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# Kresge Foundation

Expanding Equity and Opportunity in America’s Cities

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## Posts

- [Kresge Eminent Artists](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-eminent-artists/) - Celebrating artistic excellence, mentoring and community involvement Each year since 2008, The Kresge Foundation has named an Eminent Artist for excellence in the visual, performing or literary arts. Artists are selected for a lifetime of contributions to their art forms and to the cultural community of metropolitan Detroit. The artists are honored in a number
- [Kresge Eminent Artists](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-eminent-artists-2/) - Celebrating artistic excellence, mentoring and community involvement Each year since 2008, The Kresge Foundation has named an Eminent Artist for excellence in the visual, performing or literary arts. Artists are selected for a lifetime of contributions to their art forms and to the cultural community of metropolitan Detroit. The artists are honored in a number
- [Pathbreaking painter, arts activist and Heidelberg Project founder Tyree Guyton tapped as 2026 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/news-views/pathbreaking-painter-arts-activist-and-heidelberg-project-founder-tyree-guyton-tapped-as-2026-kresge-eminent-artist/) - Prestigious award comes with a $100,000 prize plus short film and monograph Tyree Guyton, the internationally celebrated painter and visionary placemaker, is now the 18th Kresge Eminent Artist. The annual $100,000 prize is widely hailed as the Detroit cultural community’s most prestigious award. Guyton, who is 70, is the founder of the Heidelberg Project (HP),
- [New program officers join Kresge's Health, Human Services teams](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-program-officers-join-kresges-health-human-services-teams/) - Earlier this month, The Kresge Foundation welcomed Jan Delatorre and Demetrius L. Starling as its newest program officers, each bringing deep experience serving diverse communities. Delatorre has joined Kresge as a program officer supporting the Health Program. He comes to the foundation from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, where he worked to expand access to
- [Kresge begins 2026 with staff promotions, additions](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-begins-2026-with-staff-promotions-additions/) - The Kresge Foundation is announcing several staff promotions and additions as the new year begins to take shape. “The extraordinary dedication of our staff, in addition to their talent and tenacity, have positioned Kresge to meet this moment with clarity and purpose,” said President and CEO Rip Rapson. “I am struck by the strength of
- [From 114 students to 3.2M: How a modest philanthropic bet helped spur a statewide engine for student success](https://kresge.org/news-views/from-114-students-to-3-2m-how-a-modest-philanthropic-bet-helped-spur-a-statewide-engine-for-student-success/) - The California College Guidance Initiative shows how long-term investment, practical problem-solving and cross-sector partnership can transform outcomes for millions of students. When the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI) first emerged more than a decade ago, it was a modest philanthropy-backed pilot searching for a foothold in the nation’s largest public education system. At the time,
- [NEA Chairwoman Jane Chu, Kresge President Rip Rapson to discuss art and community](https://kresge.org/news-views/nea-chairwoman-jane-chu-kresge-president-rip-rapson-to-discuss-art-and-community/) - “Why the Arts Matter: A Conversation on Arts, Engagement and Community” will be moderated Juanita Moore, president and CEO of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: What should unite Opportunity Zones backers and detractors](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-what-should-unite-opportunity-zones-backers-and-detractors/) - Kresge has supported leaders who have created voluntary reporting systems and market norms that we believe could help to solve the issue. But it’s become clear that voluntary action is not enough. It’s time we collectively demand mandatory reporting at the local, state, and federal level as our singular focus.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: A goodbye from Kim Dempsey (or how a platypus earns her wings)](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-a-goodbye-from-kim-dempsey-or-how-a-platypus-earns-her-wings/) - Kim Dempsey reflects on her five years at Kresge, a period when the foundation "was making the tricky transition from opportunistic, one-off social investments to an approach more deeply and strategically aligned with Kresge’s Program priorities and more sophisticated in its back-office transaction management."
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Municipal bonds and the trend toward social justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-municipal-bonds-and-the-trend-toward-social-justice/) - A few socially focused municipal bond funds and related initiatives gaining traction. However, the municipal market has historically had a weak and under-developed lens on non-financial factors such as social outcomes.
- [When stories become medicine: Native youth find healing through film](https://kresge.org/news-views/when-stories-become-medicine-native-youth-find-healing-through-film/) - Kanesia McGlashan-Price never imagined herself as a filmmaker. In 2021, during the depths of the pandemic, the young Unangax̂ woman was searching for inspiration when she signed up for the Alaska Native Filmmaker’s Intensive. She had no experience in film, and no intention of ever becoming a filmmaker. During the intensive, Kanesia created a short
- [Q&A with Michigan's Climate Investment Hub on keeping clean energy projects moving forward](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-with-michigans-climate-investment-hub/) - As federal climate funding faces uncertainty, state-level coordination has become essential for keeping clean energy projects moving forward, particularly in underserved communities. Ben Dueweke, Director of Michigan's Climate Investment Hub, talks with us about how the Hub is working to connect capital providers, CDFIs, and community organizations to accelerate equitable climate solutions, and why creating
- [Building the local ecosystem for clean energy lending](https://kresge.org/news-views/building-the-local-ecosystem-for-clean-energy-lending/) - Over the past year, the landscape for community climate finance has shifted dramatically. To better understand what that change looks like on the ground, The Kresge Foundation, in partnership with Climate Impact Advisors, interviewed nearly 50 community lenders — CDFIs, green banks, and credit unions — from across the country. The conversations came at an opportune
- [Kresge, Erb and Hudson-Webber Foundations commit more than $11.2M to 107 arts organizations](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-erb-and-hudson-webber-foundations-commit-more-than-11-2m-to-107-arts-organizations/) - One hundred and seven arts and cultural organizations in the Detroit metropolitan area will share more than $11.2 million in multiyear general operating support. This multi-year funding initiative, known as Detroit Arts Support (DAS), is a collaboration between The Kresge Foundation, the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation, and Hudson-Webber Foundation. The program aims to
- [Q&A: The growing role of community foundations in climate resilience](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-the-growing-role-of-community-foundations-in-climate-resilience/) - As climate risks intensify and federal funding remains uncertain, community foundations are emerging as essential anchors for local resilience work. With deep roots in their regions, these institutions bring the long-term perspective, trusted relationships, and flexible tools needed to advance climate solutions tailored to place. Kristin Tracz, Director of the Community Foundation Climate Collaborative, discusses
- [From the Gulf South to the Global South: Strengthening climate solutions through solidarity and stewardship](https://kresge.org/news-views/from-the-gulf-south-to-the-global-south-strengthening-climate-solutions-through-solidarity-and-stewardship/) - Taproot Earth is a frontline-rooted climate justice organization with roots in the Gulf South and Appalachia and partners across the Global Black diaspora. In this Q&A, Eliane Lakam, campaign manager of global climate reparations at Taproot Earth, shares how they are building power across borders to advance global climate reparations—from convening more than 200 Black
- [Kresge partners unveil digital learning platform to equip tomorrow’s human services leaders](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-partners-unveil-digital-learning-platform-to-equip-tomorrows-human-services-leaders/) - Together, the American Public Human Services Association (APHSA), Leadership for a Networked World at Harvard University (LNW) and The Kresge Foundation’s Human Services Program launched NextGenFrontline.org — a dynamic learning site created by and for human services organizations. This new platform is designed to equip frontline human service providers and advocates with practical tools, curated
- [Cities on the front lines: How the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance is building a more equitable climate future](https://kresge.org/news-views/cities-on-the-front-lines-how-the-carbon-neutral-cities-alliance-is-building-a-more-equitable-climate-future/) - In Stockholm, city planners are reimagining how buildings can absorb carbon instead of releasing it into the air. In Melbourne, community advocates are working alongside city officials to ensure clean energy reaches neighborhoods that have historically been left behind. In Amsterdam, discarded solar panels are finding new life, preventing waste while expanding renewable energy access
- [Application opens for $50,000 Kresge Artist Fellowships and $5,000 Gilda Awards](https://kresge.org/news-views/application-opens-for-50000-kresge-artist-fellowships-and-5000-gilda-awards-2/) - Program sustains one of the nation's largest, no-strings-attached awards amid shrinking arts funding Applications are now open for the 2026 Kresge Artist Fellowships, inviting metro Detroit artists to apply for one of the region's most significant no-strings-attached awards. This year, 10 artists working in Live Arts and Film & Music will each receive a $50,000
- [Detroit’s kids can’t wait: New mayor must fight child poverty beyond the classroom](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroits-kids-cant-wait-new-mayor-must-fight-child-poverty-beyond-the-classroom/) - This is a portion of a commentary by Kresge Detroit Program Managing Director Wendy Lewis Jackson that originally ran online in the Detroit Free Press. Read the complete op-ed here. Detroit made history, electing the first women in the city’s 324 years to the role of mayor. Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield is kicking off her victory
- [No student should have to choose between food and their future](https://kresge.org/news-views/no-student-should-have-to-choose-between-food-and-their-future/) - A Q&A With Swipe Out Hunger’s Jaime Hansen on how the organization is addressing student hunger through advocacy, partnership and the power of student-led change. Though 40% of college students nationwide experience food insecurity, Jaime Hansen, executive director of Swipe Out Hunger, calls student hunger a hidden crisis that too often goes ignored. Founded in
- [Celebrating climate action—and mutirão—at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum](https://kresge.org/news-views/celebrating-climate-action-and-mutirao-at-the-local-leaders-forum/) - Mutirão. From the Indigenous Tupi-Guarani language, the word translates to “collective efforts.” That was the concept that grounded the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro and the United Nations’ 30th Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, this November. Hosted by the COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies the first week of November, the
- [Martha O’Bryan Center National Coalition unveils policy solutions to help families overcome benefits cliff](https://kresge.org/news-views/martha-obryan-center-national-coalition-unveils-policy-solutions-to-help-families-overcome-benefits-cliff/) - The Martha O’Bryan Center (MOBC) is convening a national network of practitioners focused on increasing opportunities for families across the country. With the recent expansion of their national Beyond the Cliff coalition to 27 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, more than 70 organizations are now collaborating to eliminate a significant hurdle in the American
- [Fresno is building an economy that works for everyone as Fresno DRIVE celebrates five years](https://kresge.org/news-views/fresno-is-building-an-economy-that-works-for-everyone-as-fresno-drive-celebrates-five-years/) - Frenso, California is a young American city, both demographically and historically, and uniquely positioned to drive transformational change. With a mix of emerging talent, dedicated community members and concentrated resources, Fresno can be a powerful engine for advancing equity and opportunity. As California’s fifth largest city and the largest in its Central Valley, Fresno’s regional
- [Detroit students and HBCUs: A pathway to opportunity and economic growth](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroit-students-and-hbcus-a-pathway-to-opportunity-and-economic-growth/) - A new research report, Detroit Export, HBCU Import: Detroit Students on the Yard and Back Home Again, underscores the crucial role Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) play in shaping brighter futures for Detroit students, and implications for the city’s economy. Sponsored by The Kresge Foundation, the 18-month study examined how access to HBCUs can boost
- [Kresge launches next phase of Climate Change, Health & Equity Initiative with $18.6M investment](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-launches-next-phase-of-climate-change-health-equity-initiative-with-18-6m-investment/) - The Kresge Foundation has awarded $18.6 million in new grants to 32 organizations addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, health and equity in cities across the United States. The second phase of Kresge’s Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) Initiative builds on its initial five-year, $30 million effort launched in 2018 to address climate
- [Honoring the gifts of American cities: Emerging themes for equitable community development](https://kresge.org/news-views/honoring-the-gifts-of-american-cities-emerging-themes-for-equitable-community-development/) - A little over a year ago, I addressed 300 partners, peers and friends at Kresge’s Our Urban Future conference, the last of several events marking the Kresge Foundation’s Centennial. I told the group: “Let’s use our time together to fire our imagination to conceive of a bolder, more equitable urban trajectory. I am optimistic that
- [Introducing 'Families in Neighborhoods': A new series focused on family-centered neighborhoods in Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/introducing-families-in-neighborhoods-a-new-series-focused-on-family-centered-neighborhoods-in-detroit/) - For generations, families across the nation have sought neighborhoods where they can raise their children in an environment in which they can thrive. For some families, this means moving from one neighborhood to another. For others, it means remaining where their families have been for generations. However, we know that the zip code in which
- [Filing for the future: How Detroit families gain from tax credits](https://kresge.org/news-views/filing-for-the-future-how-detroit-families-gain-from-tax-credits/) - This is the fifth entry in the Families in Neighborhoods blog series. The series offers commentaries that explore efforts underway in Detroit, to reimagine neighborhoods as places of opportunity for children and families. When tax season arrives in Detroit, the stakes are high. More than 40% of the city’s children live in poverty, and the
- [Saunteel Jenkins rejoins Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees](https://kresge.org/news-views/saunteel-jenkins-rejoins-kresge-foundation-board-of-trustees/) - The Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees today announced the reappointment of Detroit nonprofit leader Saunteel Jenkins to serve on the private, national foundation’s governing body. A lifelong Detroiter, Jenkins has dedicated her entire career to underserved populations and communities through nonprofit leadership and public service. She was most recently the CEO of The Heat and
- [Birth Detroit promotes a community vision for families with affirming maternal and infant care](https://kresge.org/news-views/birth-detroit-promotes-a-community-vision-for-families-with-affirming-maternal-and-infant-care/) - On Detroit’s northwest side, a new chapter in maternal and family health is unfolding. Birth Detroit, the city’s first freestanding birth center, is more than a health facility. It is a space built with love, guided by community vision, and centered on the well-being of mothers, babies and families. For new mother Rya Whitt, the
- [Rapson: Community safety in Memphis requires community-based effort](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-community-safety-in-memphis-requires-community-based-effort/) - In yet one more unilateral decision to activate National Guard forces in the name of public safety to majority Black cities led by Black mayors, the administration last week announced that the next destination would be Memphis. It appears that the well-choreographed and visible anticipatory planning for resistance by Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois
- [The next chapter for CDFIs: State and local innovation](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-next-chapter-for-cdfis-state-and-local-innovation/) - State-level coalitions are demonstrating how CDFI partnerships with state and local governments, philanthropy and new allies can reduce reliance on federal funding and expand community impact. This article is part of a series highlighting the impact of CDFIs and how the sector is adapting to the current environment. Walk down any main street in Michigan
- [Financing opportunity: Q&A with Harold Pettigrew on the future of the CDFI Sector](https://kresge.org/news-views/financing-opportunity-qa-with-harold-pettigrew-on-the-future-of-the-cdfi-sector/) - As the community finance field enters a new era—shaped by economic uncertainty, shifting capital flows, and growing calls for accountability—how can CDFIs prepare for what’s ahead? The Kresge Foundation spoke with Harold Pettigrew, the president and CEO of the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) to help answer that question. This article is part of a series highlighting
- [CDFIs need stronger Infrastructure, smarter capital, and sector-wide collaboration](https://kresge.org/news-views/cdfis-need-stronger-infrastructure-smarter-capital-and-sector-wide-collaboration/) - As the community finance field enters a new era—shaped by economic uncertainty, shifting capital flows, and growing calls for accountability—how can CDFIs prepare for what’s ahead? The Kresge Foundation spoke with Paige Chapel, CEO of Aeris, a national provider of ratings and performance data for CDFIs, to explore how shared standards and smarter capital can
- [Ten years of Live6: A neighborhood alliance continues place-based growth and impact](https://kresge.org/news-views/ten-years-of-live6-a-neighborhood-alliance-continues-place-based-growth-and-impact/) - When Live6 Alliance was founded in 2015, its mission sounded straightforward. Serve as a bridge between institutions, businesses and residents along Detroit’s Livernois and McNichols corridors. The reality was complex. Vacant storefronts lined McNichols, which is also known as Six Mile. Historic homes needed repair. Longtime residents, the people who carried Detroit through its hardest
- [Cities need community voices to lead climate and health solutions: Q&A with Program Officer Kat Sisler](https://kresge.org/news-views/cities-need-community-voices-to-lead-climate-and-health-solutions-qa-with-program-officer-kat-sisler/) - Kat Sisler joined Kresge as a Program Officer on the Environment Program last month after previously working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). KM: How has your background and experience informed and influenced the role you want to play at the foundation? KS: One of the things I’ve learned working in the
- [Detroit Homecoming: Panelists envision the city as a living laboratory for 21st-century urban life](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroit-homecoming-panelists-envision-the-city-as-a-living-laboratory-for-21st-century-urban-life/) - At this year's Crain’s Detroit Homecoming, urbanist Richard Florida and Kresge Detroit Program Managing Director Wendy Lewis Jackson shared a fast-moving conversation about where Detroit is headed and why its future hinges on neighborhood strength and regional collaboration. The session, “Urban Insights: Detroit’s Progress and Potential,” at the annual expat immersion event sponsored by Crain's
- [Kresge publishes monograph honoring 2025 Eminent Artist Marion Hayden](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-publishes-monograph-honoring-2025-eminent-artist-marion-hayden/) - The Kresge Foundation today released a new monograph celebrating the life, artistry and community impact of bassist, bandleader and educator Marion Hayden, the 2025 Kresge Eminent Artist. Titled “Marion Hayden: Daughter of the Way,” the volume is the 17th in Kresge’s Eminent Artist series and includes a foreword by Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson,
- [Janis Bowdler joins Kresge Foundation’s Board of Trustees](https://kresge.org/news-views/janis-bowdler-joins-kresge-foundations-board-of-trustees/) - Former U.S. Treasury and philanthropic leader brings deep expertise in inclusive economic growth The Kresge Foundation today announced that Janis Bowdler has been appointed to its Board of Trustees, which serves as the governing body overseeing the foundation’s financial management, operations, grantmaking and social investing. Bowdler is a nationally recognized leader in economic inclusion and
- [Building for the future: Kresge's next chapter in Detroit neighborhoods](https://kresge.org/news-views/building-for-the-future-kresges-next-chapter-in-detroit-neighborhoods/) - Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson delivered the following comments at the announcement of Kresge's new $180 million investment in Northwest Detroit neighborhoods and plans to move the foundation's headquarters to the Marygrove Conservancy Campus at an event on the campus in Detroit on Sept. 12, 2025. Good morning, everyone. What a pleasure it
- [Kresge Foundation investing $180M in neighborhoods, plans new headquarters in Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-investing-180m-in-neighborhoods-plans-new-headquarters-in-detroit/) - Kresge deepens long-term commitment to Detroit with new investments to advance resident-led vision for the future of the neighborhoods The Kresge Foundation today announced a dramatic $180 million investment in the neighborhoods of Detroit. The announcement includes the foundation’s decision to move its headquarters from Troy, Michigan, to the Marygrove Conservancy Campus in Northwest Detroit.
- [Building trust through language: How San Francisco transformed community outreach](https://kresge.org/news-views/building-trust-through-language-how-san-francisco-transformed-community-outreach/) - Questions like “where are you from?” or “what language do you speak?” could seem non-threatening, but to some, this could feel stigmatizing and offensive. This was a crucial lesson that public health officials in San Francisco learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic put a spotlight on the health disparities that existed for so many
- [Painted with pride: Detroit’s walls, Detroit’s story; BLKOUT Walls Murals Festival returns](https://kresge.org/news-views/painted-with-pride-detroits-walls-detroits-story-blkout-walls-murals-festival-returns/) - I have always been struck by how Detroit wears its story on its walls. At first glance, those walls can seem like backdrops, but look closer and you see chapters of struggle, creativity, protest and pride unfolding in real time. What was once a source of friction has become one of Detroit’s most visible symbols
- [PathBreakers podcast features visionaries forging new paths in American cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/introducing-2024-annual-report-pathbreakers-and-kresge-podcast/) - Beyond Barriers: Seeing Possibilities Where Others See Obstacles The Kresge Foundation proudly announces the launch of its 2024 Annual Report: PathBreakers, a dynamic digital report and companion podcast series that spotlight 12 remarkable individuals who are breaking down barriers and forging new solutions for America’s cities. Some see barriers. PathBreakers see possibilities. This theme resonates
- [From crisis to community-led renewal post-Katrina: Kresge’s long view in New Orleans](https://kresge.org/news-views/from-crisis-to-community-led-renewal-post-katrina-kresges-long-view-in-new-orleans/) - This Friday, Aug. 29, marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina changed the course of New Orleans and the Gulf South region. It remade the physical landscape. It cast in bright relief the failure of essential public health, safety and community support systems. It reminded us that we can’t simply rely on engineering to confront the
- [Kresge Foundation Joins The Partnership for Higher Education in Africa](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-joins-the-partnership-for-higher-education-in-africa/) - NEW YORK, NEW YORK – The Partnership for Higher Education in Africa is pleased to announce the addition of The Kresge Foundation to its team of partnering foundations. “We very warmly welcome the Kresge Foundation into the partnership and are delighted with the prospect of working more closely with, and benefiting from, the foundation’s rich
- [Preserving place, creating opportunity: New Orleans’ path forward 20 years after Katrina](https://kresge.org/news-views/preserving-place-creating-opportunity-new-orleans-path-forward-20-years-after-katrina/) - As New Orleans marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina, climate threats remain an undeniable reality in the Gulf South. But equally pressing are the economic challenges that have made New Orleans increasingly unaffordable in the two decades since the devastating storm. Sankofa Community Development Corporation and Thrive New Orleans demonstrate how climate resilience and community-driven
- [Green infrastructure: Cities turn to nature to solve urban flooding](https://kresge.org/news-views/green-infrastructure-cities-turn-to-nature-to-solve-urban-flooding/) - As cities across the U.S. grapple with increasingly severe and more frequent flooding from intense storms and climate change, a growing number of municipalities are recognizing that the century-old approach of mainly channeling rainwater into underground pipes and sewers is not enough. Adding to their flood fighting toolkit, they're embracing green stormwater infrastructure — systems
- [Community, strategy and renewal: Highlights from the Thrive Leaders Summit](https://kresge.org/news-views/community-strategy-and-renewal-highlights-from-the-thrive-leaders-summit/) - This June, 26 leaders from the Thrive Leaders Network gathered in Portland, Oregon, for three days of connection, reflection and renewal. Thrive Leaders Network combines an unrestricted award with programming for a network of national leaders from college access, success and pathways-focused organizations to support personal learning and leadership development. Participants are proximate to the
- [Kresge's summer interns learn philanthropy is about more than cutting checks](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresges-summer-interns-learn-philanthropy-is-about-more-than-cutting-checks/) - By Justina Giglio This summer, Kresge’s interns got their first look into the world of private philanthropy while working with teams spanning across American Cities, Arts & Culture, Communications, Detroit, Education and Investments. Reflecting on their time at the foundation, their most significant takeaway was the impact philanthropic institutions, like Kresge, are capable of having
- [How The RED helps students reach the next level in their art practice](https://kresge.org/news-views/how-the-red-helps-students-reach-the-next-level-in-their-art-practice/) - By Justina Giglio Yvette Rock, the executive director and founder of Live Coal – a nonprofit that fosters artistic growth through visual arts education and community-rooted programs – is charting new opportunities in her youth artist program: The RED. The RED is a children’s art museum that operates out of the Piety Hill neighborhood. Rock
- [PHEARLESS initiative helps address mental health in Minneapolis high-rise buildings](https://kresge.org/news-views/phearless-initiative-helps-address-mental-health-in-minneapolis-high-rise-buildings/) - Loneliness can hurt our health, and research shows that social connections improve health outcomes for older adults, especially for those that feel isolated. This is why the Highrise Health Alliance, launched in 2020 by the Minneapolis Health Department (MHD) and Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA), is focused on improving behavioral health for older adults. Given
- [The Advancement League reimagines health care at the Young Health Leader Summit](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-advancement-league-reimagines-health-care-at-the-young-health-leader-summit/) - The future health care leaders and innovators are already here. Hundreds of early-career professionals, graduate students and health care leaders gathered in Atlanta to attend the Young Health Leader Summit, an annual two-day event hosted by the Advancement League. The Advancement League is an organization that aids current leaders in advancing their careers and cultivates
- [Grasping at the Roots: How RYSE Center cultivates youth power and community transformation](https://kresge.org/news-views/grasping-at-the-roots-how-ryse-center-cultivates-youth-power-and-community-transformation/) - In Richmond, California, a youth-led movement is powerfully reshaping the future, creating opportunity and hope within a community that has had to navigate the impacts of violence and systemic disinvestment. The RYSE Center (RYSE), born from youth activism in response to tragedy and fueled by hope, pioneers an approach to youth development that offers profound
- [Dr. Yusef Salaam of the 'Exonerated Five' on the power of narrative and his path to justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/dr-yusef-salaam-of-the-exonerated-five-on-the-power-of-narrative-and-his-path-to-justice/) - Dr. Yusef Salaam joined Kresge staff to speak at a Lunch & Learn last week, where he reflected on his journey as a member of the Exonerated Five and shared stories from his memoir Better, Not Bitter. Lunch & Learn sessions support the organizational learning and skill development necessary to further Kresge’s commitment to equity work.
- [Q&A: Youth organizer combines her art and activism to advocate for climate justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-youth-organizer-combines-her-art-and-activism-to-advocate-for-climate-justice/) - Nyiesha Mallett is a 24-year-old climate activist, artist, educator and community organizer at UPROSE, a Brooklyn-based organization promoting environmental justice, sustainability and resilience. This year marks Mallett’s 10th year as a part of UPROSE. A member of the 2021 GRIST 50, a list of climate and justice leaders to watch, Mallett is teaching climate justice,
- [Centering student voices: What we learned partnering with Listen4Good](https://kresge.org/news-views/centering-student-voices-what-we-learned-partnering-with-listen4good/) - As a program officer, I’m always asking my team: how can we ensure our investments truly reflect the needs, requests and voices of the communities we aim to support? As the former executive director of a nonprofit focused on higher education access and success, I saw firsthand that while we worked hard to design research-based
- [Rapson: Kresge Trustee Robert Storey was strong champion of HBCUs and Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-kresge-trustee-robert-storey-was-strong-champion-of-hbcus-and-detroit/) - Robert "Bob" Storey, whose distinguished legal career as a partner at several law firms also included serving as a trustee at The Kresge Foundation, died June 11, 2025, at age 89. Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson issued the following statement. It is with deep sadness that I share news of the passing of Robert
- [Strengthening healthy, connected neighborhoods through child- and family-centered parks and public spaces](https://kresge.org/news-views/strengthening-healthy-connected-neighborhoods-through-child-and-family-centered-parks-and-public-spaces/) - This is the fourth entry in the Families in Neighborhoods blog series. The series offers commentaries that explore efforts underway in Detroit, to reimagine neighborhoods as places of opportunity for children and families. To strengthen Detroit’s neighborhoods, it is critical to address quality of life, residential segregation and social capital—key indicators of upward mobility for
- [Family-friendly policies can help keep people in Michigan and create economic opportunity](https://kresge.org/news-views/family-friendly-policies-can-help-keep-people-in-michigan-and-create-economic-opportunity/) - This is the third entry in the Families in Neighborhoods blog series. The series offers commentaries that explore efforts underway in Detroit, to reimagine neighborhoods as places of opportunity for children and families. In recent years, policymakers in Detroit and across Michigan have sought to develop strategies to deter people from moving away and attract
- [Transformative Climate Action project from Urban Institute helps local leaders disrupt climate status quo](https://kresge.org/news-views/transformative-climate-action-project-from-urban-institute-helps-local-leaders-disrupt-climate-status-quo/) - Climate change threatens the health and well-being of all Americans. To build climate resilience, cities are reshaping their economies and infrastructure to transition to renewable energy and withstand climate harms, but the benefits of these changes are not shared equally. Under the status quo, the most under-resourced communities and neighborhoods face the greatest climate risks
- [25 artists named 2025 Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Award winners](https://kresge.org/news-views/25-artists-named-2025-kresge-artist-fellows-and-gilda-award-winners/) - Kresge Arts in Detroit today announced the 2025 Kresge Artist Fellowships and Gilda Snowden Emerging Artist Awards recipients. Twenty-five artists received the no-strings-attached prize from the program, administered by the College for Creative Studies (CCS) on behalf of The Kresge Foundation. For the first time, each Kresge Artist Fellow will receive a $50,000 award, up
- [Kresge's 2025 summer intern class marks a decade of the program](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresges-2025-summer-intern-class-marks-a-decade-of-the-program/) - The Kresge Foundation welcomed its summer 2025 intern cohort this month, kicking off the tenth year of hosting its internship program. The cohort comprises eight undergraduate and graduate students eager to immerse themselves in the foundation’s programming and operational projects. For 10 weeks, interns will work with foundation staff to learn how Kresge works to
- [Bridging innovation: New Orleans BioDistrict leaders learn alongside Memphis Medical District](https://kresge.org/news-views/bridging-innovation-new-orleans-biodistrict-leaders-learn-alongside-memphis-medical-district/) - Collaboration and shared learning are powerful tools for urban development. Recently, Kresge partners and community stakeholders from New Orleans BioDistrict traveled to Memphis to learn from our partners at the Memphis Medical District Collaborative and see what has been accomplished on the ground. Participants included BioDistrict trustees, Greater New Orleans Foundation staff, community anchor institutions
- [Kresge Foundation name being used in scams; How to report fraudulent activity](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-name-being-used-in-scams/) - Individuals have been fraudulently posing online, in emails, text messages, messaging apps, and on social media as “representatives” of The Kresge Foundation. These individuals are using the foundation’s name without authorization and have contacted people to suggest that funds may be forthcoming if personal identification and financial information or funds are provided. These messages are
- [Kresge welcomes new program, investment and operation staff](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-welcomes-new-program-investment-and-operation-staff/) - Six new staff members joined the foundation in recent weeks. They will support Kresge’s American Cities Program and the Executive, External Affairs and Communications, Grants Management, Investments, and Talent and Human Resources departments or teams. Katie Van Dusen has joined Kresge as a program officer for the American Cities Program. They join the foundation after
- [Empowering communities to combat the affordable housing crisis with OppCo Housing Accelerator Fund](https://kresge.org/news-views/empowering-communities-to-combat-the-affordable-housing-crisis-with-oppco-housing-accelerator-fund/) - Across Massachusetts, the housing affordability crisis continues to deepen, and the state has set the goal of creating 222,000 new homes by 2035, while preserving its existing affordable housing. The state ranks third in the nation for highest housing costs, with a severe shortage of affordable rental options. Long-time residents are being priced out of
- [Helping children thrive: Community of practice links local programs supporting kids and families from birth to career](https://kresge.org/news-views/helping-children-thrive-community-of-practice-links-local-programs-supporting-kids-and-families-from-birth-to-career/) - This is the second entry in the Families in Neighborhoods blog series. The series offers commentaries that explore efforts underway in Detroit, to reimagine neighborhoods as places of opportunity for children and families. Last August, Kresge and several national funders worked with the U.S. Department of Education to host the summit on Strengthening Whole Child
- [Lee: College Decision Day provides a moment of validation for student achievement and aspiration](https://kresge.org/news-views/lee-college-decision-day-provides-a-moment-of-validation-for-student-achievement-and-aspiration/) - For high school students, it’s not just about choosing a college — it’s about feeling seen, supported and set up to thrive. College Decision Day, observed each year on May 1, marks the deadline for most high school seniors across the U.S. to commit to a college. The Detroit College Access Network (DCAN), a nonprofit
- [Resilient Neighborhoods: Empowerment program helps seniors age in place with home repair grants and education](https://kresge.org/news-views/resilient-neighborhoods-empowerment-program-helps-seniors-age-in-place-with-home-repair-grants-and-education/) - Seniors in Detroit often face challenges maintaining older homes. The nonprofit organization U SNAP BAC (which stands for United Streets Networking And Planning: Building A Community), on Detroit’s East Side, created a program to help with home repairs and to address needs that it often sees among the seniors it serves. Last year, U SNAP
- [As federal cuts threaten climate progress, work to advance clean energy is still happening in cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/as-federal-cuts-threaten-climate-progress-work-to-advance-clean-energy-is-still-happening-in-cities/) - Connecting people, fostering innovation and accelerating impact. To help advance change in communities across the country, the Urban Sustainability Directors Network brings local government sustainability practitioners together to learn, collaborate and accelerate the work of local sustainability. USDN is a peer-to-peer network dedicated to advancing the field of local sustainability by supporting more than 3,300
- [Investing in prevention: How city health departments tackle chronic disease](https://kresge.org/news-views/investing-in-prevention-how-city-health-departments-tackle-chronic-disease/) - About 129 million (or 40%) of Americans live with at least one chronic disease – such as heart disease and hypertension, cancer, diabetes, or asthma. Local health departments provide important community-level solutions to prevent chronic disease. Chronic diseases are health conditions that can last anywhere from multiple months to a lifetime. They constitute five of
- [The climate crisis is a public health crisis – we need to treat it like one](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-climate-crisis-is-a-public-health-crisis-we-need-to-treat-it-like-one/) - Climate change is one of the greatest threats to our nation’s health, prosperity, and safety – we need our climate funding to reflect that reality. Four years ago, a storm in metro Detroit dumped more than eight inches of rain on the city within several hours, completely overwhelming the city’s aging stormwater infrastructure. The storm
- [Bibbins: Deeper investments in community-driven approaches to advancing climate solutions are critical](https://kresge.org/news-views/bibbins-deeper-investments-in-community-driven-approaches-to-advancing-climate-solutions-are-critical/) - With decades of experience in advancing equitable and just environmental and climate solutions, Shamar Bibbins became managing director of Kresge's Environment Program in fall 2024 following the retirement of its longtime leader Lois DeBacker. In a new Q&A, learn more about Bibbins and her career journey, what inspires her and how she is thinking about
- [Greenlink Analytics remains committed to championing a just clean energy transition](https://kresge.org/news-views/greenlink-analytics-remains-committed-to-championing-a-just-clean-energy-transition/) - In recent months, the climate conversation has shifted dramatically under the new administration, removing support specifically meant for those most impacted by climate change. The president signed executive orders that ended diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and is now seeking to cancel billions in contracted funding meant to support the transition to a cleaner, more
- [Improving financial resilience: How nonprofits can navigate the impact of federal spending cuts](https://kresge.org/news-views/improving-financial-resilience-how-nonprofits-can-navigate-the-impact-of-federal-spending-cuts/) - As we continue to witness the ripple effects of recent federal spending cuts, nonprofit organizations face mounting pressure to ensure their financial resilience. These spending reductions will place significant strain on nonprofits’ revenue streams, operational stability and ultimately the impact they are able to make. The disruptions are so significant and vast it’s hard for
- [Hope starts with investing in early childhood education](https://kresge.org/news-views/hope-starts-with-investing-in-early-childhood-education/) - This story was written by Randiah Camille Green and created in partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. It is part of a year-long series focusing on the Hope Starts Here initiative in Detroit. While Detroit struggles with having enough early childhood education slots to meet community needs, experts in the field say a lack of
- [Kresge's Wendy Lewis Jackson honored as Woman of the Year by the 'Michigan Chronicle'](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresges-wendy-lewis-jackson-honored-as-woman-of-the-year-by-the-michigan-chronicle/) - On March 13, 2025, the Michigan Chronicle hosted its 18th annual Women of Excellence Awards at Detroit's Huntington Place, honoring 50 distinguished women leaders from Southeast Michigan. Among these trailblazers, Wendy Lewis Jackson, managing director of The Kresge Foundation's Detroit Program, was celebrated as the 2025 Woman of the Year. The Women of Excellence Awards
- [Essential hospitals can access funds for climate readiness — but they need to act now](https://kresge.org/news-views/essential-hospitals-can-access-funds-for-climate-readiness-but-they-need-to-act-now/) - This article was originally published in Medium and reprinted here with permission. Robert Biggio is senior vice president, chief sustainability and real estate officer at Boston Medical Center; Gary Cohen is the president and co-founder of Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth; and Kalpana Ramiah, is vice president of innovations and director of Essential
- [Detroit celebrates 313 Day: A city of resilience, creativity and endless discovery](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroit-celebrates-313-day-a-city-of-resilience-creativity-and-endless-discovery/) - Detroit is more than just a city — it’s a symbol of community and creativity, a living, breathing love letter expressing the hopes and dreams of all those who have inhabited it for generations. From its deep-rooted history to its thriving arts scene, stunning architecture and vibrant cultural spaces, there is so much to love
- [Virtuoso jazz bassist and educator Marion Hayden named 2025 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/news-views/virtuoso-jazz-bassist-and-educator-marion-hayden-named-2025-kresge-eminent-artist/) - Prestigious Eminent Artist Award comes with a $100,000 prize plus short film and monograph Award-winning jazz bassist, educator and mentor Marion Hayden has added the 2025 Kresge Eminent Artist award to her long list of achievements. The annual award is regarded as metro Detroit’s highest arts honor. “I’m not a person who finds herself speechless
- [SBP and Credit Human launch $8M loan program to help disaster-affected communities rebuild faster](https://kresge.org/news-views/sbp-and-credit-human-launch-8m-loan-program-to-help-disaster-affected-communities-rebuild-faster/) - The Kresge-backed loan fund will help fill a gap in disaster recovery relief in under-resourced communities. SBP, a national disaster resilience and recovery nonprofit, announced the launch of a new partnership with The Kresge Foundation and Credit Human, a nonprofit federal credit union and financial cooperative, to accelerate recovery among underinsured and uninsured homeowners affected
- [Jeni Norman joins Kresge’s Social Investment Practice as director of portfolio management](https://kresge.org/news-views/jeni-norman-joins-kresges-social-investment-practice-as-director-of-portfolio-management/) - The Kresge Foundation welcomed Jeni Norman to its staff earlier this week. She joins the Social Investment Practice as the director of portfolio management. In this role, Norman will oversee the team managing a portfolio of 100+ program-related investments totaling more than $370 million of active commitments. The money is invested to strengthen neighborhoods and improve
- [Fostering a capacity-building ecosystem with an equity lens](https://kresge.org/news-views/fostering-a-capacity-building-ecosystem-with-an-equity-lens/) - Last month, The Kresge Foundation hosted the deep-dive workshop, “Creating a Capacity Building Ecosystem,” with capacity-building partners from AchieveMission, Community Wealth Partners, Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training and ProInspire at the 2019 Upswell convening in Chicago, Illinois. In this Q&A, the founder and leader of Kresge’s Leadership and Infrastructure Funding Team (LIFT), Caroline Altman Smith, who
- [Rapson: Inauguration Day offered beauty, inspiration, hope and action](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-inauguration-day-offered-beauty-inspiration-hope-and-action/) - Who would have guessed that Wednesday’s inauguration would be so transcendentally coherent in its beauty, inspiration, and catharsis, with a guest list that included Garth Brooks to Lady Gaga, Hillary Clinton to Mike Pence, and Barack Obama to J-Lo. But it was. We are blessed as a nation to have people of such unsurpassed decency,
- [What to read about cities, opportunity and equity in 2020](https://kresge.org/news-views/what-to-read-about-cities-opportunity-and-equity-in-2020/) - As a new year — and decade — kicks off, Kresge’s staff members compiled this list of books to read in 2020. These books are those our staff found moving, thought-provoking, and important in recent years and that have relevance for the year ahead. As you look for a few good titles to stretch your
- [Earth Day 2022: The Solutions Project scales and strengthens frontline climate solutions ](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-solutions-project-accelerates-scales-and-strengthens-frontline-climate-solutions/) - Although the climate crisis is one of the most daunting challenges of our times, there is one organization that is energized by the knowledge that we have what we need to solve it. Enter The Solutions Project (TSP). With a passion for climate justice and human-centered storytelling, TSP supports grassroots organizations through grantmaking, capacity-building, media
- [Justice40: Getting federal funds for climate investments to communities that need it most](https://kresge.org/news-views/justice40-getting-federal-funds-for-climate-investments-to-communities-that-need-it-most/) - President Biden may have had Jonestown, Md., in mind when he created his landmark Justice40 initiative. Launched in 2021, Justice40 aims to deliver 40% of federal climate and clean energy investments to “disadvantaged” communities. You could say that Jonestown fits the bill. Founded by free African Americans in the mid-19th century, this unincorporated village on
- [Boehland: We are in a climate crisis. Federal legislation is necessary but insufficient.](https://kresge.org/news-views/boehland-we-are-in-a-climate-crisis-federal-legislation-is-necessary-but-insufficient/) - For anyone who worries about climate change – and, since climate stability is an imperative for social progress and human flourishing, that should be all of us – it’s been a rough summer. We have entered the age of climate crisis. The planet is blinking red, sending regular announcements that the climate is out of
- [Island Press e-book details sustainable, equitable solutions by environmental thought leaders](https://kresge.org/news-views/island-press-e-book-details-sustainable-equitable-solutions-by-environmental-thought-leaders/) - For those who care about sustainability and equity, 2022 brought plenty of good news. The Biden Administration made good on its promise of the Justice40 initiative, which targeted 40% of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), funding is flowing to
- [CDFIs: An under-represented stakeholder in the public finance ecosystem?](https://kresge.org/news-views/cdfis-an-under-represented-stakeholder-in-the-public-finance-ecosystem/) - Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are vital investors in cities across America, but could they have a greater impact if they better pulled in dollars from public finance sources? As long-standing lenders with a mission, CDFIs specialize in providing loans to individuals, organizations, and businesses in under-resourced or disadvantaged rural and urban communities often underserved
- [Leaders from the Environment sector and Kresge grantee partners appointed to the Biden-Harris Administration](https://kresge.org/news-views/leaders-from-the-environment-sector-and-kresge-grantee-partners-appointed-to-the-biden-harris-administration/) - The Kresge Environment team is delighted to congratulate four of our long-time grantee partners who have been appointed to senior posts in the Biden-Harris Administration. While not an explicit focus of Kresge’s environmental grantmaking, federal policy is critical to cities’ ability to combat and adapt to climate change. The skills, values and character of White
- [Business leaders: Invest in racial equity to combat the climate crisis](https://kresge.org/news-views/business-leaders-invest-in-racial-equity-to-combat-the-climate-crisis/) - Every sector—from business to finance, energy, government, and beyond—must also invest in racial equity, clean energy, and green jobs if we truly want to rebuild America’s economy. Editor's note: This story was first published by Fast Company. Two threads are woven into the fabric of each crisis facing our country today: deeply rooted racism and
- [30th anniversary of 1st National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit – looking back, looking forward](https://kresge.org/news-views/roundtable-30th-anniversary-of-1st-national-people-of-color-environmental-leadership-summit-looking-back-looking-forward/) - Roughly 30 years ago, 1,100 delegates gathered in Washington, D.C. for the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit. The Summit took place Oct. 24-27, 1991. It was truly a watershed event – a crucible of solidarity and creativity that sought to change the trajectory of the U.S. environmental movement. It gave the movement
- [Health care organizations, practitioners collaborate on push for climate-smart health care](https://kresge.org/news-views/health-care-organizations-professionals-collaborate-on-push-for-climate-smart-health-care/) - Whether it’s illness due to more extreme heat or increased asthma attacks because of polluted air, the impacts of climate change are already hurting people’s physical and mental health in many ways. However, some are hit harder than others – low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately at risk due to existing social, economic
- [Healing in New Orleans: Ubuntu Village's vision for community transformation, violence prevention](https://kresge.org/news-views/healing-in-new-orleans-ubuntu-villages-vision-for-community-transformation-violence-prevention/) - I am because we are. That is what the word Ubuntu means. We are all deeply interconnected, and our well-being as individuals is directly tied to our well-being as a community. In New Orleans, where the legacies of disinvestment and discrimination have left deep scars, Ubuntu Village is carving out a new path toward healing,
- [Energy publication names Environment team's Jessica Boehland among sector's emerging leaders](https://kresge.org/news-views/energy-publication-names-environment-teams-jessica-boehland-among-sectors-emerging-leaders/) - Jessica E. Boehland, senior program officer with Kresge’s Environment Program, was named this week to Midwest Energy News’ 40 Under 40 awards program. The honor highlights emerging leaders throughout the region and their work in America’s transition to a clean energy economy. They include young leaders working on energy policy in sectors including government, industry,
- [Work begins on Ella Fitzgerald Park and on “HomeBase” Community Center in Detroit’s Livernois-McNichols Area](https://kresge.org/news-views/work-begins-on-ella-fitzgerald-park-and-on-homebase-community-center-in-detroits-livernois-mcnichols-area/) - Government, civic and neighborhood leaders today announced the first groundbreakings in efforts to revitalize Detroit’s Livernois-McNichols area – the new 2.5-acre Ella Fitzgerald Park in the city-led Fitzgerald Revitalization Project and the nearby “HomeBase” community center. Kresge Foundation President Rip Rapson, University of Detroit Mercy President Antoine Garibaldi, Prairie Block Club President Darnetta Banks, and
- [Kresge awards leading human services organizations for innovative approaches](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-awards-leading-human-services-organizations-for-innovative-approaches/) - The Kresge Foundation selected 13 path-breaking human services organizations for an inaugural cohort that will continue to develop innovative approaches to human services. The initiative is part of Kresge’s Human Services Program focus on the advancement of human services to accelerate social and economic mobility for people with low incomes in America’s cities. During the two-year
- [Kresge showcases Detroit during annual arts grantmakers conference](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-showcases-detroit-during-annual-arts-grantmakers-conference/) - The Kresge Foundation Detroit and Arts & Culture programs played co-host to arts funders and supporters from across the country Oct. 28-31 for the 2017 Grantmakers in the Arts Conference in Detroit. Kresge Arts & Culture Program Managing Director Regina R. Smith chaired the conference organizing committee, which also included Kresge Detroit Program Fellow Alycia
- [National public health conference focuses on health effects of climate change](https://kresge.org/news-views/national-public-health-conference-focuses-on-health-effects-of-climate-change/) - Ensuring that all people are able to protect themselves from the physical, financial and mental health effects of climate-fueled impacts was the focus of the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) annual conference this week – and The Kresge Foundation helped amplify the message through attendance, participation and sponsorship of the gathering. The APHA’s 2017 theme
- [$16M invested in loans through Kresge Community Finance to support community development work at CDFIs, DFAs](https://kresge.org/news-views/16m-invested-in-loans-through-kresge-community-finance-to-support-community-development-work-at-cdfis-dfas/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today $16 million in impact investments to nine Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) and Development Finance Agencies (DFAs) working to expand opportunity for low-income people in America’s cities through an initiative called Kresge Community Finance (KCF). More than 130 organizations submitted proposals for funding, representing more than $280 million in capital
- [Kresge learning and evaluation celebrates 2-year anniversary, support of Equitable Evaluation highlight of 2017](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-learning-and-evaluation-celebrates-2-year-anniversary-support-of-equitable-evaluation-highlight-of-2017/) - This month The Kresge Foundation’s Strategic Learning, Research and Evaluation practice celebrates a two-year anniversary. Established in late 2015, Kresge’s learning and evaluation function has put the foundation on a path to growing its knowledge endowment – to draw from the full suite of philanthropic tools, including evaluation and thought leadership – to join conversations
- [Kresge commits additional $6 million for projects to transform Detroit neighborhoods](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-commits-additional-6-million-for-projects-to-transform-detroit-neighborhoods/) - The Kresge Foundation has committed an additional $6 million over the next three years to spur and support neighborhood projects across its hometown through Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit. The commitment builds on a three-year, $5 million pilot initiative that supported 40 projects and 16 planning efforts in 2015-2017. KIP:D projects have ranged from the
- [Arts & Culture team names new senior program officer](https://kresge.org/news-views/arts-culture-team-names-new-senior-program-officer/) - The Kresge Foundation is pleased to welcome Tatiana Hernandez as senior program officer with the foundation’s Arts & Culture Program. Hernandez was most recently the Arts Director at the Hemera Foundation in Boulder, Colorado where she developed a program exploring the intersection of creativity and reflective practices. Previously, as program officer for the arts for
- [New book offers insights into successful pay-for-performance social investing](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-book-offers-insights-into-successful-pay-for-performance-social-investing/) - The Kresge Foundation recently joined Nonprofit Finance Fund and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco to launch a national dialogue about building coalitions and partnerships to address complex, pressing social problems. A new book, “What Matters: Investing in Results to Build Strong, Vibrant Communities,” provides expert insights into how focusing on outcomes will build
- [Strong Start to Finish, national initiative to improve developmental course success, launches today](https://kresge.org/news-views/strong-start-to-finish-national-initiative-to-improve-developmental-course-success-launches-today/) - The Kresge Foundation has partnered with two other leaders in higher education funding to launch Strong Start to Finish, a combined $13 million investment to scale practices designed to enhance student success in developmental English and math, so that more students will ultimately obtain a postsecondary credential. SSTF’s goal is to purposely increase the number
- [Philanthropy Must Respond Forcefully to Charlottesville](https://kresge.org/news-views/philanthropy-must-respond-forcefully-to-charlottesville/) - There is no moral ambiguity about the intentionally provocative, hatefully motivated, racist, and violent behavior ignited by white supremacists last week in Charlottesville. These acts of domestic terrorism not only denigrate, but threaten to undermine, the values that men and women have been fighting for since the signing of the Declaration of Independence and that
- [Health deputy director selected for Integrated Capital Fellowship program](https://kresge.org/news-views/health-deputy-director-selected-for-integrated-capital-fellowship-program/) - RSF Social Finance has named Health Program Deputy Director Chris Kabel to the inaugural cohort of 24 financial professionals participating in its Integrated Capital Fellowship, an intensive program designed to provide the education and strategies practitioners need to help values-driven philanthropists and investors deploy capital for social and environmental benefit. “We’re very excited about our first cohort
- [BUILD Health Challenge awards second round of grants](https://kresge.org/news-views/build-health-challenge-awards-second-round-of-grants/) - The BUILD Health Challenge this week announced a second round of grants supporting 19 community collaborations around the country that aim to transform health in low-income communities. The challenge, funded by 12 organizations including The Kresge Foundation, seeks to: promote health equity; reduce per capita health spending; shift resources and attention from treating illness to the “upstream”
- [21 Detroit community development organizations share $3 million from Kresge](https://kresge.org/news-views/21-detroit-community-development-organizations-share-3-million-from-kresge/) - The Kresge Foundation will support 21 community development organizations across the city of Detroit with $1 million in annual grants announced today for the next three years. “Groups on the frontlines of the city’s revitalization told us that operating support for their day-to-day operations is the most important contribution we can make to support their
- [Kresge, Lumina Foundations designate 17 cities as Talent Hubs](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-lumina-foundations-designate-17-cities-as-talent-hubs/) - The Kresge Foundation joined in partnership with the Lumina Foundation today to announce the designation of 17 communities across the country as Talent Hubs. These cities earned this new designation by meeting rigorous standards for creating environments that attract, retain, and cultivate talent, particularly among today’s students, many of whom are people of color, the
- [Kresge awards $550,000 to study effectiveness of basic needs interventions at community colleges](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-awards-550000-to-study-effectiveness-of-basic-needs-interventions-at-community-colleges/) - The Kresge Foundation’s Education and Human Services Programs announced today a $550,000 grant to support a series of research studies led by Temple University, designed to help identify effective approaches to secure postsecondary students’ basic needs, so more students can stay on track to graduate. Today, the project's lead researcher, Temple professor Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab published a research
- [Philanthropic guarantees: What you need to know](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-power-of-the-guarantee-2/) - What comes to mind when you hear the word “Guarantee?” For us, it’s a word with increasing importance to impact investors and the social sector. For investors, a guarantee can create powerful community change without requiring dollars to be invested upfront – or maybe ever. Through a guarantee, a social good investor – like a
- [Kresge Arts & Culture grantees gather to share, learn and help move Creative Placemaking forward on a national scale](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-arts-culture-grantees-gather-to-share-learn-and-help-move-creative-placemaking-forward-on-a-national-scale/) - Kresge Foundation Arts & Culture Program partners gathered last week to explore strategies for effectively blending arts, culture and design into local development plans and projects across the nation. The foundation hosted representatives of nine grantee organizations and other partners from its Arts & Culture Program National Networks focus area for a two-day workshop in
- [Foundation Review article tells the story behind The BUILD Health Challenge funding collaborative](https://kresge.org/news-views/foundation-review-article-tells-the-story-behind-the-build-health-challenge-funding-collaborative/) - In a new article published in The Foundation Review, “Is More Always Better? A Reflection on the Dynamic Nature of Nationally and Regionally Focused Funder Collaboratives” BUILD Health Challenge funders tell the story behind the funding collaborative and the origin of the program. The BUILD Health Challenge strengthens partnerships between community-based organizations, hospitals and health systems, and
- [New national initiative seeks to increase impact of data sharing in health and human services](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-national-initiative-seeks-to-increase-impact-of-data-sharing-in-health-and-human-services/) - Stewards of Change Institute and AcademyHealth have announced a new initiative – enabled by a grant from The Kresge Foundation – to improve collaboration among health and human services in the U.S. through better use of technology and information-sharing. SOCI and AcademyHealth will use Kresge’s $1.2 million in seed funding to create the National Interoperability
- [ArtPlace selects finalists for grants from Creative Placemaking Fund](https://kresge.org/news-views/artplace-selects-finalists-for-grants-from-creative-placemaking-fund/) - ArtPlace America has announced the 70 projects that will be considered for the 2017 National Creative Placemaking Fund. Each of the finalists have proposed an opportunity for arts and culture to help address a community development challenge or opportunity related to agriculture and food, economic development, education and youth, environment and energy, health, housing, immigration, public
- [Kresge reaches significant year-end milestone to invest $4.5 million to strengthen Detroit’s early childhood systems in 2016](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-reaches-significant-year-end-milestone-to-invest-4-5-million-to-strengthen-detroits-early-childhood-systems-in-2016/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today a total of $4.5 million in 2016 grantmaking as part of its Kresge Early Years for Success (KEYS): Detroit initiative, which launched earlier this year and aims to strengthen the city’s early childhood education and development systems, to ensure all Detroit children grow up ready to learn in kindergarten and
- [Caregivers, parents share ideas during Detroit Day of the Young Child](https://kresge.org/news-views/caregivers-parents-share-ideas-during-detroit-day-of-the-young-child/) - On April 27, as part of the first annual Detroit Day of the Young Child, more than a dozen early childcare providers joined a conversation at The Kresge Foundation’s Midtown office to talk about how they view efforts to improve outcomes for young children in the city. The hour-long conversation included center directors and teachers
- [The Kresge Foundation grants $2 million to Flint lead poisoning recovery effort](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-kresge-foundation-grants-2-million-to-flint-lead-poisoning-recovery-effort/) - A $2-million grant from The Kresge Foundation will help protect Flint children from the effects of lead poisoning and strengthen the health and human services delivery system in Flint, the foundation’s Board of Trustees announced today. The grant will be administered through the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, enabling it to expand programming, create a
- [New report outlines strategy for Trump administration to expand role of tax-exempt hospitals in community health improvement](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-report-outlines-strategy-for-trump-administration-to-expand-role-of-tax-exempt-hospitals-in-community-health-improvement/) - A new report recommends that the Trump administration take action to revise existing Internal Revenue Service policies governing community benefit spending by tax-exempt hospitals in order to encourage greater hospital involvement in activities that can improve health on a community-wide basis. Research increasingly shows the outsize importance of healthy communities to population health. Affordable and
- [Kresge Foundation launches new grantmaking initiative in Memphis](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-launches-new-grantmaking-initiative-in-memphis/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today a new funding opportunity for the city of Memphis, which seeks to support nonprofit organizations to expand opportunity for Memphis residents with low incomes. Since 2013, Kresge has made a suite of investments in Memphis totaling more than $2.5 million to support efforts that spur economic and community development. With
- [Kresge awards $400,000 to San Antonio's SA2020](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-awards-400000-to-san-antonios-sa2020/) - The Kresge Foundation has awarded a $400,000 cross-team grant to SA202 of San Antonio, Texas, to help strengthen collaborations among the city’s nonprofits that support efforts to increase opportunity for residents. SA2020 will leverage the funds from Kresge’s Human Services Program and American Cities Practice to continue to track data of the city’s progress, catalyze
- [BUILD Health Challenge Launches Call for Applications](https://kresge.org/news-views/build-health-challenge-launches-call-for-applications/) - Coming together across sectors and national geography, 11 funders will join forces to significantly expand the BUILD Health Challenge, a national award program that supports communities to take innovative and collaborative approaches toward health improvement.
