, 2024) – The DTE Energy Foundation announced today the winners of its first Community Transformation Grant Program, awarding $310,000 to 12 non-profit organizations across Michigan. This new initiative expands one of the Foundation’s core pillars of giving - Community Transformation. Since the program’s launch in March, the DTE Foundation has more than doubled its initial grant from $150,000 to address the overwhelming need for support, as demonstrated by the substantial number of project submissions.
“Community Transformation is a key pillar of giving for the DTE Foundation because transforming communities helps to improve lives, grow the local economy and make an equitable impact,” said Rodney Cole, president, DTE Foundation. “The applicants’ responses exceeded our expectations, showcasing a significant need for support in this area. This program has enabled us to expand our impact through new partnerships, and we are eager to see the innovative initiatives these organizations will implement across the state.”
The DTE Foundation transforms underserved and disinvested communities by enhancing safety, expanding positive opportunities, and providing supportive services for youth and families. Through the DTE Foundation’s Community Transformation pillar of giving, grants are awarded to organizations and initiatives that prioritize placemaking, positive family development and community-driven solutions. With this mission in mind, earlier this year, the DTE Foundation invited nonprofit organizations focused on community transformation to apply for a chance to receive a portion of the grant.
“It takes innovation in service delivery to customize the experience for people which is what’s really moving the needle towards human transformation, and the DTE Foundation’s grant gets at that needle,” said Crystal Houston, executive branch director, Bethany Christian Services. “Bethany’s Youth Services mission is to move that needle for youth and their families. To help cultivate productive young people and their families so they may be better citizens our communities, in the workplace, in higher education, our families and each other all to do one thing and that is to disrupt the cycle of broken families. When you assist in the transformation of people and you start with young people by providing them relationship development, workforce development, training, certifications, mentorship, peer to peer class facilitation, crisis management and everything else our young people need, you are breaking that cycle.”
Community Transformation Grant Program Winners:
All Things Women Inc. (Detroit):
The organization’s mission is to provide comprehensive housing and supportive services to women, children, families, and veterans in Michigan.
Project Description: The grant will allow the organization to expand its services, including emergency shelter and transitional housing.
Bethany Christian Services (Grand Rapids):
Bethany demonstrates the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by protecting children, empowering youth, and strengthening families through quality social services.
Project Description: The grant will support Bethany’s Youth Empowerment Programs, which are designed to improve job and life skills for the next generation.
Better Way Detroit (Detroit):
Better Way Detroit provides dignity to those experiencing homelessness by offering a pathway to steady employment.
Project Description: The funding will enable ten people experiencing homelessness to obtain the dignity of work by being paid to clean three parks in Detroit. Better Way Detroit will work with shelter staff to identify those ready for employment and with the City of Detroit to identify parks in need of refurbishing.
Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula (Escanaba):
The Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula (CFUP) provides financial support to qualified tax-exempt organizations for projects aimed at solving community problems or enhancing life in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Project Description: The program will restore a local, run-down park to make it more suitable for all children, including those with emotional and physical issues. New equipment will enhance safety for all park users, with features such as fencing and additional lighting.
Grand Traverse Community Enrichment (Grand Traverse):
Project Description: The program aims to promote positive mental and physical health through martial arts and combat sports for at-risk groups throughout the region. Middle and high school students needing mental and physical outlets may lack transportation or funds to participate in after-school activities.
Healing Hearts Therapeutic Farm (Carleton):
Healing Hearts provides animal-assisted interventions for those who have experienced trauma or loss.
Project Description: The grant will support the organization’s veteran program, Knowing Every Experience Presents Emotional Response (KEEPER), encouraging veterans to be fully present at the farm, bonding with and caring for the animals. Healing Hearts will offer several opportunities to register for the six-week sessions.
La Casa Guadalupana, Corp. (Detroit):
La Casa Guadalupana promotes family literacy, adult education, workforce preparation, and tutoring in Southwest Detroit, positively impacting the lives of immigrant adults and children.
Project Description: The grant will allow the organization to serve more adult students, helping them improve their English communication, complete high school-level literacy, and workplace readiness, leading to increased educational attainment, better social inclusion, and greater employability.
Life After Incarceration (Ypsilanti):
Life After Incarceration helps people overcome past experiences, manage current situations, and become better equipped with the skills needed to reenter their communities successfully, emphasizing that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution.
Project Description: The funding will help the organization increase the number of people served by employing and retaining occupational therapy and peer specialist staff, allowing them to better meet community needs while focusing on foundational growth.
