In 2016, Kresge’s Leadership and Infrastructure Funding Team (LIFT) launched the FUEL program in partnership with Community Wealth Partners. This program places a specific focus on racial equity to support the development of stronger senior teams, stronger mid-level talent, and more diverse talent overall.

Due to the success of the 2016 FUEL pilot program, Kresge launched a second FUEL cohort in 2019 and a third and final cohort in late 2022. For each cohort, Kresge worked with Community Wealth Partners to survey grantees to learn more about their talent and leadership development challenges.

Kresge used these insights to work with several talent and leadership development organizations to design customized services that addressed grantees’ needs. The selected providers offered best-in-class leadership and organizational development training and consulting services. Each provider also integrated a racial equity lens into its offerings with the goal of helping grantees improve their ability to pursue equity-minded talent and leadership development.

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