- [New not-for-profit financial statement standard announced](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-not-for-profit-financial-statement-standard-announced/) - The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-14, Not-for-Profit Entities (Topic 958): Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Entities. This standard is the result of Phase I of FASB’s project to revamp how not-for-profits report financial information. These changes will impact all organizations who follow FASB not-for-profit rules. The standard is
- [Kresge-backed energy saving program expands to 20 cities nationwide](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-backed-energy-saving-program-expands-to-20-cities-nationwide/) - The City Energy Project, a Kresge-funded effort to reduce energy use and curb climate pollution, doubled in scope in November when mayors of 10 U.S. cities announced they are joining the program. The newcomers join 10 other cities that previously committed to reducing energy use in large buildings through innovative policies and programs that drive
- [Climate change, equity must be at forefront of water system planning, Kresge’s White-Newsome tells World Water Tech experts](https://kresge.org/news-views/climate-change-equity-must-be-at-forefront-of-water-system-planning-kresges-white-newsome-tells-world-water-tech-experts/) - Caring for aging grandparents may be an unusual segue into climate change resilience work, but that’s what led Kresge Senior Environment Program Officer Jalonne White-Newsome into the field, she told an audience at the World Water Tech North America Summit in Toronto recently. Giving a keynote speech at the gathering on Oct. 19, White-Newsome said
- [Metro Detroit literary and visual artists invited to apply for fellowships, emerging artist awards](https://kresge.org/news-views/metro-detroit-literary-and-visual-artists-invited-to-apply-for-fellowships-emerging-artist-awards/) - Metropolitan Detroit artists are invited to apply for a 2017 Kresge Artist Fellowship. Fellowships are funded by The Kresge Foundation and administered by Kresge Arts in Detroit at the College for Creative Studies. Now in its ninth year, the program will award 18 Kresge Artist Fellowships – nine in Literary Arts and nine in Visual
- [Life and work of photographer-activist Leni Sinclair on exhibit and in new Kresge-published book](https://kresge.org/news-views/life-and-work-of-photographer-activist-leni-sinclair-on-exhibit-and-in-new-kresge-published-book/) - “Detroit is a survivor, Detroit doesn’t give up, Detroit never stops,” Kresge’s 2016 Eminent Artist Leni Sinclair told a crowd of well-wishers Tuesday night at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History as she was presented with a Kresge-produced monograph detailing her life and career. What was implied in her words, and made
- [Kresge seeks Detroit nonprofits to share $2 million for neighborhood projects](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-seeks-detroit-nonprofits-to-share-2-million-for-neighborhood-projects/) - The Kresge Foundation is seeking 15-20 community-based nonprofit groups across Detroit to share $2 million for projects to transform neighborhoods. The funds are for the third round of Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit, a $5 million pilot initiative launched in 2014. The program asked whether grants of up to $150,000 for projects designed by community-based organizations
- [66 metro Detroit arts and cultural organizations receive Kresge grants](https://kresge.org/news-views/66-metro-detroit-arts-and-cultural-organizations-receive-kresge-grants/) - Sixty-six arts and cultural organizations in the Detroit metropolitan area will share $5.1 million for their operations from The Kresge Foundation Detroit Program over the next three years. The new grants bring unrestricted operating support through Kresge’s Detroit Arts Support initiative to more than $24 million since its inception in 2007. Detroit Arts Support goes
- [$40M initiative will “Reimagine the Civic Commons” in 4 U.S. cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/40m-initiative-will-reimagine-the-civic-commons-in-4-u-s-cities/) - A new national initiative to foster civic engagement, economic opportunity and environmental sustainability was launched with the announcement of a $40 million investment in public spaces in four U.S. cities. “Reimagining the Civic Commons” will support projects that revitalize and connect civic assets in Akron, Chicago, Detroit and Memphis. Four national foundations – the
- [Washington Monthly includes 7 Kresge partners on list of higher education innovators](https://kresge.org/news-views/washington-monthly-includes-7-kresge-partners-on-list-of-higher-education-innovators/) - News magazine The Washington Monthly listed 16 top innovators in higher education in its Sept./Oct. issue on newsstands now, and seven of them are partners of The Kresge Foundation. Each of the innovators was recognized for work that advocates for “new and better ways of serving students” by “pushing against resistant leadership, indifferent or threatened
- [Kresge Eminent Artist Leni Sinclair discusses her photography, life and times with acclaimed Detroit radio host Ann Delisi](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-eminent-artist-leni-sinclair-discusses-her-photography-life-and-times-with-acclaimed-detroit-radio-host-ann-delisi/) - On June 16 Kresge partnered with NPR’s Detroit affiliate, WDET, to host a live interview with 2016 Kresge Eminent Artist Leni Sinclair by the station’s music show host Ann Delisi. The well-attended, invitation-only crowd of WDET supporters and Kresge guests at the foundation’s downtown Detroit office heard the two delve into Sinclair’s life – from
- [Participants tap energy of FreshLo food-and-culture initiative during lively kickoff convening](https://kresge.org/news-views/participants-tap-energy-of-freshlo-food-and-culture-initiative-during-lively-kickoff-convening/) - Community leaders, innovators and doers tapped collective energy from kindred spirits across the nation last week during the first convening of grantees from The Kresge Foundation’s groundbreaking Fresh, Local and Equitable (FreshLo) grant initiative. The three-day event in Cleveland brought together more than 80 people including representatives from 26 organizations awarded Kresge grants to create strategies
- [Kresge names nine experts to FreshLo advisory committee](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-names-nine-experts-to-freshlo-advisory-committee/) - The Kresge Foundation has named nine national experts from fields such as sustainable food development, creative placemaking and community development to the advisory committee for the Fresh, Local & Equitable: Food as a Creative Platform for Neighborhood Revitalization initiative. The program, known as FreshLo, is a joint effort of Kresge’s Arts & Culture Program and
- [Findings from grantee perception report help Kresge realize its mission](https://kresge.org/news-views/findings-from-grantee-perception-report-help-kresge-realize-its-mission/) - Drawing on responses from more than 400 anonymous participants, a recent Center for Effective Philanthropy Grantee Perception Report is further informing Kresge’s work toward enhanced responsiveness, transparency and effectiveness.
- [Kresge commits $2.2 million for Detroit revitalization, neighborhoods](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-commits-2-2-million-for-detroit-revitalization-neighborhoods/) - Foundation trustees have approved 10 grants totaling nearly $2.2 million that will flow to revitalization efforts across the city of Detroit and its neighborhoods. In all, Kresge has made more than $30 million in new grant commitments to Detroit’s revitalization in 2015, in areas from mass transit to early childhood development. "Now is the time to advance the recovery of neighborhoods across the city,” says Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson.
- [Conference of community development financial institutions focuses on expanding opportunity](https://kresge.org/news-views/conference-of-community-development-financial-institutions-focuses-on-expanding-opportunity/) - The Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the nation’s leading network of community development financial institutions (CDFIs), held its 2015 conference this week in Detroit, drawing more than 1,200 people, the biggest convening ever in OFN’s history. Other speakers included: Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Director of the CDFI Fund at the U.S. Department
- [Kresge president honored as a Michiganian of the year](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-president-honored-as-a-michiganian-of-the-year/) - Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson is among nine people named 2015 Michiganians of the Year by The Detroit News, which credited Rapson with “putting Detroit at the center of the Kresge Foundation’s concerns” and helping forge the grand bargain to quickly resolve Detroit’s municipal bankruptcy in 2013-14.
- [Turning up the heat on environmental funders to address diversity ‘monoculture’](https://kresge.org/news-views/turning-up-the-heat-on-environmental-funders-to-address-diversity-monoculture/) - Kresge Foundation President Rip Rapson is turning up the heat on environmental funders who have yet to voluntarily disclose their diversity data as a step toward making the green movement more inclusive and reflective of the communities they serve. In an opinion piece published by the San Francisco Chronicle, Rapson laid out the case for
- [Chera Reid Named Director of Strategic Learning, Research and Evaluation at The Kresge Foundation](https://kresge.org/news-views/chera-reid-named-director-of-strategic-learning-research-and-evaluation-at-the-kresge-foundation/) - In the newly created position, she will help Kresge program teams draw lessons from their work with grantees, and share those lessons across the foundation and the philanthropy field. Reid most recently served as a program officer for Kresge’s Education Program.
- [Investors, including Kresge, bring another $100M to Healthy Futures Fund](https://kresge.org/news-views/investors-including-kresge-bring-another-100m-to-healthy-futures-fund/) - The fund uses Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and New Market Tax Credits to expand access to health care and affordable housing for low-income residents. It has supported the construction of 400 affordable housing units, as well as federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) that will serve an estimated 40,000 people.
- [Kresge Foundation poised to be the 'next great social justice philanthropy,' new Philamplify report finds](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-poised-to-be-the-next-great-social-justice-philanthropy-new-philamplify-report-finds/) - Philamplify’s researchers gathered and analyzed feedback from Kresge grantees, peer funders and other stakeholders as well as publicly available information to analyze Kresge’s giving. The report offers actionable findings and recommendations to help Kresge meet its core mission.
- [Kresge Foundation initiative to fund more innovative neighborhood projects across Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-initiative-to-fund-more-innovative-neighborhood-projects-across-detroit/) - Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit grants are already having an impact in neighborhoods around the city. Applications for a second of three rounds of grant funding will be due in November, and awards will be announced in March 2016.
- [Jobs for the Future opens RFP for Student Success Centers in up to 4 new states](https://kresge.org/news-views/jobs-for-the-future-opens-rfp-for-student-success-centers-in-up-to-4-new-states/) - Jobs for the Future is expanding its seven-state network of Student Success Centers, which work statewide to improve community college persistence and completion. An RFP opens today to create centers in up to four new states.
- [Kresge Arts & Culture, Health teams launch food-oriented grant opportunity](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-arts-culture-health-teams-launch-food-oriented-grant-opportunity/) - Food-oriented initiatives that contribute to economic revitalization, cultural expression and health in low-income communities are eligible for a new grant opportunity announced by the Kresge Foundation today. Kresge will award up to 20 planning grants of up to $75,000 each in 2016 as part of the initiative “Fresh, Local & Equitable: Food as a Creative Platform
- [Kresge grantmaking initiative holds lessons, guidance for arts groups seeking to build stronger capitalization practices](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-grantmaking-initiative-holds-lessons-guidance-for-arts-groups-seeking-to-build-stronger-capitalization-practices/) - A series of Kresge Foundation grants designed to help arts-related nonprofits better understand their financial situation and improve their balance sheets resulted in positive changes within organizational practices, according to an analysis by Nonprofit Finance Fund released today. The Kresge-commissioned analysis focused on 36 grants made through Kresge’s Arts & Culture Program’s Institutional Capitalization Program
- [Public housing as a platform for social services can contribute to low-income families’ stability, independence](https://kresge.org/news-views/public-housing-as-a-platform-for-social-services-can-contribute-to-low-income-families-stability-independence/) - Successful coordinating of services rests on the ability of families to find services close to home, and the ability of developers and managers to provide platforms on which residents can build stable, healthy lives, according to the analysis by the Urban Institute's HOST program, a grantee of The Kresge Foundation’s Human Services Program.
- [Kresge president signals 6 areas of future investment in Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-president-signals-6-areas-of-future-investment-in-detroit/) - Areas of future Kresge investments in Detroit include innovative use of underused land, a seamless regional transit system, a comprehensive and effective early childhood development system, the city's small-business and entrepreneurial community and new instruments to revive residential and commercial lending markets.
- [New approaches to housing seen as a key to improving community health](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-approaches-to-housing-seen-as-a-key-to-improving-community-health/) - “Philanthropy can play a key role in reconnecting the sectors through its capacity to build the evidence base, change the discourse about housing, foster policy change and promote innovation,” write David Fukuzawa and Fred Karnas in “Reconnecting Health and Housing: Philanthropy’s New Opportunity,” published in the journal Environmental Justice.
- [Kresge effort highlighted as White House details progress on climate plan](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-effort-highlighted-as-white-house-details-progress-on-climate-plan/) - The Kresge Foundation’s $10.7 million Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative is among $25 million in new public and private investments highlighted by the Obama administration during a progress report on its Climate Action Plan announced in June 2013. Kresge's Environment Program has awarded planning grants of $100,000 each to 17 nonprofits so far, and expects to award up to 15 implementation grants of up to $200,000 per organization per year for up to three years.
- [Kresge Foundation 12-city, $8-million pledge to boost impact of low-income communities in climate resilience planning](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-12-city-8-million-pledge-to-boost-impact-of-low-income-communities-in-climate-resilience-planning/) - Examples of expected outcomes include stronger energy efficiency policies, disaster-preparedness plans and carbon-reduction strategies as well as more robust social cohesion that can bond communities together during crises. The grants are provided through The Kresge Foundation’s Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative.
- [Kresge-backed fund invests $34M in Washington mixed-use development project](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-backed-fund-invests-34m-in-washington-mixed-use-development-project/) - The Conway Center, in Washington, will include 202 apartments for low-income residents and a health center that will serve more than 15,000 patients a year, as well as a job-training center, shops and office and green space.
- [Work in New Orleans influences Kresge’s efforts elsewhere](https://kresge.org/news-views/work-in-new-orleans-influences-kresges-efforts-elsewhere/) - Leaders from several national and local foundations, including Kresge, will gather in New Orleans on Friday, Aug. 28, at a convening that will offer funders a moment to assess what has worked and plan for the next generation of giving in New Orleans. A livestream of the President’s Panel, featuring Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson and leaders from the Ford Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, JP Morgan Chase and others, will be available on www.nfg.org/gnofnat 10:15 a.m. EDT.
- [Strong Families Fund to finance decade-long pilot pairing affordable housing, intensive social-services coordination for low-income families](https://kresge.org/news-views/strong-families-fund-to-finance-decade-long-pilot-pairing-affordable-housing-intensive-social-services-coordination-for-low-income-families/) - Partners commit more than $70 million and expect to finance construction or renovation of 600 to 700 affordable-housing units in the next three years, and support access to high-quality social services.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Building a more diverse impact investing field](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-building-a-more-diverse-impact-investing-field/) - Kim Dempsey shares advice for students — especially those who come from low-income communities or communities of color — on entering the field of impact investing.
- [Kresge president: Support for community organizations one key to moving Detroit forward](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-president-support-for-community-organizations-one-key-to-moving-detroit-forward/) - The Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit initiative, a three-year, $5 million effort, is an example of investing in community groups. The first round of grants have funded projects such as revitalization of an iconic neighborhood park, transformation of a transit corridor into a greenway and renovation of a building for a boxing gym to expand a youth-mentoring program.
- [Introducing "Mission, Money & Markets," new article series on social investing](https://kresge.org/news-views/introducing-mission-money-markets-new-article-series-on-social-investing-2/) - Welcome to “Mission, Markets & Money” a new article series from The Kresge Foundation all about our social investing work. Each month through 2017, we’ll share what’s working – and what’s challenging us – in our impact investing work at Kresge, where we have committed to making $350 million in impact investments by 2020. Most foundation philanthropy
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Community Development Finance in America – A Glass Half Full](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-community-development-finance-in-america-a-glass-half-full/) - One area where the U.S. has excelled at supporting low-income people and communities is in financing community development.
- [Introducing "Mission, Money & Markets," new article series on social investing](https://kresge.org/news-views/introducing-mission-money-markets-new-article-series-on-social-investing/) - This article series focuses on Kresge's social investing: what’s working – and what’s challenging – in our impact investing work.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Kimberlee Cornett offers reflections on a decade at Kresge](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-kimberlee-cornett-offers-reflections-on-a-decade-at-kresge/) - Kimberlee Cornett reflects on a nine-year long career leading Kresge's Social Investment Practice. "Nine years and 75 deals later, I’m proud of the foundation’s adoption of a full spectrum of tools — from grants to guarantees — and the way the Social Investment Practice works side-by-side with Program staff."
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Community Development Finance in America – A Glass Half Full](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-community-development-finance-in-america-a-glass-half-full-2/) - It’s well known that low-income people and communities face an inordinate amount of challenges. But let’s focus on one area where the U.S. has excelled at supporting these people and places – financing community development. Compared to many places around the world, our country has developed an enviable community development finance system that productively uses
- [Learn about our recent Opportunity Zones investments in upcoming webinar](https://kresge.org/news-views/learn-about-our-recent-opportunity-zones-investments-in-upcoming-webinar/) - Learn how Kresge has partnered with two impact investing firms – Arctaris Impact and Community Capital Management – to support Opportunity Zones funds that are setting the standard for putting positive community impact at the front of their efforts. In March, Kresge's Social Investment team made two guarantee commitments totaling $22 million to back the
- [ProPublica investigation shows how Opportunity Zones can miss the mark](https://kresge.org/news-views/propublica-investigation-shows-how-opportunity-zones-can-miss-the-mark/) - The “Opportunity Zones” provision of the Investing in Opportunity Act of 2017 is intended to encourage investors and developers to work in communities that have long been ignored and where residents urgently need economic opportunity. It does so by, among other benefits, waiving capital-gains taxes for long-term investments in more than 8,000 designated low-income Census
- [Mission, Money & Markets: A new fund launches to spread equitable financial services in the South](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-a-new-fund-launches-to-spread-equitable-financial-services-in-the-south/) - Whether due to a lack of accessible banking services or a fraught history with predatory financial institutions, the lack of banking opportunities has real, long-term impact on people’s lives, reducing their ability to build credit, secure capital and move up the economic ladder. Enter the Inclusiv Southern Equity Fund.
- [Celebrate Earth Day 2020 virtually with our Environment Program partners](https://kresge.org/news-views/celebrate-earth-day-2020-virtually-with-our-environment-program-partners/) - Editor's Note: Below is a list of virtual Earth Day activities, social engagements and reading material. Be sure to join the conversation by using the hashtags #EarthDay2020 and #EarthRise. Do you have more ideas to share? Please send to communications@kresge.org and we’ll add them below. April 22, 2020, will mark 50 years of celebrating Earth Day. Launched in 1970, this year’s global
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Is 2021 a turning point for the Opportunity Zones incentive?](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-is-2021-a-turning-point-for-the-opportunity-zones-incentive/) - Four years ago, Opportunity Zones brought fervor to the real estate world and intense debate to the community development finance sector. Opportunity Zones (OZ) allow investors to reduce their tax bill on capital gains if they invest those gains into a qualified opportunity zone fund. Keeping gains invested for 10 years allows investors to grow
- [After closing, how can social investors continue to shape how their capital is put to work?](https://kresge.org/news-views/after-closing-how-can-social-investors-continue-to-shape-how-their-capital-is-put-to-work/) - As social investors, we don’t talk enough about decisions that must be made after investments close. These post-funding decision points are common in social change work, and how we react might determine not just whether our dollars will lead to the positive impact we intended, but also whether we will get millions returned to the
- [Elizabeth Davidson joins Kresge as social investment portfolio manager](https://kresge.org/news-views/elizabeth-davidson-joins-kresge-as-social-investment-portfolio-manager/) - The Kresge Foundation welcomed Elizabeth Davidson to its staff on Monday. She joins the Social Investment Practice as a portfolio manager. In this role, Davidson will help manage the portfolio of 80 active impact investing transactions and about $340 million in active commitments, which includes loans, equity, deposits and guarantees. Davidson most recently worked as
- [Mission, Money & Markets: How impact investing and creative financing are playing a role in conserving public lands](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-how-impact-investing-and-creative-financing-are-playing-a-role-in-conserving-public-lands-2/) - The ability to tap into a market, or create a market, can help solutions scale to the size of the problem. This month, we looked at how The Conservation Fund is retrofitting a financial structure to help preserve valuable forest land across the United States. To do so, I invited Larry Selzer, President and CEO of The
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Nonprofit Guide to accessing capital through the 2020 CARES Act](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-nonprofit-guide-to-accessing-capital-through-the-2020-cares-act/) - In light of COVID-19, many nonprofits are desperately seeking additional funding to respond to and adapt to the new environment. The new Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) includes streams of funding that may help. This guide is designed to provide highlights of for each of the loan opportunities to help nonprofits access capital to meet their most urgent needs.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: New website showcases community development finance system](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-new-website-showcases-community-development-finance-system/) - Online resource DevelopStrongCities.org helps visualize how communities thrive and tells the story of community development finance systems.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Promoting more and better journalism on Opportunity Zones](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-promoting-more-and-better-journalism-on-opportunity-zones/) - Unlike traditionally-structured economic development incentive programs, Opportunity Zones aren’t administered through a state or local agency that would normally provide deal-specific disclosure data, making them a challenge for journalists to cover. The zones also lack specific required outcomes one usually associates with a development incentive, such as jobs created, wages paid or housing units constructed.
- [Mission, Money, & Markets: Impact Measurement and Management – 3 ideas for doing it right](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-impact-measurement-and-management-3-ideas-for-doing-it-right/) - As the impact investing market has grown to an estimated $500 billion, concerns about the field’s relationship to social impact have also increased. The key question is, how do investors know their dollars are truly creating the social change intended?
- [Mission, Money & Markets: The best kept secrets of the CDFI sector](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-the-best-kept-secrets-of-the-cdfi-sector/) - The default image of a CDFI is a nonprofit, unregulated loan fund. In fact, half of the 1,100 certified CDFIs are not nonprofit, unregulated loan funds. Almost 30% are credit unions and about 20% are for-profit banks, bank holding companies, or venture capital funds.
- [Guest Commentary: Opportunity Zone Incubator plays critical role in developing funds that will truly benefit communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/guest-commentary-opportunity-zone-incubator-plays-critical-role-in-developing-funds-that-will-truly-benefit-communities/) - Learn about the Opportunity Zone Incubator, which provides support and technical advisory services to mission-driven managers seeking to build and launch Qualified Opportunity Funds, the vehicles that are designated to make Qualified Opportunity Zone investments.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Kresge supports the efforts of Native Hawaiians to topple barriers to home ownership](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-kresge-supports-the-efforts-of-native-hawaiians-to-topple-barriers-to-home-ownership/) - The path to home ownership in Hawaii is riddled with obstacles that many families just can’t overcome. Some Native Hawaiians will resort to building shacks of corrugated steel, for instance, on their parents’ or grandparents’ property, as they wait to receive the land the government has declared should be their birthright.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Making 'cents' of guarantees, the view from a CIO](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-making-cents-of-guarantees-the-view-from-a-cio/) - The balance sheet is one of the most underutilized assets foundations have to support their missions. Why can a balance sheet be so powerful? If foundations used just 3 percent of the $900 billion of assets in their collective endowments for guarantees, the amount of support could grow by $27 billion. This could provide a real boost in a time when increased philanthropic support is truly needed, says Kresge Foundation Chief Investment Officer Rob Manilla.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Strong community development finance system key to building urban opportunity, from newly designated ‘Zones’ and beyond](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-strong-community-development-finance-system-key-to-building-urban-opportunity-from-newly-designated-zones-and-beyond-2/) - As Washington celebrated the overhaul of the tax system earlier this winter, those of us committed to under-resourced communities grew worried. Essential tools that American cities rely on to support and improve disinvested communities were nearly eliminated. Thankfully, these programs survived – although badly bruised. What does it signal when we question the value of
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Strong community development finance system key to building urban opportunity, from newly designated ‘Zones’ and beyond](https://kresge.org/news-views/strong-community-development-finance-system-key-to-building-urban-opportunity-from-newly-designated-zones-and-beyond/) - Kresge's President & CEO Rip Rapson writes that the community development finance system is the backbone of strong cities and communities. Communities such as Detroit have affordable housing, health centers, school facilities, and community colleges because of them. If the system flounders, all the work of Kresge and its partners do to increase opportunity for low-income people and communities will, too.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: 6 takeaways from Opportunity Zones LOIs](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-6-takeaways-from-opportunity-zones-lois/) - Rip Rapson shares high-level impressions we extracted from the laborious, but fascinating, process of reading 150 submissions on Opportunity Zones – a process that afforded an early, unique window into the level and type of activity that OZ has spurred.
- [Devastating wildfires heighten the need to help cities combat and adapt to climate change](https://kresge.org/news-views/devastating-wildfires-heighten-the-need-to-help-cities-combat-and-adapt-to-climate-change/) - Addressing the cascading effect of our warming planet is essential to prevent future calamity. As we witness the horrific wildfires ravaging Washington, Oregon and California, the question of interconnections is becoming ever more relevant. We are accustomed to thinking about these terrifying and sobering events as discrete acts of devastation, occurring one at a time
- [Rapson: Justice Ginsburg’s passing is a renewed clarion call for enlarging the circles of inclusion](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-justice-ginsburgs-passing-is-a-renewed-clarion-call-for-enlarging-the-circles-of-inclusion/) - Kresge President Rip Rapson has been writing daily notes to the staff during the COVID-19 pandemic as we continue to work from home. We are sharing a selection of these letters that touch on current events and issues relevant to these unprecedented times. The beauty of the tributes to Ruth Bader Ginsburg that appeared over the weekend
- [Mission, Money & Markets: A needed piece of community development infrastructure, the 'Guarantee Bank'](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-a-needed-piece-of-community-development-infrastructure-the-guarantee-bank/) - Unfunded guarantees have helped Kresge leverage its balance sheet, make financial commitments to reduce or mitigate risk, and drive social impact, all while keeping funds fully invested in our corpus earning an average of 7.5 percent each year. Kresge’s CIO Rob Manilla recently wrote in our “Mission, Money & Markets” blog about the untapped potential
- [Mission, Money and Markets: Looking back on 2017](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-and-markets-looking-back-on-2017/) - As 2017 comes to an end, our Social Investment Practice team members look back at what deals or impact investment advancements they saw launch into the market – both from Kresge and in the field beyond – that had them excited about seeing capital deployed in new, innovative ways toward social issues from the environment to neighborhood
- [SIP team reflects on favorite deals of 2017](https://kresge.org/news-views/sip-team-reflects-on-favorite-deals-of-2017/) - As 2017 comes to an end, our Social Investment Practice team members look back at what deals or impact investment advancements they saw launch into the market – both from Kresge and in the field beyond – that had them excited about seeing capital deployed in new, innovative ways toward social issues from the environment to neighborhood
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Gnarly problems like generational poverty require new approaches](https://kresge.org/news-views/gnarly-problems-like-generational-poverty-require-new-approaches/) - Social Investment Officer Aaron Seybert spent a month traveling through Europe as a German Marshall Memorial Fellow, looking for relevant takeaways to bring back to Kresge and specifically to his work on the Social Investment Practice.
- [9 nonprofits to share $1.3M for neighborhood projects in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park](https://kresge.org/news-views/9-nonprofits-to-share-1-3m-for-neighborhood-projects-in-detroit-hamtramck-and-highland-park/) - Nine Detroit-area nonprofits will share $1.3 million through the Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus (KIP:D+) grant initiative for implementation-ready projects that range from development of a world-class equestrian center for youth programs to engaging Hamtramck and eastside Detroit communities around environmental health concerns. The organizations will spend the next two years implementing the projects shaped
- [Eight national philanthropic organizations announce Investing in America Child Care Partnership](https://kresge.org/news-views/eight-national-philanthropic-organizations-announce-investing-in-america-child-care-partnership/) - New coordinated effort to strengthen local child care systems and increase access to high-quality, affordable child care in communities that house America’s growing infrastructure workforce. Today at the Department of Commerce National Child Care Innovation Summit, leaders from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Buffett Early Childhood Fund, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Kresge Foundation,
- [The promises and pitfalls of AI tops agenda at Achieving the Dream’s conference](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-promises-and-pitfalls-of-ai-tops-agenda-at-achieving-the-dreams-conference/) - With both hopeful and cautionary messaging, thought leaders and practitioners advocate for proactive AI adoption to drive equity and innovation in higher education. Last week, members of Kresge’s Education Program team attended Achieving The Dream’s (ATD) DREAM Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ATD, a longtime Kresge partner, convenes thousands of community college practitioners at its annual
- [Valdes Lupi: How leaders can foster hope and trust during times of uncertainty](https://kresge.org/news-views/lupi-how-leaders-can-foster-hope-and-trust-during-times-of-uncertainty/) - In recent weeks, I’ve been reflecting on the pervasive sense of hopelessness many are feeling as we witness the dismantling of our federal health institutions. Participating in both online and in-person gatherings with community partners has been a source of strength and motivation for me, especially during moments when it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Our
- [Q&A: PosiGen CEO Ben Healey talks simplifying solar to improve access and impact](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-posigen-ceo-ben-healey-talks-simplifying-solar-to-improve-access-and-impact/) - The Kresge Foundation Social Investment Practice has partnered with the Environment Program over the last several years to find ways to break capital barriers to bring more green, energy-efficient projects to underserved communities. Too often, projects like adding solar + storage to residential properties are marketed and designed only to serve wealthy communities while leaving
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Capital for communities and efficient, impactful opportunities for investors](https://kresge.org/news-views/capital-for-communities-and-efficient-impactful-opportunities-for-investors/) - In 2016, our Social Investment Practice made a commitment to invest $30 million through a standard loan offering in Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) and Development Finance Agencies (DFAs) working in ways aligned with Kresge program strategies to expand opportunity and equal access to capital in America’s cities.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Investment in Cincinnati authority supports micro commercial redevelopment](https://kresge.org/news-views/investment-in-cincinnati-authority-supports-micro-commercial-redevelopment-2/) - In 2016, Kresge made its first investment into a Development Finance Agency, with a $5 million program-related investment to the Greater Cincinnati Redevelopment Authority. Kresge Social Investment Managing Director Kimberlee Cornett interviewed GCRA’s President and CEO Laura Brunner to find out how this unique organization became a recipient of an impact investment and how it views its role as both an industrial and business developer as well as a neighborhood developer in Cincinnati.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Water-systems initiative will invest in green infrastructure, solutions to climate-related storms and flooding](https://kresge.org/news-views/water-systems-initiative-will-invest-in-green-infrastructure-solutions-to-climate-related-storms-and-flooding/) - Challenges in the water sector affect us all. Is there a role for capital solutions to address this issue?
- [Mission, Money & Markets: The power of the guarantee](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-the-power-of-the-guarantee/) - Kresge has used guarantees in its social investing practice for years. With a $350 million commitment to social investments by 2020, we set a goal of issuing $150 million of guarantees. While we look for opportunities to use guarantees to accelerate the foundation’s programmatic work and leverage capital to create opportunity in America’s cities, we are also trying to build broader adoption of this tool by impact investors.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Q and A with Kresge and Rockefeller on partnering in Opportunity Zones](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-q-and-a-with-kresge-and-rockefeller-on-partnering-in-opportunity-zones/) - Kresge’s Managing Director of the Social Investment Practice, Kimberlee Cornett, and Lorenzo Bernasconi, Senior Associate Director at Rockefeller, talk about the collaboration between the two foundations on Opportunity Zones, what they hope emerges from it, and why Opportunity Zones are important for anyone who cares about low-income communities.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Back office lessons from the impact investing front lines](https://kresge.org/news-views/back-office-lessons-from-the-impact-investing-front-lines/) - There have been numerous lessons along the way, as we moved from doing our first, zero-interest program-related investments to human services organizations in 2008 to respond to the Great Recession… to today, when we’re deploying $350 million through a mix of loans, guarantees, mission-related investments and equity investments in partnership with all seven Kresge program and practice areas.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Our favorite investment highlights of 2018](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-our-favorite-investment-highlights-of-2018/) - Are communities experiencing new levels of opportunity? Are individual lives improving through better access to housing, health centers, or financing for small businesses? The team highlights how it approached these problems in 2018.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Transforming communities through Creative Placemaking in diverse New Jersey cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-transforming-communities-through-creative-placemaking-in-diverse-new-jersey-cities/) - In recent years, Kresge’s Social Investment Practice and Arts & Culture team made a commitment to engage in a mutual learning journey around investing in Creative Placemaking. See what the greatest takeaways have been so far.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: 2 podcasts explore Opportunity Zones with Kresge](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-2-podcasts-explore-opportunity-zones-with-kresge/) - Kresge staff were featured on two podcasts discussing the promise of -- and problem with -- Opportunity Zones and explain Kresge's work in response to this new piece of community development finance.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Changes to little-known banking law could suck billions out of poorer communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-changes-to-little-known-banking-law-could-suck-billions-out-of-poorer-communities/) - CRA, the Community Reinvestment Act, was designed to expand access to credit and capital in lower-income neighborhoods, and it did. But now two federal agencies are considering re-writing the rules in a way that would significantly weaken a law that accounts for tens of billions of dollars of loans and philanthropic support every year.
- [Mission, Money & Markets: How Access to a PPP Loan is Helping a Detroit Artist Haven Thrive](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-how-access-to-a-ppp-loan-is-helping-a-detroit-artist-haven-thrive/) - Editor’s note: In the early days after the passing of the CARES Act, the first round of Paycheck Protection Program loans quickly funneled through the traditional channels to the typical players. Despite a stated intent to serve the most vulnerable small businesses, news reports showed it was the “big” small businesses, the multimillion-dollar bank clients, that
- [Mission, Money & Markets: Q&A with new Social Investment Officer Erika Brice](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-qa-with-new-social-investment-officer-erika-brice/) - Q: How did you get into this line of work? A: It started out as a child by asking questions. I was always interested in the built environment. I grew up near the suburbs of Kansas City, and we went to church in a community that was really ravaged. I used to wonder why some
- [CCI's Omar Carrillo Tinajero on the challenges facing community investment](https://kresge.org/news-views/ccis-omar-carrillo-tinajero-on-the-challenges-facing-community-investment/) - On January 31, 2025, Omar Carrillo Tinajero stepped into the position of executive director at the Center for Community Investment (CCI) and Founding Executive Director Robin Hacke transitioned to a senior fellow role. Starting in 2017 with his leadership of the Connect Capital Initiative and continuing as director of programs, Carrillo Tinajero has been instrumental in
- [Kresge hosts Disability Outreach Virtual Town Hall](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-to-host-disability-outreach-virtual-town-hall/) - Watch the recording: Disability Outreach Virtual Town Hall On February 16, Kresge hosted a Disability Outreach Virtual Town Hall webinar to share information about Kresge’s funding priorities and application processes, and how they align with disability inclusion. This Virtual Town Hall was led by Kresge's Disability Inclusion Fellow Georgia Carr and featured representatives from Kresge's
- [Mobility trends of families with children and the role of public schools in Detroit’s neighborhoods](https://kresge.org/news-views/mobility-trends-of-families-with-children-and-the-role-of-public-schools-in-detroits-neighborhoods/) - Today marks the beginning of a new series, Families in Neighborhoods, that will explore efforts underway in Detroit to reimagine the city's neighborhoods as places of opportunity for children and families. It will feature commentaries about Detroit serving as a blueprint for cities to learn how to strengthen the conditions in which communities can become
- [Rebuilding trust is an urgent necessity for the future success of public health](https://kresge.org/news-views/rebuilding-trust-is-an-urgent-necessity-for-the-future-success-of-public-health/) - Picture this: It’s 2074, and the world has just gone through another pandemic. Here in the United States, a group of community leaders, public health officials and health care partners gather to reflect on their response, and why it was so effective compared with the COVID-19 response that started in 2020. What changed between then
- [Thompson: Preventing violence and improving community safety by promoting health, opportunity and trust](https://kresge.org/news-views/thompson-preventing-violence-and-improving-community-safety-by-promoting-health-opportunity-and-trust/) - For many people today, living with the constant threat of violence is not an isolated experience, but one interwoven into the daily fabric of life, impacting family stability, health outcomes, educational attainment and economic opportunities. As a fellow at The Kresge Foundation, I am driven by the conviction that community violence intervention (CVI) is as
- [Two new staff join Kresge’s Arts & Culture, Investment teams](https://kresge.org/news-views/two-new-staff-join-kresges-arts-culture-investment-teams/) - Earlier this month, two new staff joined The Kresge Foundation. Kara Elliott-Ortega, who was previously chief of arts and culture for the city of Boston, is the Arts & Culture Program’s newest senior program officer. Victoria Shubelyak, who was most recently a finance operations intern at General Motors, has taken on a new role with
- [Staff updates position Kresge for new year](https://kresge.org/news-views/staff-updates-position-kresge-for-new-year/) - As Kresge kicks off 2025, several staff additions and promotions have taken place within the foundation. Sarah Traxler has been promoted to Associate Director of the Executive Office. Traxler joined the foundation in 2023. Previously, she served as economic development coordinator at the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and as a community planning consultant
- [Looking back: Kresge's 10-year investment in ArtPlace America](https://kresge.org/news-views/looking-back-kresges-10-year-investment-in-artplace-america/) - Longtime support helped to expand the role of arts, culture and design in communities For a decade, ArtPlace America worked to cultivate equitable, healthy and sustainable communities across the U.S. by enlisting artists as allies. ArtPlace was a $150-million funder collaborative that successfully positioned arts and culture as a core strategy of community planning and
- [Looking back: Focusing on people first and promoting pathways for family success](https://kresge.org/news-views/looking-back-focusing-on-people-first-and-promoting-pathways-for-family-success/) - Dedication to humanity. For 100 years, that has been the basic principle underlying the work of The Kresge Foundation. What it looked like in practice has changed over the years, but from its start in 1924 through to the present day, The Kresge Foundation has made human progress its primary focus. Consistently supporting community-based and
- [Q&A: How to address climate impacts, reduce silos and blend practices with Urban Institute](https://kresge.org/news-views/address-climate-impacts-advice-urban-institute/) - To better understand how climate action, community development, and public health practice come together and what barriers to closer integration of these practices exist, Communications Officer Tracey Pearson spoke with Andrew Rumbach from the Urban Institute in the following Q&A. Rumbach shares his advice on blending practices, policy implementation, and resources for practitioners to use
- [Kresge announces newest fellows for Thrive Leaders Network that supports BIPOC education execs](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-announces-newest-fellows-for-thrive-leaders-network-that-supports-bipoc-education-execs/) - Now in its third year, the Thrive Leaders Network has announced its newest cohort of fellows. The Thrive Leaders Network – composed of Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) higher education and postsecondary nonprofit executives – provides these grantee partners with financial grant support and flexible leadership enrichment resources to support their sustainability and
- [Op-ed: In a warming world, nurses heal people and the planet](https://kresge.org/news-views/op-ed-in-a-warming-world-nurses-heal-people-and-the-planet/) - Nurses have the experience, motivation and public support to make an important contribution in tackling the climate crises. During the COVID pandemic, the world cheered as we nurses stepped up. Everyone knows we are essential workers, but our essential role in coping with the climate crisis is much less cheered on, despite our ongoing efforts
- [Kresge CEO explores role in arts and culture in Detroit in Federal Reserve journal](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-ceo-explores-role-in-arts-and-culture-in-detroit-in-federal-reserve-journal/) - Along with publishing an issue dedicated to creative placemaking, the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank is hosting a discussions with leaders in the field on Jan. 14, which will be livestreamed.
- [ArtPlace Summit 2016 crackles with innovative presentations, ideas](https://kresge.org/news-views/artplace-summit-2016-crackles-with-innovative-presentations-ideas/) - The Kresge Foundation was well represented at the ArtPlace America Summit recently, where Creative Placemaking themes rippled through a series of speakers, panel discussions and interactive activities. More than 300 attendees gathered for the summit, held April 4-6 in Phoenix, Ariz., sharing innovative initiatives taking place across the country to integrate art and culture into
- [$10M guarantee to Inclusive Prosperity Capital will help expand clean energy market](https://kresge.org/news-views/10m-guarantee-to-inclusive-prosperity-capital-will-help-expand-clean-energy-market/) - Inclusive Prosperity Capital, Inc. (IPC), a mission-aligned specialty financing spin-out of the Connecticut Green Bank, announced today that The Kresge Foundation has provided a $10 million guarantee and multi-year operating grant to fund its startup operations and expansion outside Connecticut and accelerate the launch of IPC’s flagship investment fund, which will deploy capital into clean
- [Gnarly problems like generational poverty require new approaches](https://kresge.org/news-views/gnarly-problems-like-generational-poverty-require-new-approaches-2/) - The problems we’re trying to solve with social investments here in the U.S. aren’t unique to our country. At The Kresge Foundation, we work to improve opportunity for low-income people in cities through grantmaking and social investing. We work across the United States, with one international initiative through our Education team in South Africa. But
- [Shelby County Health Department: Partnerships and health equity in action](https://kresge.org/news-views/shelby-county-health-department-partnerships-and-health-equity-in-action/) - Dr. Michelle Taylor is the Shelby County division director for health services. In this role, Taylor leads the team that plans, organizes and maintains public health programs and services for Shelby County, Tennessee, which includes the city of Memphis. In this Q&A, Senior Communications Officer Kate McLaughlin spoke with Taylor about how the department partners
- [Sunwealth closes $30M construction loan to broaden energy access in underserved communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/sunwealth-closes-30m-construction-loan-to-broaden-energy-access-in-underserved-communities/) - The Kresge-backed loan will help drive an equitable transition to renewable energy with a focus on solar and solar-plus storage Sunwealth, a clean energy impact investment firm, announced today a $30 million construction loan facility with the Urban Investment Group (UIG) at Goldman Sachs Alternatives to develop solar, solar-plus-storage and standalone storage projects across the
- [Theodos: Revitalizing a neighborhood requires more than big projects, it demands sustained, multi-faceted investment](https://kresge.org/news-views/theodos-revitalizing-a-neighborhood-requires-more-than-big-projects-it-demands-sustained-multi-faceted-investment/) - Urban Institute’s director of mission finance, Brett Theodos, presented data at Kresge's national convening Our Urban Future that outlines the challenges in today’s landscape for community developers. This Q&A follows up on that discussion and dives into what makes that work hard today, how that can vary by place, and what the future under a
- [Nearly $10M in new funding for public spaces; report shows they curb isolation, build community](https://kresge.org/news-views/nearly-10m-in-new-funding-for-public-spaces-report-shows-they-curb-isolation-build-community/) - Reimagining the Civic Commons — a collaboration of national foundations and civic leaders dedicated to revitalizing public spaces in ways that benefit communities — has announced its third round of investment, with national funders allocating nearly $10 million to be used over the next three years. The funding will support teams of civic leaders in
- [Application opens for $50,000 Kresge Artist Fellowships and $5,000 Gilda Awards](https://kresge.org/news-views/application-opens-for-50000-kresge-artist-fellowships-and-5000-gilda-awards/) - Starting Monday, Dec. 2, metro Detroit artists are invited to apply for a 2025 Kresge Artist Fellowship. Beginning with this round of awards, the fellowship will increase from $40,000 to $50,000 for 15 literary and visual artists. Artists residing in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county can apply online for the no strings attached prize through
- [Roundtable explores community-centered implementation of infrastructure projects](https://kresge.org/news-views/roundtable-explores-community-centered-implementation-of-infrastructure-projects/) - The Kresge Foundation and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently co-hosted the Roundtable on Centering Community in Infrastructure Implementation in Detroit, Michigan. This two-day convening centered on the imperative to center the voice and vision of community in the implementation of President Biden’s Investing in America-funded projects, especially those at the intersection of infrastructure,
- [Strengthening Whole Child Communities Summit highlights the importance of place-based education as a driver of opportunity](https://kresge.org/news-views/strengthening-whole-child-communities-summit-highlights-the-importance-of-place-based-education-as-a-driver-of-opportunity/) - Held at Detroit’s Marygrove Conservancy on Aug. 1-2, 2024, the Summit on Strengthening Whole Child Communities: Raising the Bar from Cradle to Career represented a collaboration among numerous public and private entities invested in education, led by the U.S. Department of Education, The Kresge Foundation, the Ballmer Group, the Raikes Foundation and the Stuart Foundation.
- [Recap of Our Urban Future: The Next Era of Making Change in America's Cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/recap-of-our-urban-future-the-next-era-of-making-change-in-americas-cities/) - Centennial year national convening focused on themes including economic equity, racial repair, and climate action This September, the Kresge Foundation hosted more than 300 people from 12 locations across the United States for Our Urban Future: The Next Era of Making Change in America’s Cities, the largest of Kresge’s convening centennial series. Gathering in a
- [Authors explore environmental justice and collective effort in Detroit event](https://kresge.org/news-views/authors-explore-environmental-justice-and-collective-effort-in-detroit-event/) - On an unseasonably warm autumn night, hundreds of people gathered at Detroit's historic Garden Theater for “What If We Get It Right?” a convening hosted by Urban Consulate with support from The Kresge Foundation. The elegant theater provided a backdrop for a vibrant discussion between writer-climate scientist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and writer-activist adrienne maree brown (both of whom have recent
- [Detroit & the American City Symposium looked to past and future of city and foundation](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroit-the-american-city-symposium-looked-to-past-and-future-of-city-and-foundation/) - To mark Kresge’s centennial last week, our foundation held two events. A Kresge at 100 Centennial Celebration at the Detroit Institute of Arts that featured former President Barack Obama, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Kresge Board Chair Cecilia Muñoz and a host of performances by Thornetta Davis, Detroit Youth Choir and other local artists. Earlier in
- [Building an equitable clean energy economy: A new approach to climate jobs](https://kresge.org/news-views/building-an-equitable-clean-energy-economy-a-new-approach-to-climate-jobs/) - As resources aimed at climate resilience and accelerating the country’s transition to a clean energy economy flow into communities, how can these investments translate into good jobs that uplift communities, particularly those most affected by climate and economic injustices? At a panel during The Kresge Foundation’s Our Urban Future convening, leading voices in climate and
- [Addition to headquarters accommodates Kresge’s growing programs, staff](https://kresge.org/news-views/addition-to-headquarters-accommodates-kresges-growing-programs-staff/) - Highlights of the expansion include a multimedia-equipped convening space and sustainable systems that complement the existing LEED platinum-certified campus. A public dedication ceremony will take place in early 2016.