Start Garden (Grand Rapids):
Start Garden gives entrepreneurs access to pitch competitions, maker spaces, kitchen incubators, and many other programs to discover new value.
Project Description: The grant will support the organization’s 5x5 Night, a monthly competition where five entrepreneurs compete to win $5,000 in startup capital to propel their business ideas forward.
Steen Foundation, Inc. (Detroit):
The Steen Foundation is a youth-led philanthropy aimed at investing in organizations that amplify youth voices in education.
Project Description: The grants will fund the organization’s Youth-Led Mural Challenge, engaging and empowering young Black artists in Detroit, aged 16-25, from low to moderate-income backgrounds. This initiative provides these young artists with a platform to showcase their talents, gain recognition, and access opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable to them.
The Konnection (Detroit):
The Konnection is committed to improving student academic performance and attendance. Its mission is to inspire youth to broaden their horizons through positive relationships and healthy connections.
Project Description: The organization will provide the community with The Konnection Kloset, where students receive tangible items and a renewed sense of confidence and pride in their appearance and readiness for school.
United Way of Lapeer County (Lapeer):
The organization unites donors, volunteers, nonprofits, and businesses to create meaningful and lasting change in Lapeer County. United Way of Lapeer takes a leadership role in helping the community identify and address human care problems.
Project Description: Over 400 small nonprofits exist within the county, but small agencies lack the business acumen and support to maximize and expand services. The goal is to provide services to 50 nonprofit agencies in Lapeer County, reaching the most rural and economically challenged parts of the county and expanding access to agencies providing after-school programs, tutoring, arts, music, sports, and programs like 4H.
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About the DTE Energy Foundation
The DTE Foundation is the philanthropic arm of DTE Energy, continuing the legacy of community support and involvement of its electric and natural gas utilities, which serve 2.3 million electric customers in Southeast Michigan and 1.3 million natural gas customers in Michigan. In 2023, the DTE Energy Foundation provided more than $16 million in grant support to nearly 300 nonprofits where the company has a business presence with a focus on driving positive, meaningful change in key areas like jobs, equity, human needs and the environment. As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE aspires not only to be the best in the world, but the best for the world, serving as a force for growth and prosperity in the communities across Michigan. Visit DTEFoundation.com to learn more.
DTE Energy Foundation invites community transformation-focused nonprofits to apply for $150K in grant support
Chris Holman welcomed back Rodney Cole, President DTE Foundation and DTE Corporate Citizenship at DTE Energy, Detroit, MI.
Watch Rodney and Chris DTE Energy Foundation, projects and progress for 2023 and 2024, along with the announcement of the opening of a community transformation grant process during March and April on the YouTube video shared below:
On this occasion DTE Energy Foundation has also released further information:
Detroit, Mich. (March 1, 2024) – The DTE Energy Foundation today invited Michigan nonprofits that serve local communities to submit Letters of Intent for a chance to be selected for a grant that will support community transformation efforts. The DTE Foundation will provide up to $150,000 to be shared across two or more Michigan nonprofits focused on local, community transformation and revitalization.
Letters of Intent will be accepted now through 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1. Nonprofit organizations interested in applying can do so at the link here. The winning nonprofits will be notified by Friday, Oct. 4.
“Community Transformation is a key focus of the DTE Foundation, and we understand each city in Michigan has needs specific to residents and their location,” said Rodney Cole, president of the DTE Foundation. “That’s why it’s important for us to hear from the nonprofit applicants, ensuring we support their unique mission and community needs. “
The DTE Foundation transforms lives by helping area communities renew, refresh, or create community space, restore safety, beautify blocks, and increase community health and well-being. It focuses on community spaces, safety and security, and community development.
Grants will be considered when meeting the following criteria:
· Applicants must be legally established 501(c)(3) 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 Michigan.
· 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.
About the DTE Energy Foundation The DTE Foundation is the philanthropic arm of DTE Energy, continuing the legacy of community support and involvement of its electric and natural gas utilities, which serve 2.3 million electric customers in Southeast Michigan and 1.3 million natural gas customers in Michigan. In 2023, the DTE Energy Foundation provided more than $17 million in grant support to nearly 300 nonprofits where the company has a business presence with a focus on driving positive, meaningful change in key areas like jobs, equity, human needs and the environment. As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE aspires not only to be the best in the world, but the best for the world, serving as a force for growth and prosperity in the communities across Michigan. Visit DTEFoundation.com to learn more.
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images courtesy of DTE Energy