- [Commentary: I-375 Peer Review marks a new way of working for Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-i-375-peer-review-marks-a-new-way-of-working-for-detroit/) - After a year of hard work, the public, last week, was able to see the results of one of our most ambitious efforts to address the injuries of past policies and set a new course for the future in Detroit. The erasure of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley — thriving Black communities rich with culture
- [Michigan launches accelerator to tap federal clean energy funds with support from clean energy lenders and Kresge](https://kresge.org/news-views/michigan-launches-accelerator-to-tap-federal-clean-energy-funds-with-support-from-clean-energy-lenders-and-kresge/) - The State of Michigan was joined by representatives from the national green and clean energy financing community on Friday to launch the Michigan Climate Investment Accelerator. The Accelerator aims to attract billions of dollars to finance the development of clean energy projects for consumers, businesses, nonprofits, and local governments throughout Michigan. By scaling up green
- [Anchored in shared values: How we all move forward together](https://kresge.org/news-views/anchored-in-shared-values-how-we-all-move-forward-together/) - The reverberations of tomorrow’s elections will be as varied as they will be powerful. A new administration. A new House. A new Senate. New constitutional provisions in a half-dozen states. Ballot initiatives at the local level that affect libraries, schools, recreation, arts and culture. It is not one election – it is scores of elections,
- [Kresge Artist Fellowships increase to $50,000 each in 2025](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-artist-fellowships-increase-to-50000-each-in-2025/) - Guidelines released today; online applications open Dec. 2 Kresge Artist Fellowships will increase to $50,000 in 2025, The Kresge Foundation and Kresge Arts in Detroit announced today. Artists residing in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties can apply online for one of 15 no-strings-attached prizes starting Dec. 2, 2024. The latest application guidelines are available now
- [Kresge encourages community finance to grow HBCUs with OFN panels](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-encourages-community-finance-to-grow-hbcus-with-ofn-panels/) - Low-income communities face numerous challenges when it comes to accessing the resources needed to grow and thrive, especially equitable access to capital. Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are private, nonprofit, community-based investors that leverage private sector investm\ents to provide financing and technical assistance for a range of activities, including job creation, small business growth, housing
- [Climate justice messaging: Using the power of voice to advance policy](https://kresge.org/news-views/climate-justice-messaging-using-the-power-of-voice-to-advance-policy/) - People in towns and cities all over the country fighting for climate justice know that policy change is crucial to create healthier communities for everyone. At every scale - local, state, federal and global - advocates are advancing solutions that center justice where progress is possible today and educating elected officials and building local power
- [Kresge commits $2 million to support HBCU-bound Detroit students](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-commits-2-million-to-support-hbcu-bound-detroit-students/) - Funding will strengthen the Detroit HBCU enrollment pipeline, expanding access to educational environments proven to produce outsized success The Kresge Foundation today announced two permanent $1 million endowment funds to support Detroit Public School graduates pursuing education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): one at Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and another at United
- [CCHE, CREWS partners deepen collaboration, connections to address climate issues](https://kresge.org/news-views/cche-crews-partners-deepen-collaboration-connections-to-address-climate-issues/) - Climate change is an everything and everyone problem. And solving it is a shared responsibility. Climate change has been called an “everything” issue, meaning it already impacts all aspects of our lives: housing, health, education, economic development and more. It’s also an “everybody” issue. As the climate worsens, we need everybody to begin asking the
- [Detroit Horse Power breaks ground on Kresge-backed urban equestrian center](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroit-horse-power-breaks-ground-on-kresge-backed-urban-equestrian-center/) - A crowd of several hundred gathered in a fallow 14-acre field in Northwest Detroit on Monday to testify, cheer and applaud for the vision of what is in store for it: to become the largest urban equestrian center in the United States with stables to accommodate 17 horses for use by students of the Detroit
- [Kresge launches redesigned fellowship program to support future social sector leaders grounded in equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-launches-redesigned-fellowship-program-to-support-future-social-sector-leaders-grounded-in-equity/) - Through the remodeled program, Kresge offers five key learnings that can be adapted to yield long-term impact The Kresge Foundation has launched a new fellowship program centered on developing a diverse talent pipeline of future social sector leaders committed to equity and inclusion. Through a redesigned cohort model, the 2024 Kresge Fellowship Program welcomed five
- [Kresge debuts book on 2024 Eminent Artist Nora Chapa Mendoza](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-debuts-book-on-2024-eminent-artist-nora-chapa-mendoza/) - Groundbreaking painter, cultural activist and gallerist lauded for art and contributions to community “My art, for me, is my life. It reflects who I am as a woman, mother and Latina,” Kresge’s 2024 Eminent Artist says in a new monograph from Kresge titled Su Arte, Su Vida. Hers is not art for art’s sake, she
- [Three new staff members join Kresge's investment and communications teams](https://kresge.org/news-views/three-new-staff-members-join-kresges-investment-and-communications-teams/) - Kresge has recently welcomed three new staff members who span its communications and investment departments. Emily Bertsche serves as Kresge’s newest investment director, where she joins a team of financial professionals to evaluate, recommend and monitor investment opportunities across public markets and ensure robust portfolio construction. Most recently, she served as director of growth assets
- [Opportunity Finance Network and Kresge partner on fellowship to drive innovation in climate finance  ](https://kresge.org/news-views/opportunity-finance-network-and-kresge-partner-on-fellowship-to-drive-innovation-in-climate-finance/) - Joe Evans will split time with OFN and bring a wealth of climate, social impact, and philanthropic expertise. Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the nation’s leading network and intermediary focused on community development investment, announced during Climate Week a partnership with The Kresge Foundation to drive innovation in climate finance. Joe Evans – Social investment Officer
- [Special centennial pop-up annual report chronicles “A Century of Impact, A Future of Opportunity"](https://kresge.org/news-views/special-centennial-pop-up-annual-report-chronicles-a-century-of-impact-a-future-of-opportunity/) - The Kresge Foundation is pleased to debut its special centennial edition annual report, entitled “A Century of Impact, A Future of Opportunity, available now in print and digital formats. The report chronicles the Kresge Foundation's 100th anniversary through a collection of 100 moments of impact from throughout its history. In the print book, readers will
- [Muñoz: Challenges remain, but progress toward equity is worth celebrating](https://kresge.org/news-views/munoz-challenges-remain-but-progress-toward-equity-is-worth-celebrating/) - This year marks a momentous milestone for The Kresge Foundation: our Centennial — a century dedicated to fostering opportunities and advancing equity across the United States and the world. This letter from Kresge Board Chair Cecilia Muñoz is featured in our special centennial edition of our annual report. A centennial is an irresistible opportunity for
- [The Kresge POV: Philanthropy has a role to play in city transformation](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-kresge-pov-philanthropy-has-a-role-to-play-in-city-transformation/) - This year marks a momentous milestone for The Kresge Foundation: our Centennial — a century dedicated to fostering opportunities and advancing equity across the United States and the world. This letter from Kresge President & CEO Rip Rapson is featured in our special centennial edition of our annual report. One hundred years ago, Sebastian Kresge
- [One hundred years later, a founder’s entrepreneurial spirit lives on](https://kresge.org/news-views/one-hundred-years-later-a-founders-entrepreneurial-spirit-lives-on/) - My great-grandfather, Sebastian S. Kresge, exhibited many traits that today would likely label him as an “entrepreneur.” He was raised with a strong conviction for hard work and self-reliance. As a boy, he opportunistically turned his bee-raising hobby into a profitable business with the goal of earning enough money to continue his education beyond the
- [New LOVE Building hub for social justice opens with fanfare in Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-love-building-hub-for-social-justice-opens-with-fanfare-in-detroit/) - With four days of celebration this week, the LOVE Building, a new hub for social justice and creative community, is officially opening its doors in Detroit’ s Core City neighborhood. Led by longtime Kresge grantee Allied Media Projects (AMP), the renovated $14 million, five-story building is now a home for AMP and five other like-minded
- [$1.1M grant to Build Healthy Places Network to advance racial equity in community investments](https://kresge.org/news-views/1-1m-grant-to-build-healthy-places-network-to-advance-racial-equity-in-community-investments/) - A new $1.1 million grant to Build Healthy Places Network (BHPN) will expand BHPN’s Community Innovations for Racial Equity (CIRE) initiative to tackle structural racism and health inequities in disinvested communities across the country. The grant will enable BHPN, a national organization dedicated to fostering collaboration between health care, public health and community development, to
- [Looking back: Kresge adds New Orleans, Memphis and Fresno as focus cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/looking-back-kresge-adds-new-orleans-memphis-and-fresno-as-focus-cities/) - In 2015, the Kresge Foundation formalized its focus on place-based community development outside of Detroit by forming the American Cities Practice – an evolution of the smaller community development portfolio that was previously housed within the Detroit & Community Development Program. The Practice, which later became the American Cities Program, was instrumental in expanding Kresge’s
- [McClellan Early Childhood Center opens on Detroit’s East Side](https://kresge.org/news-views/mcclellan-early-childhood-center-opens-on-detroits-east-side/) - $8.75 million, state-of-the-art facility will provide quality education to over 90 children IFF – a mission-driven lender, real estate consultant and developer — and Matrix Human Services (Matrix) — a nonprofit social services organization and early childhood educator — along with numerous partners, celebrated Tuesday the opening of the new McClellan Early Childhood Center (McClellan)
- [Anna Blanding and Dr. Linda Hill join The Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees](https://kresge.org/news-views/anna-blanding-and-dr-linda-hill-join-the-kresge-foundation-board-of-trustees/) - The Kresge Foundation today announced that Anna Blanding and Dr. Linda Hill have been appointed to its 12-member Board of Trustees, which serves as the governing body overseeing the foundation’s financial management, operations, grantmaking and social investing. Anna Blanding is a seasoned investment professional whose broad experience spans finance, philanthropy, endowment management, federal and state
- [Kresge Foundation commemorates centennial with spectacular celebration](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-commemorates-centennial-with-spectacular-celebration/) - President Barack Obama is honored guest and keynote speaker; Mayor Mike Duggan and a roster of Detroit artistic talent also part of the festivities The Kresge Foundation commemorated its founding on June 11, 1924, with a centennial celebration at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) tonight. The event featured President Barack Obama, Mayor Mike Duggan,
- [College affordability, student debt repayment and the need for new systems](https://kresge.org/news-views/college-affordability-student-debt-repayment-and-the-need-for-new-systems/) - Recently, President Biden announced his Administration’s new plan to cancel student debt for tens of millions of Americans. If implemented, the multiple-pronged plan would provide much-needed debt relief to more than 30 million Americans, benefit the economy, and create pathways for low—and middle-income families to participate in generational wealth building. The details of the plan
- [Kresge joins Gilbert Family Foundation to strengthen BIPOC arts in Detroit neighborhoods](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-joins-gilbert-family-foundation-to-strengthen-bipoc-arts-in-detroit-neighborhoods/) - For Yvette Rock, Seed and Bloom: Detroit means support for Live Coal, which transforms lives and neighborhoods through art, community development and education while working out of a renovated duplex in Detroit’s Piety Hill neighborhood that houses its children’s art museum and a green space and arts hub in Detroit’s Brightmoor neighborhood. For Amelia “Fiera”
- [Kresge’s summer interns share thoughts on their motivations and experiences](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresges-summer-interns-share-thoughts-on-their-motivations-and-experiences/) - In its ninth year, The Kresge Foundation’s summer internship program welcomed the 2024 cohort of interns this June and July. These students are embedded within departments for approximately 10 weeks and work closely with foundation staff to gain a fuller picture of what it is like to work as philanthropy grantmakers or as operational team
- [Rapson: National Council of Nonprofits CEO Tim Delaney's legacy defined by bold vision, strategic advocacy](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-national-council-of-nonprofits-ceo-tim-delaneys-legacy-defined-by-bold-vision-strategic-advocacy/) - Tim Delaney's tenure at the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) stands as a testament to visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the nonprofit sector. Under his stewardship, NCN underwent a profound transformation, from a modest trade association into a dynamic network that champions, connects, and informs charitable nonprofits across North America, champions the vital role
- [$28.5M Kresge guarantee supports build out of final phase of transformation on Marygrove campus](https://kresge.org/news-views/28-5m-kresge-guarantee-supports-build-out-of-final-phase-of-transformation-on-marygrove-campus/) - Commitment backs renovations at Madame Cadillac Hall, new home of U-M Ann Arbor education degree program DETROIT, Mich. — University of Michigan students are living and learning in Detroit again on the Marygrove educational campus, thanks in part to a new $28.5M guarantee from The Kresge Foundation. The commitment supports funding the renovation of the
- [Statement on the passing of Peggy Kresge](https://kresge.org/news-views/statement-on-the-passing-of-peggy-kresge/) - The Kresge Foundation staff and trustees extend our deepest condolences to the Kresge family on the loss of Peggy Kresge, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Peggy, alongside her husband Dr. Bruce Kresge and their five children – Deborah McDowell, Susan Drewes, Katherine Lutey, Cynthia Kresge and Scott Kresge – eagerly supported the foundation’s work
- [New Kresge staff additions, promotions kick off new year](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-kresge-staff-additions-promotions/) - New staff have joined Kresge and several staff were recently promoted within the foundation. Senior Program Officer Michelle Johnson and Associate Program Officer Christopher LeFlore have joined Kresge's Detroit Program. Johnson joined Kresge in 2006 and has supported several national Program teams – including Arts & Culture, Health and Human Services. LeFlore has been promoted to
- [Coalition of Communities of Color cultivates justice in a changing climate](https://kresge.org/news-views/cultivating-justice-in-a-changing-climate/) - “Can everyone hear me? Yes? Great.” The voice of Santi Sanchez, climate and health coordinator for the Coalition of Communities Color (CCC) rang out as funders from across the country gathered in Portland, OR for a neighborhood-based learning tour to see CCC’s work in action and learn more about how climate, food, culture, housing, self-determination,
- [Federal funding to make clean energy equitable is here. It’s up to cities to do the right thing.](https://kresge.org/news-views/op-ed-federal-funding-to-make-clean-energy-equitable-is-here-its-up-to-cities-to-do-the-right-thing/) - While some cities are taking practical steps to ensure their clean energy investments benefit those left behind by the energy transition, more cities must act. A clean-energy revolution is upon us, as cost-saving solar power and other green technologies become more widely available. But not everyone can take advantage of these upgrades. Low- and moderate-income
- [Detroit bankruptcy documentary debuts on streaming; filmmaker looks back on 11th anniversary of bankruptcy filing](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroit-bankruptcy-documentary-debuts-on-streaming-filmmaker-looks-back-on-11th-anniversary-of-bankruptcy-filing/) - The Kresge-supported film Gradually, Then Suddenly, debuts on multiple streaming services on July 18, the 11th anniversary of the day Detroit declared bankruptcy. Sam Katz, the film’s executive producer, reflects on the lessons of that time featured in his film. The exit from bankruptcy for a cash-starved creditor was made possible through ‘The Grand Bargain,’
- [Kresge invests millions into Reinvestment Fund’s HBCU Brilliance Initiative](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-invests-millions-into-reinvestment-funds-hbcu-brilliance-initiative/) - Reinvestment Fund’s HBCU Brilliance Initiative received an investment of $4.25 million from The Kresge Foundation that will support critical investments in the facilities, financial health and the overall growth of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country. The HBCU Brilliance Initiative was created and designed in recognition of the rich legacy and invaluable
- [A new call to action: Comment period open on proposed rule to strengthen child support system](https://kresge.org/news-views/a-new-call-to-action-comment-period-open-on-proposed-rule-to-strengthen-child-support-system/) - Child support. Just the mention of the topic elicits strong opinions about parental responsibility and the role of government in family matters. For many, the child support system represents a “one size fits all” program, much like many publicly-funded programs, that rarely takes the actual needs or wants of the family into consideration. Some argue
- [34 artists named 2024 Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Award winners, awarded $1 million](https://kresge.org/news-views/34-artists-named-2024-kresge-artist-fellows-and-gilda-award-winners-awarded-1-million/) - Largest fellowship cohort in history of program will receive $40,000 each Thirty-four metro Detroit artists will share an unrestricted $1 million through the 2024 Kresge Artist Fellowships and Gilda Snowden Emerging Artist Awards. The artists awarded the no strings attached prize were announced today by the Kresge Arts in Detroit program administered by the College
- [Looking back: The evolution of Kresge’s environmental funding](https://kresge.org/news-views/looking-back-the-evolution-of-kresges-environmental-funding/) - From conservation grants to adopting a climate change strategy focused on mitigation, adaptation and equity The Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program has supported efforts to address climate change for more than 15 years. However, recognizing the relationship between the environment and community well-being dates back to much earlier in the foundation’s history. In 1969, Kresge’s Board
- [Kresge awards more than $6M in grants to expand student success in South Africa](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-awards-more-than-6m-in-grants-to-expand-student-success-in-south-africa/) - The Kresge Foundation today announced a new suite of grants, totaling $6,362,685, or over R 116 million, dedicated to bolstering South Africa’s higher education institutions. The record investment of grant support for Siyaphumelela (which means “we succeed” in isiXhosa) will effectively be the third iteration of funding for the network of institutions dedicated to a
- [Daughters Beyond Incarceration champion support for youth impacted by parental incarceration](https://kresge.org/news-views/daughters-beyond-incarceration-champion-support-for-youth-impacted-by-parental-incarceration/) - “The hardest thing about not having my dad around is that this is the time I should be taught things only a father can teach,” 16-year-old Naiya Jones says. Her father has been incarcerated for most of her life, missing many major milestones. Next spring, Jones will graduate from Livingston Collegiate Academy in New Orleans
- [LeFlore: We need remedies that purposefully correct injustice in community development](https://kresge.org/news-views/leflore-we-need-remedies-that-purposefully-correct-injustice-in-community-development/) - Study highlights role for minority depository institutions From the beginning of our country’s history, Black communities have been disinvested in — often intentionally. For much of the 20th century redlining and other exclusionary policies forbade lending in Black communities, segregating our cities. While laws such as the Fair Housing Act and the Community Reinvestment Act
- [National climate leader Shamar A. Bibbins promoted to managing director of Kresge’s Environment Program](https://kresge.org/news-views/national-climate-leader-shamar-a-bibbins-promoted-to-managing-director-of-kresges-environment-program/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today that Shamar A. Bibbins has been promoted to managing director of the Environment Program. After joining the foundation in 2014, Bibbins will celebrate a decade of service with Kresge as she transitions to the position effective September 30. “As a native Detroiter, this is a full-circle moment for me. When
- [Kresge Eminent Artist Bill Harris pens a new poem commemorating centennial year](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-eminent-artist-bill-harris-pens-a-new-poem-commemorating-centennial-year/) - 2011 Kresge Eminent Artist Bill Harris is a poet, playwrite, essayist, and arts critic. The Kresge Foundation commissioned Harris to compose this poem to mark its 100th anniversary.
- [James L. Bildner and Maria Otero to retire from Kresge Board of Trustees](https://kresge.org/news-views/james-l-bildner-and-maria-otero-to-retire-from-kresge-board-of-trustees/) - Kresge Foundation Board Chair Cecilia Muñoz today announced that two long-serving trustees – James L. Bildner and Maria Otero – are retiring from the foundation’s Board of Trustees. “We are so sorry to see them go; Jim and Maria provided welcome counsel and crucial governance to the foundation during some of the most seminal events
- [National climate funder Lois DeBacker to retire after 33 years in environmental philanthropy](https://kresge.org/news-views/national-climate-funder-lois-debacker-to-retire-after-33-years-in-environmental-philanthropy/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today that Lois R. DeBacker, managing director of the Environment Program, will retire effective September 27, 2024, after serving more than 16 years with the foundation and 33 years total in philanthropy. Since joining Kresge in 2008, DeBacker has led the foundation’s environmental grantmaking, which helps cities combat and adapt to
- [Looking back: Support for HBCUs threads through Kresge's history](https://kresge.org/news-views/looking-back-support-for-hbcus-threads-through-kresges-history/) - As part of our centennial, we’re sharing stories of our last 100 years throughout 2024. To learn more about Kresge’s history, visit Kresge.org/100. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) hold immense significance in the hearts and minds of their graduates… and for good reason. HBCUs have historically provided a nurturing educational environment for students of color,
- [New national coalition focuses on addressing the benefits cliff for families with low incomes](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-national-coalition-focuses-on-addressing-the-benefits-cliff-for-families-with-low-incomes/) - The benefits cliff, experienced by millions of families living with low incomes, happens when an increase in earnings results in an abrupt loss in public benefits and an overall decrease in financial security. To help families achieve social and economic success, Kresge NextGen initiative organization Martha O’Bryan Center in Tennessee has launched Beyond the Cliff,
- [Looking back: Kresge’s path toward a deeper embrace of diversity, equity and inclusion](https://kresge.org/news-views/looking-back-kresges-path-toward-a-deeper-embrace-of-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/) - The Kresge Foundation’s enduring social mission has attracted staff and sector partners committed to making a difference. And Kresge’s long-standing dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has enhanced the foundation’s ability to do value-driven work. Kresge’s path toward elevating DEI, which can be traced back to 1993, is visible within its internal culture –
- [Curtis Chin discusses memoir, chronicling his upbringing at Chung’s restaurant in Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/curtis-chin-discusses-memoir-chronicling-his-upbringing-at-chungs-restaurant-in-detroit/) - In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Kresge hosted Curtis Chin, a Detroit native and author of Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant: A Memoir, for an in-person speaking engagement. The event was coordinated by Kresge’s Equity Task Force, which hosts monthly learning and engagement activities for all
- [Lois DeBacker named a 2024 Notable Leader in Sustainability by 'Crain’s Detroit Business'](https://kresge.org/news-views/lois-debacker-named-a-2024-notable-leader-in-sustainability-by-crains-detroit-business/) - For nearly 40 years, Lois DeBacker has worked in the environmental sector. As managing director of Kresge’s Environment Program, DeBacker can trace her passion for sustainability issues back to 1973 as a “card-carrying environmentalist and the co-organizer of a daylong environmental teach-in” at her high school. She wrote about this experience back in 2020 in
- [Fellowship for Liberated Futures explores rest and repair for Black women leaders in the social sector](https://kresge.org/news-views/fellowship-for-liberated-futures-explores-rest-and-repair-for-black-women-leaders-in-the-social-sector/) - Dr. Chera Reid, The Chisholm Legacy Project, and ProInspire have announced the launch of Fellowship for Liberated Futures (FFLF), an 18-month transformative program designed to empower and support Black women leaders in the social sector. The fellowship aims to celebrate, provide space and conditions for rest, and invite in the creativity of Black women and
- [Looking Back: Expanding Kresge's financial toolbox through social investing](https://kresge.org/news-views/looking-back-expanding-kresges-financial-toolbox-through-social-investing/) - Introducing non-grant forms of investing has unlocked more than $1 billion for cities, nonprofits In 2009, Kimberlee Cornett received a call from a recruiter. A foundation in Michigan was interested in starting what they were calling then an “innovative finance” practice and wanted to talk. She flew to Detroit to learn more. Kresge’s then-new President
- [Excerpt: Summing up three decades of work in Detroit, and looking ahead](https://kresge.org/news-views/excerpt-summing-up-three-decades-of-work-in-detroit-and-looking-ahead/) - Excerpt from new book considers a ‘triple threat to philanthropy’ in the magnitude of city’s challenges, the multiplicity of problems and competing ideas for solving them. Today concludes our series of weekly excerpts from Embracing a City: The Kresge Foundation in Detroit 1993-2023 (Momentum Books). This behind-the-scenes look into 30 years of the unlikely partnerships,
- [Excerpt: Out of collapse of Marygrove College, a new education center grows](https://kresge.org/news-views/excerpt-out-of-collapse-of-marygrove-college-a-new-education-center-grows/) - Excerpt from new book on Kresge’s work in Detroit examines how attention to outlying neighborhoods and early childhood education dovetailed to repurpose an historic campus on the city’s northwest side. Today and next Monday, Kresge will continue to feature the final excerpts from Embracing a City: The Kresge Foundation in Detroit 1993-2023 (Momentum Books). This
- [Looking Back: More than medicine: A commitment to community health](https://kresge.org/news-views/looking-back-more-than-medicine-a-commitment-to-community-health/) - How Kresge’s Health Program evolved over 100 years from making capital challenge grants to championing community-led solutions The sniffles, the sneezing, the coughing, the headaches – we’ve all come down with a cold. Research on this common condition was the purpose of the Kresge Foundation’s very first medical grant, awarded in 1941 to the University
- [Clean Energy Scorecard shows cities embrace equity goals in climate efforts, but more action needed](https://kresge.org/news-views/clean-energy-scorecard-shows-cities-embrace-equity-goals-in-climate-efforts-but-more-action-needed/) - Large U.S. cities are increasingly working to center racial and social equity in their climate and clean energy priorities. However, there’s a significant gap in translating ambitions for equitable outcomes into specific policies and programs, according to the 2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). With funding
- [Excerpt: How Kresge became a champion of the arts … in its hometown](https://kresge.org/news-views/excerpt-how-kresge-became-a-champion-of-the-arts-in-its-hometown/) - Excerpt from newly published book about Kresge and Detroit explores the importance of supporting artists and cultural institutions in elevating the vibrant arts and culture scene Each Monday for the next three weeks, Kresge will continue to feature excerpts from Embracing a City: The Kresge Foundation in Detroit 1993-2023 (Momentum Books). This behind-the-scenes look into 30
- [DeBacker: Refined climate strategy advances racial and economic justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/debacker-refined-climate-strategy-advances-racial-and-economic-justice/) - This commentary is adapted from the February edition of Cities. Climate. Equity., the Kresge Environment Program’s newsletter. Sign up for it and other Kresge newsletters here. The grantmaking and social investing of Kresge’s Environment Program are guided by strategies that we hope will maximize the impact of our giving. We recently posted new guidelines on
- [Looking back: Rapson shifts Kresge from capital challenge grantmaker to a strategic funder](https://kresge.org/news-views/looking-back-rapson-shifts-kresge-from-capital-challenge-grantmaker-to-a-strategic-funder/) - As part of our centennial, we’re sharing stories of our last 100 years throughout 2024. To learn more about Kresge’s history, visit Kresge.org/100. A providential call from a search firm resulted in Rip Rapson leading one of the country’s oldest and largest philanthropies. In 2005, Rip Rapson – a longtime civic leader in Minneapolis who had
- [Kresge announces second cohort of Thrive Leaders, executives of color working in higher education](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-announces-second-cohort-of-thrive-leaders-executives-of-color-working-in-higher-education/) - The Kresge Foundation announced its second cohort of executive leaders joining the Education Program’s Thrive Leaders Network. Kresge is providing $5,000 in unrestricted stipends to support the leadership and well-being of 14 executive directors over one year. They join a network of 32 grantee leaders engaging with this vibrant community of national postsecondary success and access
- [Kresge-backed climate change work accelerating in U.S. communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-backed-climate-change-work-accelerating-in-u-s-communities/) - Community organizations across the nation are redoubling their efforts to address climate change in their cities and neighborhoods in response to the federal government’s abdication of its role on the matter, said advocates at The Kresge Foundation’s Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity (CRUO) Initiative convening last week. More than 100 persons – many of them
- [National, local groups align in call for equitable climate policy](https://kresge.org/news-views/national-local-groups-align-in-call-for-equitable-climate-policy/) - Calling for a “bold national climate policy agenda that advances the goals of economic, racial, climate and environmental justice,” a coalition of more than 70 environmental and other groups released a policy platform designed to infuse equity principles into the national climate crisis discussion as the 2020 election approaches. The document, “Equitable and Just National
- [CRUO Evaluation affirms value of community-based leadership in advancing climate resilience](https://kresge.org/news-views/cruo-evaluation-affirms-value-of-community-based-leadership-in-advancing-climate-resilience/) - The Kresge Foundation Environment Program released today the Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity (CRUO) Initiative: Evaluation Report. In 2014, Kresge launched the CRUO initiative, a five-year, $29 million effort, with the intent of prioritizing work led by advocates and organizers in urban communities facing disproportionate environmental burdens. The Environment Program team began with one central
- [Greenlink Equity Map provides data resources to build equitable climate solutions](https://kresge.org/news-views/greenlink-equity-map-provides-data-resources-to-build-equitable-climate-solutions/) - Over 100 cities across the U.S. have expressed a strong need for accurate equity data to inform climate and sustainability strategies, according to Greenlink Analytics. A major challenge faced by these communities is how to create climate policy solutions while prioritizing social equity. Greenlink Analytics and Upright Consulting Services partnered to launch the Greenlink Equity
- [City of Hampton fights flooding with issuance of Virginia’s first Environmental Impact Bond](https://kresge.org/news-views/city-of-hampton-fights-flooding-with-issuance-of-virginias-first-environmental-impact-bond/) - Hampton to undertake three major flood resilience projects with $12 million in outcome-based financing supported by The Kresge Foundation The City of Hampton closed on Virginia’s first Environmental Impact Bond on December 2. This creative tool will finance $12 million in nature-based solutions to localized flooding as part of its Resilient Hampton initiative. These bonds
- [Shalanda Baker’s new book, Revolutionary Power, arms vulnerable communities with tools to upend the energy system](https://kresge.org/news-views/shalanda-bakers-new-book-revolutionary-power-arms-vulnerable-communities-with-tools-to-upend-the-energy-system/) - Baker tells the stories of those who have been left behind due to our nation’s unfair energy costs and those who are working to be architects of a more just system. In a new book titled Revolutionary Power: An Activist’s Guide to the Energy Transition, author Shalanda Baker outlines strategies to create anti-racist energy policies
- [White-Newsome: Racism has made water hazardous to our health, but climate leaders are hopeful the Biden-Harris administration will bring change](https://kresge.org/news-views/racism-has-made-water-hazardous-to-our-health-but-climate-leaders-are-hopeful-the-biden-harris-administration-will-bring-change/) - After five years with Kresge, Jalonne White-Newsome will transition to her next career journey effective January 29. Read more about her reflections to continue the fight for water equity. This week, many of my fellow environmental warriors are celebrating the peaceful transfer of power as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn
- [Q&A: Hive Fund shares how an equity-focus intermediary is working to advance climate justice in the South](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-hive-fund-shares-how-an-equity-focus-intermediary-is-working-to-advance-climate-justice-in-the-south/) - Supporting frontline climate justice advocates is a priority for Kresge’s Environment Program. However, for many large national foundations, it can be a challenge learning which grassroots organizations on the ground in cities across the country are making great impact or may need additional funding support. While Kresge supports some frontline organizations directly, the Environment team
- [Kresge grantees named to “Grist 50” list as emerging leaders in climate, sustainability and equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-grantees-named-to-grist-50-list-as-emerging-leaders-in-climate-sustainability-and-equity/) - Mark your calendar! Grist is taking over Kresge’s social media channels on Tuesday, March 30. Engage in the conversation on Twitter (@kresgefdn) and Instagram (thekresgefoundation) using hashtags #TakeOverTuesday and #KresgeTakeover. The “Grist 50,” a much-anticipated annual list of emerging leaders from across the U.S. who are working to achieve climate justice, was released on March
- [Environmental Funders: The Problem Isn’t Just Diversity. It’s Access to Money.](https://kresge.org/news-views/environmental-funders-the-problem-isnt-just-diversity-its-access-to-money/) - Editor's note: This story was first published by Inside Philanthropy. For years, we’ve heard the calls for more diversity in the environmental movement. It’s certainly true that the “big green” groups—and their boards—remain mostly white. But the fact is, there is plenty of diversity among those who are fighting for a cleaner, healthier environment. Across
- [Earth Day 2021: Climate Justice Alliance engages 74 grassroots organizations working at the forefront of the climate crisis](https://kresge.org/news-views/earth-day-2021-climate-justice-alliance-engages-74-grassroots-organizations-working-at-the-forefront-of-the-climate-crisis/) - Editor’s note: On Thursday, April 22, Climate Justice Alliance will join Kresge for an “Earth Day Social Media Takeover.” CJA will #TakeOverKresge’s Twitter + Instagram feeds. Use hashtags #EarthDay or #EarthDay2021 to join the conversation. This feature story is part of a series from Kresge’s Environment Program to spotlight equity-focused organizations working to achieve climate
- [Earth Day 2021: Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund uses grassroots power building to tackle climate change](https://kresge.org/news-views/earth-day-2021-climate-and-clean-energy-equity-fund-uses-grassroots-power-building-to-tackle-climate-change/) - Editor’s note: This feature story is part of a series from Kresge’s Environment Program to spotlight equity-focused organizations working to achieve climate justice. Supporting climate justice advocates is a priority for Kresge. While the Environment Program supports some frontline organizations directly, the team has been increasing funding to intermediaries set up explicitly to build relationships
- [How cities are centering equity in energy benchmarking policies to address climate change ](https://kresge.org/news-views/how-cities-are-centering-equity-in-energy-benchmarking-policies-to-address-climate-change/) - New report identifies seven areas with critical opportunities for incorporating equity into benchmarking requirements Making progress on climate change means intentionally addressing inequities in order to avoid sustaining or exacerbating harmful patterns and power imbalances. To do this effectively, local governments must not only avoid increasing burdens, like costs on vulnerable communities, but must also
- [New Navigate the Flood guide offers tools to manage urban stormwater and climate-induced flooding](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-navigate-the-flood-guide-from-the-water-center-at-penn-offers-tools-to-manage-urban-stormwater-and-climate-induced-flooding/) - Since the time of the Industrial Revolution, communities across the U.S. have developed and expanded, increasing both in population and impervious surfaces. Artificial structures such as roads, sidewalks or pavement, yielded some incredible efficiencies for an ever-expanding city life. However, these rapid large-scale infrastructure changes came with unintended consequences. Today, particularly in communities with combined
- [New Orleans community organizations launch three anti-flooding projects, release report on green infrastructure benefits](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-orleans-community-organizations-launch-three-anti-flooding-projects-release-report-on-green-infrastructure-benefits/) - The Benefits of Community-Driven Green Infrastructure report serves as a blueprint on how communities across the country can develop their own green infrastructure projects to improve environmental and economic well-being New Orleans, LA — Water Wise Gulf South, Healthy Community Services and other Black-led community organizations in New Orleans, LA today released a new economic
- [Rapson: Philanthropy can support Building Performance Standards Coalition by investing in frontline organizations](https://kresge.org/news-views/philanthropy-can-support-building-performance-standards-coalition-by-investing-in-frontline-organizations/) - Today we learned the Biden-Harris Administration has launched the Building Performance Standards Coalition, the first-of-its-kind partnership between 33 state and local governments dedicated to delivering cleaner, healthier and more affordable buildings. This new initiative will not only support energy-efficient buildings but will also create green jobs and lower energy costs for those carrying the heaviest
- [Four steps foundations can take to ensure federal funds land equitably in BIPOC communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/four-steps-foundations-can-take-to-ensure-federal-funds-land-equitably-in-bipoc-communities/) - Editor's note: This article was first published by Nonprofit Quarterly Federal legislation passed last year has made a record amount of public funds available. Yes, what made it across the finish line falls trillions short of what President Joe Biden advocated. Even so, the March 2022 $1.9 trillion American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) (with its $350 billion in flexible relief funds
- [Climate Funders Justice Pledge announces new $100M funding baseline for BIPOC-led organizations created in one year](https://kresge.org/news-views/climate-funders-justice-pledge-announces-new-100m-funding-baseline-for-bipoc-led-organizations-created-in-one-year/) - The Kresge Foundation, among the first donors to sign the Climate Funders Justice Pledge, has already reached the 30% threshold in its giving to minority-led groups. ClimateWorks Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation and Energy Foundation are the latest top 40 funders to join the CFJP. The Donors of Color Network (DOCN) – the first-ever cross-racial community of donors
- [Welch: People of color are essential to saving our planet](https://kresge.org/news-views/earth-day-2022-people-of-color-are-essential-to-saving-our-planet/) - “Climate justice and environmental justice are ground zero for social justice. If we don’t save the planet, nothing else matters.” ~ Dr. Angela Davis This quote from Dr. Angela Davis, a world-renowned activist, scholar, author and educator, set the tone for the Donors of Color Network’s (DOCN) 2022 Tamaya Retreat held in April. Davis served
- [DeBacker: White-Newsome, appointed to White House Council on Environmental Quality, is exactly who our country needs](https://kresge.org/news-views/debacker-white-newsome-appointed-to-white-house-council-on-environmental-quality-is-exactly-who-our-country-needs/) - Today, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced the appointment of Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome, former Kresge Environment Senior Program Officer, to be the CEQ’s Senior Director for Environmental Justice. The full Kresge Foundation team is delighted that Jalonne has been appointed to this position. She is a powerful leader with an unwavering commitment to
- [Kresge’s climate change funding to BIPOC-led organizations more than triples in last decade](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresges-climate-change-funding-to-bipoc-led-organizations-more-than-triples-in-last-decade/) - In February 2021, The Kresge Foundation was among the first climate change funders to take the Climate Funders Justice Pledge launched by the Donors of Color Network (DOCN). The DOCN is the first cross-racial community of donors committed to building the collective power of people of color, driving systems change, and advancing racial equity. At
- [A fight for the right to clean water and sanitation in California’s unincorporated communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/a-fight-for-the-right-to-clean-water-and-sanitation-in-californias-unincorporated-communities/) - Editor’s note: The Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) released a report entitled Investing in America’s Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems for Equity and Sustainability, taking a deeper look into the challenges facing failing onsite systems and potential funding solutions, as well as local and state-level examples and case studies. In the commentary below, our grantee partners
- [US Water Alliance recognizes eight individuals & organizations advancing water equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/us-water-alliance-recognizes-eight-individuals-organizations-advancing-water-equity/) - Healthy Community Services' "Water Wise 7th Ward” project selected for US Water Prize The US Water Alliance, a grantee partner of Kresge's Environment Program, has announced the 2022 winners of its annual US Water Prize. This coveted award recognizes eight individuals and organizations across the country that are driving innovation in the water sector and
- [Lois DeBacker to moderate panel on advancing climate justice at CMF's 50th Annual Conference](https://kresge.org/news-views/lois-debacker-to-moderate-panel-on-advancing-climate-justice-at-cmfs-50th-annual-conference/) - How should we think about one of the fundamental challenges of our lifetime — climate change? The Council of Michigan Foundations will kick off its 50th Annual Conference main stage programming with an engaging and impactful dialogue on the climate justice movement featuring New York Times bestselling author Bill McKibben, Inaugural Director of the Tishman
- [ACEEE toolkit helps local governments protect renters while cutting greenhouse gas emissions](https://kresge.org/news-views/aceee-toolkit-helps-local-governments-protect-renters-while-cutting-greenhouse-gas-emissions/) - Across the country, local governments are aiming to remedy two concurrent crises: climate change and a lack of affordable housing, including rental housing options. A new toolkit developed by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) provides guidance to communities looking to protect renters and preserve or create affordable housing while curbing needless greenhouse
- [CMF panelists address how we should think about climate change, a fundamental challenge of our lifetime](https://kresge.org/news-views/cmf-panelists-address-how-we-should-think-about-climate-change-a-fundamental-challenge-of-our-lifetime/) - Climate change is not only an environmental issue. It’s an “everything” issue which affects health, mental health, housing, food systems, economic opportunity, human migration patterns, and so much more. Conveying this message was the main priority of Lois DeBacker, managing director of Kresge’s Environment Program, as she moderated a mainstage panel discussion on climate change
- [Climate Justice Pledge wins new commitments, but more funders are needed ](https://kresge.org/news-views/climate-justice-pledge-wins-new-commitments-but-more-funders-are-needed/) - The Climate Funders Justice Pledge, which was launched in early 2021 by the Donors of Color Network, has helped shift $60 million in new funding to climate groups led by people of color. Nearly two years since the launch, a new batch of funding from Kresge shows how the pledge continues to push committed funders
- [Frontline 360° is helping grassroots groups land federal dollars — and building a movement](https://kresge.org/news-views/frontline-360-is-helping-grassroots-groups-land-federal-dollars-and-building-a-movement/) - By coordinating partners’ services, Frontline 360° is achieving significant impact. Learn more in this feature from Laurie Mazur, published by Inside Philanthropy. It takes money to make money, as the saying goes. The same is true of raising money. Successful fundraising requires resources that are in short supply for many small, community-based nonprofits. That means
- [$1.7M in conservation grants to improve water quality, habitat resilience in southeast Michigan](https://kresge.org/news-views/1-7-million-in-conservation-grants-to-improve-community-and-habitat-resilience-in-southeast-michigan/) - Public-private partnership funds six projects to improve water quality, enhance habitat and increase accessibility to public green space The Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund partners announced this week $1.7 million in grant funding to six projects that will benefit communities and wildlife habitats in southeast Michigan. The grants awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
- [Climate Funders Justice Pledge increases funding baseline for BIPOC-led justice groups to $120M in two years](https://kresge.org/news-views/climate-funders-justice-pledge-increases-funding-baseline-for-bipoc-led-justice-groups-to-120m-in-two-years/) - Editor's note: In February 2021, The Kresge Foundation joined the Donors of Color Network (DOCN) campaign to challenge the nation’s top funders to be more transparent with where their U.S. climate dollars go, and took the Climate Funders Justice Pledge (CFJP) to commit at least 30% of U.S. funding to Black, Indigenous and people of
- [Smart Growth America, Kresge work to address climate change, land use, housing policy](https://kresge.org/news-views/smart-growth-america-helps-communities-address-climate-change-land-use-housing-policies/) - Climate change presents an urgent, existential threat to communities and disproportionately impacts those who have been marginalized by racist land use, housing and lending policies. To help address these challenges, Smart Growth America (SGA) is working with three community-based organizations on a Technical Assistance (TA) program funded by The Kresge Foundation. The program is designed
- [Centennial blog: Colleges and universities across the country have buildings named after Kresge](https://kresge.org/news-views/centennial-blog/) - Kresge is celebrating its Centennial in 2024. Throughout the year, we will highlight important figures, memorable moments, stories of impact, and learnings in this space. Check back often to see what’s new. Early benefactors of Kresge support for education included Albion College, Wayne State University, Harvard University April 26, 2024 Education has been a primary
- [Kresge doubles down on support for climate finance ecosystem with new tranche of investments](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-doubles-down-on-support-for-climate-finance-ecosystem-with-new-tranche-of-investments/) - The Kresge Foundation announced four new social investments today designed to help solar and energy-storage products reach more Americans through the decarbonization of community facilities. As billions of federal dollars funnel into communities through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, ensuring communities with low wealth have projects ready for investment remains a critical need if dollars
- [Rush Tebbe: Solving for climate resilience, community development and wellbeing](https://kresge.org/news-views/rush-tebbe-solving-for-climate-resilience-community-development-and-wellbeing/) - As a supporter of climate resilience efforts for more than 15 years, we at Kresge know the community development sector must play an essential role in building housing and infrastructure that keeps neighborhoods safe as the climate changes. What actions can place-based community development organizations take at this moment to accelerate rapid and equitable climate
- [Excerpt: The unlikely connection between Superbowl XL and the creation of Detroit's M-1 Rail](https://kresge.org/news-views/excerpt-the-unlikely-connection-between-superbowl-xl-and-the-creation-of-detroits-m-1-rail/) - Excerpt from newly published book about Kresge and Detroit explores the creation of M-1 Rail and Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan Each Monday through April and into May, Kresge will feature excerpts from Embracing a City: The Kresge Foundation in Detroit 1993-2023 (Momentum Books). This behind-the-scenes look into 30 years of the unlikely partnerships,
- [Rapson: Three themes Kresge will weave through its centennial year](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-three-themes-kresge-will-weave-through-its-centennial-year/) - This commentary was adapted from remarks prepared for “The Intersection of Climate Change and Community Development,” a convening Kresge co-sponsored with the Urban Institute this month. As some may know, 2024 marks the Kresge Foundation’s centennial. At the risk of being too inward-looking, I want to share how we’re approaching this milestone. What’s a centennial,
- [Excerpt: Focusing on neighborhoods beyond the city’s core became an imperative](https://kresge.org/news-views/excerpt-focusing-on-neighborhoods-beyond-the-citys-core-became-an-imperative/) - Excerpt from newly published book about Kresge and Detroit charts creation of Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit and other neighborhood efforts Each Monday through April and into May, Kresge will feature excerpts from Embracing a City: The Kresge Foundation in Detroit 1993-2023 (Momentum Books). This behind-the-scenes look into 30 years of the unlikely partnerships, unique collaborations,
- [Excerpt: The Woodward Corridor, from riverfront to Midtown, was key to advancing Detroit’s revitalization](https://kresge.org/news-views/excerpt-the-woodward-corridor-from-riverfront-to-midtown-was-key-to-advancing-detroits-revitalization/) - Excerpt from newly published book about Kresge and Detroit charts impact of $50 million grant to Riverfront Conservancy and other efforts along Woodward Each Monday through April and into May, Kresge.org will feature excerpts from Embracing a City: The Kresge Foundation in Detroit 1993-2023 (Momentum Books). This behind-the-scenes look into 30 years of Kresge’s unlikely
- [Detroit Historical Society to open exhibit commemorating Kresge's centennial](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroit-historical-society-to-open-exhibit-commemorating-kresges-centennial/) - Programming to include special lectures; Kresge also selected for Moving Forward award. The Detroit Historical Society announced today that it has partnered with The Kresge Foundation to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the foundation in 2024 with an exciting slate of exhibitions and programming that will launch in early May. Kresge was established in 1924
- [The quiet launch of 1993’s Detroit Initiative changed Kresge and the city where it was founded](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-quiet-launch-of-1993s-detroit-initiative-changed-kresge-and-the-city-where-it-was-founded/) - Beginning today and through the coming weeks, Kresge will feature each Monday on its website excerpts from Embracing a City: The Kresge Foundation in Detroit 1993-2023 (Momentum Books). This behind-the-scenes look into 30 years of the unlikely partnerships, unique collaborations, varied financial tools and bold bets of The Kresge Foundation — the work of veteran journalists
- [Earth Day 2020: Time to demand action on climate change and environmental health](https://kresge.org/news-views/earth-day-2020-time-to-demand-action-on-climate-change-and-environmental-health/) - On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, DeBacker reflects on the gains we've made, the dangerous setbacks we've faced, and the need to demand action. Editor's note: A version of this article was first published by Grist.org. I don’t recall where I was on April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day. I was only 12 years old
- [Funding for the future: Education Program priorities for 2024](https://kresge.org/news-views/funding-for-the-future-education-program-priorities-for-2024/) - In February, the entire Education Program joined practitioners, educators and other funders in Orlando, Florida, for Achieving The Dream’s (ATD) annual DREAM Conference. ATD's annual signature event convenes thousands of practitioners from hundreds of community colleges to exchange evidence-based approaches to accelerating student success and equity. The Kresge Foundation has long sponsored a delegation of
- [New book edition traces 30 years of Kresge’s work in Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-book-edition-traces-30-years-of-kresges-work-in-detroit/) - A tale of unlikely partnerships, unique collaborations, varied financial tools … and bold bets Nearly a decade ago, The Kresge Foundation contracted with two veteran journalists to write a series of case studies documenting the role of philanthropy in Detroit, from the 2008 financial crisis through the city’s emergence from bankruptcy in 2013. The thought
- [Civic engagement essential for improving community health, well-being](https://kresge.org/news-views/civic-engagement-essential-for-improving-community-health-well-being/) - Civic engagement is an essential component in building healthier, more resilient communities. When people get involved with local organizations and participate in activities like volunteering and voting, it promotes social cohesion, fosters collaboration, improves community access to resources and supports the adoption of equitable policies and legislation that help address issues like food insecurity and
- [Kresge commits additional $200,000 to support the SAVE on Student Debt Campaign](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-commits-additional-200000-to-support-the-save-on-student-debt-campaign/) - The U.S. Department of Education reports that 43.2 million borrowers had outstanding federal student loans as of the fourth quarter of 2023, representing $1.6 trillion in debt. The Kresge Foundation recently joined a coalition of partners to bolster a national campaign dedicated to helping borrowers save money on their student loan payments by enrolling in
- [Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund awards $1.5M in conservation grants](https://kresge.org/news-views/southeast-michigan-resilience-fund-awards-1-5m-in-conservation-grants/) - The Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund partners have announced $1.5 million in grant funding for five projects that will benefit communities and wildlife habitats in southeast Michigan. The grants were awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and will leverage $900,000 in matching contributions to generate a total conservation impact of more than $2.4
- [Looking back: Six special initiatives set the stage for today's modern program work](https://kresge.org/news-views/looking-back-six-special-initiatives-set-the-stage-for-todays-modern-program-work/) - As part of our centennial, we’re sharing stories of our last 100 years throughout 2024. To learn more about Kresge’s history, visit Kresge.org/100. How a set of transitional initiatives diversified Kresge’s grantmaking approach Sometimes, it’s a sun-soaked beach; at others, it’s a skating rink. It’s where people gather for Detroit’s annual tree-lighting ceremony and has
- [Looking back: Strengthening support for human capital](https://kresge.org/news-views/looking-back-strengthening-support-for-human-capital/) - As part of our centennial, we’re sharing stories of our last 100 years throughout 2024. To learn more about Kresge’s history, visit Kresge.org/100. How Kresge’s investments in the capacity of nonprofits advance the foundation’s mission When speaking about nonprofit capacity building, Lois DeBacker, managing director of The Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program, stresses the need to
- [Jackson: Redevelopment without displacement? Here’s how it can happen.](https://kresge.org/news-views/jackson-redevelopment-without-displacement-heres-how-it-can-happen/) - “It seems like whenever development comes to your neighborhood, they develop the people right out of the neighborhood.” Those words from restaurateur Marvin Smith were heard across the country recently in a report aired on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered (ATC) program. Smith was speaking specifically about Cincinnati’s Over the Rhine neighborhood, but the
- [Looking back: Putting capital at the heart of impact](https://kresge.org/news-views/looking-back-putting-capital-at-the-heart-of-impact/) - As part of our centennial, we’re sharing stories of our last 100 years throughout 2024. To learn more about Kresge’s history, visit Kresge.org/100. How an early philanthropic funding model became the precursor to Kresge’s approach to grantmaking today Most people remember it as the year an economic bubble burst. The 1929 Wall Street Crash ushered
- [Q&A: Kresge, LCJA celebrate 10 years of partnership rooted in policy advocacy to improve life in Fresno](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-kresge-lcja-celebrate-10-years-of-partnership-rooted-in-policy-advocacy-to-improve-life-in-fresno/) - 10. 10. 100. These three numbers represent several milestones the Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability (LCJA) and The Kresge Foundation are celebrating, collectively and individually. Founded in 2013, LCJA is a social and environmental justice advocacy organization based in Fresno, California, that has been working for more than 10 years to shift the dynamics
- [$1.3M in grants available for community organizations through Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus](https://kresge.org/news-views/1-3m-in-grants-slated-for-community-organizations-through-kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-plus/) - Applications now open in funding round designed for projects to be completed within 24 months At least $1.3 million in Implementation grants will be available for resident-led community organizations to launch transformative projects supporting the vision and creativity of residents in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods
- [Smith: Kresge's Arts & Culture Program refines its funding focus areas, reflects on investments](https://kresge.org/news-views/smith-kresges-arts-culture-program-refines-its-funding-focus-areas-reflects-on-investments/) - This commentary is adapted from the February edition of ReFrame. ReStore. ReImagine., the Kresge Arts & Culture Program's newsletter. Sign up for it and other Kresge newsletters here. As a national funder that supports place-based initiatives, Kresge's Arts & Culture Program positions culture and creativity as drivers of more just communities. Through this strategy, a
- [Low-income communities shouldn’t be left out of the clean energy transition](https://kresge.org/news-views/low-income-communities-shouldnt-be-left-out-of-the-clean-energy-transition/) - Guarantees can help ensure that doesn't happen Solar+storage systems provide an array of benefits to building owners of all kinds. They ensure buildings (and the people who use them) are prepared for the power outages that are becoming more frequent as climate change increases the risk of storms and wildfires. They reduce the carbon emissions
- [Q&A: Support for minority-owned small businesses is crucial to the vitality of the Fresno metro area](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-support-for-minority-owned-small-businesses-is-crucial-to-the-vitality-of-the-fresno-metro-area/) - The Kresge Foundation recently had an opportunity to discuss the minority-owned and small business landscape of Fresno, California, with Cassandra Little of the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce (FMBCC). Little, who has a doctorate in philosophy, serves as the executive director and CEO of the FMBCC, an American Cities Program grantee dedicated to engaging,
- [Agency, belonging and community: Centering people to transform neighborhoods](https://kresge.org/news-views/agency-belonging-and-community-centering-people-to-transform-neighborhoods/) - It takes time to cultivate a garden. In addition to patience, plants and vegetables need the right conditions to flourish, along with people dedicated to caring for them throughout the growing process. Communities also need the right conditions to flourish and thrive. That includes ensuring residents feel safe, can breathe clean air, have access to
- [Rich heritage, culture of New Orleans’ Bell School at center of 8-year renovation effort](https://kresge.org/news-views/rich-heritage-culture-of-new-orleans-bell-school-at-center-of-8-year-renovation-effort/) - The newly renovated Bell Artspace Campus in New Orleans' Tremé neighborhood. For more than a century, the Bell School campus in New Orleans’ Tremé neighborhood was a hub for education, music training, and social activities, with a history boasting one of the nation’s most significant African American cultural districts. Vacant and abandoned since Hurricane
- [Q&A: How IFF navigated layering partners, capital to build a new early childhood center](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-how-iff-navigated-layering-partners-capital-to-build-a-new-early-childhood-center/) - IFF is developing the McClellan Early Childhood Education Center in the Gratiot Woods neighborhood of Detroit, backed by multiple capital sources, including a Kresge program-related investment. Matrix Human Services will provide services once the center comes online in 2024, with eight classrooms for 96 students. Kresge Communications Manager Krista Jahnke interviewed IFF’s Kirby Burkholder and
- [Statement on the passing of former Kresge President Ted Taylor](https://kresge.org/news-views/statement-on-the-passing-of-former-kresge-president-ted-taylor/) - Alfred H. (Ted) Taylor), whose distinguished career included serving as president, vice president, board chair and board member of The Kresge Foundation, died Tuesday at age 93. Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson issued the following statement. One aspect of the Kresge Centennial we are now embarking on should be a constant thanks for
- [From the ground up: Centering community and living wages in economic development](https://kresge.org/news-views/from-the-ground-up-centering-community-and-living-wages-in-economic-development/) - Dignified wage jobs. Vibrant and safe gathering spaces. Meaningful community engagement opportunities. That’s what people in the Armijo neighborhood in Albuquerque, New Mexico, told Partnership for Community Action (PCA) they wanted to see in the city’s South Valley seven years ago. Today, that vision has become a reality. The Social Enterprise Center (SEC) at Partnership
- [White House Domestic Policy Council, NEA officials unveil new initiatives at arts and culture summit](https://kresge.org/news-views/white-house-domestic-policy-council-nea-officials-unveil-new-initiatives-at-arts-and-culture-summit/) - To elevate arts and creativity’s contributions to the health and well-being of residents across the country, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the White House Domestic Policy Council hosted a cross-sector policy summit, “Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities” in late January. The event focused on the
- [Thrive New Orleans creates a pipeline of economic opportunity with climate resiliency training program](https://kresge.org/news-views/thrive-new-orleans-creates-a-pipeline-of-economic-opportunity-with-climate-resiliency-training-program/) - The Kresge Foundation · Thrive New Orleans envisions greater climate resiliency, racial equity with green infrastructure This is the first entry of a two-part series, With Water, highlighting the impact and importance of American Cities Program grantee partner Thrive New Orleans. Part 2: Living with water: Thrive New Orleans is working to make residents safer
- [Enterprise Community Partners announces $23.7M for 32 Detroit community development organizations](https://kresge.org/news-views/enterprise-community-partners-announces-23-7m-for-32-detroit-community-development-organizations/) - Kresge, 6 other philanthropies pool funds for 3 years of support for groups across the city Enterprise Community Partners has announced $23.7 million in Phase 2 funding to support 32 Detroit nonprofits whose leaders or beneficiaries are Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). Through two foundation-backed initiatives ­— the Community Development Organization (CDO) Fund
- [Foundation CEOs Rapson and Lindborg discuss their shared commitment to climate resilience](https://kresge.org/news-views/foundation-ceos-rapson-and-lindborg-discuss-their-shared-commitment-to-climate-resilience/) - Charged with sharing their vision for a climate-resilient nation, Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson joined Nancy Lindborg, president and CEO of the David & Lucille Packard Foundation, in a recorded conversation to discuss climate resilience investments and activities on a global scale. The conversation was hosted by Dana Lanza, CEO of Confluence Philanthropy, a
- [Living with water: Thrive New Orleans is working to make residents safer through green infrastructure](https://kresge.org/news-views/living-with-water-thrive-new-orleans-is-working-to-make-residents-safer-through-green-infrastructure/) - The Kresge Foundation · Thrive New Orleans is promoting climate resiliency & preventing flooding by rebuilding yard by yard. This is the second entry of a two-part series, With Water, highlighting the impact and importance of American Cities Program grantee partner Thrive New Orleans. Part 1: Working with water: Thrive New Orleans creates a pipeline
- [The Kresge Foundation to commemorate its centennial in 2024 with special events](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-kresge-foundation-to-commemorate-its-centennial-in-2024-with-special-events/) - Kresge will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year through commemorative events and community activations that honor the institution’s past, present and future. The Kresge Foundation – one of the nation’s oldest and largest private philanthropies with an endowment of nearly $4 billion in assets – will be commemorating the centennial of its founding throughout 2024
- [Trailblazing Chicana painter Nora Chapa Mendoza named 2024 Kresge Eminent Artist; annual award now $100K](https://kresge.org/news-views/trailblazing-chicana-painter-nora-chapa-mendoza-named-2024-kresge-eminent-artist-annual-award-now-100k/) - Celebrated painter, cultural activist and gallerist Nora Chapa Mendoza has been named the 2024 Kresge Eminent Artist, considered metro Detroit’s most prestigious arts award. “It’s an incredible thing to have happen in your life,’’ said Chapa Mendoza, 92. She is the 16th recipient since 2008 of the award recognizing a lifetime’s contribution to an artist’s
- [Rapson: Adding one word to our tagline as we begin a celebratory 2024](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-adding-one-word-to-our-tagline-as-we-begin-a-celebratory-2024/) - As we turn the calendar into 2024, I wish you a happy new year. For Kresge, an organization founded in 1924, turning that page marks not only a new year but also the beginning of a new century. We intend for our centennial year of 2024 to be a celebration of the history that has
- [Kresge staff, alumnus reflect on Divine 9 and impact of Black sororities and fraternities](https://kresge.org/news-views/commemorating-the-divine-9-kresge-staff-alumnus-reflect-on-impact-of-black-sororities-and-fraternities/) - For more than 100 years, the Divine Nine has been a source of pride in Black communities. Beyond their impact on college campuses, the rich history and legacy of sororities and fraternities are also prevalent in many workplaces, including The Kresge Foundation. To help celebrate Black culture, history and wellness, several Kresge staff members and
- [Evans: Invest in project readiness to ensure equitable use of GGRF](https://kresge.org/news-views/evans-invest-in-project-readiness-to-ensure-equitable-use-of-ggrf/) - A new commentary in The Hill from Kresge's Joe Evans makes the case that the federal agencies planning to deploy $27 billion to green energy projects through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund should focus on ensuring dollars land equitably through supports for "project readiness." From the article: "That funding will go underutilized, and we will
- [$7M in new social investments will boost the just energy transition in communities of color](https://kresge.org/news-views/7m-in-new-social-investments-will-boost-the-just-energy-transition-in-communities-of-color/) - Strategy intends to bring greater capital access to solar solutions in partnership with community-based entities TROY, MICH. — A new suite of grants and social investments announced today from The Kresge Foundation will bring millions of dollars in investments to the solar movement in communities of color and those with low wealth in American cities.
- [PosiGen shows the market how to deploy single-family solar solutions with equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/posigen-shows-the-market-how-to-deploy-single-family-solar-solutions-with-equity/) - Communities with low income and communities of color throughout the U.S. are far less likely than others to enjoy the benefits of solar power. One of the biggest drivers of this disparity is that most solar companies use credit scores to determine who can finance the upfront cost of adding solar units to their homes, a decidedly inequitable
- [Four ways equity and low-wealth communities show up in the infrastructure bill](https://kresge.org/news-views/four-ways-equity-and-low-wealth-communities-show-up-in-the-infrastructure-bill/) - Editor's note: This commentary first ran on Impact Alpha. Read it here. After years of discussion, negotiation, failed efforts, and disappointment, we finally have a once-in-a-generation bill that will invest in the physical infrastructure of this nation. Now is the moment for impact investors and their partners to take decades of experience investing in the
- [Kresge makes $5 million program-related investment in PosiGen](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-makes-5-million-program-related-investment-in-posigen/) - The Kresge Foundation today announced a $5 million program-related investment into PosiGen, the nation’s leading provider of renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions for low-to-moderate income households. The investment will contribute to the continued growth of PosiGen, as the company works to close the clean-energy-affordability gap by making solar and energy efficiency available to all homeowners.
- [CHARGE partnership helps health centers transition to clean energy, boost climate resilience](https://kresge.org/news-views/charge-partnership-helps-health-centers-transition-to-clean-energy-boost-climate-resilience/) - With severe weather projected to worsen in the coming years, the need for reliable clean energy across our nation’s health infrastructure is more important than ever. However, our nation’s utility grid is underfunded, inefficient and aging. Increasing temperatures and climate-driven natural disasters are leading to more regular and longer lasting outages. Lack of reliable power
- [Kresge partners receive $20M in federal funds to support energy efficient and resilient buildings](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-partners-receive-20m-in-federal-funds-to-support-energy-efficient-and-resilient-buildings/) - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the cohort of nonprofit organizations selected to receive $90 million in funding from its Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation (RECI) program. The RECI program was created to ensure buildings meet the latest standards for energy efficiency — reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering energy bills for American
- [New solar-powered centers to serve Detroit’s east side during flooding and other emergencies](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-solar-powered-centers-to-serve-detroits-east-side-during-flooding-and-other-emergencies/) - Partners in Detroit’s new Resilient Eastside Initiative have announced plans for a pilot network of hubs with solar power, battery backup and other critical systems to support city residents in the event of power outages, floods, heatwaves and other climate events or emergencies. The initiative network’s first three “resilience hubs” will be the new Lenox
- [American Flood Coalition announces flood resilient communities cohort to improve access to federal funding](https://kresge.org/news-views/american-flood-coalition-announces-flood-resilient-communities-cohort-to-improve-access-to-federal-funding/) - With recent legislation to boost flood resilience, the country has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to upgrade America’s infrastructure with resilience in mind. As storms get stronger and more frequent, the infrastructure built from these investments could protect and strengthen communities for decades. The American Flood Coalition (AFC) has launched the Flood Resilient Communities Cohort, a group
- [Philanthropic leaders commit to building more climate resilient communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/philanthropic-leaders-commit-to-building-more-climate-resilient-communities-as-the-biden-harris-administration-releases-first-ever-national-framework/) - Biden-Harris administration releases first-ever national framework Today, leaders of four major U.S. philanthropies announced a shared commitment to building more climate resilient communities and outlined a broader call to action for the nation’s large philanthropic sector. This commitment is the first of its kind by philanthropy, highlighting the need for an explicit focus on adaptation
- [How to have a successful introductory meeting with a funder](https://kresge.org/news-views/how-to-have-a-successful-introductory-meeting-with-a-funder/) - I have spent two decades as a program officer (PO) working at two different private foundations. In that time, I have had thousands of introductory conversations with nonprofit grantseekers to learn about their work and hear their pitches for support. It is a privilege to have the chance to meet with passionate nonprofit professionals who
- [CREWS leaders working at the intersection of water, climate, equity deepen partnership to combat urban flooding](https://kresge.org/news-views/crews-leaders-working-at-the-intersection-of-water-climate-equity-deepen-partnership-to-combat-urban-flooding/) - More than 70 water equity leaders representing 34 organizations across the country gathered in Tucson, Arizona, in November to discuss solutions to urban flooding. As grantee partners of the Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) initiative, these organizations came together to attend the fifth annual Kresge CREWS convening held Nov. 12-14 in concert with
- [Q&A: What would it take for funders to advance reparative philanthropy and share power? ](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-what-would-it-take-for-funders-to-advance-reparative-philanthropy-and-share-power/) - The Convergence Partnership, a national funder collaborative working to advance racial justice and health equity, is partnering with the Decolonizing Wealth Project to interrogate and disrupt the existing systems of moving and controlling capital. The goal behind this partnership is to persuade philanthropy to share power and resources more authentically with grassroots partners. In this
- [2023 Unity Summit urges philanthropy to use its power to advance racial justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/2023-unity-summit-urges-philanthropy-to-use-its-power-to-advance-racial-justice/) - Editor’s note: Nearly 20 Kresge staff members attended the CHANGE Philanthropy Unity Summit to build connections between funders and communities. In this commentary, Kresge Communications Officer and Equity Task Force Co-Chair Kaniqua Welch and Special Assistant to the President Chris LeFlore share key learnings from the conference that can be applied across the philanthropic sector.
- [PHEARLESS leaders deepen collaboration, connections as they work to advance health equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/phearless-leaders-deepen-collaboration-connections-as-they-work-to-advance-health-equity/) - Sixty PHEARLESS public health and community leaders from cities across the country gathered in New Mexico in November to share best practices, and learn strategies to continue facilitating the emergence and sustainability of leaders who serve the well-being of all. The PHEARLESS initiative integrates regenerative leadership education and experiential learning with innovative collaborative tools that
- [We need more than just the facts; we need the empathy of the arts to help create a just future](https://kresge.org/news-views/we-need-more-than-just-the-facts-we-need-the-empathy-of-the-arts-to-help-create-a-just-future/) - This commentary is adapted from the November edition of Momentum Detroit, the Kresge Detroit Program newsletter. Sign-up for Momentum Detroit and other Kresge newsletters here. Not long ago, I had the opportunity to speak to a gathering celebrating 2023 Kresge Eminent Artist Melba Joyce Boyd and the release of a Kresge-produced monograph documenting her life
- [Kresge bolsters community investment ecosystem with $7M for Community Investment Guarantee Pool](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-bolsters-community-investment-ecosystem-with-7m-for-community-investment-guarantee-pool/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today a $7 million guarantee commitment to the Community Investment Guarantee Pool (CIGP). This strategic investment underscores Kresge's interest in fostering resilient and equitable cities through innovative capital solutions. The Community Investment Guarantee Pool is a groundbreaking initiative that brings together philanthropic capital from 16 institutions to catalyze and support community
- [New Kresge grants deepen racial and economic justice efforts in Fresno, Memphis, New Orleans](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-kresge-grants-deepen-racial-and-economic-justice-efforts-in-fresno-memphis-new-orleans/) - $9.2 million in grants awarded to 26 frontline organizations confronting inequity, systems of exclusion and shaping community-driven solutions The Kresge Foundation’s newest grant commitments totaling $30 million will deepen efforts to advance racial and economic justice in cities across the United States. This includes $9.2 million in new grants to 26 place-based frontline organizations working
- [New partners expand Kresge’s racial justice support in Detroit, Memphis and Fresno](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-partners-expand-kresges-racial-justice-support-in-detroit-memphis-and-fresno/) - Ten organizations have been recently added to the group of racial justice nonprofits that The Kresge Foundation announced support for in November 2020. That announcement highlighted $30 million in grant commitments to 59 organizations to advance the foundation’s long-term commitment to equity and opportunity in cities across the United States. Through these racial justice commitments,
- [Applications open for $1.5 million in neighborhood projects through Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus](https://kresge.org/news-views/applications-open-for-1-5-million-in-neighborhood-projects-through-kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-plus/) - Applications are open for Detroit-, Highland Park- and Hamtramck-based nonprofits seeking a share of at least $1.5 million for efforts that support the vision and creativity of residents through Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus (KIP:D+). First-phase applications can be made online with Co.act Detroit through Jan. 11. On the basis of those short written or
- [Top U.S. architect association awards Marygrove Early Education Center a prize](https://kresge.org/news-views/top-u-s-architect-association-awards-marygrove-early-education-center-a-top-prize/) - The Marygrove Early Education Center, an integral part of the Kresge-supported P-20 Partnership on the Marygrove campus, has received a prestigious 2023 Architecture Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). These top awards for 16 built projects announced today celebrate “the best contemporary architecture regardless of budget, size, style, or type” and “show the
- [Live6 Alliance lifts up history of pioneering Black-owned women’s clothing store](https://kresge.org/news-views/live6-alliance-lifts-up-history-of-pioneering-black-owned-womens-clothing-store/) - When folks hear the phrase “Detroit style,” furs and Cartier glasses, gators, three-piece suits or maybe even currently fashionable Detroit VS Everybody apparel may come to mind. None of these account for the fashionable Black women who solidified the city’s positioning as a stylish city decades ago. Samuel and Florine Hawkins, owners of Detroit’s first
- [Beyond holiday cheer, Live6 market for small business is a measure of progress in NW Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/beyond-holiday-cheer-live6-market-for-small-business-is-a-measure-of-progress-in-nw-detroit/) - With DJs, food trucks, a photo booth and Santa visits in addition to more than a dozen small business retailers and vendors, HomeBase for the Holidays is taking over weekends at the storefront facility that serves as a community gathering space and the headquarters for Live6 Alliance in northwest Detroit. But more than an exercise
- [2023 KIP:D+ grantees awarded $1.5M for Detroit-area place-based community projects](https://kresge.org/news-views/2023-kipd-grantees-awarded-1-5m-for-detroit-area-place-based-community-projects/) - The Kresge Foundation announced that 29 nonprofits – from education nonprofits to parks conservancies to cultural institutions to traditional community development organizations – are to receive $1.5 million in grant awards as part of its Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus (KIP:D+) initiative. This latest round of KIP:D+ brings the total of granted projects and planning
- [2024 Kresge Artist Fellowships increase to $40,000 each, 25 awards](https://kresge.org/news-views/2024-kresge-artist-fellowships-increase-to-40000-each-25-awards/) - Artists in metro Detroit can apply for the Artist Fellowships and Gilda Awards starting Dec. 1 Kresge Artist Fellowships will increase from $25,000 to $40,000 in 2024 and the number of awards will increase the number of Fellowships from 20 to 25, The Kresge Foundation and Kresge Arts in Detroit announced today. Artists residing in
- [Q&A: Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative chief on increasing housing security](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-jane-place-neighborhood-sustainability-initiative-chief-on-increasing-housing-security/) - Veronica Reed is the executive director of Jane Place Neighborhood Sustainability Initiative, a New Orleans-based nonprofit and Kresge Foundation grantee with a mission to transform unjust housing policies, discriminatory practices and inequitable development. Founded in 2008, staff at Jane Place engage in strategies that increase housing security and expand access to affordable rental housing. In
- [New report highlights harassment and threats of violence against Black women leaders](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-report-highlights-harassment-and-threats-of-violence-against-black-women-leaders/) - A group of women on the frontlines of justice are sounding the alarm and providing recommendations to stem race-motivated threats directed at Black women in a new report titled “We All Deserve Safety and Peace." In it, three Black women leaders shed light on the ongoing threats and attacks they — and other leaders like them
- [Rapson: 3 factors key in seeing historic public investments land equitably across America](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-3-factors-key-in-seeing-historic-public-investments-land-equitably-across-america/) - This commentary is an edited version of the opening remarks from the joint Brookings Institution and Kresge convening: Helping Communities Make the Most of Public Investment, held on Oct. 18, 2023 in Washington, D.C. Visit the convening webpage here. A video replay of the event will be posted when available. For the last two years,
- [Strong Start to Finish adds four new educational systems to network](https://kresge.org/news-views/strong-start-to-finish-adds-four-new-educational-systems-to-network/) - This week, Strong Start to Finish (SSTF) announced four state higher education systems and associations — the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Louisiana Board of Regents, Michigan Center for Student Success, and Tennessee Board of Regents — it's adding to its network to implement developmental education reforms. Collectively, these four systems represent more than 100
- [Grants awarded to new cohort of public health, community leaders to advance health equity ](https://kresge.org/news-views/grants-awarded-to-new-cohort-of-public-health-community-leaders-to-help-advance-health-equity/) - Fifteen teams of rising public health and community leaders from around the country have been selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of the Public Health Regenerative Leadership Synergy (PHEARLESS) initiative. Supported by an investment of more than $8.5 million from The Kresge Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the de Beaumont Foundation, the
- [New monograph on the life and works of Kresge Eminent Artist Melba Joyce Boyd available now](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-monograph-on-the-life-and-works-of-kresge-eminent-artist-melba-joyce-boyd-available-now/) - The words of Melba Joyce Boyd “roar in remembrance … to make you hear the lessons of injustice and the workaday heroes who in their resistance, their survival, keep culture moving,” says writer Nichole Christian in the newly released monograph on the life and art of the 2023 Kresge Eminent Artist. “The Book of Melba”
- [Melba Sound Stories](https://kresge.org/news-views/melba-sound-stories/) - Click here to access sound stories featured in the 2023 Kresge Eminent Artist Monograph: The Book of Melba, featuring Melba Joyce Boyd.
- [Life and works of Kresge Eminent Artist Olayami Dabls presented in new monograph](https://kresge.org/news-views/life-and-works-of-kresge-eminent-artist-olayami-dabls-presented-in-new-monograph/) - It is a mistake to think of him as an artist, he insists. Rather consider him a storyteller “having fun with history,” spinning tales through the mediums of beads, jewelry, paintings, collages, sprawling sets of large-scale sculptures, multistory murals … and finally a campus of symbol-splashed buildings known as the MBAD Bead Museum on Detroit’s
- [Hope Starts Here celebrates progress made for Detroit's young children](https://kresge.org/news-views/hope-starts-here-celebrates-progress-made-for-detroits-young-children/) - Kresge joins W.K. Kellogg Foundation, its launch partner, to recommit support A recent Harvard report found that investing in early childhood education programs provides opportunities to children that lead to upward economic mobility later in life. Children who participate in quality early childhood experiences have many positive and lasting gains, including that they are less
- [Reimagined Memphis riverfront, Tom Lee Park inspire investment in civic assets](https://kresge.org/news-views/reimagined-memphis-riverfront-tom-lee-park-serve-as-inspiration-for-investment-in-civic-assets/) - The Memphis River Parks Partnership, a nonprofit organization that stewards, maintains and operates the 250 acres of parkland immediately adjacent to the Mississippi River, recently celebrated the grand reopening of Tom Lee Park. After five years of planning, design and construction, including a significant community engagement process, the new park opens as the centerpiece of
- [TruFund Financial secures $11.5M for under-resourced affordable housing developers](https://kresge.org/news-views/trufund-financial-secures-additional-11-5m-for-historically-under-resourced-affordable-housing-developers/) - TruFund Financial Services, Inc. announced an $11.5 million expansion last week of the Impact Developers Fund (IDF) with commitments from three new investors, including The Kresge Foundation. The announcement also highlighted increased commitments from the Ford Foundation and Tru-Capital Investment Fund, the fund's general partner. Overall, the fund's size now totals $37.5 million. The fund
- [Kresge, Quality Jobs Fund invest in The 22 Fund to support BIPOC-led climate manufacturing](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-joins-quality-jobs-fund-in-investing-millions-in-the-22-fund-to-support-bipoc-climate-manufacturing-firms/) - Investments will help bring back and grow U.S. manufacturing firms and jobs in underserved communities Today, the 22 Fund, a Los Angeles-based impact early-growth venture fund, announced $5 million and $2 million investments from Quality Jobs Fund/New World Foundation and The Kresge Foundation, respectively. The 22 Fund's mission is to create jobs of the future
- [The Barr, Kresge and William Penn Foundations introduce $13M funding collaborative](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-barr-kresge-and-william-penn-foundations-introduce-13m-funding-collaborative/) - To broaden and deepen the understanding of how art and culture can help address systemic and intersectional societal challenges, The Barr Foundation, The Kresge Foundation and The William Penn Foundation have joined together to create a $13 million funding collaborative. The Culture and Community Power Fund is a lab for investing in, connecting and amplifying
- [Equestrian center to serve hundreds of youths planned for northwest Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/equestrian-center-to-serve-hundreds-of-youths-planned-for-northwest-detroit/) - Fundraising for $8.1 million facility moves forward with commitments from Kresge, state of Michigan, anonymous donor Planners of an $8.1 million, 14-acre equestrian center to serve hundreds of Detroit youths are optimistic that recent fundraising positions them to break ground on the northwest side within the next year. Detroit Horse Power (DHP) Executive Director David
- [Q&A: New Education Program Officer Reuben Kapp reflects on removing barriers to higher ed](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-new-education-program-officer-reuben-kapp-reflects-on-removing-barriers-to-higher-ed/) - Kresge's Education Program in August welcomed a new program officer, Reuben Kapp, to the team. In his role, Reuben supports the Program's goal to increase college access and success for underrepresented students. Before joining the foundation, Reuben was a research assistant, college success coach and senior admissions representative at the University of Michigan. He also
- [Dramatic rise in climate-driven flooding highlights urgent need to advance mitigation strategies](https://kresge.org/news-views/dramatic-rise-in-climate-driven-flooding-highlights-urgent-need-to-advance-mitigation-strategies/) - The changing climate, driven primarily by the burning of fossil fuels and the resulting buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, has brought a rash of weather extremes to the summer of 2023. While the devastating fires in Hawaii and Hurricane Idalia in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas have rightfully caught the country’s attention the
- [Centering lived experience: Unlocking the preconditions for equity-rooted evaluation](https://kresge.org/news-views/centering-lived-experience-unlocking-the-preconditions-for-equity-rooted-evaluation/) - Kresge Strategic Learning and Evaluation Officer Arturo Garcia moderated a session at the 2023 Learning Conference of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), exploring the preconditions for centering equity in evaluation. Garcia was joined on the panel by Kresge Strategic Learning, Research and Evaluation (SLRE) Director Anna Cruz, former Kresge Senior Program Officer Stacey Barbas and
- [Summer at Kresge: Intern sara faraj works on fostering more inclusive social systems](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-intern-sara-faraj-works-on-fostering-more-inclusive-social-systems/) - Growing up in Dearborn, Michigan, sara faraj understands the significance of community development. Immersed in a thriving and cultured environment reminiscent of her own heritage, she envisions extending such experiences to others. As a summer graduate intern with The Kresge Foundation’s American Cities Program, faraj is working with the team on reviewing grants, researching what
- [The IRA: Market forces alone won’t reach the people at greatest risk of climate change](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-ira-market-forces-alone-wont-reach-the-people-at-greatest-risk-of-climate-change/) - With passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, our nation made a seminal turn in the seriousness of its commitment to investing in our planet's future. It authorized necessary and unprecedented investments in transitioning our economy from fossil fuels to clean sources of energy while generating high-quality jobs and upgrading our infrastructure. As
- [2014 Eminent Artist Bill Rauhauser celebrated in monograph](https://kresge.org/news-views/2014-eminent-artist-bill-rauhauser-celebrated-in-monograph/) - Publication surveys life and work of photographer who chronicled streets of Detroit. Kresge President Rip Rapson on Thursday presented the foundation’s 2014 Eminent Artist with a commemorative monograph celebrating his life and work. Bill Rauhauser, an iconic Detroit photographer and educator, received the monograph at the Virgil Carr Center, in downtown Detroit, during the opening
- [How a Kresge grant helped leverage millions in investments to the CDFI sector in Hawaii](https://kresge.org/news-views/how-a-kresge-grant-helped-leverage-millions-of-investments-to-the-cdfi-sector-in-hawaii/) - In 2017, Kresge’s Human Services Program and Social Investment Practice made a $500,000 loan to the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA), an umbrella membership organization for Hawaiians and organizations owned, led by or serving Hawaiians. CNHA also operated a small Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), where Kresge directed its support. While getting to know
- [Summer at Kresge: Grow Detroit's Young Talent intern working on youth empowerment, HBCU projects](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-grow-detroits-young-talent-intern-working-on-youth-empowerment-hbcu-projects/) - Nakya Cummings-Moore has always been interested in making a difference. As a summer undergraduate intern with Kresge’s Detroit Program, Cummings-Moore is working with the team on a variety of projects, including youth empowerment, research on the mortality rate of African American pregnant women, and a project on the experience at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
- [Q&A: Will Guzman offers early career reflections after four years with Social Investment Practice](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-will-guzman-offers-early-career-reflections-after-four-years-with-social-investment-practice/) - Will Guzman joined Kresge in 2019 after receiving an undergraduate degree in economics from New York University. As a Social Investment analyst and associate, he helped monitor and report on the Practice’s portfolio, totaling over 80 active deals and hundreds of millions of dollars. As he departs Kresge to attend Columbia University's MBA program, Senior
- [Summer at Kresge: Girls Who Invest intern focuses on financial literacy, increasing diversity](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-girls-who-invest-intern-focuses-on-financial-literacy-increasing-diversity/) - Mikayla Wallace, a first-generation college student, finds meaning in increasing representation in the field of finance. As a summer undergraduate intern with Kresge’s Investment Office, Wallace is working with the Investment team on a variety of projects, including artificial intelligence (AI) integration to optimize the work environment, data analysis, and work with equities and indexes. “I've
- [Detroit Public Schools Community District receives $4.5M to launch 12 health hubs](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroit-public-schools-community-district-receives-4-5m-to-launch-12-health-hubs/) - Families will have access to comprehensive resources at community high schools starting with five opening in the fall of 2023. Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) announced that it has received $4.5 million in funding from Ballmer Group, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and The Children’s Foundation to launch 12 health hubs over the
- [11th Street Bridge Park set to break ground in late 2023, video nominated for an Emmy Award](https://kresge.org/news-views/11th-street-bridge-park-set-to-break-ground-in-late-2023-video-nominated-for-an-emmy-award/) - “For a long time, Anacostia was segregated. In its early years, it was even illegal for African Americans to own land in parts of this community. And even after those barriers were torn down, others emerged. But despite these challenges, Anacostia continues to push forward. What has preserved the blight and the inequities east of
- [Q&A: Senior Program Officer Jacquelynn Y. Orr seeks to make a difference within communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-senior-program-officer-jacquelynn-orr-seeks-to-make-a-difference-within-communities/) - Kresge’s Health Program recently welcomed Jacquelynn Y. Orr as a new senior program officer. Orr, who most recently served as a program officer for Research-Evaluation-Learning at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will support the team’s work in managing a portfolio of grants that advance Health Program strategies to achieve health equity and promote community health
- [Statement on the passing of Alan Schwartz](https://kresge.org/news-views/statement-on-the-passing-of-alan-schwartz/) - The Kresge Foundation sends is deepest condolences to the family and friends of Alan Schwartz, who passed away Thursday. Schwartz, 97, served as a member and chair of Kresge’s Investment Committee for many years, and his expert oversight of the foundation’s resources ensured they would benefit as many people and communities as possible. Founder of
- [Summer at Kresge: Alaya Freeman combines her passion for communications with making a difference](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-alaya-freeman-combines-her-passion-for-communications-with-making-a-difference/) - It is easy to see Alaya Freeman’s passion for helping others through her work. As a summer undergraduate intern with The Kresge Foundation's External Affairs and Communications team this summer, she’s working with the team to share the story and impact of the foundation’s work. The team uses a full complement of communications tools and
- [Rapson: Colleges can be economic engines for good in South Africa](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-colleges-can-be-economic-engines-for-good-in-south-africa/) - This commentary is adapted from remarks made by Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson during the 2023 Siyaphumelela Conference held June 28-30 in South Africa. Everything that can be said about the extraordinary progress the universities in South Africa that participate in the Siyaphumelela Initiative has likely been said far more eloquently than I can.
- [Health starts at home for Emerson](https://kresge.org/news-views/health-starts-at-home-for-emerson/) - It took dozens of hospital visits, misdiagnoses, twists and turns, and one big scare for Kayla to learn the truth about her son Emerson. For years, she’d sought answers from doctors and the medical community. Why couldn’t he breathe? Could this kill him? What would help her son live a normal life, free from the
- [Summer at Kresge: Daniel Gordon excited about working to solve challenges in higher ed access](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-daniel-gordon-excited-about-working-to-solve-challenges-in-higher-ed-access/) - Daniel Gordon has always been interested in diagnosing and solving complex problems. As a summer graduate intern with The Kresge Foundation’s Education Program this summer, he’s working with the team on increasing the number of high school students who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can help them pay for college.
- [The calculus of Detroit's bankruptcy, 10 years later, shows a city on the rise](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-calculus-of-detroits-bankruptcy-10-years-later-shows-a-city-on-the-rise/) - Tuesday marked the 10th anniversary of the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history here in our hometown of Detroit. The city’s path to financial rock-bottom was a decades-long, tragic culmination of financial mismanagement, endemical disinvestment, racial polarization, and political dysfunction. After the news of the bankruptcy declaration broke in July 2013, there was a resounding
- [Jacquelynn Y. Orr joins Kresge Health Program; Investment team adds two new analysts](https://kresge.org/news-views/jacquelynn-y-orr-joins-kresge-health-program-investment-team-adds-two-new-analysts/) - The Kresge Foundation welcomed Jacquelynn Y. Orr as a new senior program officer for the Health Program on Monday. As senior program officer, Orr will play a key role in managing a portfolio of grants that advance Health Program strategies to achieve health equity and promote community health and well-being. Orr joins Kresge after most
- [Why affirmative action benefits all Americans](https://kresge.org/news-views/why-affirmative-action-benefits-all-americans/) - This joint opinion editorial by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan President Ric DeVore, The Skillman Foundation President and CEO Angelique Power, The Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson and Ford Foundation President Darren Walker was originally published in The Detroit News. It is reprinted here with permission. As leaders of foundations committed to
- [Funders, community partners collaborate on summer programming in Detroit parks](https://kresge.org/news-views/funders-community-partners-collaborate-on-summer-programming-in-detroit-parks/) - Kresge awards $250,000 to seven neighborhood organizations for summer programming catered to children and families The Detroit Pistons, Detroit Parks Coalition, the City of Detroit and community organizations across the city are collaborating to support summer programming for youth and families across Detroit’s neighborhoods. With funding provided by the William Davidson Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson,
- [Initiative supports 18 neighborhood revitalization efforts in Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/initiative-supports-18-neighborhood-revitalization-efforts-in-detroit/) - The first round of grants in the three-year, $5 million initiative will allow the nonprofit groups to begin work on or plan projects that range from the creation of a new prototype greenhouse in of an abandoned home, to the improvement of parks, to the development of greenways.
- [Rapson: College admissions affirmative action case won't sway our dedication to equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-affirmative-action-wont-sway-our-dedication-to-equity/) - The Supreme Court of the United States has just issued its decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. the University of North Carolina, two cases bearing on the legality of race-conscious college admissions programs. Overturning comprehensive and exhaustive trial court decisions that found that both universities had complied
- [Commentary: Momentum in Detroit housing market – and much left to do](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-momentum-in-detroit-housing-market-and-much-left-to-do/) - As National Homeownership Month comes to a close, we can celebrate the fact that this year it has brought some encouraging news for Detroit advocates, homeowners and potential homeowners. In keeping with the month, Detroit Future City (DFC) sponsored live and virtual events and released two reports, Home Sales in Detroit and Black Homebuyer Demand,
- [30 artists named 2023 Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Award winners, awarded $550,000](https://kresge.org/news-views/30-artists-named-2023-kresge-artist-fellows-and-gilda-award-winners-awarded-550000/) - 15th award cycle highlights metro Detroit’s literary and visual artists Thirty metro Detroit artists will share an unrestricted $550,000 in the 2023 Kresge Artist Fellowships and Gilda Snowden Emerging Artist Awards. The no strings attached awards were announced Thursday by the Kresge Arts in Detroit office located at the College for Creative Studies, which administers
- [New open data project helps clarify, contextualize Minority-Serving Institutions](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-open-data-project-helps-clarify-contextualize-minority-serving-institutions/) - Kresge’s Education Program recently helped fund a data project aimed at advancing a greater understanding of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and their unique contribution to postsecondary education. The Minority-Serving Institutions Data Project was conducted by the team of Mike Hoa Nguyen, Sophia Laderman, Joe Ramirez and Kelsey Heckert. To learn more about the study and the
- [Applications now open for new public health leadership initiative](https://kresge.org/news-views/applications-open-june-6-for-new-public-health-leadership-grant-opportunity/) - Applications are now open for a new initiative that will bring rising public health leaders together with community leaders to co-create sustainable collaborative solutions that advance health and well-being for all. Supported by an investment of more than $8.5 million from The Kresge Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the de Beaumont Foundation, the
- [People + Places, Now + Then, Kresge's 2022 annual report, available now](https://kresge.org/news-views/people-places-now-then-kresges-2022-annual-report-available-now/) - Digital report shares stories, insights from nearly 100 years of investing in People + Places Today, Kresge launches a new digital report, People + Places, Now + Then. It highlights how work Kresge supported in 2022 invested in people's dreams and communities' aspirations and how Kresge has done so for almost a century. Five immersive
- [Ohmer: Being in the closet or having to hide was never an option for me ](https://kresge.org/news-views/ohmer-being-in-the-closet-or-having-to-hide-was-never-an-option-for-me/) - This profile was originally published in the June 2023 edition of the Emerging Manager Monthly, a subscription-based monthly newsletter from Financial Investment News, and reprinted here with permission. The June issue explores the experiences of LGBTQ+ asset managers. Adrian Ohmer wasn’t always interested in investing. Now an investment director for The Kresge Foundation’s more than
- [New report explores Kresge approach to investing with diverse fund managers](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-report-explores-kresge-approach-to-investing-with-diverse-fund-managers/) - A new report published by Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) profiles the Kresge Investment Office’s progress in its efforts toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive asset management industry. The research notes that although women and ethnic minorities represent 70% of the U.S. population, only 1.4% of U.S.-based assets were managed by women and minority-owned
- [Board of Trustees welcomes Scott Kresge, honors departure of Cynthia Kresge](https://kresge.org/news-views/board-of-trustees-welcomes-scott-kresge-honors-departure-of-cynthia-kresge/) - The Kresge Foundation today announced that Scott Kresge has joined its Board of Trustees. He is the eighth family representative to serve on the governing body of the private, national foundation created in 1924 by his great-grandfather, Sebastian S. Kresge. Scott succeeds his sister Cynthia Kresge, who has served as a trustee since 2013. “During
- [The power of community: Reflections on the Vincent Chin 40th Remembrance and Rededication](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-power-of-community-reflections-on-the-vincent-chin-40th-remembrance-and-rededication/) - Monday night, with the national PBS broadcast of the 1988 movie “Who Killed Vincent Chin?” the Vincent Chin 40th Remembrance and Rededication came to a close. The culmination of many months of planning by committee members across the country, with Kresge’s support as a presenting sponsor, the five days of activities in Detroit included film
- [CCHE convening centers power of communities to shift climate policy and practice](https://kresge.org/news-views/cche-convening-centers-power-of-communities-to-shift-climate-policy-and-practice/) - Work centering racial justice and the human health impacts of climate change is critically important in ensuring that cities around the country accelerate implementation of climate mitigation and climate adaptation policies and investments that benefit everyone. That was the message delivered at the 2023 Climate Change, Health & Equity convening, Centering Racial Justice and Health
- [Heal 901 cultivates the minds of young leaders to help cure community violence](https://kresge.org/news-views/heal-901-cultivates-the-minds-of-young-leaders-to-help-cure-community-violence/) - Violence is a social disease that has become an epidemic in many cities across the country. And like any epidemic, ending it requires three key steps: interrupting transmission, preventing transmission and changing norms. By approaching violence as a public health issue, Heal 901 in Memphis, Tennessee, seeks to proactively interrupt and prevent violence to stop
- [Kresge, Erb and Hudson-Webber Foundations commit more than $12M to 78 arts organizations](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-erb-and-hudson-webber-commit-funding-to-detroit-arts-organizations/) - Seventy-eight arts and cultural organizations in the Detroit metropolitan area will share a more than $12 million investment in their general operations over the next three years. This multi-year funding initiative, known as Detroit Arts Support (DAS), is a collaboration between The Kresge Foundation, Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, and Hudson-Webber Foundation.
- [Kresge Eminent Artist Melba Joyce Boyd celebrated in online event, short film](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-eminent-artist-melba-joyce-boyd-to-be-subject-of-online-celebration-short-film/) - This item has been updated following the online event it originally previewed. Poet, essayist, scholar and more Melba Joyce Boyd was the star of an online celebration on April 13 in honor of her naming earlier this year as the 2023 Kresge Eminent Artist. The celebration, hosted by Kresge Arts in Detroit, which administers the
- [Introducing the Kresge Detroit Program newsletter: Momentum Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/introducing-the-kresge-detroit-program-newsletter-momentum-detroit/) - Welcome to the first issue of our Kresge Detroit Program newsletter. Every other month or so, we will be in your inbox with updates on an array of our partners across Detroit and beyond — nonprofits, governmental units, intermediaries and grassroots groups — who are collectively and inclusively creating a new vision of progress and
- [Detroit's comprehensive medical respite program for homeless secures multi-sector investment](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroits-comprehensive-medical-respite-program-for-homeless-secures-multi-sector-investment/) - Neighborhood Service Organization medical respite program connects investor results directly to health and housing outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness through value-based care financing Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO) announced Wednesday that it has secured outcomes-based investments to launch Detroit’s most comprehensive medical respite program focused on improving the health of individuals experiencing homelessness. Partners from multiple
- [i.Detroit book is now a podcast, a 'love letter' to the city](https://kresge.org/news-views/i-detroit-book-is-now-podcast-a-love-letter-to-the-city/) - More than two years ago, the i.Detroit book project presented the city through an interactive book portraying 100 Detroiters in words, stunning photography plus detailed genomic analysis and cartography, tracing each subject’s ancestral roots around the globe. Now the team behind i.Detroit: A Human Atlas of an American City has morphed and shifted to audio
- [Define American launches a guide for supporting immigrant, migrant and undocumented artists](https://kresge.org/news-views/define-american-launches-a-guide-for-supporting-immigrant-migrant-and-undocumented-artists/) - Interest in the stories of immigrants, migrants and undocumented individuals continues to grow in the U.S. arts and media landscape. Unfortunately, artist support organizations have often overlooked the needs of artists and storytellers from these communities. Immigrant artists, especially those who are undocumented, have far less access to both paid and unpaid fellowships, residencies and
- [Chantel Rush named managing director of American Cities Program, joins Placed-Based Practice leadership tea](https://kresge.org/news-views/chantel-rush-named-managing-director-of-american-cities-program-joins-placed-based-practice-leadership-team-with-wendy-lewis-jackson-and-benjamin-kennedy/) - Chantel Rush has been named managing director of The Kresge Foundation’s American Cities Program. An experienced grantmaker and national community development strategist, Rush will work alongside Wendy Lewis Jackson, managing director of Kresge’s Detroit Program. The American Cities Program is an outgrowth of Kresge’s Detroit Program, and the efforts remain closely aligned. Both Rush and
- [Kresge celebrates the Class of 2023 and College Signing Day](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-celebrates-the-class-of-2023-and-college-signing-day/) - Students’ choice to attend college is a pivotal one. College Signing Day was created by Reach Higher, an initiative developed in 2014 by Michelle Obama to celebrate every student in America committing to continue their education beyond high school — whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university.
- [Kresge awards $6.1 million to advance Equitable Food Oriented Development](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-awards-6-1-million-to-advance-equitable-food-oriented-development/) - In partnership with the Equitable Food Oriented Development Collaborative, The Kresge Foundation has awarded $6.1 million in grant funding to advance Equitable Food Oriented Development efforts in cities across the country. This investment is in addition to a combined $2 million in grants Kresge awarded in 2020 and 2021 through the partnership with the Collaborative.
- [Recommended reading list for Earth Day offers new perspectives on the climate crisis  ](https://kresge.org/news-views/recommended-reading-list-for-earth-day-offers-new-perspectives-on-the-climate-crisis/) - In honor of Earth Day on April 22, Kresge’s Jessica Boehland, senior program officer of the Environment Program, has curated a reading list of books related to the environment and climate change. Here are her recommendations: When I began considering books to recommend for Earth Day, I struggled with where to begin. Since “the environment”
- [Nonprofit collective supports sustainable food projects, just food ecosystem in Puerto Rico](https://kresge.org/news-views/nonprofit-collective-overcomes-obstacles-to-support-sustainable-food-projects-in-puerto-rico/) - Experiment, adapt and evolve. That is what El Departamento de la Comida de Puerto Rico has done time and time again as it works to develop sustainable, resilient and regenerative food projects that advance a healthy, decolonized and just local food ecosystem in Puerto Rico. Being a territory of the United States, Puerto Rico is
- [Yakima Health District transforming department into health innovation catalyst](https://kresge.org/news-views/yakima-health-district-transforming-department-into-health-innovation-catalyst/) - Public health departments can be innovative incubators of new and effective solutions to complex community challenges. Through the Kresge Foundation’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health program, Yakima Health District in Washington had developed a roadmap to transition into that role and transform its department into a “Rural Health Innovation Catalyst.” With the plan firmly in
- [$1.25M in grants to support community solutions for safety, healing and well-being](https://kresge.org/news-views/1-25m-in-grants-to-support-community-solutions-for-safety-healing-and-well-being/) - Reflecting our renewed commitment to directly fund community-based organizations, support community-led interventions and focus on community solutions to safety and health across our strategic focus areas, the Health program — in collaboration with the American Cities, Detroit and Arts & Culture programs — has awarded $1.25 million in grants to five organizations focused on supporting
- [MIT CoLab Fellows focus on building community wealth for long-term care workers](https://kresge.org/news-views/mit-colab-fellows-focus-on-building-community-wealth-for-care-workers/) - Health care is often one of the largest and most stable sectors in cities throughout the country. In fact, home health aides and personal care aides are among the largest job growth occupations of the coming decade. However, tight budgets, combined with a growing demand for specialized care, mean that nursing home facilities and providers
- [How a grant-funded renovation brightened one early childhood center](https://kresge.org/news-views/how-a-grant-funded-renovation-brightened-one-early-childhood-center/) - Before you even meet a student at Detroit’s LACC Childcare Academy, you are greeted with smiles. Some of the students’ smiling faces are printed on bright green rugs that line the hallways and give a glimpse of the kind of joy you will encounter when you step over the threshold into the classrooms. If you
- [Loiter builds community-owned businesses that encourage reinvestment in East Cleveland](https://kresge.org/news-views/loiter-builds-community-owned-businesses-that-encourage-reinvestment-in-east-cleveland/) - Alima Samad and her brother Ismail Samad are the co-founders of Loiter, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reconsidering and reimagining a different future for the City of East Cleveland, Ohio, where the siblings were born and raised. Founded in 2020, Loiter focuses on building community-owned businesses that encourage reinvestment in habitually excluded communities. Starting in
- [Commentary: State program is a leap forward for early childhood facilities and those they serve](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-state-program-is-a-leap-forward-for-early-childhood-facilities-and-those-they-serve/) - $50M effort for high-quality early childhood facilities is a model for the equitable implementation of federal funds for children and families The rooms are airy and bright. Multicolored carpeted areas are coordinated with walls painted in soothing shades. Cubbies and tot-proportioned features are everywhere. And the radiant smiles of the small children — and the
- [Resilience Force partners to create pathway to recovery for people in New Orleans](https://kresge.org/news-views/resilience-force-partners-to-create-pathway-to-recovery-for-people-in-new-orleans/) - When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it created not only a nationwide health crisis, but an economic crisis as well. The City of New Orleans was an early epicenter, with low-income and communities of color bearing a disproportionate burden of the impact. But by having the right people, training and partnerships in place, one organization has
- [Six Fresno CDCs receive grants to support equitable housing, wealth-building opportunities](https://kresge.org/news-views/six-fresno-cdcs-receive-grants-to-support-equitable-housing-wealth-building-opportunities/) - In its second iteration, Kresge Community Support: Fresno draws inspiration from other impactful place-based grantmaking endeavors The Kresge Foundation, led by the foundation’s American Cities Program (ACP), recently awarded a package of grants to community-based organizations working to strengthen neighborhoods in Fresno, California. An investment of more than $400,000 will be supporting six grantees working
- [Georgia Carr sharpens Kresge’s commitment to the disability community](https://kresge.org/news-views/georgia-carr-sharpens-kresges-commitment-to-the-disability-community/) - The Kresge Foundation’s first Disability Inclusion Fellow. The privilege and honor of that title struck me each time I introduced myself in a meeting. What started as a part-time, three-month externship through RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program blossomed into a full-time, yearlong fellowship with the foundation. Over the years, Kresge has made a concerted effort to
- [Health Program sharpening focus on community health ecosystems](https://kresge.org/news-views/health-program-sharpening-focus-on-community-health-ecosystems/) - In 2021, the Health Team refreshed our program strategies to include a focus on Community Health Ecosystems that endeavors to reach beyond health infrastructure improvements to simultaneously support the people, relationships, institutional practices and environments that ensure safe and holistic systems of care. Anchored by our longstanding Emerging Leaders in Public Health program for local
- [Recommended reading, podcast and watch list for Black History Month](https://kresge.org/news-views/recommended-reading-podcast-and-watch-list-for-black-history-month/) - In honor of Black History Month, Kresge’s Shamar Bibbins, senior program officer of the Environment Program, has curated a reading, podcast and watch list that highlights Black authors, reflects on history and provides inspiration during these uncertain times. Here are her recommendations: I love the rich discussions with my family during our quarterly book club
- [Recommended reading, podcast and watch list for Women’s History Month](https://kresge.org/news-views/recommended-reading-podcast-and-watch-list-for-womens-history-month/) - In honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, Kresge’s Amy Robinson, vice president, CFO and chief administrative officer, has curated a reading, podcast and watch list that highlights women authors, activists and leaders. Amy encourages readers to advocate for gender equity as she commemorates and encourages the study, observance and celebration of the
- [Kresge welcomes Audrey Choi to Board of Trustees](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-welcomes-audrey-choi-to-board-of-trustees/) - The Kresge Foundation today announced that Audrey Choi, a pioneer in the fields of corporate sustainability and sustainable finance, has joined its Board of Trustees. Choi is the newest member of the private, national foundation’s governing body, which provides governance oversight to Kresge’s strategic grantmaking, social investing and operations. Choi’s career has spanned the highest
- [Springboard for the Arts explores the need for and impact of guaranteed income on artists](https://kresge.org/news-views/springboard-for-the-arts-explores-the-need-for-and-impact-of-guaranteed-income-on-artists/) - In 2021, Springboard for the Arts launched one of the first Guaranteed Income pilots in the country focused on individual artists and creative workers in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The goal of the pilot was to explore the impact of guaranteed income on artists, culture bearers and creative workers at a neighborhood level and to provide a national
- [Q&A: CEO Andreas Karelas explains how RE-volv is helping more nonprofits go solar](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-with-andreas-karelas-re-volv-ceo-explains-how-his-org-is-helping-more-nonprofits-go-solar/) - Last month, RE-volv closed $3 million in loans from The Kresge Foundation and the Schmidt Family Foundation to build solar projects for nonprofits in underserved communities nationwide. We caught up with its CEO Andreas Karelas to learn more about this work and its plans with this new investment. What capital barriers impede bringing solar and
- [Detroit campaign provides a blueprint for ensuring low-income families have access to tax credits](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroits-child-tax-credit-campaign-provides-a-blueprint-for-ensuring-low-income-families-access-tax-credits/) - Last fall, Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan released its evaluation report of the Detroit Child Tax Credit Campaign, which launched in 2020 to ensure eligible Detroit families were able to access the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC), a provision of the American Rescue Plan that provided up to $3,600 per year, per child
- [How strong impact investing results sprout from deepening operational ties between our internal teams](https://kresge.org/news-views/how-strong-impact-investing-results-sprout-from-deepening-operational-ties-between-our-internal-teams/) - Foundations spend many hours fine-tuning funding strategies and landing on effective theories of change. But it’s not as common in our field to see an organization devote similar energy and resources to ensuring the internal operations of our teams are filled with the connectivity that creates ripe conditions to execute those strategies. That’s where I
- [Expanding solar+storage solutions to communities on the front lines of climate change](https://kresge.org/news-views/mission-money-markets-expanding-solarstorage-solutions-to-communities-on-the-front-lines-of-climate-change/) - The lack of reliable power has direct health consequences for vulnerable communities. Recognizing the devastating impact of power outages on historically underserved communities, The Kresge Foundation and Clean Energy Group began a collaborative process involving many stakeholders to discuss the need for a comprehensive financing strategy to bring solar+storage systems to affordable housing and critical community facilities in low- and moderate-income (LMI) neighborhoods.
- [Case study in using MRIs to further higher education goals](https://kresge.org/news-views/case-study-in-using-mris-to-further-higher-education-goals/) - MRI in AdmitHub aims to scale and optimize how colleges deliver student advising supports Kresge has used social investments in the form of program-related investments, guarantees, equity and mission-related investments (MRIs) to further its mission since 2008. Of all of those, we talk the least about MRIs, although Kresge has a $50 million commitment to
- [COVID RESPONSE: During pandemic, community development credit unions provide lifeline to capital](https://kresge.org/news-views/covid-response-during-pandemic-community-development-credit-unions-provide-lifeline-to-capital/) - Editor's note: Since March, Kresge partners have responded to COVID in inspiring ways. Over the next few weeks, we are profiling eight such partners, who are also featured in our upcoming annual report on racial equity, Inside Out & Outside In. The COVID-19 pandemic forced not one but multiple emergency pivots in the work of community-driven credit unions. Financial
- [Q & A with Lourdes Germán on COVID-related financial recovery for cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/q-a-with-lourdes-german-on-covid-related-financial-recovery-for-cities/) - Lourdes Germán is one of the preeminent scholars in municipal finance in the country. She joined me last month in crafting a white paper detailing tweaks to public finance tools and programs that would better allow municipalities to recover from economic crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. You can download the full white paper here or
- [One year in, the Community Investment Guarantee Pool is increasing access to philanthropic credit enhancement](https://kresge.org/news-views/one-year-in-the-community-investment-guarantee-pool-is-increasing-access-to-philanthropic-credit-enhancement/) - The Community Investment Guarantee Pool (CIGP) was designed and launched one year ago to make credit enhancement more accessible – to both guarantee users such as community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and providers of the enhancement, foundations like Kresge. The Pool’s intent is to be a “one-stop-shop” for organizations that need a philanthropic guarantee to
- [Q&A with Kresge's new Social Investment Officer Tosha Tabron](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-with-kresges-new-social-investment-officer-tosha-tabron/) - This week, the Social Investment Practice welcomes Tosha Tabron as a new social investment officer. Tabron, who came to Kresge from Invest Detroit, will work to originate program-related investments and other impact investments in Detroit, as well as those that align with national program strategies. Senior Communications Officer Krista Jahnke asked Tabron a few questions
- [Q&A: As infrastructure bill inches toward a vote, finance expert breaks down potential impacts](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-as-infrastructure-bill-inches-toward-a-vote-finance-expert-breaks-down-potential-impacts/) - As federal decision-makers argue the pros and cons of a $1 trillion infrastructure bill, we asked municipal finance expert Lourdes Germán, a senior advisor working with our Social Investment Practice and other Kresge programs, to break down what's in the proposed bill and how it might land in cities and communities. Q: How would you
- [$2.7M in new grant funding boosts Kresge’s total COVID-related investments to about $19M in 2020](https://kresge.org/news-views/2-7m-in-new-grant-funding-boosts-kresges-total-covid-related-investments-to-about-19m-in-2020/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today a seventh round of grantmaking commitments – totaling approximately $2.7 million – to support nonprofits confronting the COVID-19 crisis nationally and in cities across the United States. In 2020, Kresge granted an estimated $17 million in total grant support to equip more than 150 national and local nonprofit and government
- [Kresge announces $1.1M in COVID-19 response grantmaking](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-announces-1-1m-in-covid-19-response-grantmaking/) - Latest COVID-related grants bring foundation total to $10.3M Kresge announced today a fourth round of grantmaking commitments – totaling nearly $1.1 million – to support nonprofit organizations that are responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Since April, Kresge has granted approximately $10.3 million to organizations combatting the negative effects of the pandemic. New grants totaling $805,000
- [Kresge awards $2.4 million in latest round of new grants to combat COVID-19 crisis](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-awards-2-4-million-in-latest-round-of-new-grants-to-combat-covid-19-crisis/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today a third round of COVID-related grantmaking commitments – totaling nearly $2.4 million – to support national and place-based nonprofit organizations that are providing vital services and supports to communities hit hardest by the pandemic. Since April, Kresge has granted an estimated $9.2 million to equip national and local nonprofit and
- [$4.2M in new grants to equip national nonprofit response to COVID-19 pandemic](https://kresge.org/news-views/4-2m-in-new-grants-to-equip-national-nonprofit-response-to-covid-19-pandemic/) - This second round of funding support brings Kresge’s total COVID-related investments to nearly $7M to date The Kresge Foundation announced today a suite of new grants – totaling $ 4.2 million – to support nonprofits confronting the historic and unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 epidemic. These new grants and grant amendments build on a $2.6 million collection
- [Kresge participates in 2019 National Immigrant Integration Conference to support immigrant and refugee communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-participates-in-2019-national-immigrant-integration-conference-to-support-immigrant-and-refugee-communities/) - The 2019 National Immigrant Integration Conference (NIIC) — the largest gathering of immigrant and refugee rights advocates and policymakers in the nation that took place in Detroit on October 20-22 — uplifted and addressed the most pressing issues facing immigrant and refugee communities in the U.S. The overarching themes included civic engagement of immigrant and refugee communities leading
- [Kresge, Rockefeller partner to support new U.S. community development initiatives through open call](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-rockefeller-partner-to-support-new-u-s-community-development-initiatives-through-open-call/) - The Kresge Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation today announced a request for letters of inquiry (LOIs) for fund managers establishing new Opportunity Funds. Through the federal Investing in Opportunity Act (IIOA) – part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 – investors can receive capital gains relief by investing in newly designated “Opportunity
- [Poet-scholar Melba Joyce Boyd is named 2023 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/news-views/poet-scholar-melba-joyce-boyd-is-named-2023-kresge-eminent-artist/) - Award-winning poet, essayist, biographer, editor, distinguished professor and filmmaker Dr. Melba Joyce Boyd has been chosen as the 2023 Kresge Eminent Artist, an annual metro Detroit honor for lifetime achievement in the arts. Boyd’s selection marks the 15th time that The Kresge Foundation has issued the award. Kresge launched the award in 2008 to spotlight
- [Case study details how Detroit nonprofits collaborated to support young children and families — despite COVID](https://kresge.org/news-views/case-study-details-how-detroit-nonprofits-collaborated-to-support-young-children-and-families-despite-covid/) - For four years ending in 2022, the nine nonprofits in the Detroit Early Childhood Education Support Initiative worked with and on behalf of over 100 early childhood centers through whole child and the whole family programs ranging from healthy living and nutrition, creative learning and literacy, access to health and human services and parent and
- [Mapping a route forward for community college students facing transit barriers](https://kresge.org/news-views/mapping-a-route-forward-for-community-college-students-facing-transit-barriers/) - The Kresge Foundation recently convened transit officials and higher education leaders working on transportation and college success to debut new research from the Civic Mapping Initiative highlighting transit accessibility and Michigan’s community colleges. According to new mapping data, only 44% of the 87 Michigan community and technical college campuses have a transit stop within walking
- [Localized approach increases community access to healthy food, creates jobs in Cleveland](https://kresge.org/news-views/localized-approach-increases-community-access-to-healthy-food-creates-jobs-in-cleveland/) - Keymah Durden and Randy McShepard are very frank when talking about Cleveland’s Kinsman neighborhood, where the childhood friends grew up and where they joined forces with three other Black men to found Rid-All Green Partnership, a nonprofit organization focused on urban agriculture and education. “People living in Kinsman are dealing with significant trauma as a
- [LeFlore: Dr. King's Walk to Freedom is one of the most powerful moments in Detroit's history](https://kresge.org/news-views/leflore-dr-kings-walk-to-freedom-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-moments-in-detroits-history/) - This year marks the 60th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Detroit Walk to Freedom,” also known as the “Great March to Freedom.” Dr. King made several trips to Michigan over the years, from a visit to the University of Michigan in 1962 to his commencement address at Grosse Pointe South High School in
- [Kresge Information Technology poised to meet growing cybersecurity, service demands](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-information-technology-poised-to-meet-growing-cybersecurity-service-demands/) - Facilities team promotes while Finance and Investment teams welcome new hires Nikki Bonomo has joined The Kresge Foundation as an infrastructure manager in the Information Technology department, after previously serving as an independent consultant to Kresge on cybersecurity. In her new role at the foundation, Bonomo will manage cybersecurity, IT compliance, network and server administration
- [GROWING JUSTICE works to reimagine food systems with first funding opportunity](https://kresge.org/news-views/growing-justice-works-to-reimagine-food-systems-with-first-funding-opportunity/) - GROWING JUSTICE has announced the availability of $3.5 million in grants for community-led efforts to transform food systems through institutional sourcing practices. GROWING JUSTICE: The Fund for Equitable Good Food Procurement is a pooled fund co-designed by funders, farmers, advocates, food suppliers, purchasers, and community partners from across the country to transform food systems through
- [Partnerships, power of convening help Live Well Springfield Coalition advance climate policies](https://kresge.org/news-views/partnerships-power-of-convening-help-live-well-springfield-coalition-advance-climate-policies/) - To highlight how community-based organizations can build community power and influence policy in a powerful way, three of Kresge’s Climate Change, Health & Equity partners discussed challenges, lessons learned, successes and best practices for organizations working to address climate injustice and advance health equity at the University of Maryland Symposium on Environmental Justice and Health Disparities.
- [Detroit Program promotes Hui and Turner](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroit-program-promotes-hui-and-turner/) - Two members of Kresge Detroit Program take on new titles and authority this week with the promotion of Jonathan C. Hui to senior program officer and Sam Kiyomi Turner to program officer. Turner joined the foundation in 2019 as a program coordinator working to develop strategic alignment across programs, cultivate a learning culture, embed racial
- [Boston Farms creates community wealth, fosters food enterprises through shared land](https://kresge.org/news-views/boston-farms-creates-community-wealth-fosters-food-enterprises-through-shared-land/) - Land is critical to food security. It is a core source of wealth and power in our society and the legal frameworks around it are costly and complex and make it very difficult for individuals to own land or get access to it for growing food. That's why we exist," says Joy Gary, executive director
- [Rapson: Visionary pioneer Ruth Adler Schnee's 'colorful outlook will be missed by all'](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-visionary-pioneer-ruth-adler-schnees-colorful-outlook-will-be-missed-by-all/) - Detroit designer and 2015 Kresge Eminent Artist Ruth Adler Schnee died Thursday, January 5 at the age of 99. Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson issued the following statement: It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to a visionary and pioneer. Designer and 2015 Kresge Eminent Artist, Ruth Adler Schnee was a
- [Textile artist Ruth Adler Schnee selected as 2015 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/news-views/textile-artist-ruth-adler-schnee-selected-as-2015-kresge-eminent-artist/) - Schnee, whose work elevated Michigan’s stature in modern design and architecture, joins six other artists who, since 2008, have received the Eminent Artist award recognition of professional achievements and contributions to Detroit’s cultural community.
- [New Orleans artists trained as health workers to combat 25-year life expectancy gap in Black communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-orleans-artists-trained-as-health-workers-to-combat-25-year-life-expectancy-gap-in-black-communities/) - For many non-profits in the arts and culture sector, the past two years have been intensely transformative in terms of navigating the pandemic, keeping their doors open, supporting artists when programming was shuttered and serving the community. At the Ashé Cultural Arts Center (ACAC) in New Orleans, the challenges were no different. However, true to
- [Recommended reading list to kick off the New Year promotes rest, healing and power of community](https://kresge.org/news-views/recommended-reading-list-to-kick-off-the-new-year-promotes-rest-healing-and-power-of-community/) - Kresge’s Arts & Culture Program has curated a reading list that highlights the importance of human connections, rest and healing to drive change in communities. These books underscore the strength of using culture and creativity to advance our health and wellbeing. Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto – What would it be like to live in
- [Coalition of Communities of Color works toward more just and equitable energy future](https://kresge.org/news-views/coalition-of-communities-of-color-works-toward-more-just-and-equitable-energy-future/) - To highlight how community-based organizations can build community power and influence policy in a powerful way, three of Kresge’s Climate Change, Health & Equity partners discussed challenges, lessons learned, successes and best practices for organizations working to address climate injustice and advance health equity at the University of Maryland Symposium on Environmental Justice and Health Disparities.
- [How to assess models and capital sources in community-owned real estate](https://kresge.org/news-views/how-to-assess-models-and-capital-sources-in-community-owned-real-estate/) - Editor’s Note: This commentary first appeared on MissionInvestors.org. It is reprinted here with permission. Impact investors are experiencing a sea change in how organizations and localities approach work to support communities meaningfully. For those in the field, the movement toward “shared ownership” comes up in conversation after conversation. Given this explosion in interest—and incoming proposals—related
- [New site highlights insights, ideas and action steps to help families realize economic success](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-site-highlights-insights-ideas-and-action-steps-to-help-families-realize-economic-success/) - A new full suite of human services field-building tools and innovator resources are now available at nextgenhumanservices.org. Co-created and informed by The Kresge Foundation’s second National Next Generation initiative cohort and advisors led by Leadership for a Networked World at Harvard University, with support from evaluation partner Engage R&D and Kresge’s Human Services Program, these
- [Nashville Flex: Redesigning policies to better serve the part-time college student](https://kresge.org/news-views/nashville-flex-redesigning-policies-to-better-serve-the-part-time-college-student/) - “It’s care. It’s support. It’s knowing that you are not just kind of on your own.” – Shane, Flex student Like community colleges nationally, more than half (56%) of Nashville State Community College’s student body enroll part-time. Part-time students face different financial, social and academic challenges than traditional students. Colleges face unique challenges engaging part-time
- [Housing mobility: An approach to improving child health in Baltimore](https://kresge.org/news-views/housing-mobility-an-approach-to-improving-child-health-in-baltimore/) - Assisting families in procuring safe, stable housing requires a multi-sector, multifaceted approach. Throughout its history since the landmark 1995 Thompson v. HUD lawsuit, the Baltimore Regional Housing Partnership (BRHP) has engaged with stakeholders in the housing field to develop innovative practices and offer a unique approach to housing assistance that pairs housing vouchers with mobility
- [Dreaming Out Loud works to create economic opportunities, equitable food system](https://kresge.org/news-views/dreaming-out-loud-creates-economic-opportunities-equitable-food-system/) - The relationship between food insecurity and racial and economic discrimination is both obvious and frequently papered over, says Tilman Gerald, co-development director at Dreaming Out Loud (DOL), a nonprofit organization with a mission to create economic opportunities through the development of a healthy, equitable food system in marginalized communities in the Washington, DC Metro Region,
- [Application opens for Kresge Artist Fellowships, Gilda Awards; $550,00 to be shared by 30](https://kresge.org/news-views/application-opens-for-kresge-artist-fellowships-gilda-awards-55000-to-be-shared-by-30/) - Metro Detroit artists working in literary arts and visual arts are invited to apply online for a 2023 Kresge Artist Fellowship before applications close Jan. 19. Kresge Arts in Detroit will award 20 fellowships and 10 Gilda Awards to artists of all career stages living and working in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. The Kresge
- [New $2 million grant to Amplify Fund aims to shift power and resources to BIPOC communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-2-million-grant-to-amplify-fund-aims-to-shift-power-and-resources-to-bipoc-communities/) - To help strengthen the conditions necessary for Black, Indigenous, people of color and low-income communities to build power in place – and organize funders so they shift what and how they fund – The Kresge Foundation’s Health and Arts & Culture programs have together awarded a $2 million grant to the Amplify Fund. Amplify Fund supports
- [East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation applies arts, culture in equitable community development](https://kresge.org/news-views/east-bay-asian-local-development-corporation-uses-arts-culture-in-community-development/) - For 47 years, the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) has advocated for healthy neighborhoods where all residents have a place to call home and have the resources they need to thrive. Based in Oakland, California, EBALDC is a non-profit community development organization that builds vibrant and safe neighborhoods in Oakland and the East
- [Have feedback on our digital communications? Take our 2022 survey](https://kresge.org/news-views/have-feedback-on-our-digital-communications-take-our-2022-survey/) - Today, the Kresge External Affairs & Communications Team launched our 2022 Digital Audience Survey. We have surveyed our digital audience each year for the last several years, seeking input on what we’re doing well, how you like to receive information, areas we can improve, topics you want to know more about, and which formats and
- [Environmental Health Coalition advances transit solutions to benefit community, climate](https://kresge.org/news-views/environmental-health-coalition-advances-transit-solutions-to-benefit-community-climate/) - In vibrant and thriving communities, people have the power and resources to realize their vision of health and well-being. However, our opportunity to thrive – as individuals, families, communities and as a country – is in danger because of the increasing instability of our climate. This hurts some of us much more than others. Policies
- [Project New Village using urban agriculture to promote neighborhood revitalization](https://kresge.org/news-views/project-new-village-using-urban-agriculture-to-promote-neighborhood-revitalization/) - "We are probably more of a food swamp than a food desert,” says Diane Moss, when describing her community in southeastern San Diego, where most residents are people of color and earn significantly less than San Diego County’s stunningly high household median income of roughly $85,000 annually. “Yes, you can get a meal here, but
- [New $1.8 million fund moves power and resources to frontline communities to decarbonize buildings](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-1-8-million-fund-moves-power-and-resources-to-frontline-communities-to-decarbonize-buildings/) - The Equitable Building Electrification Fund ensures that decision-making power is in the hands of frontline communities, who can best design and implement equitable solutions for widespread electrification Read news coverage about the EBE Fund in Smart Cities Dive and Inside Philanthropy. San Francisco — The Equitable Building Electrification (EBE) Fund, which moves money and power
- [$1.1 million in grants to support Advancing Health Equity Through Housing learning community](https://kresge.org/news-views/1-1-million-in-grants-to-support-advancing-health-equity-through-housing-learning-community/) - The Kresge Foundation has awarded $1.16 million in new grants to support a learning community of 29 organizations advancing innovative community-generated multi-sector solutions to improve health outcomes, housing affordability and quality. These 29 organizations all participated in Kresge’s Advancing Health Equity Through Housing initiative. Since launching the initiative in 2018, Kresge has awarded more than
- [Detroit Reinvestment Index shows infrastructure, amenities as linchpins in attracting and retaining businesses in Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroit-reinvestment-index-shows-infrastructure-amenities-as-lynchpins-in-attracting-and-retaining-businesses-in-detroit/) - Detroit Future City (DFC) has released the fifth edition of the Detroit Reinvestment Index, a survey tracking national and local perceptions of Detroit since its historic 2013 bankruptcy. The first report since 2019, the Detroit Reinvestment Index surveyed Metro Detroit entrepreneurs and national business leaders about shifts in perception concerning the pandemic and opinions about
- [Using trauma-informed care to help communities heal: Q & A with Brenda Mosley](https://kresge.org/news-views/using-trauma-informed-care-to-help-communities-heal-q-a-with-brenda-mosley/) - Brenda Mosley, 69, is a certified community health worker with the New Kensington Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization and Kresge Foundation grantee that advances social equity and economic empowerment by nurturing and creating opportunities for residents to live in, and actively shape, their neighborhoods of choice. She also is the founder and executive director
- [Trauma-Informed Community Engagement Toolkit helps residents build resilience](https://kresge.org/news-views/trauma-informed-community-engagement-toolkit-helps-residents-build-resilience/) - The Philadelphia neighborhoods of Kensington and Port Richmond are home to lots of people who do not want to be ignored. In March of 2021, when the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority announced an indefinite closure of the Somerset El station, citing unsafe working conditions and deterioration from a proliferation of human waste and needles, the
- [Marygrove partners celebrate opening of elementary school, elevate model for educational and neighborhood renewal](https://kresge.org/news-views/marygrove-partners-celebrate-opening-of-elementary-school-elevate-model-for-educational-and-neighborhood-renewal/) - Today, representatives from the Marygrove Conservancy and its partners celebrated the opening of The School at Marygrove Elementary with a panel discussion around the next steps in building a cradle-to-career educational continuum on the campus of the former Marygrove College. This latest milestone for the P-20 Partnership was a moment for partners and community members
- [Q&A: Deep Center fuels Savannah’s youth to use writing, arts, culture to improve community health](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-deep-center-fuels-savannahs-youth-to-use-writing-arts-culture-to-improve-community-health/) - Our community-based partners are applying culture and creativity to their efforts to advance the health and wellbeing of residents. In the Q&A below, Louise Tremblay, interim executive director of the Deep Center, discusses her organization’s approach to use writing, cultural production and art as platforms to fuel the creative fire of Savannah’s youth and connect
- [Rewatch Philanthropy & The City episode featuring Kresge Board Chair Cecilia Muñoz](https://kresge.org/news-views/philanthropy-the-city-a-new-kresge-usc-video-series-explores-philanthropy-and-urban-leadership/) - Philanthropy & the City Trailer A new five-episode video series, Philanthropy & The City 2022, debuted in August from The USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy and The Kresge Foundation. All five episodes are available to watch now. The series brought together some of the nation’s foremost leaders at the intersection of philanthropy and
- [New fund aims to raise $50 million to transform food procurement practices for communities of color](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-fund-aims-to-raise-50-million-to-transform-food-procurement-practices-for-communities-of-color/) - A team of Black, Indigenous, other People of Color, and allied leaders have announced Growing Justice, a new initiative that aims to raise $50 million in order to transform food systems in the United States. The fund is the first of its kind focused on equitable ‘good food’ procurement and prioritizing the leadership and collaboration
- [Kresge wins international architectural award for Marygrove Early Education Center](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-wins-international-architectural-award-for-marygrove-early-education-center/) - The Kresge Foundation has been awarded a prestigious international architectural award for the commissioning of the Marygrove Early Education Center as part of a broad-based partnership to transform the campus of the former Marygrove College into an innovative cradle-to-career educational campus. Kresge received one of the 12 esteemed Dedalo Minosse prizes — awarded biennially by the
- [Kresge launches Thrive Leaders Network to support BIPOC leaders with $500K grant](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-launches-thrive-leaders-network-to-support-bipoc-leaders-with-500k-grant/) - What do you do when the job you’ve prepared for your entire career suddenly doesn’t look the same? When an assortment of unique issues beyond your control, including the “Great Resignation,” political, social, and global health crises, make the day-to-day job almost unrecognizable from what you signed up for? Despite the upheaval of the pandemic,
- [Rapson: Jackson water crisis reflects state failure to address racial inequity, climate challenge](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-jackson-water-crisis-reflects-state-failure-to-address-racial-inequity-climate-challenge/) - The flooding in Jackson, Mississippi is every bit as much a case of governance malpractice as was the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, although in the case of Jackson, the lines of responsibility even more clearly point in one direction than they did in Flint – the proximate cause of the disaster was, unequivocally, the
- [74 Detroit-area arts organizations share $12.2 million from Kresge, Erb, Hudson-Webber and DeRoy foundations](https://kresge.org/news-views/74-detroit-area-arts-organizations-share-12-2-million-from-kresge-erb-hudson-webber-and-deroy-foundations/) - Seventy-four arts and cultural organizations in the Detroit metropolitan area will share $12.2 million for their operations over the next three years in a collaboration between The Kresge Foundation, Erb Family Foundation, Hudson-Webber Foundation and DeRoy Testamentary Foundation. The four foundations shared a single application and review process before making their independent decisions. This partnership streamlined the
- [Q&A: REED partners share the power in holding space for rest, healing, collective learning](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-reed-partners-share-the-power-in-holding-space-for-rest-healing-collective-learning/) - For six months throughout 2022, a group of more than 50 nonprofit representatives and grantee partners working in community development, arts and culture came together to learn, dream, heal and be in community with one another. In the process, they created a space grounded in joy, liberation, rest and healing. In the Q&A below, a
- [Life after prison: Operation Restoration founder supports formerly incarcerated women facing barriers](https://kresge.org/news-views/life-after-prison-operation-restoration-founder-syrita-steib-wants-to-ensure-formerly-incarcerated-women-dont-endure-social-barriers/) - NOLA-based grassroots organization, led and staffed completely by formerly incarcerated women, restores the whole woman financially, educationally, socially and artistically Editor's note: Read an article on Operation Restoration published by Inside Philanthropy August 26, 2022. In the world that Syrita Steib inhabits, her name is a near synonym for second chances. Some use words like
- [Two swings at relief from student loans with sweeping debt forgiveness and PSLF](https://kresge.org/news-views/two-swings-at-relief-from-student-loans-with-sweeping-debt-forgiveness-and-pslf/) - President Joe Biden recently announced his administration's long-awaited student debt relief plan for the millions of Americans who have taken out federal loans to finance their postsecondary educations. If you earn less than $125,000 annually, you are eligible to receive cancellation of up to $10,000 in student loans. If you received a Pell Grant, you
- [Kresge’s Investment Office welcomes Koziara and Chegash, announces promotion](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresges-investment-office-welcomes-koziara-and-chegash-announces-promotion/) - Kresge’s Investment Office welcomed two new employees this week. Heather Koziara has joined the foundation as the director of risk and operations and Chris Chegash as the associate investment director of asset allocation and risk. Koziara has two decades of experience in investment risk and operations, having previously worked at leading companies like Conifer Holdings,
- [Hernandez: Three lessons from Miami-Dade County on advancing climate resilience, health equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/hernandez-three-lessons-from-miami-dade-county-on-advancing-climate-resilience-health-equity/) - Climate change warriors have many faces, such as the sunburnt face of an outdoor worker demanding life-saving protections during extreme heat conditions; the face of a tired physician on Miami streets providing triage to homeless people during a natural disaster; and the face of an organizer working with communities on housing and energy affordability issues.
- [Saunteel Jenkins named Kresge Foundation Trustee](https://kresge.org/news-views/saunteel-jenkins-named-kresge-foundation-trustee/) - The Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees today announced the appointment of Detroit nonprofit leader Saunteel Jenkins to serve on the private, national foundation’s 11-member governing body. A lifelong Detroiter, Jenkins has dedicated her entire career to underserved populations and communities through nonprofit leadership and public service. Since 2014 she has been the CEO of The
- [NYC Department of Probation partners with Carnegie Hall to reimagine community justice through NeON Arts program](https://kresge.org/news-views/nyc-department-of-probation-partners-with-carnegie-hall-to-reimagine-community-justice-through-neon-arts-program/) - "If we don’t do something to reform our probation and parole systems and turn them into systems that are actually designed to support people’s meaningful re-entry in society rather than simply ensnare people once again into the system, we can continue to expand the size of our prison population simply by continuing to revoke people’s
- [Summer at Kresge 2022: Meet Legal Team Intern Joy Mohammed](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-2022-meet-legal-team-intern-joy-mohammed/) - This year marks the seventh year of The Kresge Foundation’s summer internship program, during which a cohort of interns work at Kresge for approximately 10 weeks. During their time at the foundation, interns are embedded within departments and work closely with foundation staff to experience what it is like to work in philanthropy as a
- [Kresge welcomes Program Officer Kevin Gray to American Cities Program](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-welcomes-program-officer-kevin-gray-to-american-cities-program/) - Seven other program staff members receive new job titles, promotions The Kresge Foundation is pleased to welcome Kevin Gray to the foundation as a program officer with the American Cities Program. In his role, he will work with partners and steward grants that align with the Program’s focus on expanding opportunity by promoting effective and
- [Summer at Kresge 2022: Meet Information Technology Intern Jack Carlson](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-2022-meet-information-technology-intern-jack-carlson/) - This year marks the seventh year of The Kresge Foundation’s summer internship program, during which a cohort of interns work at Kresge for approximately 10 weeks. During their time at the foundation, interns are embedded within departments and work closely with foundation staff to experience what it is like to work in philanthropy as a
- [Tulane's Cowen Institute expands college and career counseling collaboratives in New Orleans](https://kresge.org/news-views/tulanes-cowen-institute-expands-college-and-career-counseling-collaboratives-in-new-orleans/) - During the COVID-19 pandemic, schools have been forced to contend with shuttered classrooms, quarantines and staff shortages resulting in high rates of absenteeism and lost instruction time. A disproportionate amount of these impacts have fallen on historically marginalized and underserved groups. A key to ensuring students are passing classes, graduating and attending college is the
- [Intention, inclusion, innovation: Evident Change shares lessons from rebranding journey](https://kresge.org/news-views/intention-inclusion-innovation-evident-change-shares-lessons-from-rebranding-journey/) - What’s in a name? For the team at Kresge Human Services grantee partner Evident Change, answering that question correctly was the key to unlocking the organization’s full impact and potential. For more than a century, Evident Change was known as the National Council on Crime & Delinquency, an organization founded in 1907 to exclusively focus
- [Summer at Kresge 2022: Meet Investment Intern Melissa McMahon](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-2022-meet-investment-intern-melissa-mcmahon/) - Girls Who Invest program intern interested in how finance, investing can improve people's lives This year marks the seventh year of The Kresge Foundation’s summer internship program, during which a cohort of interns work for the foundation for approximately 10 weeks. During their time at the foundation, interns are embedded within departments and work closely
- [Protecting tenants’ rights, promoting affordable housing: Q&A with Darnell L. Johnson](https://kresge.org/news-views/protecting-tenants-rights-promoting-affordable-housing-q-and-a-with-darnell-l-johnson/) - A regional network of the national “Homes for All” campaign, Homes for All South consists of seven member nonprofits that individually and collectively work to promote equitable, community-led development through local and regional community organizing, base-building and advocacy in communities of color, low-income communities, and other marginalized communities. A grantee of Kresge's Advancing Health Equity
- [Summer at Kresge 2022: Meet Investment Intern Pascual Goldin Flores](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-2022-meet-investment-intern-pascual-goldin-flores/) - Investment intern excited to gain investing experience for a foundation This year marks the seventh year of The Kresge Foundation’s summer internship program, during which a cohort of interns work for the foundation for approximately 10 weeks. During their time at the foundation, interns are embedded within departments and work closely with foundation staff to experience
- [Philanthropic and corporate leaders join Biden-Harris Administration’s call to invest in underserved communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/philanthropic-and-corporate-leaders-join-biden-harris-administrations-call-to-invest-in-underserved-communities/) - The Ford, Kresge and Rockefeller Foundations join 21 major corporations to direct funds and unlock capital in communities with a history of disinvestment The Ford Foundation, The Kresge Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation announced that they have joined the Biden-Harris Administration’s Economic Opportunity Coalition, a historic effort to catalyze and align public/private investments to address
- [Summer at Kresge 2022: Meet Health Program Intern Aaron Carpenter](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-2022-meet-health-program-intern-aaron-carpenter/) - Health intern is interested in exploring the connections between philanthropy and health This year marks the seventh year of The Kresge Foundation's summer internship program, during which a cohort of interns work for the foundation for approximately 10 weeks. During their time at the foundation, interns are embedded within departments and work closely with foundation
- [Summer at Kresge 2022: Meet Health Program Intern Jaime Jimenez](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-2022-meet-health-program-intern-jaime-jimenez/) - Health intern eager to advance equity-centered work This year marks the seventh year of The Kresge Foundation's summer internship program, during which a cohort of interns work for the foundation for approximately 10 weeks. During their time at the foundation, interns are embedded within departments and work closely with foundation staff to experience what it
- [Summer at Kresge 2022: Meet Arts & Culture Program Intern Mel Liu](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-2022-meet-arts-culture-program-intern-mel-liu/) - Arts & Culture intern to focus on Creative Placemaking and policy support for arts and culture This year marks the seventh year of The Kresge Foundation's summer internship program, during which a cohort of interns work for the foundation for approximately 10 weeks. During their time at the foundation, interns are embedded within departments and
- [Summer at Kresge 2022: Meet Education Program Intern Joy Richardson](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-2022-meet-education-program-intern-joy-richardson/) - Education intern pursues her passion for expanding opportunities in higher ed This year marks the seventh year of The Kresge Foundation's summer internship program, during which a cohort of interns work for the foundation for approximately 10 weeks. During their time at the foundation, interns are embedded within departments and work closely with foundation staff
- [Allies rise in advancing health for American Indians and Alaska Natives](https://kresge.org/news-views/allies-rise-in-advancing-health-for-american-indians-and-alaska-natives/) - Today, most American Indian and Alaska Natives that live in cities have unique health needs. The Kresge Foundation has been an ally and partner of the National Council of Urban Indian Health and recently connected for a conversation with its Chief Executive Officer, Francys Crevier. Below, Crevier shares how organizational partnerships have continued to support
- [Six questions for Kresge Education Program Managing Director Bill Moses](https://kresge.org/news-views/six-questions-for-kresge-education-program-managing-director-bill-moses/) - Editor’s Note: This Q&A originally ran in Inside Philanthropy on June 30. I first connected with Bill Moses last spring while putting together IP’s “The State of American Philanthropy: Giving for Higher Education” white paper. Moses is the managing director of the Kresge Foundation’s Education Program, which supports postsecondary access and success for low-income, first-generation
- [Kresge President Rip Rapson's drawings help to create visual roadmaps to change](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-president-rip-rapsons-drawings-help-to-create-visual-roadmaps-to-change/) - Rip Rapson has created hundreds of drawings throughout his career. His meticulously detailed sketches have found their way into a White House cabinet meeting, the Detroit bankruptcy trial, and university discussions of philanthropy and society. The Kresge Foundation President & CEO uses pencils and paper to make sense of and communicate his vision of structural
- [Kresge commits more than $2.3M to environmental organizations in recent racial justice grantmaking effort](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-commits-2-3-million-to-environmental-organizations-as-part-of-30-million-in-racial-justice-grantmaking/) - The Kresge Foundation recently announced $30 million in grant awards to support frontline racial justice activism with $2.3 of this funding directed toward environmental organizations rallying for climate justice. The new suite of racial justice grants represents a sharpened focus on Kresge’s longstanding racial equity investments in its focus cities of Detroit, Fresno, Memphis and
- [Former Kresge Trustee Michael Barr confirmed as Fed's Vice Chairman of Banking Supervision](https://kresge.org/news-views/former-kresge-trustee-michael-barr-confirmed-as-feds-vice-chairman-of-banking-supervision/) - Although we delight in having a relatively small universe of staff, trustees, and alumni here at the foundation, it never ceases to amaze me how far and wide the impact of our colleagues extends. We are honored to have many former staff and trustees sharing and proselytizing Kresge’s mission and values in roles across the
- [Summer at Kresge 2022: Meet Sydney Tomlinson](https://kresge.org/news-views/summer-at-kresge-2022-meet-sydney-tomlinson/) - Comms intern brings graphic, design skills to philanthropy This year marks the seventh year of The Kresge Foundation’s summer internship program, during which a cohort of interns and fellows work for the foundation for approximately 10 weeks. During their time at the foundation, interns are embedded within departments and work closely with foundation staff to
- [Kresge commits $3 million via guarantee into climate tech firm BlocPower](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-commits-3-million-via-guarantee-into-climate-tech-firm-blocpower/) - Investment key to partnership with Ithaca, N.Y. to lead city to full decarbonization by 2030 ITHACA, N.Y. — The Kresge Foundation today announced it has committed a $3-million guarantee to BlocPower, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based climate tech firm. This investment contributed to BlocPower’s announcement this month that it will serve as the lead firm in a
- [Rapson: Supreme Court ends its term with a devastating blow to climate change mitigation](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-supreme-court-ends-its-term-with-a-devastating-blow-to-climate-change-mitigation/) - On the final day of the U.S. Supreme Court's monumentally disappointing term, it decided to sharply curtail the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fight climate change. In today's ruling, West Virginia v Environmental Protection Agency, the high court ruled that the authority to regulate power plant emissions under the Clean Air Act
- [2022 Kresge Artist Fellowships and Gilda Awards highlight film, music, live arts](https://kresge.org/news-views/2022-kresge-artist-fellowships-and-gilda-awards-highlight-film-music-live-arts/) - Thirty-one metro Detroit artists will share $550,000 in Kresge Artist Fellowships and Gilda Emerging Artist Awards. The awards were announced today by the Kresge Arts in Detroit office located at the College for Creative Studies, which administers the organization on behalf of The Kresge Foundation. The 14th cohort of award recipients consists of 15 Kresge
- [Valdes Lupi: Dobbs decision dramatically widens health equity gap](https://kresge.org/news-views/valdes-lupi-dobbs-decision-dramatically-widens-health-equity-gap/) - My initial reaction to today’s court decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is intensely personal because health equity and expanding accessible high-quality health care to more Americans is my life’s work and passion. As a member of Generation X, I directly benefitted from the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, and I
- [‘Regeneration’ report highlights eight stories of equitable, community-led renewal](https://kresge.org/news-views/regeneration-report-highlights-eight-stories-of-equitable-community-led-renewal/) - Kresge’s 2021 Annual report emphasizes how the nonprofit sector is best positioned to ensure recovery centers the needs of communities The Kresge Foundation’s newly released annual report, “Regeneration: Repair and Restoration in America’s Cities,” out now, highlights how 2021 was a pivotal year for repair and renewal and how its partners led the way toward
- [$1.3 million in grants fund 28 community-based projects in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck through KIP:D+](https://kresge.org/news-views/1-3-million-in-grants-fund-28-community-based-projects-in-detroit-highland-park-and-hamtramck-through-kipd/) - Twenty-eight community groups will spend the next two years planning and implementing projects that transform, beautify and connect communities, sharing $1.3 million from the Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus (KIP:D+) grant program. “We have grantee projects that include building birthing centers, reopening historic venues and analyzing the impact of pollution on communities, to name just
- [Rapson: Supreme Court Dobbs decision to have devastating, real-life implications for women](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-supreme-court-dobbs-decision-to-have-devastating-real-life-implications-for-women/) - This morning, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, discarding fifty years of precedent emanating from Roe v. Wade and removing the heretofore constitutionally protected right to privacy that permits a woman to exercise autonomy over her body. I have a clear view of whether
- [U.S. Conference of Mayors, Kresge release report on cities using ARPA funds to promote equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/u-s-conference-of-mayors-kresge-release-report-on-cities-using-arpa-funds-to-promote-equity/) - In collaboration with The Kresge Foundation, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) today released a new report, “Promoting Equity through ARPA Implementation.” The report documents 20 city case studies and details how mayors are using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to invest in underserved populations and
- [Reflections on the immense impact of Pell Grants and the need to expand them](https://kresge.org/news-views/reflections-on-the-immense-impact-of-pell-grants-and-the-need-to-expand-them/) - When I was an undergraduate student at Detroit’s Wayne State University, I had no idea who Claiborne Pell was or how the six-term senator from Rhode Island set in motion funding that would help me and tens of millions of students finance dreams of a college education. I’m a beneficiary of both Pell Grants and
- [2020 COVID-19 resources from our partners and community](https://kresge.org/news-views/covid-19-resources-from-our-partners-and-community/) - COVID-19 affected all of us, including the organizations with which we partner. We compiled this information from our grantees and partners in spring 2020 It is no longer being updated. For all up-to-date, basic information about the virus, including how to protect yourself and recognize symptoms and get vaccinated, please refer to the CDC and
- [VP & Chief Investment Officer Rob Manilla to retire this month](https://kresge.org/news-views/vp-chief-investment-officer-rob-manilla-to-retire-this-month/) - Rob Manilla, who has served as Kresge’s vice president and chief investment officer for the better part of 17 years, will retire from the foundation this month. Under Manilla’s stewardship, Kresge’s endowment has produced gains of nearly $4 billion, powering the foundation’s grantmaking and social investing capacity in American cities. “Rob has curated one of
- [New $11M Ebiara Fund will help Detroit’s Black and Brown developers scale](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-11m-ebiara-fund-will-help-detroits-black-and-brown-developers-scale/) - Kresge supported fund designed to remove systemic barriers for Detroit’s minority real estate developers Ebiara, a new fund to provide early-stage capital and process assistance so that minority-owned development companies can increase their impact on Detroit’s growing economy, was announced today by economic growth nonprofit Invest Detroit in partnership with consulting firm URGE Imprint and
- [BOOST cities shape strong partnerships to support family economic mobility](https://kresge.org/news-views/boost-cities-shape-strong-partnerships-to-support-family-economic-mobility/) - Boosting Opportunities for Social and Economic Mobility, or BOOST, supports partnerships between community colleges and human services nonprofits in six cities nationwide to connect people with low incomes to critical human services and educational pathways that will help them climb the social and economic ladder. Its core tenets are social and economic mobility, career pathways, partnership,
- [Recommended reading and podcast list for Pride Month and Immigrant Heritage Month](https://kresge.org/news-views/recommended-reading-and-podcast-list-for-pride-month-and-immigrant-heritage-month/) - In honor of Pride Month and Immigrant Heritage Month, Kresge's Anna Cruz, managing director of Strategic Learning, Research & Evaluation, has curated a reading and podcast list that highlights queer musicians and artists and explores gender identity, immigrant experiences and self-discovery. Here are her recommendations: 1. One of my go-to podcasts is Radio Menea, a
- [Three long-term Kresge trustees retire from board](https://kresge.org/news-views/three-long-term-kresge-trustees-retire-from-board/) - Last week marked a significant turning point in The Kresge Foundation’s governance and leadership history: Paul Hillegonds, Nancy Schlichting and Elaine Rosen retired as trustees after serving for 18 years each. The trio joined Kresge’s board in 2004 and played a significant role as the foundation transformed from a capital challenge granting institution to a
- [Biden appoints Education Managing Director to Board of Advisors on HBCUs](https://kresge.org/news-views/biden-appoints-education-managing-director-to-board-of-advisors-on-hbcus/) - The Kresge Foundation Education Program Managing Director Bill Moses has long championed and supported Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) because of their vital role in nurturing students. Now, thanks to a recent appointment to President Joe Biden’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs, Moses will play an integral role in
- [Events mark 40th anniversary of killing that sparked Asian American rights movement](https://kresge.org/news-views/events-mark-40th-anniversary-of-killing-that-sparked-asian-american-rights-movement/) - Film screenings in Detroit, live and livestreamed discussions and the PBS airing of a key film are included in the recently announced schedule of events for the Vincent Chin 40th Remembrance and Rededication. “The horrific beating death of Vincent Chin in 1982 on the eve of his bachelor party led to a landmark civil rights
- [Rapson & Smith outline four steps to engage artists and community voices in infrastructure planning](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-smith-outline-four-steps-to-engage-artists-and-community-voices-in-infrastructure-planning/) - The history of U.S. urban renewal is laced with tragedy: Federal infrastructure projects meant to reimagine our cities for the better instead deepened racial divides, sundering once-vibrant Black and brown neighborhoods and facilitating disastrous commuter sprawl. Look no further than the destruction of once-vibrant Black neighborhoods like Black Bottom and Paradise Valley in Detroit or Seneca Village in New
- [Seasoned investment leader Debra Kozole joins Kresge as investment director](https://kresge.org/news-views/seasoned-investment-leader-debra-kozole-joins-kresge-as-investment-director/) - Debra Kozole has joined The Kresge Foundation’s Investment Office as an investment director. With more than two decades of financial services experience, Kozole has broad experience in managing private equity and debt. Kozole most recently served as a manager of domestic equities at Stellantis, where she managed a $2.5 billion portfolio of diversified private equity
- [Registration open for webinar on braiding philanthropic funding with ARPA, Infrastructure funds](https://kresge.org/news-views/registration-open-for-webinar-on-braiding-philanthropic-funding-with-arpa-infrastructure-funds/) - Registration is open now for a webinar that will detail the latest news and practices for philanthropic or nonprofit practitioners interested in braiding investments alongside historic federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The two federal initiatives bring an unprecedented scale of capital to cities and
- [College Signing Day: High school seniors share their experiences in audio diaries](https://kresge.org/news-views/college-signing-day-high-school-seniors-share-their-experiences-in-audio-diaries/) - There are many exciting and memorable moments over the duration of a student’s high school career. From proms and student elections to getting a driver’s license and College Signing Day. The graduating class of 2022 is a special one as a significant portion of their high school journey was spent in the thick of the
- [Major philanthropic effort launched to help U.S. cities access federal infrastructure funding](https://kresge.org/news-views/major-philanthropic-effort-launched-to-help-u-s-cities-access-federal-infrastructure-funding/) - Bloomberg Philanthropies unveils the Local Infrastructure Hub delivered by U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities and Results for America with support from Emerson Collective, Ford Foundation and Kresge Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced the Local Infrastructure Hub: Support for U.S. Cities and Towns to Put Federal Funding to Work for Residents, a national program
- [$2.5M available to finance green energy updates for Detroit residents, nonprofits](https://kresge.org/news-views/2-5m-available-to-finance-green-energy-updates-for-detroit-residents-nonprofits/) - Loans from Michigan’s only green bank Michigan Saves available via partnership with The Kresge Foundation A new program from Michigan Saves will help low-to-moderate income Detroiters and nonprofit organizations more easily access financing to update aging electrical systems to greener, cleaner and more cost-effective technologies. Funded through a $2.5 million program-related investment from Kresge, Michigan
- [Rapson: The cavalier use of racist ideology and the horrific massacre in Buffalo](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-the-cavalier-use-of-racist-ideology-and-the-horrific-massacre-in-buffalo/) - Our hearts are sick, our emotions spent, our anger and disgust difficult to contain. A deeply mentally disturbed young man meticulously planning and carrying out a massacre of beautiful and innocent souls. A white supremacist spewing a vile and incomprehensibly fearful ideology onto the pages of a “manifesto.” An act of cancerous ideological metastization spawned
- [Kresge issues $3M loan to Inclusive Prosperity Capital to support clean energy upgrades](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-issues-3m-loan-to-inclusive-prosperity-capital-to-support-clean-energy-upgrades/) - Inclusive Prosperity Capital, Inc. (IPC) announced that it raised $13 million in program-related investments (PRI) from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, McKnight Foundation, and The Kresge Foundation to support the capitalization and deployment of accessible clean energy upgrades across the nation. Created in 2018, IPC’s mission is to ensure everyone has access
- [Documentary on Detroit bankruptcy fosters discussions 8 years after events](https://kresge.org/news-views/documentary-on-detroit-bankruptcy-fosters-discussions-8-years-after-events/) - Kresge President Rip Rapson and other Detroit-area philanthropic leaders will gather Monday, May 2, to reflect on Detroit’s 2013-2014 bankruptcy proceedings and their impact on the arts and cultural sectors eight years later. The panel follows the sold-out premiere of the documentary film Gradually, Then Suddenly: The Bankruptcy of Detroit. A major part of its
- [Celebrating a ‘We Thing’ at the groundbreaking for Detroit Food Commons](https://kresge.org/news-views/celebrating-a-we-thing-at-the-groundbreaking-for-detroit-food-commons/) - Last weekend came a moment of joyful celebration more than a decade in the making. The Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN) and Develop Detroit held a groundbreaking and community gathering to mark the start of construction for the Detroit Food Commons. The new 25,000 square-foot anchor development in Detroit’s historic North End neighborhood
- [Rapson: What Detroit must do to sustain its solvency](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-what-detroit-must-do-to-sustain-its-solvency/) - Editor's Note: This opinion piece originally ran on the Detroit Free Press website on Friday, April 29. As of this week's sold-out in-person and virtual premieres, some 2,000 residents of Southeast Michigan have seen Gradually, Then Suddenly, the gripping and — I underscore — timely documentary that traces the 16 months in 2013-14 in which
- [In recalling 1982 murder of Vincent Chin, hopes for a recommitment to justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/in-recalling-1982-murder-of-vincent-chin-hopes-for-a-recommitment-to-justice/) - Earlier this week, I joined a media conference with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Michigan State Sen. Stephanie Chang, author-activist Helen Zia, American Citizens for Justice President Roland Hwang and other representatives and supporters of the Vincent Chin 40th Remembrance & Rededication. It was an emotional event as we revisited the events of 1982: the tragedy
- [BUILD Health Challenge accepting applications for new fourth cohort](https://kresge.org/news-views/build-health-challenge-accepting-applications-for-new-fourth-cohort/) - Good health is the foundation from which all communities thrive. For its new fourth cohort, The BUILD Health Challenge is looking to support up to 19 innovative community collaboratives from across the U.S. that are ready to put Bold, Upstream, Integrated, Local, Data-Driven plans into action. With a specific focus on strengthening partnerships between community-based
- [Field guide launches to support foundations with centering equity in learning and evaluation](https://kresge.org/news-views/field-guide-launches-to-support-foundations-with-centering-equity-in-learning-and-evaluation/) - Q&A with Kresge Strategic Learning, Research and Evaluation Managing Director Anna Cruz The Kresge Foundation teamed up with the Irvine Foundation and Kauffman Foundation to participate in the recently launched Evaluation and Learning at Foundations Field Guide. Published by Engage R+D, a consulting firm dedicated to helping nonprofits and foundations measure their impact, the guide
- [Watch a short film about Olayami Dabls, 2022 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/news-views/watch-a-short-film-about-olayami-dabls-2022-kresge-eminent-artist/) - Each year’s support for a Kresge Eminent Artist includes the commissioning of a film on his or her life and art. The 2022 film on Kresge Eminent Artist Olayami Dabls premiered Thursday, April 14, in a virtual celebration of his Eminent Artist honors. Produced by Reel Clever Films on behalf of Kresge Arts in Detroit,
- [Further support from health funders needed to address climate crisis](https://kresge.org/news-views/addressing-climate-crisis-requires-further-support-from-health-funders/) - On Monday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its latest assessment of the degree to which human activity is driving climate change, and multitude of ways in which climate change will create catastrophic effects if not mitigated. The IPCC report, widely regarded as the most complete and authoritative assessment of our changing climate,
- [Valdes Lupi: Action is what matters in addressing the impact of racism on health](https://kresge.org/news-views/valdes-lupi-action-is-what-matters-in-addressing-the-impact-of-racism-on-health/) - As an immigrant, a woman, and the first person in my family to attend college in the U.S, racism and sexism were ever present in my experiences growing up in a small, rural town in Pennsylvania and college days in Philadelphia. While working in local and state government, I was often the only, or one
- [Build bridges between government, community to strengthen public health workforce](https://kresge.org/news-views/building-bridges-between-government-community-strengthens-public-health-workforce/) - Early in my career, despite having both a law and Master in Public Health degree, pursuing a career in governmental public health was not something anyone encouraged me to do. But through my work with the state primary care association in Massachusetts, I met and began working with city and state health department staff. It
- [Collaborative approach key to changing systems, creating community resilience](https://kresge.org/news-views/collaborative-approach-key-to-changing-systems-creating-community-resilience/) - Deep-rooted disparities in our laws and public policies, and in our public and private institutions, have denied equal opportunity to individuals and communities and helped create economic, health, and climate crises that have exposed and exacerbated inequities. But as former President Barack Obama once said, “Change happens because people demand it.” Communities across the U.S. have
- [Closing health equity gap requires commitment to affordable and culturally responsive health care](https://kresge.org/news-views/closing-health-equity-gap-requires-commitment-to-affordable-and-culturally-responsive-health-care/) - The dichotomy of the disability community contributes to its rich complexity. Some folks are born into the community, others join it after decades of life. Some folks are exalted as inspiration porn by their nondisabled counterparts while others are demonized and invalidated, accused of falling victim to their own shortcomings. Some folks are loud and
- [Resources, equitable community investments essential to support mental health and well-being](https://kresge.org/news-views/resources-equitable-community-investments-essential-to-support-mental-health-and-well-being/) - Had the CRISES Act been signed into law two decades ago, my family, community and I would be less scarred. As a young woman, I struggled with depression, grew up in a family with intergenerational trauma, and lived in a community where the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to conflict and crisis. Our ability
- [Garcia: Reflecting on work and legacy of Dr. Paul Farmer reaffirms commitment to public health](https://kresge.org/news-views/garcia-reflections-on-work-and-legacy-of-dr-paul-farmer-reaffirm-commitment-to-public-health/) - Dr. Paul Farmer sadly and unexpectedly died on February 21, 2022 in Rwanda at the age of 62 while teaching in the weeks prior at the University of Global Health Equity, the medical school he co-founded with the country's former minister of health, Dr. Agnes Binagwaho. He gained public traction after the release of the
- [New coalition launches pilot to advocate for parks in city of Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-coalition-to-advocate-for-parks-in-city-of-detroit-with-kresge-support/) - With nearly $1 million in funding secured, the Detroit Parks Coalition is launching an 18-month organizational pilot to support healthy, equitable, and vibrant parks and public spaces in Detroit. The pilot includes staffing for the coalition, new citywide park programming and $500,000 in capital improvements for Detroit parks. DPC is supported by grants from The
- [Latino Health Access tenant counselors address community health, housing needs](https://kresge.org/news-views/latino-health-access-tenant-counselors-address-community-health-housing-needs/) - Like nearly all of California, Santa Ana is grappling with a significant shortage of affordable housing. In this city of more than 300,000 people an hour’s drive south of Los Angeles and 10 miles from the coast, where the majority of residents are renters, the average monthly rent is $2,079 as compared to $1,476 nationally.
- [Tax land at higher rate than buildings? Study says it can cut homeowner taxes, boost economy](https://kresge.org/news-views/tax-detroit-land-at-higher-rate-than-buildings-study-funded-by-kresge-says-it-can-reduce-homeowner-burden-boost-economy/) - Reforming Detroit’s property tax system by taxing land at a higher rate than buildings would help to revive the local economy and reduce tax bills for nearly every homeowner, according to a new study from the nonprofit Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. With the lowest property values of any large U.S. city and some of
- [Efforts to boost civic engagement by college students receives $1 million from Kresge](https://kresge.org/news-views/efforts-to-boost-civic-engagement-by-college-students-receives-1-million-from-kresge/) - Grants announced to five organizations in face of efforts to suppress student vote. The Kresge Foundation’s Education Program has announced a suite of grants totaling $1,025,000 to student-centered civic engagement initiatives. Young people are particularly concerned about policies relating to college affordability and student debt. These grant commitments affirm the program’s dedication to elevating the
- [Rapson: Anne Parsons’ cultural and civic contributions will echo loudly for years to come](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-anne-parsons-cultural-and-civic-contributions-will-echo-loudly-for-years-to-come/) - Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) President Emeritus Anne Parsons, who served as DSO President and CEO for more than 17 years, has died at the age of 64 following a courageous battle with cancer. Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson issued the following statement: Anne Parsons epitomized what it looks like to lead a world-class
- [New study identifies promising solutions for youth homelessness](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-study-identifies-promising-solutions-for-youth-homelessness/) - We live in an era when nearly every problem seems intractable, and few more so than youth homelessness. Each year a staggering 700,000 young people who live apart from parents or guardians experience homelessness in the U.S. About 7,500 of them, ages 16 to 24, live in Minnesota. The damage to these young people and
- [Kresge partners with EFOD Collaborative to award $1 million for Equitable Food Oriented Development](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-partners-with-efod-collaborative-to-award-1-million-for-equitable-food-oriented-development-efforts/) - Through a process designed and led by the Equitable Food Oriented Development (EFOD) Collaborative, The Kresge Foundation has awarded $1 million in new grant funding to eight organizations that are building EFOD-aligned projects in their communities. These investments are in addition to more than $1 million in grants Kresge awarded to the eight EFOD projects
- [Communication, collaboration key to improving community health: Q & A with Diana Gomez](https://kresge.org/news-views/communication-collaboration-key-to-improving-community-health-q-a-with-diana-gomez/) - Diana Gomez is the director of the Yuma County Public Health Services District and a member of second cohort of the “Emerging Leaders in Public Health,” a Kresge Foundation initiative that supports leaders at local and county public health departments across the country to strengthen their organizations and improve the health and well-being of the
- [Public health leader Patty Hayes shares reflections on leadership, recommendations for the field](https://kresge.org/news-views/public-health-leader-patty-hayes-shares-reflections-on-leadership-recommendations-for-the-field/) - When COVID-19 began to spread in early 2020, Seattle, Washington was the country’s first epicenter, with communities of color being hit hardest by the virus. Less than 18 months later, King County was the first among the country’s most populous counties to hit a 70 percent vaccination rate. That success was not due to sheer
- [Flipping the script: Narratives about poverty, race and mobility in the U.S.](https://kresge.org/news-views/flipping-the-script-narratives-about-poverty-race-and-mobility-in-the-u-s/) - Everyone should have the chance to reach their full potential, no matter who they are or where they live. Centering racial equity, we work with our partners in the field to advance social and economic mobility, driven by a two-generation approach to ensure economic success from one generation to the next. To achieve our North
- [Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund awards $1.6 million to reduce stormwater impact, improve water quality](https://kresge.org/news-views/southeast-michigan-resilience-fund-awards-1-6-million-to-reduce-stormwater-impact-improve-water-quality/) - Public-private partnership funds seven projects to reduce stormwater impact, improve water quality, enhance habitat and increase accessibility and usability of public green space The Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund partners have announced $1.6 million in grant funding to seven projects that will benefit communities and wildlife habitats in southeast Michigan. The grants awarded by the National Fish
- [Community, Collaboration and Trust:  A look at how Akron, OH is leveraging federal funds for public spaces](https://kresge.org/news-views/community-collaboration-and-trust-a-look-at-how-akron-oh-is-leveraging-federal-funds-for-public-spaces/) - Through centering trust-building and community voice, Akron, Ohio, has created a cross-sector vehicle for transformational change that is mobilizing millions of federal dollars to invest in historically disparaged neighborhoods. With this recent influx of federal funding, mostly from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Akron is flexing their ability to collaborate across silos while maintaining
- [Kresge Strategic Learning, Research and Evaluation Practice expands, hires two new officers](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-strategic-learning-research-and-evaluation-practice-expands-hires-two-new-officers/) - Recognizing the pivotal role that strategic learning, research and evaluation plays in advancing racial equity and urban opportunity, The Kresge Foundation announced an expansion of the department in summer 2020. With Anna Cruz at the helm as managing director, Kresge’s Strategic Learning, Research and Evaluation Practice is entering its next phase of evolution in the
- [New, state-of-the art Marygrove Early Education Center celebrates grand opening](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-state-of-the-art-marygrove-early-education-center-celebrates-grand-opening/) - Today, representatives from the Marygrove Conservancy and its partners celebrated the grand opening of a $22 million, state-of-the-art early education center on the Marygrove campus in northwest Detroit. (The livestreamed event can be replayed here.) The opening of the Marygrove Early Education Center marks another milestone in the development of a cradle-to-career P-20 educational campus,
- [One year into ARPA, how cities are using billions in funds and factoring equity in](https://kresge.org/news-views/one-year-into-arpa-how-cities-are-using-billions-in-funds-and-factoring-equity-in/) - In the nearly 12 months since the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was signed into law, there has been an abundance of discussion about the “once in a generation” opportunity the $1.85 trillion in overall spending and $350 billion in state and local fiscal recovery funds (SLFRF) present to advance an equitable fiscal recovery. However,
- [Cecilia Muñoz becomes 10th Kresge Foundation Board Chair](https://kresge.org/news-views/cecilia-munoz-becomes-10th-kresge-foundation-board-chair/) - Cecilia Muñoz became the chair of The Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees on Thursday. She is the 10th person to hold the top governance role in the foundation’s 98-year history. During her term, she will serve as the principal officer of the 14-member board, which is charged with overseeing Kresge’s $4.5 billion endowment. Muñoz, a
- [Vincent Chin 40th Remembrance and Rededication set for June in Detroit with Kresge support](https://kresge.org/news-views/vincent-chin-40th-remembrance-and-rededication-set-for-june-in-detroit-with-kresge-support/) - Forty years after the murder of Vincent Chin and the subsequent miscarriage of justice ignited the modern Asian American Civil Rights Movement, a coalition of national and local groups plans a four-day commemoration in Detroit. The Vincent Chin 40th Remembrance & Rededication, which is planned amid a climate of anti-Asian hate and violence that harks
- [Biden’s SOTU is a prime opportunity to showcase the reimagination of America’s cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/bidens-sotu-is-a-prime-opportunity-to-showcase-the-reimagination-of-americas-cities/) - President Biden will deliver his first and much-anticipated State of the Union address tonight. From restoring America’s relations with our allies to an expansive federal COVID vaccine program to an astonishingly low unemployment rate, the 46th president can point to significant wins he accrued in the first year of his presidency. But for those of
- [Kennedy: HBCU professors made me feel seen and supported, an experience every Black student deserves](https://kresge.org/news-views/kennedy-hbcu-professors-made-me-feel-seen-and-supported-an-experience-every-black-student-deserves/) - Fear. Intimidation. Racism. These are a few of the words used to describe the motives behind more than 20 Historically Black Colleges and Universities being targeted with bomb threats over the last several weeks – the majority occurring on the first day of Black History Month. Yet for me, only three words came to mind.
- [Health Program strengthens commitment to community-driven solutions](https://kresge.org/news-views/health-program-strengthens-commitment-to-community-driven-solutions/) - Our health depends on where we live, the food we eat, and the air we breathe. However, in far too many communities around the nation, decades of structural inequities and institutional racism has left people of color and people with low incomes with low-quality housing, polluted air, limited access to healthy food and a lack
- [Rapson: Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination will make Supreme Court look more like America](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-ketanji-brown-jacksons-nomination-will-make-supreme-court-look-more-like-america/) - A momentous day, as President Biden this morning nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the next member of the United States Supreme Court – and the Court’s first African-American woman member if confirmed. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, on which Judge Jackson has served for the last year (after serving
- [Q&A with Kresge's new Disability Inclusion Fellow Georgia Carr](https://kresge.org/news-views/q-and-a-with-new-disability-inclusion-fellow-georgia-carr/) - The Kresge Foundation recently welcomed Georgia Carr as a Philanthropy Fellow in RespectAbility’s National Public Leadership Program funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The program ensures that people with disabilities have a seat at decision-making tables, particularly in philanthropy. In her role, she will support Kresge in developing internal and external
- [Leni Sinclair – photographer of counterculture, rock, jazz icons – named 2016 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/news-views/leni-sinclair-photographer-known-for-images-of-counterculture-rock-jazz-icons-named-2016-kresge-eminent-artist/) - Sinclair has documented the counterculture in metro Detroit, capturing defining photographs of figures from jazz greats like John Coltrane to rock icons like Iggy Pop. “Her photos capture the enormously deep and often raw emotional energies of the time,” says Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson.
- [Jackson: At New Economy Initiative, Pam Lewis' leadership made a big impact in 6 years](https://kresge.org/news-views/lewis-at-new-economy-initiative-pam-lewis-leadership-made-a-big-impact-in-6-years/) - You can’t look back at Pam Lewis’ six years at the helm of the New Economy Initiative without being impressed. And with her recent departure for other endeavors, this is a moment to underscore the reasons why. Since its founding in 2007, NEI’s mission has been to build an entrepreneurial culture in metro Detroit. Originally
- [Rapson: DeVore will bring his experience as 'ardent champion' of kids, region to CFSEM](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-devore-will-bring-his-experience-as-ardent-champion-of-kids-region-to-cfsem/) - The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan brought a protracted search for a new president to an end today when they chose Ric DeVore to take the helm this spring. This is extraordinarily good news for the community foundation, for the region, and for Kresge. Ric has been executive vice president and regional president of PNC
- [$100M philanthropic effort needed to support White House-led National BPS Coalition](https://kresge.org/news-views/imt-climate-innovation-call-for-100m-philanthropic-effort-to-support-white-house-led-national-bps-coalition/) - Kresge Foundation President & CEO Rip Rapson is calling on colleagues in philanthropy to support this effort. Harnessing government commitments to partner with communities and equitably decarbonize buildings across the U.S. could produce better buildings for more than 40 million people, generate $111 billion in cumulative building investments through 2040, and eliminate 567 MMT of
- [PNC Bank and Kresge announce $57.3 million in financing to support Marygrove P-20 Project](https://kresge.org/news-views/pnc-bank-and-kresge-announce-57-3-million-in-financing-to-support-marygrove-p-20-project/) - PNC Bank and The Kresge Foundation today announced $57.3 million in financing to support the conversion of the Liberal Arts and Immaculata buildings on the Marygrove Conservancy campus into K-12 facilities for the School at Marygrove, a significant phase of the evolving P-20 educational continuum funded by The Kresge Foundation on the site of the
- [Answering the call: Kresge's Education Program's grantmaking priorities for 2022](https://kresge.org/news-views/answering-the-call-kresges-education-programs-4-grantmaking-priorities-for-2022/) - Since spring 2020, the world’s higher education institutions have shifted dramatically. From in-person lectures and seminars – instructional modes “perfected” centuries ago – to remote education. Now, almost two years later, the initial shock of the pandemic has waned but the need to constantly adjust and shift has not. With these shifts, however, higher education
- [Monograph celebrates life and art of Kresge Eminent Artist Gloria House](https://kresge.org/news-views/monograph-celebrates-life-and-art-of-kresge-eminent-artist-gloria-house/) - “A Life Speaks,” a monograph on the life and art of the 2019 Kresge Eminent Artist Gloria House, has been released by the foundation. The monograph includes an overview of House’s “immense five-decades-deep legacy as a poet, human and civil rights activist, organizer and educator.” House was part of the Free Speech Movement at the
- [Olayami Dabls, a storyteller with a paintbrush and a street-corner vision, named 2022 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/news-views/eminentartistdabls/) - Visionary storyteller, creative place-maker and muralist Olayami Dabls has been named the 2022 Kresge Eminent Artist, an annual metro Detroit award celebrating lifetime achievement in art. The honor includes an unrestricted $50,000 prize. Dabls, who is 73, has been the subject of widespread acclaim for his transformation of two Detroit city blocks that he once
- [Financial Planning & Analysis Director Nikita Miller to also manage Kresge facilities](https://kresge.org/news-views/financial-planning-analysis-director-nikita-miller-to-also-manage-kresge-facilities/) - Five other operations staff members earn new job titles, promotions; new hire welcomed The Kresge Foundation is pleased to announce that Financial Planning & Analysis Director Nikita Miller has been promoted to also manage the foundation’s facilities department. In her expanded role, Miller will manage building operations, maintenance and workplace services, while retaining oversight of
- [Building relationships with community key to achieving greater health equity: Q and A with Dr. Nafissa Cisse Egbuonye](https://kresge.org/news-views/building-relationships-with-community-key-to-achieving-greater-health-equity-q-and-a-with-dr-nafissa-cisse-egbuonye/) - Dr. Nafissa Cisse Egbuonye is the director of the Black Hawk County Public Health Department in Iowa and a member of The Kresge Foundation’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health, an initiative that supports leaders at local and county public health departments across the country to strengthen their organizations and improve the health and well-being of
- [Centering community voices: Reflections from the FreshLo initiative](https://kresge.org/news-views/centering-community-voices-reflections-from-the-freshlo-initiative/) - What does it look like for a national funder and its partners to authentically share power with place-based organizations largely led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color? In this post, we share some behind the scenes reflections from our FreshLo (Fresh, Local, & Equitable) initiative. We invite our peer funders and those in adjacent
- [Trio of brochures highlight Kresge history, headquarters, Detroit office](https://kresge.org/news-views/trio-of-brochures-highlight-kresge-history-headquarters-detroit-office/) - A trio of new brochures – available for download – chronicle The Kresge Foundation’s history, sustainable headquarters campus and its downtown Detroit office. The publications mark the recent opening of a new wing to Kresge’s headquarters in Troy. History of the Foundation and its Headquarters traces the evolution of the organization from its founding in
- [Seth Beattie encourages funders to build collective power in Creative Placemaking](https://kresge.org/news-views/seth-beattie-encourages-funders-to-build-collective-power-in-creative-placemaking/) - Editor’s note: This blog was originally published by Grantmakers in the Arts as part of the Future of the Field: Cross-Sector Creative Placemaking Series, created in partnership with ArtPlace America. Seth Beattie is a former senior program officer for Kresge’s Arts & Culture Program. His last day with Kresge was December 17. Seth is currently a
- [Detroit philanthropy leaders: Expanding access to the Child Tax Credit requires a place-based, cross-sectoral approach](https://kresge.org/news-views/expanding-access-to-the-child-tax-credit-requires-a-place-based-cross-sectoral-approach/) - Earlier this year, the Kresge, W.K. Kellogg and Skillman foundations joined with Ballmer Group to support the launch of Detroit’s Child Tax Credit campaign. Our four organizations share a long history and commitment to advancing opportunity for children and families. We believed it was critical to form a cross-sectoral coalition to take advantage of this
- [Cecilia Muñoz named next Kresge Foundation board chair](https://kresge.org/news-views/cecilia-munoz-named-next-kresge-foundation-board-chair/) - Elaine Rosen to retire in June 2022 after 18 years as board chair and trustee The Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees today announced that Cecilia Muñoz has been elected as the organization’s next board chair, effective March 2022. Muñoz will succeed Elaine Rosen, who will step down from the top position next spring and retire
- [Rapson: Kresge's work will continue under solid board leadership, as baton passes from one incredible chair to another](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-kresges-work-will-continue-under-solid-board-leadership-as-baton-passes-from-one-incredible-chair-to-another/) - As this most unusual year comes to an end, it is my pleasure to share some positive news with you: Cecilia Muñoz, a national expert on public policy and public interest technology, has been elected to chair our 14-member Board of Trustees effective March 2022. A trustee since 2017, Cecilia will succeed Elaine Rosen, who
- [Connecticut Fair Housing Center focused on improving data to protect tenants' housing, health](https://kresge.org/news-views/connecticut-fair-housing-center-focused-on-improving-data-to-protect-tenants-housing-health/) - In Connecticut, many renters of color with low incomes face a similar nightmare when it comes to securing and keeping safe, affordable, stable housing, says Erin Kemple, executive director of the Connecticut Fair Housing Center, a nonprofit organization that works to ensure that all people have equal access to housing opportunities in Connecticut, and a
- [Jefferson East, Inc. opens a neighborhood center in historic Kresge department store building in Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/jefferson-east-inc-opens-a-neighborhood-resource-center-in-historic-kresge-department-store-building/) - Jefferson East, Inc (JEI) today held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to announce the grand opening of the Neighborhood Resource Hub. Located in a historic Kresge department store building on the city's eastside, at 14300 East Jefferson Avenue, the hub will allow JEI’s Housing & Neighborhood Services team to support more than 1,000 Detroit homeowners and renters
- [Rush: How our New Orleans partners deployed $1.3M of Kresge funds following Hurricane Ida](https://kresge.org/news-views/rush-how-our-new-orleans-partners-deployed-1-3m-of-kresge-funds-following-hurricane-ida/) - Four months ago, the people of Louisiana were dealt a painfully familiar blow. Sixteen years to the day when Hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans, the Gulf Coast was hit with a Category 4 storm consisting of winds of about 150 mph, effectively making it the second-most damaging and intense hurricane on record to
- [New report lays out roadmap for modernizing the U.S. public health system](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-report-lays-out-roadmap-for-modernizing-the-u-s-public-health-system/) - The Kresge Foundation, along with eight other coalition groups and the Bipartisan Policy Center, has released a new report, Public Health Forward: Modernizing the U.S. Public Health System, a five-year roadmap for public health leaders and elected officials to build a more equitable, robust, and sustainable public health system across the United States. The recommendations
- [How to reimagine the relationship between nonprofits and funders: Evaluation in service of community](https://kresge.org/news-views/how-to-reimagine-the-relationship-between-nonprofits-and-funders-evaluation-in-service-of-community/) - Kresge Strategic Learning and Evaluation Officer Arturo Garcia recently spoke on the webinar, “Shifting perspectives: Reinventing impact measurement with nonprofits,” organized by ResultsLab and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO). Co-speaker Makisha Boothe, founder of the SistahBiz Global Network, together with Garcia and moderator Cindy Eby of ResultsLab, invited participants to reimagine the relationship between nonprofits
- [New Health Program focus area aims to strengthen community health ecosystems](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-health-program-focus-area-aims-to-strengthen-community-health-ecosystems/) - The dire health impacts of COVID-19, climate change and racial injustice have made it clear that we need to fundamentally transform our health systems. Fissures throughout our public health infrastructure have been ripped open by racial, political, and economic divides that can no longer be ignored. Because we cannot simply spend our way towards transformed
- [Resident-led Montbello Organizing Committee responds to community needs with FreshLo Hub](https://kresge.org/news-views/resident-led-montbello-organizing-committee-responds-to-community-needs-with-freshlo-hub/) - We all have a right to healthy and culturally appropriate food. However, decades of underinvestment in infrastructure and community resources have left residents in many low-income neighborhoods around the country living without any grocery stores nearby. Without these grocery stores, residents are often forced to rely on small markets and corner stores for necessities. In
- [Miami Workers Center seeks to strengthen tenant protections, suspend evictions](https://kresge.org/news-views/miami-workers-center-seeks-to-strengthen-tenant-protections-suspend-evictions/) - Miami is one of the nation’s most expensive cities, with a median household income of nearly $90,000, as compared to about $68,000 nationally. Not surprisingly, the real estate market caters to the city’s wealthier residents, producing a massive shortage of affordable housing that disproportionately impacts workers with low wages. Consequently, Miami has earned the distinction
- [Roundtable: Bridging arts, culture and public policy to design an equitable recovery](https://kresge.org/news-views/roundtable-bridging-arts-culture-and-public-policy-to-design-an-equitable-recovery/) - Roundtable Part II: An intimate conversation with leaders from The Kresge Foundation, the National Public Housing Museum and Design Impact As our country grapples with relief and recovery following multiple crises – from COVID-19 to climate change and a national awakening to racial injustice – what role do artists and culture bearers play in advancing
- [Roundtable: How arts and culture organizations are advancing racial healing](https://kresge.org/news-views/how-arts-and-culture-organizations-are-advancing-racial-healing/) - Roundtable Part 1: An intimate conversation with leaders from The Kresge Foundation, National Public Housing Museum and Design Impact The arts and culture sector has taken a tremendous hit from the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the lockdowns of 2020 – that extended into 2021 – many artists and creatives have been forced to rely on relief
- [Rapson: How Kresge is responding to the COVID-19 eviction crisis](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-how-kresge-is-responding-to-the-covid-19-eviction-crisis/) - COVID has left a profoundly painful legacy of loss and grief – one that continues to compound with no clear end in sight. Part of that legacy is the unimaginable mental, physical, and logistical hardships visited on people who are being removed – or who are being threatened with removal – from their homes and
- [Kresge awards $2.5M through CoPro2.0 initiative to strengthen tuition-free community college across U.S.](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-awards-2-5m-through-copro2-0-initiative-to-strengthen-tuition-free-community-college-across-u-s/) - College Promise announced as the CoPro2.0’s initiative’s managing partner of operations and knowledge sharing The Kresge Foundation’s Education Program today announced a suite of grants totaling more than $2.5 million dedicated to helping shape free college across the United States. The iCoPro2.0 initiative, short for College Promise 2.0, will fund 11 grantees focused on research
- [Valdes Lupi: ELPH leaders show how to work with community partners to protect health](https://kresge.org/news-views/valdes-lupi-elph-leaders-show-how-to-work-with-community-partners-to-protect-health/) - No matter what the situation is, sometimes it’s just good to know you are not alone. Each month, I look forward to joining bi-weekly calls that we have with teams from our Emerging Leaders in Public Health Initiative (ELPH) initiative. Over the last 22 months, these calls have provided time for peer-to-peer learning and in
- [At least $3 million slated for neighborhood projects for enhanced Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus](https://kresge.org/news-views/kipd-plus/) - Detroit-, Highland Park- and Hamtramck-based nonprofits seeking to transform neighborhoods with projects that reflect resident priorities can look forward to at least $3 million over the next three years through the Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus (KIP:D+) initiative. Applications for the first round of funding, a minimum of $1.1 million to be distributed in early
- [Q and A: Metropolitan Group, Center for Story-Based Strategy discuss collaboration to co-create new narrative framework](https://kresge.org/news-views/q-and-a-metropolitan-group-center-for-story-based-strategy-discuss-collaboration-to-co-create-new-narrative-framework/) - Through a dynamic collaboration with The Kresge Foundation, the Metropolitan Group and Center for Story-Based Strategy are working together with Climate Change, Health & Equity initiative grantees and partners to co-create a new narrative framework that centers racial and social justice in climate change and health messaging. Earlier this fall, Breanna Edwards, communications officer at
- [U-M launches Detroit-based SEAS Sustainability Clinic to combat effects of climate change, including residential flooding](https://kresge.org/news-views/u-m-launches-detroit-based-seas-sustainability-clinic-to-combat-effects-of-climate-change-including-residential-flooding/) - DETROIT/ANN ARBOR — Building upon its mission to have a real-world impact for people, communities and businesses, the University of Michigan (U-M) School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) today announced the launch of the SEAS Sustainability Clinic. Its goal: improve the ability of the City of Detroit and nonprofits serving the City to address the
- [National leaders discuss dismantling structural racism in higher education, human services and workforce development systems](https://kresge.org/news-views/national-leaders-discuss-dismantling-structural-racism-in-higher-education-human-services-and-workforce-development-systems/) - As part of a virtual convening that brought grantees from Kresge’s Boosting Opportunities for Social and Economic Mobility (BOOST) initiative together in November 2020, Majorie Sims, managing director of Ascend at the Aspen Institute, spoke with Michael Collins, vice president at Jobs for the Future, and Clair Minson, founder and principal consultant, Sandra Grace, LLC,
- [Pandemic pivot: Lessons from the online Tools for Hope program series](https://kresge.org/news-views/pandemic-pivot-lessons-from-the-online-tools-for-hope-program-series/) - Earlier this year, we wrapped up the last of 10 online Tools for Hope discussions to help guide the early childhood education community — center owners, staff, support organizations and others — through the first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the leadership of our partners at Detroit Public TV (DPTV) and School Readiness
- [Gulf Coast Housing Partnership finds new ways to finance affordable healthy housing](https://kresge.org/news-views/gulf-coast-housing-partnership-finds-new-ways-to-finance-affordable-healthy-housing/) - While the current shortage of affordable housing is a near-universal problem throughout America, the specifics differ by geography. Across the Gulf Coast region, a primary driver is a lack of financing, says Kevin Krejci, chief capitalization officer at Gulf Coast Housing Partnership Inc. (GCHP), one of the area’s largest nonprofit real estate developers and a
- [Richmond youth use art to push for an end to incarceration](https://kresge.org/news-views/richmond-youth-use-art-to-push-for-an-end-to-incarceration/) - Editor's note: This story was first published by Next City “In the world without youth prisons I walk down the street and I hear happiness in the community—no fear, no violence, no cries, no sirens. I see communities thriving, outreach available. Children being healed instead of hurt. Families growing together instead of being torn apart.
- [Rapson: COP26 reminds us that every foundation, administration can have meaningful impact on climate change](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-cop26-reminds-us-that-every-foundation-administration-can-have-meaningful-impact-on-climate-change/) - We will all read and see coverage over the next few weeks about the vitally important conversations – and hopefully, decisions – that emerge from the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. For those who may not be familiar, the UK is currently hosting the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) from Oct.
- [SAHF and Mercy Housing show how service-enriched affordable housing can improve health](https://kresge.org/news-views/sahf-and-mercy-housing-show-how-service-enriched-affordable-housing-can-improve-health/) - Quality affordable rental homes, especially when enriched with services, can support resident health and wellness, economic mobility, increased opportunity and an improved quality of life. With support from The Kresge Foundation, Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF), a national collaborative of 13 nonprofit, mission-driven affordable housing developers, has collected data on the impact of
- [Kresge supports innovative approach to finding lead in Detroit water lines](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-supports-innovative-approach-to-finding-lead-in-detroit-water-lines/) - The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department will save an estimated $165 million and advance efforts to replace the city’s lead service lines to homes through use of an innovative technology to predict where the troubled lines are located. Detroit’s effort using the technology of the organization BlueConduit, announced in a recent media briefing, is funded
- [Kresge Detroit Program expands to deepen engagement with key issues of housing, health and racial justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-detroit-program-expands-to-deepen-engagement-with-key-issues-of-housing-health-and-racial-justice/) - Adena Hill, a former city of Detroit analyst and public-private partnership specialist, has joined the Kresge Foundation and its Detroit Program. Kresge Detroit Program Managing Director Wendy Lewis Jackson made the announcement Thursday along with news that Kresge Health Program Senior Fellow Phyllis Meadows has moved to an equivalent position with the Detroit Program and
- [Detroit nonprofits serving BIPOC communities to share $11 million in operating support](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroit-nonprofits-serving-bipoc-communities-to-share-11-million-in-operating-support/) - Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) today announced $11 million in new funding for its Community Development Organization (CDO) Fund, a foundation-backed initiative delivering critical operating support to approximately 30 Detroit nonprofits that serve or are led by Black, Indigenous or other People of Color (BIPOC). The CDO Fund, which is part of Enterprise’s Equitable Path Forward
- [Coalition launches effort to reduce child poverty in Detroit by connecting families with expanded Child Tax Credit](https://kresge.org/news-views/coalition-launches-effort-to-reduce-child-poverty-in-detroit-by-connecting-families-with-expanded-child-tax-credit/) - Nearly 20,000 Detroit children can be lifted out of poverty if every eligible family takes advantage of an expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) within the American Rescue Plan, a coalition of city and civic leaders announced today. The one-year expanded provision of up to $3,600 per child under the age of 18 for qualifying families
- [Rapson: Jackson, nominated to chair NEA, would bring uncommon promise to the job](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-jackson-nominated-to-chair-nea-would-bring-uncommon-promise-to-the-job/) - President Biden has made countless admirable appointments to federal positions. But none more thrilling for us at Kresge than his announcement today of Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson’s nomination to be the next Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. Maria began working as a Senior Advisor/Consultant with Kresge in 2012, assisting our Arts &
- [Affordable Hawaii for All Fellows committed to creating community-driven model for affordable housing](https://kresge.org/news-views/affordable-hawaii-for-all-fellows-committed-to-creating-community-driven-model-for-affordable-housing/) - Hawaii is consistently ranked among the nation’s most expensive housing markets thanks to a thriving tourism industry and robust demand from affluent buyers in search of vacation homes. The result is a shortage of affordable housing that disproportionately impacts Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, who represent 10 percent of the state’s population and account for
- [Statement on the passing of David DiChiera](https://kresge.org/news-views/statement-on-the-passing-of-david-dichiera/) - Michigan Opera Theatre founder and 2013 Kresge Eminent Artist David DiChiera died Tuesday at the age of 83. Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson issued the following statement: A community treasure has died, but his legacy will live on. Impresario and 2013 Kresge Eminent Artist David DiChiera brought the magic of opera to the
- [Q&A: CEER's Iris Gonzalez shares the lasting impacts of climate change and how to combat it](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-iris-gonzalez-shares-the-lasting-impacts-of-climate-change-and-how-ceer-is-working-to-combat-it/) - In the following Q&A feature, Shamar Bibbins, senior program officer for Kresge’s Environment Program, connects with Iris Gonzalez, director of the Coalition for Environment, Equity & Resilience (CEER), to discuss the impacts of climate change as potentially the greatest public health threat of the century. CEER, a grantee partner of Kresge's Climate Change, Health &
- [BARHII local equity investment guide supports equitable COVID-19 response and recovery](https://kresge.org/news-views/barhii-local-equity-investment-guide-supports-equitable-covid-19-response-and-recovery/) - As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to claim lives and deepen health and economic inequities across the country, local governments can now access a powerful new tool to support an equitable response and recovery. The Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII)—the coalition of the Bay Area’s local public health departments focused on equity—has just released a powerful
- [Kresge Foundation, McGee, DiChiera, Woodson receive inaugural Detroit ACE Honors awards](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-mcgee-dichiera-woodson-receive-inaugural-detroit-ace-honors-awards/) - The Kresge Foundation and three Kresge Eminent Artist award winners have been honored by the city of Detroit for lifetime contributions to the city’s vibrant arts and culture community. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced Monday the 15 inaugural recipients of the Detroit ACE Honors that “salute lifetime achievement and celebrate artists and arts patrons who
- [Health Program Managing Director Monica Valdes Lupi named to Advisory Committee to CDC Director](https://kresge.org/news-views/health-program-managing-director-monica-valdes-lupi-named-to-advisory-committee-to-cdc-director/) - Health Program Managing Director Monica Valdes Lupi, JD, MPH, has accepted an invitation to join the Advisory Committee to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACD). The 14-member ACD, as authorized by federal law, is being re-established. The panel advises the CDC director, the Secretary of the Department of Health and
- [Rapson: New Michigan budget makes a bold investment in children](https://kresge.org/news-views/an-inspiring-moment-new-michigan-budget-makes-a-bold-investment-in-children/) - The State of Michigan’s support for its youngest citizens took a quantum step forward with the adoption this week of a visionary and bold budget by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the state Legislature. The state’s $70 billion budget provides millions of new dollars for long under-resourced childcare providers and moves us closer to the goal
- [Boys of color were hit hard by the pandemic. What do they need now?](https://kresge.org/news-views/boys-of-color-were-hit-hard-by-the-pandemic-what-do-they-need-now/) - This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. As students across the country wrestled with pandemic stress last winter, sophomore Nathaniel Martinez logged on to a virtual retreat. Forty mostly Black and Latino teens in Chicago were getting a crash course on gauging how their peers were coping. They also
- [DeBacker: We grieve for the lives lost and injured in the tragic shooting affecting Groundwork New Orleans](https://kresge.org/news-views/debacker-we-grieve-for-the-lives-lost-and-injured-in-the-tragic-shooting-affecting-groundwork-new-orleans/) - Groundwork New Orleans, an outstanding youth development and environmental stewardship nonprofit in New Orleans, was struck by tragedy last week. Four members of its Ground Crew were brutally shot in broad daylight while installing green infrastructure at a church in the city. Two of the young men perished. As Groundwork New Orleans’ executive director said,
- [Kresge offices to close on Indigenous Peoples' Day](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-offices-to-close-on-indigenous-peoples-day/) - Our offices will be closed on Monday in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. I wanted to convey a number of touchpoints that we might bear in mind as we observe it. Revisiting Kresge’s Land Acknowledgment The acknowledgment of the Indigenous lands, though not sufficient, is a first step toward honoring the traditional guardians and enduring
- [Life and career of Kresge Eminent Artist Shirley Woodson showcased in new monograph](https://kresge.org/news-views/life-and-career-of-kresge-eminent-artist-shirley-wood-in-new-monograph/) - “A Palette for the People,” a monograph on the life, art and community contributions of 2021 Kresge Eminent Artist Shirley Woodson is now available for downloading and ordering at no cost, while supplies last. Earlier this year, Woodson — superb figurative painter, arts educator, advocate and organizer — was named the 13th Kresge Eminent Artist.
- [Rapson: Return of Detroit's QLINE one step in addressing inequities in regional transportation](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-return-of-detroits-qline-one-step-in-addressing-inequities-in-regional-transportation/) - It was so very good to see an old friend back on the streets of Detroit this weekend: Detroit’s QLINE streetcar. For the last eighteen months, regional transit was yet another casualty of COVID. Most of Detroit and its suburban transit systems – like their counterpart providers across America – including the QLINE, suspended service
- [CLUES work improves access to safe, affordable housing for Minnesota’s Latinx community](https://kresge.org/news-views/clues-work-improves-access-to-safe-affordable-housing-for-minnesotas-latinx-community/) - In the best of circumstances, a renter is somewhat at the mercy of their landlord. But when the renter is an undocumented individual, the power imbalance can be disastrous, says Ruby Azurdia-Lee, president of Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES), a nonprofit organization that promotes economic equity and wellbeing for Latinxs living in Minnesota, and
- [Rapson: Detroit will come back. We’ve done it before.](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-detroit-will-come-back-weve-done-it-before/) - The recently released 2020 Census data seems to support a longstanding narrative about my home city of Detroit — that it’s in decline. While there are valid disputes with the way the Trump administration underfunded the Census process and likely undercounted many Black and brown communities, the fact that the city continues to lose residents
- [Kresge elevates new Investment Office leadership](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-elevates-new-investment-office-leadership/) - John A. Barker named Deputy CIO as Robert J. Manilla, current CIO, plans June 2022 retirement; Venus B. Phillips promoted to Managing Director The Kresge Foundation today announced important changes in its Investment Office leadership: Robert J. Manilla, vice president and Chief Investment Officer (CIO) will retire in June 2022. John A. Barker has been
- [Rapson: 20 years after 9/11, amid a new crisis, lessons in responding equitably still resonate](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-20-years-after-9-11-amid-a-new-crisis-lessons-in-responding-equitably-still-resonate/) - Editor's note: Kresge President & CEO Rip Rapson has written daily notes to staff through the COVID-19 pandemic. What follows is Rapson's note from Friday, Sept. 10. Good Friday afternoon everyone: Two events of powerful import this afternoon. The first is marking the 20th anniversary tomorrow of the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, and
- [Alexa Bush joins Kresge Detroit Program as officer](https://kresge.org/news-views/alexa-bush-joins-kresge-detroit-program-as-officer/) - Alexa Bush has joined The Kresge Foundation’s Detroit Program as program officer, Detroit Program Managing Director Wendy Lewis Jackson announced Thursday. In this role, Bush will guide the implementation of the Detroit Program’s investments in transformative public spaces that have the power to bring people together and promote greater understanding and inclusion. She will also
- [Hurricane Ida reinforces Kresge's commitment to New Orleans and combatting climate change ](https://kresge.org/news-views/hurricane-ida-reinforces-kresges-commitment-to-new-orleans-and-combatting-climate-change/) - Like so many of you, I watched with worry and a sense of familiar angst as Hurricane Ida made landfall in the Gulf Coast. Although the storm was horrific – and continues to ravage large sections of the East Coast – the story of Ida will be different from the life-altering immediate aftermath of Katrina.
- [Rapson: ACCESS grew from a few volunteers to a major advocacy group. Hassan Jaber was key.](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-access-grew-from-a-few-volunteers-to-a-major-advocacy-group-hasan-jaber-was-key/) - Hassan Jaber, who recently announced his retirement as president and CEO of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services, leaves behind an organization profoundly shaped by his 14 years as president and 41 years in total. He helped ACCESS to grow from a small group of volunteers committed to improving the lives of
- [Gena Lewis joins Human Services Program as new senior fellow](https://kresge.org/news-views/gena-lewis-joins-human-services-program-as-new-senior-fellow/) - Gena Lewis, JD has joined The Kresge Foundation’s Human Services Program as its inaugural senior fellow, Human Services Program Managing Director Raquel Hatter announced Wednesday, August 25, 2021. As senior fellow, Lewis will serve as a lead, thought partner and resource for advancing the team’s overall strategy. She will support the development of the Human
- [Rapson: Garibaldi’s retirement news reminds us of enormous contribution to Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-garibaldis-retirement-news-reminds-us-of-enormous-contribution-to-detroit/) - The recent announcement that Dr. Antoine Garibaldi plans to step down as president of the University of Detroit Mercy next June should remind our community how extraordinary and transformative his leadership has been. Let’s pause and consider just how much we owe him. Dr. Garibaldi is the 25th president of the university, a post he
- [Kresge pilots program to support grantee leadership development with racial equity lens](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-pilots-program-to-support-grantee-leadership-development-with-racial-equity-lens/) - One of the many ways that The Kresge Foundation seeks to expand opportunity for low-income people in America’s cities is through offering training and other operational and management assistance to grantees. The goal is to enhance the effectiveness of grantee organizations and their individual leaders to better solve local problems and challenges in the cities
- [LIFT Fellow finds her perfect role in nonprofit leadership and development](https://kresge.org/news-views/lift-fellow-finds-her-perfect-role-in-nonprofit-leadership-and-development/) - Editor's note: The foundation is hosting eight summer interns and fellows this year from across the U.S. Check back each week to learn about these rising social sector leaders in this series, Summer at Kresge. For Carrie Boyle, working at The Kresge Foundation was a perfect stroke of serendipity. The new summer fellow from Richmond, Virginia first got accustomed
- [FUEL Convening supports grantees’ efforts to operationalize racial equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/fuel-convening-supports-grantees-efforts-to-operationalize-racial-equity/) - The Kresge Foundation’s Leadership Infrastructure and Funding Team (LIFT) collaborated with Community Wealth Partners (CWP) August 10-11 to host a virtual FUEL End-of-Year Convening. Roughly 30 participants attended the two-day event to share and hear stories of their peers’ experiences in FUEL; seek advice on their most pressing challenges related to racial equity work; and brainstorm together on
- [LIFT Talent Funder Convening Report shares how 21 foundations are supporting nonprofit leaders’ DEI capacity](https://kresge.org/news-views/lift-talent-funder-convening-report-shares-how-21-foundations-are-supporting-nonprofit-leaders-dei-capacity/) - ​Editor's note: A new Foundation Review case study, co-authored by Kresge’s Caroline Altman Smith and Carla Taylor of Community Wealth Partners, takes a deep dive into the FUEL (Fostering Urban Equitable Leadership) Program and why funders should invest in grantees’ talent and leadership development. The Kresge Foundation recognizes nonprofits must have strong leaders who are equipped
- [Q&A: Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom discusses higher ed, social mobility and racial justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-dr-tressie-mcmillan-cottom-discusses-higher-ed-social-mobility-and-racial-justice/) - Renowned author, researcher, educator and cultural critic Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom recently spoke with Kresge Foundation grantee partners and staff to discuss intersections between higher education, social mobility and racial justice. The conversation took place during a digital convening of Kresge Education partners participating in the Advancing Student Transportation Solutions initiative, an effort aimed at
- [Kresge's Education Program's five 2021 grantmaking priorities](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresges-education-programs-five-2021-grantmaking-priorities/) - Responding to the enduring effects of COVID-19 and sharpening the focus on the future of college access and success In 2020, a global pandemic changed how students pursue a college education. Shifts from face-to-face to remote learning meant access to campus supports including food, housing, and reliable internet connectivity were no longer readily available. For
- [Public health leaders confront racism as a health crisis and share recommendations to advance racial equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/public-health-leaders-confront-racism-as-a-health-crisis-and-share-recommendations-to-advance-racial-equity/) - In order to solve a problem, you first have to identify it. In 2020, local health departments in dozens of cities and counties around the country have done just that and named racism as a public health crisis. It is an important step to spur change not only within local government agencies, but across sectors
- [Report shows hyper-local investment essential for community survival through crisis](https://kresge.org/news-views/report-shows-hyper-local-investment-essential-for-community-survival-through-crisis/) - A new report from The Kresge Foundation’s Fresh, Local and Equitable (FreshLo) Initiative affirms the importance of place-based, hyper-local investment in ensuring communities historically left out of power are able to weather crises like COVID-19 and are well-resourced for the long haul. The FreshLo Initiative seeks to improve access to healthy food, ignite entrepreneurship, spur
- [To help communities survive crises, trust and invest in their leadership](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-to-help-communities-survive-crises-trust-and-invest-in-their-leadership/) - Amid multiple ongoing crises, foundations are struggling with how best to support the nonprofit sector — in particular, community-based organizations working to address a raging pandemic, police violence, and systemic racism. Led by people with a wealth of lived experience, community-based groups have long been a critical source of support for under-resourced neighborhoods struggling to
- [Strengthening community development networks is key to resilience](https://kresge.org/news-views/strengthening-community-development-networks-is-key-to-resilience/) - Like many American cities, Fresno has a history of disinvestment in neighborhoods where Black and Brown residents make homes and raise families. Though Fresno is California’s fifth largest city, many residents in its under-resourced neighborhoods grapple with the impacts of decades-long environmental injustice, housing and employment discrimination. According to 2018 data from the U.S. Census Bureau,
- [Kresge launches $1.5M Memphis grant initiative to support community-driven projects aimed at strengthening neighborhoods](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-launches-1-5m-memphis-grant-initiative-to-support-community-driven-projects-aimed-at-strengthening-neighborhoods/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today a new Memphis funding initiative aimed at strengthening neighborhoods and improving the quality of life for city residents. Kresge Innovative Projects: Memphis (KIP:M) will provide up to $1.5 million in grant funding to community-based organizations to support projects that reflect the vision and creativity of Memphians. KIP:M is inspired by
- [UTEC teens lead the way to create lasting change through policymaking](https://kresge.org/news-views/utec-teens-lead-the-way-to-create-lasting-change-through-policymaking/) - Young adults have the unique expertise and experience that can help us discover the best solutions to our most difficult social problems. For the last 10 years, UTEC, part of The Kresge Foundation Human Services Program’s Next Generation Initiative, has coordinated Teens Leading The Way (TLTW), a statewide youth-led policymaking coalition which empowers youths ages 17-25 from low-income and immigrant communities across Massachusetts to
- [Reflections on a visit to The Legacy Museum](https://kresge.org/news-views/reflections-on-a-visit-to-the-legacy-museum/) - I am still digesting the trip to Montgomery, Alabama with The Kresge Foundation's NextGen Cohort to attend the Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. From beginning to end, each step of this journey was meaningful, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share some of my reflections. First of all, no
- [Kresge Foundation announces New Orleans Next Generation Initiative](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-announces-new-orleans-next-generation-initiative/) - The Kresge Foundation has announced a $1.25 million funding opportunity to support human service nonprofit organizations advancing the social and economic mobility of children and families in New Orleans. The New Orleans Next Generation initiative, which builds off the foundation’s national NextGen efforts, is an integral part of Kresge’s commitment to accelerating social and economic
- [First national NextGen cohort shares insights and action steps to help families realize economic success](https://kresge.org/news-views/first-national-nextgen-cohort-shares-insights-and-action-steps-to-help-families-realize-economic-success/) - New website highlights case studies and teaching tools to inspire new innovations and best practices Insights and action steps from the first cohort of The Kresge Foundation's national Next Generation (NextGen) Initiative designed to support human services organizations in partnering with families and communities to realize economic success from one generation to the next are
- [Achieving the Dream offers thousands opportunity for deep learning, engagement on community college transformation](https://kresge.org/news-views/achieving-the-dream-offers-thousands-opportunity-for-deep-learning-engagement-on-community-college-transformation/) - Achieving the Dream's 14th annual DREAM Conference drew more than 2,000 community college stakeholders to Nashville this month. The entire Kresge Education Program attended the conference and spent the week in Music City diving deep into how colleges are using data to improve student outcomes. It also hosted 42 South Africans at the conference, its largest
- [Climate Change, Health & Equity convening brings together grantees, partners to connect, collaborate](https://kresge.org/news-views/climate-change-health-equity-convening-brings-together-grantees-partners-to-connect-collaborate/) - From record-setting wildfires to rising sea levels, climate change is impacting people in real ways – today. The world’s leading health journals have identified climate change as among the most critical public health priorities of this century. While everyone’s health is at risk, climate change takes its greatest toll on low-income communities and communities of
- [Unique partnership seeks to create greener, cleaner, healthier West Atlanta](https://kresge.org/news-views/unique-partnership-seeks-to-create-greener-cleaner-healthier-west-atlanta/) - In Atlanta, one inch of rainfall can generate as much as 640 million gallons of stormwater runoff. When rain falls in natural, undeveloped areas, water is absorbed and filtered by soil and plants. But when a city is covered by streets, sidewalks and parking lots, that water may not soak into the ground; instead it
- [Kresge partners appointed to new White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-partners-appointed-to-new-white-house-environmental-justice-advisory-council/) - The Biden-Harris administration announced members of the first-ever White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council on March 29, including several long-time grantees and community partners of Kresge’s Environment, Health and American Cities programs. The advisory council was established by President Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad to fulfill the administration's commitment
- [Resilience for all: Building health equity infrastructure for climate-driven disasters](https://kresge.org/news-views/resilience-for-all-building-health-equity-infrastructure-for-climate-driven-disasters/) - In the San Francisco Bay Area, we’ve experienced a wave of climate-driven disasters in recent years. This includes the most destructive wildfire season in California history, which arrived during an unprecedented heatwave that led utilities to conduct rolling power shut-offs in communities vulnerable to fire. That was on top of the COVID-19 pandemic and a
- [$8.4 million in new grants to combat climate change, improve health in low-income communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/8-4-million-in-new-grants-to-combat-climate-change-improve-health-in-low-income-communities/) - The Kresge Foundation has awarded $8.4 million in new grants to 14 community-based nonprofit organizations as part of its Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) initiative. With this funding, each grantee partner will work to advance policy solutions aimed at helping cities combat and adapt to climate change, while equitably reducing health risks for low-income
- [Q&A: Seattle Housing Authority's Jen Song shares how arts and culture drive community building among public housing residents  ](https://kresge.org/news-views/arts-and-culture-can-be-key-drivers-in-building-community-among-public-housing-residents/) - In late November, The Kresge Foundation unveiled $30 million in grant commitments to advance racial justice. This investment marked a pivotal institutional milestone, underscoring Kresge’s belief that to expand opportunity in America’s cities, the Foundation must invest directly& and strategically in community-based efforts that address systemic racism and inequality. This new commitment represents a sharpened
- [New ArtPlace America report explores building community wealth through arts, culture and equitable development](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-artplace-america-report-explores-building-community-wealth-through-arts-culture-and-equitable-development/) - In December 2020, ArtPlace America partnered with Common Future to release a new report in the economic development research sector titled “Building Community Wealth: The Role of Arts and Culture in Equitable Economic Development.” The paper serves as a field scan of Creative Placemaking that summarizes key trends in economic development and outlines several key
- [Taking the long view: Designing pathways for economic mobility](https://kresge.org/news-views/taking-the-long-view-designing-pathways-for-economic-mobility/) - This is the first installment in a series exploring the core tenets of Kresge's Boosting Opportunities for Social and Economic Mobility for Families (BOOST) initiative. Launched in 2019, BOOST supports partnerships between community colleges and human services nonprofits in six cities nationwide to connect people with low incomes to critical human services and educational pathways
- [Colleges, transit agencies partner to advance transportation solutions for students in cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/colleges-transit-agencies-partner-to-advance-transportation-solutions-for-students-in-cities/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today a new set of grants aimed at addressing a non-education barrier that often impedes student success: transportation. The five grants awarded by the Kresge Education Program will enable colleges and transit agencies to identify, address and evaluate transportation solutions for students. The College Board estimates transportation costs account for 18%
- [How Five Institutions Secured Funding to Advance Transportation Solutions for Students](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-how-five-institutions-secured-funding-to-advance-transportation-solutions-for-students/) - St. Petersburg College is only a 15-minute drive from Dionne’s home. Without a car, she must instead leave two hours before her first class and take two buses. Dionne explains, “That’s four hours of my life every day that I’m not getting back.” Dionne’s story was one illustrious anecdote in St. Petersburg College’s successful application
- [Commentary: Students’ insights chart path to transit solutions](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-students-insights-chart-path-to-transit-solutions/) - Last fall Kresge’s Education Program awarded $1.2 million in grants to help colleges and transit agencies identify, address and evaluate transportation solutions for students. One grantee, Río Hondo College (RHC) in Whittier, California, serves more than 20,000 students, most of whom are first-generation, come from low-income households and commute to campus. RHC received a planning grant to launch a
- [Eight new Fresno partners aim to expand opportunity, strengthen day-to-day experiences of residents](https://kresge.org/news-views/eight-new-fresno-partners-aim-to-expand-opportunity-strengthen-day-to-day-experiences-of-residents/) - Kresge Community Support: Fresno initiative draws inspiration from other place-based grantmaking endeavors The Kresge Foundation today announced eight new grants to community-based organizations working to strengthen neighborhoods in Fresno, California. Kresge Community Support: Fresno, the newest grantmaking initiative led by the foundation’s American Cities Program, aims to support the growth of the city’s community development infrastructure,
- [College enrollment declines highlight the need for Biden’s tuition-free community college plan](https://kresge.org/news-views/college-enrollment-declines-highlight-the-need-for-bidens-tuition-free-community-college-plan/) - According to new data from the National Student Clearinghouse, about 660,000 fewer undergraduates were enrolled in colleges and universities nationwide in spring 2021 than a year before. Given the countless challenges of COVID-19, perhaps it isn’t shocking that a population about the size of Detroit has disappeared from the college rolls. But what should worry
- [Education Program invites concept papers for College Promise funding opportunity](https://kresge.org/news-views/education-program-invites-concept-papers-for-college-promise-funding-opportunity/) - ‘CoPro2.0’ will grant up to $2.6M in efforts to make tuition-free community college programs more equitable, financially sustainable The Kresge Foundation’s Education Program today issued a Request for Concept Papers for a new funding initiative called CoPro2.0. The deadline to submit a paper is August 9. The initiative, short for College Promise 2.0, will fund
- [Rapson: Offering dire warning, U.N. report highlights urgency of action on climate change](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-despite-dire-warning-u-n-climate-change-report-points-to-what-needs-to-be-done/) - For all of us who have been digesting with horror this summer’s media accounts of devastating fires in the Northwest, flooding in Germany, China, and the Midwest, and heat domes and megadroughts in the western United States, we might not think we need yet another reminder of the catastrophic consequences of climate change in every
- [Rapson: Lee's Olympic achievement adds to long history of Hmong American women breaking barriers](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-lees-olympic-achievement-adds-to-long-history-of-hmong-american-women-breaking-barriers/) - In all the Olympic hoopla, it may have been easy to overlook the passing reference: Sunisa Lee was the first Hmong person to compete and win a medal in the Olympics. At one level, it is utterly welcome and appropriate to underscore that her capturing the gold medal for all-around women’s gymnastics was a stunning
- [Girls Who Invest program intern pursuing interests in finance, tackling social inequity](https://kresge.org/news-views/girls-who-invest-program-intern-pursuing-interests-in-finance-tackling-social-inequity/) - The Kresge Foundation recently kicked off the sixth year of its summer internship program after a break in 2020 due to COVID-19. Every summer Kresge welcomes a cohort of interns and fellows to work at the foundation for approximately 10 weeks. Internships are designed for undergraduate students, while fellowships are intended for graduate students. During
- [Statement from Kresge Foundation CEO and President Rip Rapson on the life and career of Judge Damon Keith](https://kresge.org/news-views/statement-from-kresge-foundation-ceo-and-president-rip-rapson-on-the-life-and-career-of-judge-damon-keith/) - The passing of Judge Damon Keith is a time for the nation and our region not only to mourn, but also to reflect. Our heartfelt and extended observances in Detroit are entirely in keeping for a man who, as one obituary summarized, was a “fountainhead of regional rulings with national implications.” And even beyond those
- [Rapson: Carl Levin dedicated his career to making life better for Michiganders from every walk of life](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-carl-levin-dedicated-his-career-to-making-life-better-for-michiganders-from-every-walk-of-life/) - Michigan has had no greater champion than Carl Levin, who passed last evening at the age of 87. Counselor, Councilmember, Senator, and Professor Levin dedicated his career to making life better for Michiganders from every walk of life. Workers and business owners. City dwellers and rural residents. Eastside, Westside, Downriver, Upper Peninsula. It didn’t matter.
- [Q&A with Kresge’s new Education Program Officer Ashley Johnson](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-with-kresges-new-education-program-officer-ashley-johnson/) - Kresge’s Education Program recently welcomed Ashley Johnson as a new program officer. Johnson most recently served as the founding executive director of the Detroit College Access Network (DCAN), an organization that provides critical college access and success programming in the city of Detroit. Communications Officer Tracey Pearson asked Johnson a few questions to get to know her
- [From small island to global finance and philanthropy, Kresge summer intern explores investment world](https://kresge.org/news-views/from-small-island-to-global-finance-and-philanthropy-kresge-summer-intern-explores-investment-world/) - The Kresge Foundation recently kicked off the sixth year of its summer internship program after a break in 2020 due to COVID-19. Every summer Kresge welcomes a cohort of interns and fellows to work at the foundation for approximately 10 weeks. Internships are designed for undergraduate students, while fellowships are intended for graduate students. During
- [Kresge joins new coalition to modernize and advance the U.S. public health system](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-joins-new-coalition-to-modernize-and-advance-the-u-s-public-health-system/) - The Kresge Foundation has joined a new coalition of organizations working together to develop a five-year roadmap for public health leaders and elected officials that influences strategic investments and decision-making to build a more robust and sustainable public health system. Other members include the de Beaumont Foundation, the CDC Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the
- [Kresge joins effort to revitalize Hamtramck Stadium, one of five remaining Negro League ballparks](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-joins-effort-to-revitalize-hamtramck-stadium-one-of-five-remaining-negro-league-ballparks/) - The Kresge Foundation's Detroit Program announced today that it is joining a large collaborative effort to revitalize Hamtramck Stadium, one of five remaining Negro Leagues Home Parks, with the aim of transforming the stadium into a shared community asset. Kresge is committing $200,000 to this project. Wendy Lewis Jackson, managing director of the Detroit Program,
- [Kresge summer intern pursues passion in finance and social impact](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-summer-intern-pursues-passion-in-finance-and-social-impact/) - The Kresge Foundation recently kicked off the sixth year of its summer internship program after a break in 2020 due to COVID-19. Every summer Kresge welcomes a cohort of interns and fellows to work at the foundation for approximately 10 weeks. Internships are designed for undergraduate students, while fellowships are intended for graduate students. During
- [More than a name: Rebranding effort crucial to help Evident Change communicate mission, connect with community](https://kresge.org/news-views/more-than-a-name-rebranding-effort-crucial-to-help-evident-change-communicate-mission-connect-with-community/) - Social systems should help people reach their greatest potential, not create barriers to their success. Kresge Human Services grantee partner Evident Change, formerly the National Council on Crime & Delinquency and the Children’s Research Center, uses data and research to improve our nation’s social systems. It does this by partnering with systems professionals and communities
- [Rapson: New Memphis Investment Fund shows how small bets, long-term partnership add up](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-new-memphis-investment-fund-shows-how-small-bets-long-term-partnership-add-up/) - So much of Kresge's work entails a long-term, multi-faceted, sequential build. Constructing multiple grants to create a portfolio taking aim at a particular dimension of a challenge – think the spectrum of grants that form our Education team’s access and success strategy. Combining grantmaking with learning networks – think our Human Services team’s NextGen efforts.
- [Latest issue of Health Affairs journal focuses on integration of health and human services](https://kresge.org/news-views/latest-issue-of-health-affairs-journal-focuses-on-integration-of-health-and-human-services/) - Despite growing understanding within the health sector that factors like housing, education and environment play a critical role in people’s health and well-being, the programs and systems that help people meet their social needs remain largely isolated from those designed to meet their health care needs. In its April issue, supported by The Kresge Foundation, Health Affairs examines
- [Kresge-backed Census effort in Detroit now adds COVID-19 to its challenges](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-backed-census-effort-in-detroit-now-adds-covid-19-to-its-challenges/) - For well over a year, advocates for a robust Census count have worked to raise awareness of the official Census Day (April 1) across the country and made plans to encourage more responses afterward. Now those plans must accommodate the unfolding COVID-19 tragedy. Detroit is perhaps the city most acutely caught between an already daunting
- [Kresge signs Council on Foundations' COVID-19 Pledge of Action](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-signs-council-on-foundations-covid-19-pledge-of-action/) - Today, Kresge President & CEO Rip Rapson signed the Council on Foundations’ (COF) Pledge of Action, which outlines common commitments made by dozens of private, family and community foundations to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapson shared his own letter to Kresge grantees and partners this week that included similar measures of support. The COF pledge
- [Reconciling the past with our present: Reflections on a visit to Montgomery, Alabama](https://kresge.org/news-views/reconciling-the-past-with-our-present-reflections-on-a-visit-to-montgomery-alabama/) - In January, Kresge’s Opportunity Fund and “Learning and Evaluation Champions” visited Montgomery, Ala. – known as the “the cradle of the confederacy” and as the birthplace of the civil rights movement – to further engage and learn from two grantees based in this city: The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) and the Southern Poverty Law Center
- [Kresge requests information on strategies to support social and economic mobility through workforce development, minority entrepreneurship](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-requests-information-on-strategies-to-support-social-and-economic-mobility-through-workforce-development-minority-entrepreneurship/) - The Kresge Foundation has released a Request for Information to gain a stronger understanding of the current and unmet demand for grant and social investment forms of capital to support social and economic mobility through workforce development and minority entrepreneurship. Through this RFI, the Foundation seeks to learn more about: Capital solutions that advance and
- [Kresge launches Culture of Justice, a new initiative to reimagine community justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-launches-culture-of-justice-a-new-initiative-to-reimagine-community-justice/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today the creation of Culture of Justice, a $1.2 million initiative that seeks to ignite new approaches to community justice. This national initiative – a joint effort of Kresge’s Arts & Culture Program, the Boys and Men of Color Working Group and the Human Services Program – will center around a
- [Trump administration’s decision to exclude climate change in infrastructure planning compromises progress](https://kresge.org/news-views/trump-administrations-decision-to-exclude-climate-change-in-infrastructure-planning-compromises-progress/) - The Trump administration proposed today a new rule that would make significant changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including excluding consideration of climate change in infrastructure planning. If the administration moves forward with this new rule, federal agencies would no longer have to take the impacts of climate change into account when assessing
- [2019 Detroit Reinvestment Index shows continued confidence in city; report now led by Detroit Future City](https://kresge.org/news-views/2019-detroit-reinvestment-index-shows-continued-confidence-in-city-report-now-led-by-detroit-future-city/) - Detroit Future City Detroit Future City today released “The 2019 Detroit Reinvestment Index,” the results of an annual survey measuring what national business leaders think about Detroit. This fourth edition of the report reveals perceptions of Detroit are positive and continue to improve. For the first time in 2019, the survey also measured perceptions of
- [Kresge awards $1.5 million in grants to build climate resilience, improve health outcomes](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-awards-1-5-million-in-grants-to-build-climate-resilience-improve-health-outcomes/) - The Kresge Foundation awarded $1.5 million in grants to 15 community-based nonprofit organizations to advance policy solutions aimed at improving climate resilience and equitably reducing health risks in low-income communities in America’s cities. This investment in strengthening community-based leadership, one of three strategies outlined in Kresge’s Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) initiative, reinforces the
- [$30M Memphis Medical District Investment Fund to spur inclusive real estate development](https://kresge.org/news-views/30m-memphis-medical-district-investment-fund-to-spur-inclusive-real-estate-development/) - Memphis Medical District Collaborative, Pathway Lending, banks and private foundations partner to launch capital fund to finance transformative residential and mixed-use real estate development MEMPHIS – Pathway Lending and the Memphis Medical District Collaborative (MMDC), in partnership with First Horizon, Regions Bank, Truist, The Kresge Foundation and The Hyde Family Foundation, today announced the launch
- [Kresge’s Environment Program welcomes two new hires](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresges-environment-program-welcomes-two-new-hires/) - Yeou-Rong Jih and Alejandra Hernandez, two distinguished climate change advocates, are joining Kresge’s Environment Program team. In her new role at Kresge, Jih will serve as a program officer overseeing the Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) portfolio, which consists of more than 30 organizations working to advance equitable solutions to climate-related urban flooding.
- [Statement on the passing of former Kresge Board Chair Irene Hirano Inouye](https://kresge.org/news-views/statement-on-the-passing-of-former-kresge-board-chair-irene-hirano-inouye/) - Irene Hirano Inouye, whose distinguished career included serving as the founding president of the U.S.-Japan Council and as chair of The Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees, died Tuesday at the age of 71. Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson and Board Chair Elaine Rosen issued the following joint statement: Irene was a phenomenal addition to
- [Statement from Kresge Foundation CEO and President Rip Rapson on the life and career of the Honorable John Conyers](https://kresge.org/news-views/statement-from-kresge-foundation-ceo-and-president-rip-rapson-on-the-life-and-career-of-the-honorable-john-conyers/) - U.S. Rep. John Conyers served in Congress from 1965 to 2017. Congressman John Conyers leaves us with a better world for acts of legislation and leadership that are impressive even for someone with his tenure, more than a half century in office. He was a voice of the civil rights movement in the halls of
- [Students: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help](https://kresge.org/news-views/students-dont-be-afraid-to-ask-for-help/) - Leslie Flores City: Mesa, Arizona Title: Peer Coach, Dobson High School Leslie Flores is a 2019 graduate of Dobson High School in Mesa, Arizona, where she served as a FAFSA peer coach during the 2018-2019 school year. Dobson High School is in the Mesa Public Schools district, which recently won the National College Access Network’s
- [Kresge summer intern finds inspiration in foundation’s mission; ready to give back to wider community](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-summer-intern-finds-inspiration-in-foundations-mission-ready-to-give-back-to-wider-community/) - The Kresge Foundation recently kicked off the sixth year of its summer internship program after a break in 2020 due to COVID-19. Every summer Kresge welcomes a cohort of interns and fellows to work at the foundation for approximately 10 weeks. Internships are designed for undergraduate students, while fellowships are intended for graduate students. During
- [Kresge Foundation grants $5 million to 10 organizations advancing the social and economic mobility of families](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-grants-5-million-to-10-organizations-advancing-the-social-and-economic-mobility-of-families/) - The Kresge Foundation’s Human Services Program has awarded $5 million in grants to 10 human services organizations committed to advancing the social and economic mobility of children and families living with low incomes in America’s cities. These organizations will make up the second cohort of the foundation’s national Next Generation initiative. The Next Generation (NextGen)
- [EVOLVE framework provides model for integration of health and human services](https://kresge.org/news-views/evolve-framework-provides-model-for-integration-of-health-and-human-services/) - Across the United States and around the world, many organizations are attempting to integrate once siloed health and human services and systems due to the many benefits integration provides. However, many integration efforts have stalled – and some have failed – because the work is long and challenging, and partners don’t always reflect on the
- [Kresge Foundation receives Education Commission of the States award for Marygrove P-20 project](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-receives-education-commission-of-the-states-award-for-marygrove-p-20-project/) - Education Commission of the States announced today that it is honoring The Kresge Foundation with its 2021 Corporate Award, in recognition of the foundation’s groundbreaking efforts to place comprehensive education at the center of a revitalization of a northwest Detroit neighborhood. The P-20 Cradle-to-Career Campus at Marygrove sits on the 53-acre site of the former
- [Meet the 20 new Kresge Artist Fellows and 10 Gilda Award winners](https://kresge.org/news-views/meet-30-new-kresge-artist-fellows-and-gilda-award-winners/) - A group of 30 artists from across metro Detroit are the latest to share $550,000 in Kresge Artist Fellowships and Gilda Emerging Artist Awards. The awards were announced today by the Kresge Arts in Detroit office at the College for Creative Studies, which administers them on behalf of The Kresge Foundation. Last year, in recognition
- [Kresge brings on new officers on Education, Communications teams](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-brings-on-new-officers-on-education-communications-teams/) - Ashley Johnson, Ph.D., joined The Kresge Foundation as an Education team program officer this month, and the foundation’s External Affairs & Communications team welcomed Tracey Pearson to its ranks as a communications officer. Johnson joins the foundation after a distinguished run as the founding executive director of the Detroit College Access Network (DCAN), an organization
- [$2M grant supports Georgia State University's National Institute for Student Success](https://kresge.org/news-views/2m-grant-supports-georgia-state-universitys-national-institute-for-student-success/) - The Kresge Foundation Education Program has provided a $2 million grant to Georgia State University's National Institute for Student Success (NISS) to support its implementation phase, including start-up and endowment capital. The NISS will work with colleges and universities to help them implement data-centered, technology-driven and evidence-based systems to increase college access and completion. A
- [South African higher ed partner Inyathelo receives $225,000 Kresge grant, closing 15-year partnership](https://kresge.org/news-views/south-african-higher-ed-partner-inyathelo-receives-225000-kresge-grant-closing-15-year-partnership/) - The Kresge Foundation Education Program has granted $225,000 over two years to Inyathelo to fund core operating expenses, capping a highly successful long-term partnership between the two organizations. In the last 15 years, Kresge granted $17.3 million to Inyathelo to support higher education advancement. This support enabled Inyathelo and its higher education partners to develop and
- [Commentary: A new report lays bare Detroit’s economic inequities. It’s up to us to act.](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-a-new-report-lays-bare-detroits-economic-inequities-its-up-to-us-to-act/) - Detroit Future City, a longtime Kresge partner, recently released The State of Economic Equity in Detroit, a comprehensive data report outlining the deep disparities and systemic inequality that persist in Detroit and the region, and proposing recommendations that will provide a path to prosperity for all residents in Detroit and the region. This commentary is
- [New Economy Initiative announces $1.2 million Kresge grant for 6 CDOs, 25 small businesses in Detroit’s commercial corridors](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-economy-initiative-announces-1-2-million-kresge-grant-for-6-cdos-25-small-businesses-in-detroits-commercial-corridors/) - The New Economy Initiative (NEI) today announced a $1.2 million grant from The Kresge Foundation for a new Anchor Business Grant Program, aiming to impact underserved small businesses and communities located in key commercial corridors in Detroit. The program will provide grant support and practical assistance to 25 anchor businesses located in six commercial corridors
- [Rapson: Pulse nightclub shooting anniversary reminds us that fuller protections for LGBTQ+ community still needed](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-pulse-nightclub-shooting-anniversary-reminds-us-that-fuller-protections-for-lgbtq-community-still-needed/) - Five years ago this past Saturday, a single gunman entered Pulse nightclub in Orlando on “Latin Night” at 2:00 a.m. and started shooting. He left 49 dead and 53 others wounded. President Biden put the tragedy into perspective when he wrote: “Five years ago, we suffered the deadliest attack affecting the LGBTQ+ community in our
- [2020 annual report report on Kresge's racial justice grantmaking available now](https://kresge.org/news-views/2020-annual-report-report-on-kresges-racial-justice-grantmaking-available-now/) - 'Our Common Purpose' highlights longstanding commitment to racial justice and showcases partners' response to a tumultuous year through video stories  The Kresge Foundation’s 2020 Annual Report, “Our Common Purpose: Centering Racial Justice in Kresge's Work,” is out today and acknowledges that expanding opportunity in America’s cities cannot happen without racial justice – the overturning
- [New report from Detroit Future City outlines region’s disparities, inequalities and proposes solutions](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-report-from-detroit-future-city-outlines-regions-disparities-inequalities-and-proposes-solutions/) - Detroit Future City (DFC) released today “The State of Economic Equity in Detroit,” a comprehensive data report outlining the deep disparities and systemic inequality that persist in Detroit and the region, and proposing recommendations that will provide a path to prosperity for all residents in Detroit and the region. The report illustrates that, as Detroit
- [Kresge awards $2.1 million in grants to boost vaccination efforts, address health disparities](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-awards-2-1-million-in-grants-to-boost-vaccination-efforts-address-health-disparities/) - The Kresge Foundation has awarded $2.1 million in grant funding to organizations in Detroit and across the country to further support COVID-19 response and recovery activities, boost vaccination rates and address health disparities. Included in this total are $822,773 in new one-year grants to 18 local health departments that participated in Kresge’s Emerging Leaders in
- [Eight Black-led Community Development Organizations in New Orleans share $750,000 from new foundation-backed fund](https://kresge.org/news-views/eight-black-led-new-orleans-nonprofits-share-750000-from-new-foundation-backed-fund/) - Enterprise Community Partners (Enterprise) has launched the New Orleans Community Development Organization (CDO) Fund, an initiative that will provide critical operating support to Black-led New Orleans nonprofits that serve as anchors of the city’s neighborhoods. Eight local organizations will share the CDO Fund’s first $750,000 in philanthropic funding, using it to enhance their work and
- [Statement from Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson on the retirement of Gilda Jacobs](https://kresge.org/news-views/statement-from-kresge-president-and-ceo-rip-rapson-on-the-retirement-of-gilda-jacobs/) - Gilda Z. Jacobs’ tenure as the head of the Michigan League for Public Policy has been so influential that it is tempting to think that she has been, and will be, there forever. But she hasn’t been, and she announced this week she won’t be. She is stepping down after a decade of service –
- [Kresge commits $2 million for vaccine efforts, health equity in Detroit neighborhoods](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-commits-2-million-for-vaccine-efforts-health-equity-in-detroit-neighborhoods/) - The Kresge Foundation today announced $1 million to bolster vaccine access and health equity through Detroit’s community health centers, community development organizations and human service agencies. The foundation is also committing to an additional $1 million in vaccination support grants in Detroit in the coming weeks. “COVID-19 is not over, especially in Black and Brown
- [Justice system reform projects receive over $2 million from joint philanthropy fund](https://kresge.org/news-views/justice-system-reform-projects-receive-over-2-million-in-support-from-joint-philanthropy-fund/) - A group of national and local foundations today announced over $2 million in support to 12 organizations through the Michigan Justice Fund, an initiative designed to address inequities in the criminal justice system throughout the state. The Michigan Justice Fund was established in early 2020 to assist groups working to advance effective and equitable justice
- [New Collaborative announces grants to improve postsecondary transfer pathways in LA County](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-collaborative-announces-grants-to-improve-postsecondary-transfer-pathways-in-la-county/) - Education funders, including Kresge, pool resources to improve student outcomes among 2 CSU campuses and 8 community colleges LOS ANGELES – Funders with the Los Angeles Postsecondary Education Funders Collaborative today announced its first joint initiative, Transfer Success LA, which includes two grants to improve transfer pathways between two California State University (CSU) campuses and
- [Rapson: Acknowledging the horror of the Tulsa Race Massacre is only a first step to addressing racial reconciliation](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-acknowledging-the-horror-of-the-tulsa-race-massacre-is-only-a-first-step-to-addressing-racial-reconciliation/) - As President Biden commemorated through his trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma this afternoon, today we observe the 100th anniversary of one of the most despicable and brutal mass killings in the nation’s history: the Tulsa Race Massacre. Over an 18-hour period on May 31st and June 1st, some 300 Black citizens of the Greenwood community were
- [Evaluation is moment to look back and ahead for Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/evaluation-is-moment-to-look-back-and-ahead-for-kresge-innovative-projects-detroit/) - Commissioned by Kresge’s Department of Strategic Learning, Research and Evaluation and Kresge’s Detroit Program, the University of Michigan School of Social Work’s Program Evaluation Group (PEG) recently released an evaluation of the Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit initiative. This commentary initially appeared as an introduction to that report. Six years ago this spring, Kresge’s President Rip
- [Evaluation finds Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit fosters quality of life, community cohesion](https://kresge.org/news-views/evaluation-finds-kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-fosters-quality-of-life-community-cohesion/) - Since its launch in 2014, Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit (KIP:D) has made six rounds of grants, 127 grants in all, across the city to plan and implement transformative neighborhood projects that reflect residents’ priorities. The initiative has distributed $11.1 million to organizations, complemented by $1.5 million in technical assistance in partnership with Michigan Community Resources.
- [Q&A: Minneapolis artist D.A. Bullock re-envisions a collective future of accountability and care](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-minneapolis-artist-d-a-bullock-re-envisions-a-collective-future-of-accountability-and-care/) - Editor’s note: This Q&A feature is part of a series of articles highlighting 10 Minneapolis artists who turned to their community to create a ripple effect of connection, healing and joy following George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent uprisings. Click here to read additional articles in the series. In the summer of 2020, the Office of
- [Q&A: Minneapolis city leaders partner with artists to provide 10 community healing projects](https://kresge.org/news-views/as-minneapolis-continues-to-see-a-surge-in-unrest-city-leaders-partner-with-artists-to-provide-10-community-healing-projects/) - Q&A with Gülgün Kayim, director of the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy with the City of Minneapolis Editor’s note: This Q&A feature is part of a series of articles highlighting 10 Minneapolis artists who turned to their community to create a ripple effect of connection, healing and joy following George Floyd’s murder
- [Rapson: Reflecting on George Floyd’s murder and the continued pursuit of full racial justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-reflecting-on-george-floyds-murder-and-the-continued-pursuit-of-full-racial-justice/) - Philanthropy, in all forms, matters, and seven other lessons from the past year It is one year today since former police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd. Over the course of that year, the murder has precipitated a full spectrum of response and emotion. It ignited outpourings of anger, outrage and protest. It accelerated energies
- [Q and A with Kresge's new Health Program Officer Erica Browne](https://kresge.org/news-views/q-and-a-with-kresges-new-health-program-officer-erica-browne-2/) - Kresge's Health Program recently welcomed Erica Browne as a new program officer. Browne, who most recently served as a faculty affiliate with the California Initiative for Health Equity and Action, will support the team’s work to advance community-driven solutions and build equity-focused systems of health that create opportunities for all people to achieve well-being. Communications
- [Health institutions, practitioners play important role in addressing climate, health and equity challenges](https://kresge.org/news-views/health-institutions-practitioners-play-important-role-in-addressing-climate-health-and-equity-challenges/) - The health care sector alone is responsible for 8.5 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. That means there is a critical role for hospitals and health systems to play in reducing the pollution that causes climate change. In two new vignettes from grantee partners in Kresge’s Climate Change, Health & Equity initiative, America’s Essential
- [New NCRC report affirms small businesses help maintain cultural identity of communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-report-affirms-small-businesses-help-maintain-cultural-identity-of-communities/) - In a new report from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, 10 Black business owners in historically Black neighborhoods discuss the cultural significance of small businesses and how they have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on communities in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland, researchers shared these key takeaways: Small businesses help maintain the cultural
- [New Economy Initiative announces $19.5M fund to strengthen inclusive small business support network in wake of pandemic](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-economy-initiative-announces-19-5m-fund-to-strengthen-inclusive-small-business-support-network-in-wake-of-pandemic/) - The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan today announced a new $19.5 million fund that will strengthen an inclusive network of nonprofits supporting small businesses in Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park and other Wayne County communities.. This network business support organizations (BSOs) provides small businesses with inclusive access to capital, practical assistance, information and trusted connections to
- [Partner Spotlight: Committing to college during a global pandemic](https://kresge.org/news-views/partner-spotlight-committing-to-college-during-a-global-pandemic/) - For the Class of 2021, the last year has looked a little different (to put it mildly). College interviews were held on Zoom, campuses were toured virtually and many of the students we work with at Bottom Line are committing to schools they have never physically set foot on. Despite these ambiguities, hundreds of degree-aspiring
- [Donors of Color Network launches climate pledge to shift millions to groups led by people of color](https://kresge.org/news-views/donors-of-color-network-launches-climate-funders-justice-pledge-to-shift-millions-to-environmental-justice-groups-led-by-people-of-color/) - The Kresge Foundation joined the campaign created to challenge the nation’s top funders to be more transparent with where their U.S. climate dollars go, and to commit at least 30 percent of U.S. funding to Black, Indigenous and people of color-led groups. New York, NY – Donors of Color Network – the first ever cross-racial
- [New resources from Nemours Integrator Learning Lab provide insights, action tools for population health networks](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-resources-from-nemours-integrator-learning-lab-provide-insights-action-tools-for-population-health-networks/) - As part of its Exploring the Roles & Functions of Health Systems within Population Health Integrator Networks initiative funded by The Kresge Foundation, Nemours Children's Health System recently released a collection of resources from its 2020 Integrator Learning Lab, including findings and recommendations, tools for action and videos featuring reflections and insights from network leaders. The collection includes: Content
- [Rapson: Detroit RiverWalk exemplifies what we can achieve together](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-detroit-riverwalk-exemplifies-what-we-can-achieve-together/) - Change begins with impatience … but it comes to fruition only with persistence. We’re seeing that today as the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy breaks ground on the Uniroyal site, the last stretch of the Detroit RiverWalk needed to extend it east from the former Joe Louis Arena site clear to Gabriel Richard Park. That will, in
- [Scenic Route guide provides 8 ways artists contribute to equity-driven transportation projects](https://kresge.org/news-views/scenic-route-guide-provides-8-ways-artists-contribute-to-equity-driven-transportation-projects/) - Smart Growth America and Transportation for America have unveiled a newly updated guide for transportation planners, public works agencies and local elected officials who are on the front lines of advancing transportation projects and want to collaborate with artists. The new Scenic Route guide provides eight common approaches used in exemplary transportation projects that intentionally
- [Kresge signs Disability Inclusion Pledge, commits to moving toward an inclusive future](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-signs-disability-inclusion-pledge-commits-to-moving-toward-an-inclusive-future/) - In the United States, 61 million people live with a disability. But disability isn’t just a statistic; it’s part of the human experience. People with disabilities are our family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, community members...perhaps even you. If the philanthropic sector is to advance social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, then it’s time for foundations to
- [Decades after I-81 wrought destruction, Syracuse forum opens community dialogue on social and economic justice in redevelopment](https://kresge.org/news-views/decades-after-i-81-wrought-destruction-syracuse-forum-opens-community-dialogue-on-social-and-economic-justice-in-redevelopment/) - More than half a century after its construction wreaked havoc on Black neighborhoods in Syracuse, the I-81 stretch of the U.S. interstate system is due for replacement by the state of New York. Meanwhile, a separate effort titled Blueprint 15 seeks to redevelop public housing in a nearby historically Black and low-income neighborhood. What comes
- [Strong relationships pave the way for vaccination success in Lubbock](https://kresge.org/news-views/strong-relationships-pave-the-way-for-vaccination-success-in-lubbock/) - In the early days of the pandemic, Lubbock, Texas was hit hard – in fact, in October 2020, it had the 10th highest COVID-19 case rate in the nation. Fast forward to today, it now ranks near the top among the most vaccinated populations in the state. Kresge Emerging Leaders in Public Health grantee partners
- [Health insurers have the means, moral obligation to invest in affordable housing and improve health](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-health-insurers-have-the-means-moral-obligation-to-invest-in-affordable-housing-and-improve-health/) - It’s been more than one year since COVID-19 appeared, yet families across the nation and the U.S. health care system are still straining under the weight of yet another surge in cases. While vaccine testing, development and even administration are underway, it is still difficult to imagine our daily lives, health care system and economy
- [Rapson: Walter Mondale was 'a public figure of such transcendent decency and compassion'](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-walter-mondale-was-a-public-figure-of-such-transcendent-decency-and-compassion/) - The nation lost an extraordinarily good and important public servant Monday. Walter Mondale – state of Minnesota attorney general, United States senator, vice-president, Democratic nominee for president – was one of the pillars of a period of Minnesota politics that was remarkable for its integrity, competence and accomplishment. Mondale was a close friend and protégé
- [An "Earth Day Score" for resilience, a 22-song playlist by US Water Alliance Artist-in-Residence Benny Starr](https://kresge.org/news-views/an-earth-day-score-for-resilience-22-song-playlist-by-us-water-alliance-artist-in-residence-benny-starr/) - Benny Starr, US Water Alliance Artist-in-Residence and Grist 50 Fixer, offers An Earth Day Score playlist to help us reflect on the longstanding connection between arts, music and environmental protection. This 22-song collection of soul, jazz and hip-hop was created to celebrate Earth Day and encourage us to find the wellbeing of people, the sustainability
- [Kresge joins listeners to fund new transmitter for Detroit's NPR station, WDET](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-joins-listeners-to-fund-new-transmitter-for-detroits-npr-station-wdet/) - The Kresge Foundation and WDET — Detroit’s NPR station — today announced a foundation grant to replace the station’s aging and failing transmitter to ensure over-the-air broadcasts for years to come. Station general manager Mary Zatina said that Kresge’s grant of $150,000 complements more than one thousand donations, large and small,raised from generous WDET listeners
- [Rapson: Latest headlines provide glimpse of the unresolved issues the Chauvin verdict raises](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-latest-headlines-provide-glimpse-of-the-unresolved-issues-the-chauvin-verdict-raises/) - In the midst of the extraordinary waterfall of commentary, celebration and prognostication following the conviction of Derek Chauvin, a remarkable set of headlines jumped off the page of The New York Times. They struck me as an uncannily accurate snapshot of the lingering unresolved and underlying issues the verdict raises, all interconnected in a complex
- [New report examines role of arts and culture in fostering social cohesion, community well-being](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-report-examines-the-role-of-arts-and-culture-in-fostering-social-cohesion-and-community-well-being/) - Social cohesion is a basic requirement of healthy communities, especially now since the COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted trauma and exposed social, racial, and health inequities across the country. A new report published today, WE-Making: How Arts & Culture Unite People to Work Toward Community Well-Being, shows that place-based arts and cultural practices, or creative placemaking,
- [Rapson: Any other verdict would have been a travesty, but work for full justice continues](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-any-other-verdict-would-have-been-a-travesty-but-work-for-full-justice-continues/) - The verdict was returned in a matter of hours. Warp-speed by American justice system standards. After two weeks and three dozen witnesses, we have affirmed that killing a Black man lying on the pavement in handcuffs by putting one’s full weight on his neck for nearly ten minutes constitutes murder. Anything else would have been
- [23 cities, states receive grants to combat COVID-19-related postsecondary enrollment decline](https://kresge.org/news-views/23-cities-states-receive-grants-to-combat-postsecondary-enrollment-decline/) - NCAN announced today 23 states and cities awarded grants as part of a Kresge-supported effort to ensure the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t derail the college-going plans for the high school classes of 2020 and 2021. The grants, totaling $1.6 million, address the historic and inequitable disruptions for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds with
- [With $2.4M, Kresge backs NCAN efforts to reverse COVID’s effect on postsecondary enrollment](https://kresge.org/news-views/with-2-4m-kresge-backs-ncan-efforts-to-reverse-covids-effect-on-postsecondary-enrollment/) - UPDATE 4/15/21: See the grant award winners here The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) announced today two new grant programs funded by Kresge’s Education Program designed to help mitigate the pandemic-related slide in college enrollment. Studies show the number of new high school graduates applying for financial aid and enrolling directly into postsecondary education has
- [Kresge welcomes new staff members on Health, Social Investment teams](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-welcomes-new-staff-members-on-health-social-investment-teams/) - Today, the Kresge Foundation announced the addition of two new Program staff members: Health Program Officer Erica L. Browne and Social Investment Officer Erika Brice. Browne’s career has centered on bridging clinical and community linkages, and she brings a deep understanding of the impact of racism on population health to Kresge’s Health Program. “With the
- [Jennifer Bradley joins Kresge's American Cities Program as senior fellow](https://kresge.org/news-views/jennifer-bradley-joins-kresges-american-cities-program-as-senior-fellow/) - Preeminent thought leader on urban issues to heighten the program’s support for city innovators working towards an inclusive economy and shared prosperity Jennifer Bradley, one of the nation’s foremost experts on urban innovation, economic inclusion and shared growth in cities, is joining the American Cities Program as a senior fellow. “Jennifer’s skillset and impact are
- [New digital platform connects Northwest Detroiters to vital resources](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-digital-platform-connects-northwest-detroiters-to-vital-resources/) - Residents in several Northwest Detroit neighborhoods are now able to reach an innovative and dynamic directory of support services — from housing to childcare to job training — on their phones, laptops and desktop computers through the efforts of Detroit's Live6 Alliance and the social technology nonprofit Alluma. Alluma, which works to transform the country’s
- [Reexamining history: The roots of structural and institutional racism in the U.S.](https://kresge.org/news-views/reexamining-history-the-roots-of-structural-and-institutional-racism-in-the-u-s/) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX_Vzl-r8NY Picture four runners lined up on a track, ready to race. With the crack of the starting pistol, they take off. Two white runners sprint ahead, their path clear. However, for the two other runners, both people of color, obstacles spring up that impede their progress. A gate prevents them from even starting the
- [Valdes Lupi: Nation needs to make long-term investment in public health and prevention](https://kresge.org/news-views/valdes-lupi-nation-needs-to-make-long-term-investment-in-public-health-and-prevention/) - What will public health look like in 2030? In June 2014, The Kresge Foundation partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Institute for Alternative Futures to tackle that question in a report, Public Health 2030: A Scenario Exploration. This report offered four alternative scenarios for the future of public health and a series
- [Moving beyond equity to become an anti-racist health department: lessons from Tacoma-Pierce County](https://kresge.org/news-views/moving-beyond-equity-to-become-an-anti-racist-health-department-lessons-from-tacoma-pierce-county/) - Everyone should have the opportunity to achieve good health. However, a legacy of systemic racism has resulted in significant health disparities for Black, Indigenous and other people of color in cities all around the country. They experience poorer birth outcomes, have higher rates of chronic disease and die younger than their white counterparts. They are
- [Kresge salutes CFSEM President Mariam Noland on the announcement of her retirement](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-salutes-cfsem-president-mariam-noland-on-the-announcement-of-her-retirement/) - Mariam Noland has spent almost two generations in dedication to improving virtually every dimension of life in southeast Michigan. From creating a vehicle to fund and administer a regional system of greenways to ensuring the long-term viability of arts and cultural institutions. From jump-starting a seminal conversation about how philanthropy could help foster greater entrepreneurship
- [University of Orange provides music-making as a creative tool to help communities heal from collective trauma](https://kresge.org/news-views/university-of-orange-provides-music-making-as-a-creative-tool-to-help-communities-heal-from-collective-trauma/) - Artists and creatives have played a key role in advancing public health messaging during the COVID-19 pandemic and the national movement for racial justice – two crises that continue to impact the physical and mental health of many people. Residents in the most vulnerable communities are no stranger to health crises or the racist structures
- [Mixed Blood Theatre shares 30-year history of using art to advance health equity  ](https://kresge.org/news-views/mixed-blood-theatre-shares-30-year-history-of-using-art-to-advance-health-equity/) - View a 30-year timeline of Mixed Blood Theatre’s customized plays and trainings focused on access to quality health care. An increasing number of artists and creatives are leading efforts that contribute to health equity and collective recovery in communities. They are working to raise community members’ and government officials’ understanding of challenges in the healthcare
- [Advancing Racial Justice: 5 Practices to Adopt from Arts and Culture Organizations](https://kresge.org/news-views/advancing-racial-justice-5-practices-to-adopt-from-arts-and-culture-organizations/) - Editor's note: This op-ed was originally published by Next City. In the wake of a tumultuous year, many are newly aware of the structural racism at the root of American society. Across the nation, businesses, nonprofits and other institutions are seeking to identify and dismantle racist structures and practices. It’s a daunting task. Fortunately, we
- [Kresge stands in solidarity with the AAPI community in fighting for racial justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-stands-in-solidarity-with-the-aapi-community-in-fighting-for-racial-justice/) - Once more, the tragedy of violent death requires us to come together and reaffirm the values we seek to live by. Tuesday night, in just over an hour, a lone, white gunman in the Atlanta area shot and killed eight individuals – seven were women, six of the women were Asian Americans – at three
- [Shift in strategy leads to new focus on community investment for health equity for Health Program](https://kresge.org/news-views/shift-in-strategy-leads-to-new-focus-on-community-investment-for-health-equity-for-health-program/) - In cities around the country, institutions like health systems, health plans and universities have substantial resources, including purchasing power, employment opportunities, land and treasuries that they can bring to bear in helping to solve local challenges. Since 2017, The Kresge Foundation's Health Program has been working to encourage these institutions to use those resources and
- [Southeast Michigan to benefit from $1.6 million in conservation grants that will improve community & habitat resilience](https://kresge.org/news-views/southeast-michigan-to-benefit-from-1-6-million-in-conservation-grants-that-will-improve-community-habitat-resilience/) - Kresge joins partners to fund seven projects that will reduce stormwater impact, improve water quality, enhance habitat and increase accessibility and usability of public green space DETROIT (March 16, 2021) – Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund partners today announced seven projects selected to receive $1.6 million in grant funding to benefit communities and wildlife habitats in southeast Michigan. The
- [New fund, backed by Kresge, encourages higher education institutions to pursue partnerships, collaborations](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-fund-backed-by-kresge-encourages-higher-education-institutions-to-pursue-partnerships-collaborations/) - Transformational Partnerships Fund aims to help colleges and universities hardest hit by economy and COVID As institutions of higher education adapt to the pressures brought on by a slow economic recovery, COVID-19, demographic and technological changes, and other factors affecting revenues and enrollment, a new fund launching today aims to help them better serve students
- [Kresge Social Investment Practice adds Chris Cox as portfolio manager](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-social-investment-practice-adds-chris-cox-as-portfolio-manager/) - The Kresge Foundation’s Social Investment Practice welcomed Chris Cox to its team this week as its portfolio manager. Cox comes to Kresge after a career in community development finance. He most recently served as chief financial officer at the Lansing-based Cinnaire Corporation, where he spent 25 years. He brings to Kresge a wealth of experience
- [Advancing health equity for urban American Indian and Alaska Natives: Q&A with Francys Crevier](https://kresge.org/news-views/advancing-health-equity-for-urban-american-indian-and-alaska-natives-qa-with-francys-crevier/) - Today, most American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) in the United States live in cities, and they have unique health needs. The National Council of Urban Indian Health, a Kresge grantee partner, is the only national organization devoted to the support and development of quality, accessible, and culturally competent health services for AI/ANs living in
- [Kresge issues $4.5 million guarantee to ensure housing nonprofit is ready to help Detroiters facing eviction](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-issues-4-5-million-guarantee-to-ensure-housing-nonprofit-is-ready-to-help-detroiters-facing-eviction/) - Backed by Kresge and Lake Trust Credit Union, United Community Housing Coalition is equipped, but state logjam keeping millions at bay TROY, Mich -- The federal government allocated more than $600 million through the CARES Act to Michigan to help renters facing eviction. And Michiganders need the help. Estimates show that just in Detroit, tens
- [Kresge partners share 8 ways to advance racial justice through culture and creative practices](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-eight-opportunities-to-advance-racial-justice-through-culture-and-creative-practices-insights-from-kresge-grantees/) - Editor’s note: Lori Bartczak, Walter Howell and Carla Taylor of Community Wealth Partners contributed to this story. When community planning and development is done equitably, it embodies the culture and voices of the people who live in the community and focuses on racial justice. This is a core principle of The Kresge Foundation’s Arts &
- [Michelle Perron joins Kresge as new director of the executive office](https://kresge.org/news-views/michelle-perron-joins-kresge-as-new-director-of-the-executive-office/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today that Michelle Perron joined the foundation as director of the executive office. In her new role, Perron will work closely with Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson and direct special projects on behalf of the foundation’s executive office. Perron will also serve as the staff liaison to Kresge’s Board of
- [Kresge ELPH grantee partner named to federal COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-elph-grantee-partner-named-to-federal-covid-19-health-equity-task-force/) - The Health Program Team congratulates Kresge grantee partner Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive for the State of Michigan and chief deputy director for health in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on her appointment by the Biden-Harris administration to serve on the federal COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. Chaired by Dr. Marcella
- [Kresge awards more than $1 million in grant funding to support Equitable Food Oriented Development efforts in eight cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-awards-more-than-1-million-in-grant-funding-to-support-equitable-food-oriented-development-efforts-in-eight-cities/) - Through an equity-based process designed and led by the Equitable Food Oriented Development (EFOD) Collaborative, the Kresge Foundation has awarded $1.065 million in grant funding to eight organizations that are building Equitable Food Oriented Development projects in their communities. Equitable Food Oriented Development is a development strategy that uses food and agriculture to create economic
- [Kresge Senior Fellow Phyllis Meadows named to Michigan Council on Climate Solutions](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-senior-fellow-phyllis-meadows-named-to-michigan-council-on-climate-solutions/) - Phyllis Meadows, Ph.D., senior fellow with Kresge’s Health Program, has been named by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as one of 14 members of the state’s new Council on Climate Solutions. The governor created the council in 2020 through an executive order as an advisory body in the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy.
- [Onward: CCHE grantees reflect on 2020 challenges, look ahead to new opportunities](https://kresge.org/news-views/onward-cche-grantees-reflect-on-2020-challenges-look-ahead-to-new-opportunities/) - Last year was full of challenges, both anticipated and unexpected for grantees in The Kresge Foundation's Climate Change, Health and Equity initiative, particularly those who are engaged in work at the community level to address equity and health challenges exacerbated by climate change. 2020 vividly demonstrated not only the clear and inextricable links between climate
- [Statement from Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson on the passing of Charles McGee, the first Kresge Eminent Artist in 2008](https://kresge.org/news-views/statement-from-kresge-president-and-ceo-rip-rapson-on-the-passing-of-charles-mcgee-the-first-kresge-eminent-artist-in-2008/) - Detroit artist and 2008 Kresge Eminent Artist Charles McGee died Thursday at the age of 96. Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson issued the following statement: Charles McGee’s influence on Detroit looms as large as his towering downtown murals — he literally beckons us to look up from the everyday, the humdrum. His art
- [Q&A: Dr. Erin Wheeler of College Beyond describes a simple, but powerful model to support student success](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-dr-erin-wheeler-of-college-beyond-describes-a-simple-but-powerful-model-to-support-student-success/) - Dr. Erin Wheeler started her undergraduate studies with a passion for research and on a mission to cure AIDS and cancer. But as a Black student, she often wondered why she was the only person of color in high-achieving academic circles. This curiosity led her to research the cognitive skills that help students persist and
- [Neighborhood Investment Trusts are promising wealth-building models for residents in revitalizing communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/neighborhood-investment-trusts-are-promising-wealth-building-models-for-residents-in-revitalizing-communities/) - How can residents steer the course of market-driven development in their neighborhoods while also building wealth? Neighborhood Investment Trusts provide residents with tools to pool small-dollar investments into large-scale capital that can be invested in revitalizing properties in their communities. The Kresge Foundation’s American Cities Program is convening a network of community development organizations and
- [Detroiter Charles McGee named first-ever Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/news-views/detroiter-charles-mcgee-named-first-ever-kresge-eminent-artist/) - Hailed as a “father figure to generations of artists,” McGee has devoted much of his life to teaching and mentoring. TROY, Mich. – As Detroiter Charles McGee reflects on the legacy he would like to leave to the world at the denouement of his remarkable 75-year career in the visual arts, he asks simply to
- [City of Detroit kicks off Black History Month celebration with Kresge’s support](https://kresge.org/news-views/city-of-detroit-kicks-off-black-history-month-celebration-with-kresges-support/) - Detroit today kicks off a weeklong celebration of Black history and Black culture and a yearlong initiative to shine a spotlight on the city’s creative community while working to support that community as it struggles to survive the COVID-19 pandemic and recession. Both the Black History Month kick-off and the yearlong Undefeated campaign are led
- [Smith: Our responsibility to disrupt inequitable and unjust systems](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-our-responsibility-to-disrupt-inequitable-and-unjust-systems/) - In December 2020, Dr. Edward Smith, program officer with The Kresge Foundation’s Education Program joined a digital convening hosted by Brothers Empowered to Teach (BE2T) to celebrate recent grant awards. BE2T is a national organization committed to developing Black educators. Based in New Orleans, a Kresge focus city, BE2T received a $50,000 grant to strengthen
- [Shared Prosperity Partnership supports local leaders working to shape inclusive economies, equitable recoveries](https://kresge.org/news-views/shared-prosperity-partnership-supports-local-leaders-working-to-shape-inclusive-economies-equitable-recoveries/) - The COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest following George Floyd’s killing have magnified systemic barriers to opportunity facing too many Black, Brown and low-income communities in our country. An ever-widening racial wealth gap, housing insecurity and insufficient living wages, to name a few, stand in the way of inclusive growth in many U.S. cities. Shaping inclusive
- [Commentary: Helping cities advance just, equitable recoveries](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-helping-cities-advance-just-equitable-recoveries/) - Shared Prosperity Partnership offers guiding principles to help local leaders shape inclusive economies With co-author Marcela Montes Since April, more than 57.3 million workers have filed for unemployment insurance and an estimated 100,000 small businesses have permanently closed. Communities across the country are grappling with the economic fall-out of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is deepening economic disparities characteristic of
- [Using technological change to accelerate inclusion and shared prosperity in cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/using-technological-change-to-accelerate-inclusion-and-shared-prosperity-in-cities/) - Cecilia Muñoz, Kresge board member and vice president for public interest technology and local initiatives at New America, discussed the promise of technology with the Atlantic’s Senior Editor Ron Brownstein at the July 17 "Building Opportunity for All" event in San Francisco. Business, civic and community leaders gathered in San Francisco yesterday for the third
- [Renowned artist, educator and urban planner Theaster Gates to serve as advisory consultant for Marygrove campus planning](https://kresge.org/news-views/renowned-artist-educator-and-urban-planner-theaster-gates-to-serve-as-advisory-consultant-for-marygrove-campus-planning/) - Furthering its commitment to engage residents, creative practitioners and community advocates in an equitable Marygrove campus planning and neighborhood recovery process, The Kresge Foundation has announced a new partnership between Theaster Gates Studio and the Marygrove Conservancy. As part of the Foundation’s $30 million pledge in new grant funding to sharpen its focus on racial
- [Staff updates: Baumeister joins Grants Management team; Holliman and Williams promoted](https://kresge.org/news-views/grants-management-welcomes-mary-beth-baumeister-names-joyce-holliman-as-senior-grants-management-associate-michael-williams-promoted-to-detroit-program-officer/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today promotions and additions to its Grants Management department and Program team: Mary Beth Baumeister joined the foundation this month as Grants Manager, Joyce Holliman was promoted to Senior Grants Management Associate, and Michael Williams was promoted to Program Officer with the Detroit Program. In her role as Grants Manager, Baumeister
- [Painter and educator Shirley Woodson is named 2021 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/news-views/painter-and-educator-shirley-woodson-is-named-2021-kresge-eminent-artist/) - Figurative painter, tireless arts educator and advocate Shirley Woodson has been selected as the 2021 Kresge Eminent Artist. Woodson, 84, is the 13th metro Detroit artist to receive the award, one of Detroit’s most coveted cultural prizes. She is widely honored for devoting decades to broadening education and exhibition opportunities for generations of African American
- [U.S. sees launch of first guarantee pool for community development investments](https://kresge.org/news-views/u-s-sees-launch-of-first-guarantee-pool-for-community-development-investments/) - Today, backed by guarantee commitments from nine philanthropic organizations across the United States, a nonprofit lender and a large health care system, the Community Investment Guarantee Pool (the Pool) announced its formation. Guarantees are unfunded commitments from an organization’s endowment that offer risk mitigation. The Pool, with guarantee commitments totaling $33.1 million, is a new tool
- [A better quality of life for New Orleans students](https://kresge.org/news-views/a-better-quality-of-life-for-new-orleans-students/) - Last fall Kresge’s Education Program awarded $1.2 million in grants to help colleges and transit agencies identify, address and evaluate transportation solutions for students. Dillard University received a planning grant to lead a partnership of transit agencies and fellow New Orleans-based colleges, Delgado Community College and the University of New Orleans. Together, the partners are identifying low-cost
- [Fukuzawa: Reflections on a career of service to the community](https://kresge.org/news-views/fukuzawa-reflections-on-a-career-of-service-to-the-community/) - Former Health Program Managing Director David Fukuzawa shares his hope for the future In September 2020, David D. Fukuzawa retired as managing director of The Kresge Foundation's Health Program and transitioned to a new role as special advisor to the president. In the conversation below, he shares his reflections on his career, thoughts on the field of philanthropy and
- [Kresge Social Investment Practice adds Tosha Tabron as new Social Investment Officer and names Joe Evans Portfolio Director](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-social-investment-practice-adds-tosha-tabron-as-new-social-investment-officer-and-names-joe-evans-portfolio-director/) - Tosha Tabron will join The Kresge Foundation as a social investment officer focused on Detroit and other national programs, and Joe Evans has been named the foundation’s portfolio director and a social investment officer. Kresge’s Social Investment Practice, led by Managing Director Aaron Seybert, actively manages a pool of $350 million, which is invested to
- [Building Health: Lessons from seven years of the Healthy Futures Fund](https://kresge.org/news-views/building-health-lessons-from-seven-years-of-the-healthy-futures-fund/) - This article, authored by Carol Cahill, communication and analytics consultant, Center for Community Health and Evaluation, Chris Kabel, senior fellow, Kresge Health Program, and Emily Bourcier, senior evaluation and learning consultant, Center for Community Health and Evaluation, was first published in the Grantwatch blog from the journal Health Affairs. Where we live matters. Over the
- [Zenna Elhasan named Kresge General Counsel; Neesha Modi promoted to Director of Program and Social Investment Operations](https://kresge.org/news-views/zenna-elhasan-named-kresge-general-counsel-neesha-modi-promoted-to-director-of-program-and-social-investment-operations/) - The Kresge Foundation announced today two staff promotions: Zenna Elhasan to General Counsel and Neesha Modi to Director of Program and Social Investment Operations. Elhasan joined Kresge in 2018. She advises the foundation on legal matters, supports the development and enforcement of foundation policies and practices and manages outside counsel relationships. In her new role
- [Rapson: Capitol siege should compel all to make fortifying democracy a priority](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-capitol-siege-should-compel-all-to-make-fortifying-democracy-a-priority/) - The images of anarchists and terrorists that unfolded last week at the U.S. Capitol showcased an America that is undeniably a part of us. It’s one that has surfaced with alarming regularity throughout our history. Ibram Kendi spoke with our staff in late 2019 and reminded us that it has been an insidious element of
- [2021 Podcast list: Ease into a new year with these insightful listens](https://kresge.org/news-views/2021-podcast-list-ease-into-a-new-year-with-these-insightful-listens/) - As we look ahead to what 2021 will bring — vaccinations, hugs with loved ones, and a new political climate in America — we feel a sense of hope emerging. If you’re like us and want to cultivate that feeling, try out one or more of the following audio experiences. They include experts who spoke with our staff and helped
- [Rapson: Restoring decency and respect for norms is essential in 2021](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-restoring-decency-and-respect-for-norms-is-essential-in-2021/) - It is incomprehensible – but true – that the disgraceful and treasonous attack on our nation’s Capitol yesterday was instigated by the President of the United States. But Congress’ resolve to return to their ransacked chamber floors last night to fulfill their Constitutional obligation by certifying the election result illustrates the wisdom of the balance
- [Rapson: Courage, resilience and creativity defined 2020](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-courage-resilience-and-creativity-defined-2020/) - The annual holiday luncheon at Kresge has become an opportunity for our staff to explore with one another their reflections, good and bad, on the year past. It has become customary to mash up the serious and the irreverent, the hopeful and the sobering. This year, more than in any past, that admixture was important
- [Kresge veteran Sharon Zimmerman to retire](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-veteran-sharon-zimmerman-to-retire/) - Sharon Zimmerman, assistant to the president and director of Kresge’s Executive Office, will retire at the end of 2020. Zimmerman, who joined the foundation in 2005, helped shape and support major organizational changes, including its transition to a strategic philanthropy and the expansion of its mission to focus its work in American cities – including
- [Q&A: The Steve Fund offers guidance to help colleges promote positive mental health outcomes among students of color](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-the-steve-fund-offers-guidance-to-help-colleges-promote-positive-mental-health-outcomes-among-students-of-color/) - The Kresge Foundation Education Program connected with Dr. Annelle Primm, senior medical director for The Steve Fund. The COVID-19 pandemic upended learning routines for college students nationwide. For many students, decreases in predictable routines also meant increases in negative mental health outcomes. The mental health impacts of pandemic-related disruptions are especially pronounced among students of
- [New book offers framework to overhaul a higher education system that ‘perpetuates the gilded class’](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-book-offers-framework-to-overhaul-a-higher-education-system-that-perpetuates-the-gilded-class/) - "The Merit Myth: How Our Colleges Favor the Rich and Divide America" delivers a telling examination of the nation’s higher education system and explores how some colleges drive the inequities they are meant to remedy. The book’s authors Anthony P. Carnevale, Peter Schmidt and Jeff Strohl offer a framework for system-wide change. "The Merit Myth"
- [Q&A: Artist led engagement in Minneapolis brings community healing and connections](https://kresge.org/news-views/qa-artist-led-engagement-in-minneapolis-brings-community-healing-and-connections/) - By Teeko Yang, Project Manager of the City of Minneapolis’ Creative CityMaking Program Editor's note: This Q&A feature is part of a series of articles highlighting 10 Minneapolis artists who turned to their community to create a ripple effect of connection, healing and joy following George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent uprisings. This fall, the Office of
- [Q&A: Minneapolis artist creates outdoor barbershop to help community process grief through haircuts](https://kresge.org/news-views/creative-healing-through-haircuts-minneapolis-artist-creates-outdoor-barbershop-to-help-community-process-grief/) - By Teeko Yang, Project Manager of the City of Minneapolis’ Creative CityMaking Program Editor’s note: This Q&A feature is part of a series of articles highlighting 10 Minneapolis artists who turned to their community to create a ripple effect of connection, healing and joy following George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent uprisings. This fall, the Office of
- [There are many fronts to this fight for racial equity and justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/there-are-many-fronts-to-this-fight-for-racial-equity-and-justice/) - Editor's note: President Rip Rapson has written daily updates to staff through the COVID-19 pandemic. This collection of updates from May and June 2020 centered on George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. For many of us, these past weeks and months have been the most trying times of our lives. With the Kresge
- [Arkansas joins Strong Start to Finish behind Kresge grant](https://kresge.org/news-views/arkansas-joins-strong-start-to-finish-behind-kresge-grant/) - Strong Start to Finish (SSTF), a national initiative aimed at significantly increasing the number and proportion of low-income students, students of color and returning adults who succeed in college math and English, welcomes the addition of Strong Start Arkansas to its network of systems implementing developmental education reforms. The Kresge Foundation awarded the Arkansas Department
- [Inside Out & Outside In: Kresge's new annual report on equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/inside-out-outside-in-kresges-new-annual-report-on-equity/) - Examining racial equity's centrality to Kresge’s mission, work through stories, letters, and spotlight on our journey The Kresge Foundation is pleased to debut its 2019 Annual Report, entitled “Inside Out & Outside In – Equity: Organic to Our Mission.” The report explores Kresge’s willingness to transform itself and be transformed by others – equity moving
- [Virtual peer learning events offer grantees opportunity to engage, grow with one another](https://kresge.org/news-views/virtual-peer-learning-events-offer-grantees-opportunity-to-engage-grow-with-one-another/) - Every day, our grantee partners around the country work tirelessly to create change and help their communities thrive. Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten not only our health, but also the livelihood of millions of Americans, many of our grantees are supporting the needs of impacted communities with mutual aid while maintaining momentum
- [CREWS initiative takes on water systems, climate change and inequity](https://kresge.org/news-views/crews-initiative-takes-on-water-systems-climate-change-and-inequity/) - Series of recent articles, webinars and podcasts uplift efforts to transform urban stormwater and wastewater systems in communities of color The water industry and the communities it supports are beset with many problems when it comes to failing infrastructure and systems; but some have it worse than others. You could call it a triple threat.
- [Kresge supports national organizations to reinforce front-line racial justice work in cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-supports-national-organizations-to-reinforce-front-line-racial-justice-work-in-cities/) - The Kresge Foundation is committing more than $7 million in new grants to national organizations working in support of frontline racial justice and equity activism. These grants are part of $30 million in support for such work across the country. Recognizing that change is powered by mobilization in cities, these national investments strengthen the groundwork
- [Kresge commits $30M to support nearly 60 racial justice and community-led engagement and organizing efforts across U.S.](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-commits-30m-to-support-more-than-50-racial-justice-and-community-led-engagement-and-organizing-efforts-across-u-s/) - Grants to local and national organizations underscore long-term and enduring commitment to racial justice movement In a sweeping pledge to advance its long-term commitment to equity and opportunity, The Kresge Foundation announced $30 million in new grant commitments to support racial justice in cities across the United States. With investments in nearly 60 local and
- [Kresge grants support 20 Detroit efforts in fight for racial justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-grants-support-20-detroit-efforts-in-fight-for-racial-justice/) - More than $8 million for Detroit organizations is part of $30 million in Kresge commitments to racial justice grants across nation The Kresge Foundation today announced more than $8 million dollars in new grant commitments over the next three years to support racial justice in its hometown. This brings funding to 20 organizations and institutions
- [Rapson: Racial justice commitment represents a pivotal milestone for Kresge](https://kresge.org/news-views/rapson-racial-justice-commitment-represents-a-pivotal-milestone-for-kresge/) - Today, Kresge unveiled $30 million in new grant commitments to nearly 60 local and national organizations working to advance racial justice. This marks a pivotal institutional milestone. The scale and scope of this suite of grants underscore Kresge’s belief that the Foundation’s efforts to expand opportunity in American cities require that we directly, unambiguously, and
- [Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement takes two-pronged approach to center housing to achieve health equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/atlanta-regional-collaborative-for-health-improvement-takes-two-pronged-approach-to-center-housing-to-achieve-health-equity/) - Housing provides much more than a roof over our heads – it serves as the foundation for our overall health and well-being. Today, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep through our nation, where we live now matters more than ever before. But long before the COVID-19 crisis hit, millions of people with low incomes
- [Americans issue a powerful statement of hope for a new direction](https://kresge.org/news-views/americans-issue-a-powerful-statement-of-hope-for-a-new-direction/) - Well, the end of the four days that took seven years off of every American’s life – whether your tribe is red, blue, purple or some other entry on the color wheel – has come. So, too, has the phishing for evidence that would support lawsuits challenging the most remarkable acts of courage and professionalism
- [Statement from Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson on the passing of Naomi Long Madgett, the 2012 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/news-views/statement-from-kresge-president-and-ceo-rip-rapson-on-the-passing-of-naomi-long-madgett-the-2012-kresge-eminent-artist/) - Detroit poet and 2012 Kresge Eminent Artist Naomi Long Madgett has died at the age of 97. Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson issued the following statement: A dynamic force in the cultural life of Detroit, Kresge Eminent Artist Naomi Long Madgett was not only a brilliant and accomplished poet, but also an educator,
- [Two national foundations partner to improve racial, gender diversity and transparency in investment industry](https://kresge.org/news-views/two-national-foundations-partner-to-improve-racial-gender-diversity-and-transparency-in-investment-industry/) - Two national foundations have teamed up to systematically champion a more diverse, equitable and inclusive investment industry. The Kresge Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, based in metro-Detroit and Chicago, respectively, have partnered with financial technology firm Lenox Park Solutions to survey and assess the racial and gender diversity makeup of
- [ArtPlace America culminates a decade of Creative Placemaking work, launches new book “ArtPlace: 10 Years”](https://kresge.org/news-views/artplace-america-launches-new-book-artplace-10-years-culminating-a-decade-of-creative-placemaking-work/) - After 10 years of collaborating with a range of foundations, federal agencies and financial institutions to support and strengthen the field of Creative Placemaking, ArtPlace America announced it is officially sunsetting in December 2020. The announcement came during the final ArtPlace Summit held Oct. 26-30, where ArtPlace and its funding partners shared gratitude, looked ahead
- [A tribute to Mr. Cecil Corbin-Mark, “the irreplaceable” deputy director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice](https://kresge.org/news-views/a-tribute-to-mr-cecil-corbin-mark-the-irreplaceable-deputy-director-of-we-act-for-environmental-justice/) - The environmental justice community has lost a true giant. The untimely death of Cecil Corbin-Mark, a man who dedicated his life and career to dismantling systematic and institutional racism, has left those of us continuing to fight for racial and environmental justice devastated, yet determined to carry on his legacy. Cecil, deputy director and director
- [Monograph documents life and career of Kresge Eminent Artist Marie Woo](https://kresge.org/news-views/monograph-documents-life-and-career-of-kresge-eminent-artist-marie-woo/) - “Wonder and Flow,” a lushly illustrated monograph on the life and career of ceramicist, scholar and educator Marie Woo, the 2020 Kresge Eminent Artist, is now available for download. Print copies can be requested here while supplies last. Woo is the 12th artist to receive the award for a lifetime of contributions to his or
- [Count every vote, elevate long-term good, and use this moment to mend](https://kresge.org/news-views/count-every-vote-elevate-long-term-good-and-use-this-moment-to-mend/) - Statement on the 2020 Presidential Election The United States was founded on the revolutionary concept of representative democracy, of a democratic republic. It is a construct that has solidified over the course of two-and-a-half centuries into this country’s essential bedrock . . . that has inspired countless fledgling democratic movements across the globe . .
- [Monograph celebrates life and work of Kresge Eminent Artist Wendell Harrison](https://kresge.org/news-views/monograph-celebrates-life-and-work-of-kresge-eminent-artist-wendell-harrison/) - Jazz musician Wendell Harrison made his Detroit Institute of Arts debut nearly 50 years ago, and by his count, he’s returned to perform hundreds of times in various parts of the museum. But Monday night was special: Harrison returned as the 2018 Kresge Eminent Artist for the public release of the Kresge monograph on his
- [Photographer Bill Rauhauser selected as 2014 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/news-views/photographer-bill-rauhauser-selected-as-2014-kresge-eminent-artist/) - Iconic Detroit photographer and educator Bill Rauhauser has been named the 2014 Kresge Eminent Artist. Rauhauser has devoted more than 60 years to “being there” – being present and engaged on the city’s streets, inside the studio and inside the classroom. He joins five other artists who have since 2008 received the award and $50,000
- [Textile design pioneer Ruth Adler Schnee’s life story, work on display in Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/textile-design-pioneer-ruth-adler-schnees-life-story-work-on-display-in-detroit/) - Through Saturday, Oct. 24, visitors can view more than 200 works from Schnee's personal collection and view a documentary film about her life. The public is also invited to attend two related events, “Conversations with Ruth Adler Schnee,” on Sunday, Sept. 13, 3-5 p.m., and Thursday, Oct. 15, 6-8 p.m.
- [Wendell Harrison – saxophonist, organizer, entrepreneur and keeper of the jazz flame – named Kresge Eminent Artist for 2018](https://kresge.org/news-views/wendell-harrison-saxophonist-organizer-entrepreneur-and-keeper-of-the-jazz-flame-named-kresge-eminent-artist-for-2018/) - Detroit-born jazz musician Wendell Harrison has been named the 2018 Kresge Eminent Artist. The lifetime achievement award includes a $50,000 prize. Harrison, 75, is a tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, bandleader, educator, organizer and entrepreneur. His high-energy and expressive playing sweeps through a range of idioms, reconciling modern jazz roots with excursions into funk, fusion and
- [Marie Woo, an innovator in ceramics, is named Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/news-views/marie-woo-an-innovator-in-ceramics-is-named-kresge-eminent-artist/) - Ceramicist and educator Marie Woo has been named the 2020 Kresge Eminent Artist, an annual metro Detroit award recognizing lifetime achievement in art, which includes a $50,000 prize. Woo, 91, is known as “the potter’s potter,” both a technical master and a playful innovator, always exploring and expanding traditional forms. Her vessels and large sculptural
- [Harpist, educator Patricia Terry-Ross' life and work celebrated in new Kresge-published book](https://kresge.org/news-views/harpist-educator-patricia-terry-ross-life-and-work-celebrated-in-new-kresge-published-book/) - Fight for the arts and foster programs to bring arts to youth, Kresge’s 2017 Eminent Artist Patricia Terry-Ross implored a crowd of nearly 200 well-wishers Monday night at Detroit’s Gem Theatre as she was presented with a Kresge-produced monograph of her life and career. A child prodigy musician, Terry-Ross has divided her adult life between
- [Patricia Terry-Ross – accomplished harpist, vocalist and lifelong educator – named Kresge Eminent Artist for 2017](https://kresge.org/news-views/patricia-terry-ross-accomplished-harpist-vocalist-and-lifelong-educator-named-kresge-eminent-artist-for-2017/) - Detroit musician and educator Patricia Terry-Ross has been named the 2017 Kresge Eminent Artist, The Kresge Foundation announced today. As a harpist, vocalist and lifelong teacher, Terry-Ross’ virtuosity, passion and integrity have placed her center stage in a unique legacy of performance and music education that calls Detroit its birthplace and spans nearly a century.
- [Listening to students is the first step in boosting civic engagement](https://kresge.org/news-views/listening-to-students-is-the-first-step-in-boosting-civic-engagement/) - The Campus Vote Project, a Kresge Education Program grantee partner, works with universities, community colleges, faculty, students and election officials to reduce barriers to student voting and empower students with the information they need to register and vote. Erika Neal, a recent graduate of Virginia State University, was instrumental in establishing a Campus Vote Project
- [Kresge awards new grant funding to support local public health departments leading COVID-19 response efforts](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-awards-new-grant-funding-to-support-local-public-health-departments-leading-covid-19-response-efforts/) - The Kresge Foundation has awarded a total of $837,938 in grant funding to support 25 local public health departments that are leading in the midst of challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and working to solve issues of racial injustice in communities across the country. These grants, made to organizations that participated in Kresge’s Emerging
- [Online celebration for Marie Woo, 2020 Kresge Eminent Artist, debuts Friday](https://kresge.org/news-views/online-celebration-for-marie-woo-2020-kresge-eminent-artist-debuts-friday/) - To celebrate 2020 Kresge Eminent Artist Marie Woo, Kresge and an esteemed Detroit arts institution, the Scarab Club, are teaming up for a virtual unveiling of a career retrospective and the launch of a monograph of her life and work. The event, dubbed “A Moment with Marie Woo,” will be available online on Kresge’s YouTube
- [Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit grants engage neighborhoods across city](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-grants-engage-neighborhoods-across-city/) - Grants totaling $1.9 million support both the implementation of projects and the creation of new plans Kresge’s Detroit Program today announced 28 grants across the city in the sixth round of the initiative, which was announced in 2014 and made its first grants in 2015. These 28 – the largest cohort to date – were chosen from
- [Book presents portrait of Detroit through 100 Detroiters’ images, lives, DNA](https://kresge.org/news-views/book-presents-portrait-of-detroit-through-100-detroiters-images-lives-dna/) - A multimedia project profiling 100 Detroiters through photography, the written word, DNA science and cartography culminates this week with the virtual launch of the book i.Detroit – A Human Atlas of an American City. This is the third Human Atlas project led by British artist Marcus Lyon following award-winning interactive book and exhibition projects focusing
- [Investing in public health leaders is crucial to create healthier and more equitable communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/investing-in-public-health-leaders-crucial-to-creating-healthier-and-more-equitable-communities/) - Verbal abuse. Vandalism. Physical threats. Political pressure. This is what many public health professionals around the country face today as they try to do their jobs and keep us safe from COVID-19. During this time of uncertainty and fear, public health officials need to be valued as sources of reliable information. In a rational world,
- [Deep commitment to historic preservation is fueling Detroit’s community development projects](https://kresge.org/news-views/deep-commitment-to-historic-preservation-is-fueling-detroits-community-development-projects/) - Kresge's Detroit Program team has prioritized investing in the East Jefferson Development Corporation’s (EJDC) remarkable efforts to revitalize the Jefferson-Chalmers neighborhood along the Detroit River by providing almost $2 million of operating support for EJDC. Kresge's Social Investment Practice team recently bought a 30% interest in EJDC for $2 million, the first time the foundation has
- [Gloria House named Kresge Eminent Artist for 2019](https://kresge.org/news-views/gloria-house-named-kresge-eminent-artist-for-2019/) - Detroit poet, activist and educator Gloria House has been named the 2019 Kresge Eminent Artist. The announcement came Thursday evening at the Masonic Temple’s Jack White Theater at the conclusion of a program honoring the first 10 Kresge Eminent Artists. A collaboration between the Foundation and Detroit Public Television, the “Kresge Honors” program will be
- [Kresge Arts in Detroit announces 2020 artist fellowships and Gilda Award winners](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-arts-in-detroit-announces-2020-artist-fellowships-and-gilda-award-winners/) - Total awards and fellowships increase from 20 to 30, this year and next, in light of pandemic and economic downturn Thirty Detroit-area artists will share $550,000 in Kresge Artist Fellowships and Gilda Emerging Artist Awards announced today by Kresge Arts in Detroit. This is an increase of $90,000 and 10 additional awards from recent years.
- [Kresge.org redesign brings new features, functionality to our digital home](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-org-redesign-brings-new-features-functionality-to-our-digital-home/) - Welcome to the new Kresge.org. Whether you're a frequent visitor or here for the first time, I invite you to explore The Kresge Foundation’s refreshed website, which launched this week. Throughout 2020, our External Affairs & Communications team partnered with our colleagues from across the foundation to reconceptualize our website. We also worked with digital
- [Grantees share how they are addressing climate, health and equity concerns in COVID epicenters](https://kresge.org/news-views/grantees-share-how-they-are-addressing-climate-health-and-equity-concerns-in-covid-epicenters/) - The events of 2020 have crystallized the connectedness of work at the intersection of climate, health, and equity. When COVID-19 was elevated to pandemic status in March, uncertainty loomed around the risk factors for contracting and spreading the virus. Economic instability caused by nationwide shutdowns left millions out of work and many industries struggling to
- [Kresge honors the history and culture of Indigenous people with land acknowledgement](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-honors-the-history-and-culture-of-indigenous-people-with-land-acknowledgement/) - As part of Kresge’s commitment to more firmly center equity in our work to expand opportunities in American cities, the foundation has formally adopted Indigenous Peoples’ Day as an official holiday and has embarked on a land acknowledgement journey to recognize the ongoing relationship between Native Americans and the land we occupy. The foundation has
- [$22 million financing package closes to support cutting edge early childhood center on Marygrove campus](https://kresge.org/news-views/22-million-financing-package-closes-to-support-cutting-edge-early-childhood-center-on-marygrove-campus/) - Deal represents the first New Markets Tax Credit investment in early childhood in Detroit DETROIT – In a first for Detroit’s children, a group of five mission-led financial institutions has closed a package totaling $22 million, including $8 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC), to provide financing for the cutting edge early childhood center
- [A fresh approach to civic asset investment](https://kresge.org/news-views/a-fresh-approach-to-civic-asset-investment/) - Report finds Reimagining the Civic Commons initiative shaped by emphasis on outcomes and a portfolio approach to public-space assets Since 2015, the Reimagining the Civic Commons (RCC) national initiative has sought to revitalize and connect civic assets with people of all backgrounds, create more resilient communities and reverse trends of economic and social fragmentation in cities. The
- [Anna Cruz named managing director of strategic learning, research and evaluation at Kresge](https://kresge.org/news-views/anna-cruz-named-managing-director-of-strategic-learning-research-and-evaluation-at-kresge/) - Anna Cruz has been named managing director of strategic learning, research and evaluation at The Kresge Foundation. Joining Kresge in 2018, Cruz became the foundation’s first strategic learning and evaluation officer and the second employee of the strategic learning, research and evaluation department. She worked closely with the department’s first director, Chera Reid, to help build
- [Kresge announces $2.5M in new grant support to combat COVID-19 crisis](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-announces-2-5m-in-new-grant-support-to-combat-covid-19-crisis/) - Kresge’s COVID-related grant investments total an estimated $14M The Kresge Foundation announced today a sixth round of grantmaking commitments – totaling nearly $2.5 million – to support nonprofits confronting the COVID-19 crisis. Since April, Kresge has granted approximately $14 million to organizations combatting the negative effects of the pandemic. Kresge also made, in April, a $2
- [President Trump's COVID diagnosis offers chance to reset public health messaging](https://kresge.org/news-views/president-trumps-covid-diagnosis-offers-chance-to-reset-public-health-messaging/) - Kresge President Rip Rapson has been writing daily notes to the staff during the COVID-19 pandemic as we continue to work from home. We are sharing a selection of these letters that touch on current events and issues relevant to these unprecedented times. Even by the standards of the last nine months, the weekend was
- [Kresge joins Detroit-area partners in cross-sector effort to increase college completion, decrease racial equity gaps](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-joins-detroit-area-partners-in-cross-sector-effort-to-increase-college-completion-decrease-racial-equity-gaps/) - The Kresge Foundation recently joined 34 partners across the higher education, business, K-12, philanthropy and nonprofit sectors to sign the Detroit Regional Talent Compact, a 10-year roadmap to strengthen the area’s workforce pipeline by increasing postsecondary attainment and narrowing racial inequities. The compact was unveiled on Friday during a digital panel discussion as part of the Detroit Regional
- [Kresge joins Detroit's largest-ever affordable housing fund with JPMorgan Chase, LISC & others](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-joins-detroits-largest-ever-affordable-housing-fund-with-jpmorgan-chase-lisc-others/) - Detroit Housing for the Future Fund launches with $48M, goal is $75M Mayor Mike Duggan joined Kresge Detroit Program Managing Director Wendy Lewis Jackson and leaders from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and JPMorgan Chase today to celebrate the launch of the Detroit Housing for the Future Fund (DHFF), a public-private partnership aimed at directing $75
- [40 leaders graduate from Kresge's Emerging Leaders in Public Health Program](https://kresge.org/news-views/40-leaders-graduate-from-kresges-emerging-leaders-in-public-health-program/) - Forty public health leaders who have transformed the role of public health departments in their communities graduated from The Kresge Foundation’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health (ELPH) program on October 10, 2019. More than 100 leaders have participated in the program since it began in 2014. Kresge’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health curriculum helps teams
- [Kresge Foundation names new investment director](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-names-new-investment-director/) - Adrian A. Ohmer has joined The Kresge Foundation’s Investment Office as an investment director. Kresge’s Investment Office supports the foundation’s mission by managing and growing a nearly $4 billion endowment. Working primarily across public markets, Ohmer will bring his breadth of experience to help set Kresge’s overall investment strategy, enhance asset class construction, and recommend
- [Helping South African universities build sustainable futures](https://kresge.org/news-views/helping-south-african-universities-build-sustainable-futures/) - Students from the University of the Western Cape’s Creative Arts Choir perform at the 2019 Inyathelo Leadership Retreat, under the direction of Sibusiso Njeza. A 13-year partnership between the Kresge Foundation and Inyathelo, the South African Institute for Advancement, helped eight universities and one teaching hospital double, triple, and in some cases, quadruple private fundraising
- [Kresge announces 6 new organizations to join BASED, a Creative Placemaking initiative to advance community development](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-announces-6-new-organizations-to-join-based-a-creative-placemaking-initiative-to-advance-community-development/) - Building and Supporting Equitable Development (BASED) cohort now includes 17 community partners to promote Creative Placemaking The Kresge Foundation announced today six new organizations are joining the Building and Supporting Equitable Development (BASED) initiative, a program that to seeks to advance community development through arts and culture. This national initiative was launched in 2019 by
- [COVID Response: Detroit Future City says solutions will require new approaches](https://kresge.org/news-views/covid-response-detroit-future-city-says-solutions-will-require-new-approaches/) - Aiming for more resilience and equity By John Gallagher Editor's note: Since March, Kresge partners have responded to COVID in inspiring ways. Over the next few weeks, we are profiling eight such partners, who are also featured in our upcoming annual report on racial equity, Inside Out & Outside In. As many entities that do work similar to Detroit Future
- [COVID Response: Pandemic infuses new sense of urgency for Springboard to Opportunities](https://kresge.org/news-views/covid-response-pandemic-infuses-new-sense-of-urgency-for-springboard-to-opportunities/) - Editor's note: Since March, Kresge partners have responded to COVID in inspiring ways. Over the next few weeks, we are profiling eight such partners, who are also featured in our upcoming annual report on racial equity, Inside Out & Outside In. By Loren Berlin Unlike the roughly 14 million Americans who have lost their jobs since COVID-19 brought the
- [COVID Response: Center for Economic Inclusion works to combat pandemic, racism in Minneapolis](https://kresge.org/news-views/covid-response-center-for-economic-inclusion-works-to-combat-pandemic-racism-in-minneapolis/) - Long-standing inequities magnified in crises By John Gallagher Editor's note: Since March, Kresge partners have responded to COVID in inspiring ways. Over the next few weeks, we are profiling eight such partners, who are also featured in our upcoming annual report on racial equity, Inside Out & Outside In. In a few short years, the Center for Economic Inclusion (CEI) made
- [COVID Response: Project Row Houses’ intimate community knowledge leads to swift action to support residents](https://kresge.org/news-views/covid-response-project-row-houses-intimate-community-knowledge-leads-to-swift-action-to-support-residents/) - Protests and pandemic hit home in Houston By Emily Nonko Editor's note: Since March, Kresge partners have responded to COVID in inspiring ways. Over the next few weeks, we are profiling eight such partners, who are also featured in our upcoming annual report on racial equity, Inside Out & Outside In. While the police killing of George Floyd has
- [COVID Response: PolicyLink advances racial equity with a ‘people’s agenda for recovery’](https://kresge.org/news-views/covid-response-policylink-advances-racial-equity-with-a-peoples-agenda-for-recovery/) - By Jim McFarlin Editor's note: Since March, Kresge partners have responded to COVID in inspiring ways. Over the next few weeks, we are profiling eight such partners, who are also featured in our upcoming annual report on racial equity, Inside Out & Outside In. When COVID-19 hit the nation, PolicyLink quickly joined local, state and federal leaders in rallying
- [COVID Response: Right to the City Alliance continues push for safe, affordable and dignified homes for all across the country](https://kresge.org/news-views/covid-response-right-to-the-city-alliance-continues-push-for-safe-affordable-and-dignified-homes-for-all-across-the-country/) - By Jim McFarlin Editor's note: Since March, Kresge partners have responded to COVID in inspiring ways. Over the next few weeks, we are profiling eight such partners, who are also featured in our upcoming annual report on racial equity, Inside Out & Outside In. When your mission is centered on housing justice, the economic crisis created by COVID-19 could
- [COVID Response: Excelencia in Education works to address structural inequities and systemic racism from an educational lens](https://kresge.org/news-views/covid-response-excelencia-in-education-works-to-address-structural-inequities-and-systemic-racism-from-an-educational-lens/) - Doubling down to support Latino students By Natalie Gross Editor's note: Since March, Kresge partners have responded to COVID in inspiring ways. Over the next few weeks, we are profiling eight such partners, who are also featured in our upcoming annual report on racial equity, Inside Out & Outside In. Life behind the scenes of Excelencia in Education was looking a
- [Memphis communities partner to fight poverty and a pandemic](https://kresge.org/news-views/memphis-communities-partner-to-fight-poverty-and-a-pandemic/) - Natalie J. McKinney, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Whole Child Strategies (WCS), has been fighting entrenched systems of poverty long before the pandemic struck. Her career as a lawyer, educator, and policymaker for children and family well-being taught her to examine problems by trying to get to the root of them. So, when she saw kids
- [BASED convening explores need for more affordable housing, creating resident-centered approaches to redevelopment](https://kresge.org/news-views/based-convening-explores-need-for-more-affordable-housing-creating-resident-centered-approaches-to-redevelopment/) - As part of the Building and Supporting Equitable Development (BASED) initiative, Kresge’s Arts & Culture Program hosted grantees and community partners from across the country for the “BASED Virtual Convening: Arts, Culture and Affordable Housing” on September 14. Attendees engaged in an interactive discussion about affordable housing, which has surfaced as a learning priority for BASED
- [How redemption and renewal help make families whole](https://kresge.org/news-views/how-redemption-and-renewal-help-make-families-whole/) - Seeing fathers’ roles in family prosperity clearly in 2020 Member of Aspen Institute Fatherhood Action Learning Community shares recommendations for how to more effectively engage fathers Building stronger families and communities requires acknowledging and addressing the clear and intentional marginalization of fathers, particularly those of color. To improve policies and programs that engage and support
- [Monica Valdes Lupi joins Kresge as new managing director of the Health Program](https://kresge.org/news-views/monica-valdes-lupi-joins-kresge-as-new-managing-director-of-the-health-program/) - Monica Valdes Lupi, JD, MPH has been named as the new managing director of The Kresge Foundation’s Health Program, Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson announced September 14, 2020. Valdes Lupi brings more than 20 years of experience in public health to her new role. “Monica comes to Kresge to join our fight against inequities
- [Kresge welcomes two new members to foundation’s Board of Trustees](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-welcomes-two-new-members-to-foundations-board-of-trustees/) - I’m pleased to share that two new trustees, investment banker Suzanne Shank and finance scholar Michael Barr, have joined The Kresge Foundation board. We could not be more humbled by their experience, their expertise, and their dedication to public service. Their work and influence have taken them into cities across the country, from Detroit to
- [New Bridgespan Group report explores untapped potential of impact investing among foundations](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-bridgespan-group-report-explores-untapped-potential-of-impact-investing-among-foundations/) - Kresge-supported report finds philanthropies could amplify impact by using multiple tools The Bridgespan Group, supported by a grant from The Kresge Foundation, today released a report on the various impact investing tools foundations can employ to expand the scale and scope of their work beyond what is possible with grantmaking alone. “The rapid ascent of
- [Improving access to healthy food at heart of shaping a thriving community in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward](https://kresge.org/news-views/improving-access-to-healthy-food-at-heart-of-shaping-a-thriving-community-in-new-orleans-lower-ninth-ward/) - A sculptor can see the potential in a piece of clay, take that vision and transform it into a beautiful work of art. Rashida Ferdinand, founder and executive director of Sankofa Community Development Corporation in New Orleans, Louisiana, brings that spirit of an artist to her organization’s efforts to revitalize the city’s Lower 9th Ward. Sankofa CDC
- [FreshLo grantees share stories of food, culture and community revitalization at October convening](https://kresge.org/news-views/freshlo-grantees-share-stories-of-food-culture-and-community-revitalization-at-october-convening/) - Food is more than what we eat. Food has a unique power to bring people together, celebrate cultural expression and catalyze equitable economic development in neighborhoods around the country. For more than three years, 23 grantee partners in The Kresge Foundation’s FreshLo initiative have been working on innovative approaches that blend healthy food enterprises and access,
- [Third cohort of Emerging Leaders in Public Health work to transform agency roles in the community](https://kresge.org/news-views/third-cohort-of-emerging-leaders-in-public-health-work-to-transform-agency-roles-in-the-community/) - It began with the telling of a famous folk tale about six blind men and an elephant and ended with shared learning on the successes and challenges of igniting transformation in local public health. For two days, nearly 40 leaders in the third cohort of The Kresge Foundation’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health initiative came
- [Emerging Leaders in Public Health respond to COVID-19 in local communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/emerging-leaders-in-public-health-respond-to-covid-19-in-local-communities/) - Public health is local. No matter what is happening around the globe, it comes down to what is happening in our community today. In our communities, state and local public health departments work invisibly behind the scenes to keep us all healthy. We rely on their knowledge, experience and professionalism daily for the quality of
- [AXD series is back as Zoom event, book and podcast](https://kresge.org/news-views/axd-series-is-back-as-zoom-event-book-and-podcast/) - Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Award winners took projects to neighborhoods across Detroit and beyond AXD, the series launched in 2019 to bring Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Award winners to Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck neighborhoods, is back this week as a Zoom event, a limited-edition catalog and an eight-episode podcast. The 22 AXD
- [Georgetown Climate Center launches Equitable Adaptation Legal & Policy Toolkit](https://kresge.org/news-views/georgetown-climate-center-launches-equitable-adaptation-legal-policy-toolkit/) - To help communities address the challenges of climate change and social inequality, Georgetown Climate Center (GCC) partnered with leading experts from across the country to develop the “Equitable Adaptation Legal & Policy Toolkit.” GCC, a leading resource for state and federal policy, publicly launched the toolkit on July 29. This online resource was created for communities and
- [Commentary: 19th Amendment centennial reminds us to remain undeterred in the fight for gender and racial equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-19th-amendment-centennial-reminds-us-to-remain-undeterred-in-the-fight-for-gender-and-racial-equity/) - As protests for racial justice continue to surge across the nation, it is almost difficult to believe 100 years ago a group of women suffragists were the very first White House protestors. “Shunned, imprisoned, beaten and tortured, the uneasy alliance of white, Black and brown, highly privileged and formerly enslaved women won passage of the
- [Commentary: There is no law and order when people of color are indiscriminately gunned down under the color of 'law'](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-there-is-no-law-and-order-when-people-of-color-are-indiscriminately-gunned-down-under-the-color-of-law/) - Kresge President Rip Rapson has been writing daily notes to the staff during the COVID-19 pandemic as we continue to work from home. We are sharing a selection of these letters that touch on current events and issues relevant to these unprecedented times. Our thoughts and prayers are with the residents of Louisiana and Texas.
- [Doing What Works for Today's Students and Families](https://kresge.org/news-views/doing-what-works-for-todays-students-and-families/) - Mila Tappan City: Augusta, Maine Title: Manager of College Access and Outreach, Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) A self-described “FAFSA geek,” Mila Tappan uses a variety of resources to help students and families with FAFSA completion. Short animated YouTube videos and Facebook Live events get critical information to students and families throughout Maine, where roughly
- [Groundwork USA explores how decades of housing discrimination has led to extreme heat and flooding](https://kresge.org/news-views/groundwork-usa-explores-how-decades-of-housing-discrimination-has-led-to-extreme-heat-and-flooding/) - Communities across the country are using housing discrimination maps and data to combat the impacts of climate change. As part of the Groundwork USA Climate Safe Neighborhoods partnership, five current cities – with several others soon joining the effort – are working to explore the relationship between historical race-based housing segregation and the current and predicted effects
- [Becoming More Than a Statistic](https://kresge.org/news-views/becoming-more-than-a-statistic/) - Camryn Age: 18 City: Cleveland, OH College: College of Wooster “Where I come from, a lot of kids don’t go to college. It is rare that they graduate high school,” Camryn explains. “I thought I’d join the Marines or the Army.” College wasn’t on Camryn’s mind, until his track coach sophomore year got him thinking.
- [Trusting Other People With My Story](https://kresge.org/news-views/trusting-other-people-with-my-story/) - Brooklyann Age: 18 City: Columbus, OH College: Ohio State University “My grandma has been to college — she didn’t complete it. My mom has been to college — she didn’t complete it,” says Brooklyann. “It’s not so much about them going, as them going and actually completing it.” Even though Brooklyann always knew she wanted
- [From Rehab to College](https://kresge.org/news-views/from-rehab-to-college/) - Karina Age: 18 City: Cheyenne, WY College: Laramie County Community College “When we first moved to Cheyenne, we had to live in a homeless shelter. We’d been homeless before that too,” explains Karina. “My mom has had a very hard life. Sometimes she would work until 5:00 in the morning at the beef plant. Her
- [Building a Stable Future for Myself](https://kresge.org/news-views/building-a-stable-future-for-myself/) - Zachary Age: 18 City: Manchester, NH College: University of New Hampshire “Back in 2010, my father passed away from a stroke. Around the same time, my mother was diagnosed with stage four melanoma, but she survived,” says Zachary. “It was devastating. Being such a young kid, all of this hitting at once. I started working
- [Growing Up in a Family with Mixed Immigration Status](https://kresge.org/news-views/growing-up-in-a-family-with-mixed-immigration-status/) - Manny Age: 18 City: Louisville, KY College: Bellarmine University “My parents are mixed-status, which means their immigration status makes it hard for them to get work,” explains Manny. “My uncle opened a restaurant in Kentucky, so we moved from California so my parents could work there. My mom talks about how her life would have
- [Getting Translation Help for My Parents](https://kresge.org/news-views/getting-translation-help-for-my-parents/) - Daniel Age: 17 City: Phoenix, AZ College: Bowdoin College “For my parents and grandparents, education was never a thing that worked out. All of them worked in or owned restaurants, both successful and unsuccessful,” says Daniel. Daniel’s family is from Hong Kong, but he grew up in Phoenix. “My parents emphasized the importance of education.
- [Ignoring People Who Said I Couldn’t Do It](https://kresge.org/news-views/ignoring-people-who-said-i-couldnt-do-it/) - Liliana Age: 19 City: Houston, TX College: San Jacinto College “My dad used to work in construction. One day, he fell from the second floor of a house. He really hurt his back and it’s difficult for him to walk now. He’s been on disability ever since,” says Liliana. Liliana’s dad has been an inspiration
- [Figuring Out My Own Path](https://kresge.org/news-views/figuring-out-my-own-path/) - Destiny Age: 18 City: Jackson, MS College: Hinds Community College “I’d been trying to figure out exactly what I want to do. I’ve always had a passion for animals, so I thought I’d become a vet,” explains Destiny. “A lot of that decision came from family members. I don’t want to say they put that
- [The Cost of College Won’t Hold Me Back](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-cost-of-college-wont-hold-me-back/) - Christina Age: 17 City: Los Angeles, CA College: University of California, Berkeley “In Honduras, parents don’t usually deal with their children leaving. My mom is nervous and cries when she thinks about me leaving,” explains Christina. Despite that, Christina knew she wanted to go to college. She joined lots of clubs to prepare, like a
- [Making My Family Proud](https://kresge.org/news-views/making-my-family-proud/) - Farhat Age: 17 City: Los Angeles, CA College: University of California, Berkeley “I’m on the school’s tennis team,” says Farhat. “My older sister baited me into it. She wanted me to join a sport. I went to tryouts and ended up joining the team.” “Besides tennis, I participate in a lot of extracurricular activities. Last
- [Going to College to Save Lives](https://kresge.org/news-views/going-to-college-to-save-lives/) - Jayla Age: 18 City: Birmingham, AL College: Jefferson State Community College “I remember the day I saw paramedics in action. My neighbor collapsed and the paramedics came and saved their life right in front of me. I told my brother, ‘That’s what I want to do. I want to save people’s lives,’” says Jayla. “I
- [Deciding If College Is Worth It](https://kresge.org/news-views/deciding-if-college-is-worth-it/) - Katie Age: 18 City: Charleston, WV College: West Virginia University “I really like working. I work at a sandwich shop. It’s kind of like Subway, but not a chain. Every morning, I get up and go slice all the vegetables and meat, then go to school. I come back after school and work more,” says
- [Not Shy About Asking for Help](https://kresge.org/news-views/not-shy-about-asking-for-help/) - Tyshae Age: 18 City: Cleveland, OH College: Youngstown State University “I like school. The only thing I hate is having to get up so early,” Tyshae says with a laugh. “I’m the salutatorian, which is the person after the valedictorian. I have to give a speech at graduation,” explains Tyshae. “I’m a little nervous, but
- [Proving the Doubters Wrong](https://kresge.org/news-views/proving-the-doubters-wrong/) - Alejandra Age: 18 City: Kansas City, MO College: Avila University “I like to give back to my community. I was in the student council and helped kids learn to ride bikes in the bicycle club. And every Monday, I volunteer at my church to help give out food and clothing to people in need,” says
- [Lightening the Load for My Family](https://kresge.org/news-views/lightening-the-load-for-my-family/) - Paul Age: 18 City: Kansas City, MO College: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University “I’ve always been curious about the way things work,” says Paul. “When I was a kid, I had Erector sets, K’NEX and all kinds of toys like that. I liked building things and taking them apart.” “I’m heavily involved with my high school’s robotics
- [Riding Out Life’s Ups and Downs](https://kresge.org/news-views/riding-out-lifes-ups-and-downs/) - Nick Age: 18 City: Baton Rouge, LA College: Alcorn State University “In my neighborhood, I walk outside and hear gunshots. I come home and hope my house hasn’t been broken into. But I still dream big,” says Nick. “I could be mad, but it helps when I focus on helping other people. I help tutor
- [Doing What I Had to Do for College](https://kresge.org/news-views/doing-what-i-had-to-do-for-college/) - Tytianna Age: 18 City: Jackson, MS College: Southwest Mississippi Community College “I like trying new things. I used to play basketball, but one day Mr. Freeman — he’s my coach and my school counselor — asked me if I’d ever thought about playing soccer,” Tytianna recalls. “I went to tryouts and I liked it. Everybody
- [Escaping Civil War for a Better Future](https://kresge.org/news-views/escaping-civil-war-for-a-better-future/) - Rashid Age: 18 City: Columbus, OH College: Columbus State University “On my first day of school in the United States, the teacher gave us all an assignment,” Rashid recalls. “In Kenya, you don’t call teachers by their last name — you call them ‘teacher.’ So when I needed help I raised my hand and said,
- [Better Late Than Never](https://kresge.org/news-views/better-late-than-never/) - Kyron Age: 18 City: Detroit, MI College: Central Michigan University “Football taught me that not everything is given to you. If you’re going to win, you have to work hard for it,” says Kyron. “I have a good work ethic. I always wanted to go to college, even since I was 6 or 7 years
- [Leaving High School with No Regrets](https://kresge.org/news-views/leaving-high-school-with-no-regrets/) - Danica Age: 18 City: Albuquerque, NM College: University of New Mexico “I’m part of the New Mexico Leadership Institute, and we have to volunteer on an issue in New Mexico. I chose to work with a nonprofit organization that helps women break out of unhealthy or abusive relationships,” Danica says. “I felt that was my
- [Leaving Home to Pursue Nursing](https://kresge.org/news-views/leaving-home-to-pursue-nursing/) - Alana Age: 19 City: Houston, TX College: Sam Houston State University “I’m the first generation to go to college,” says Alana. “When I was little, I wanted to go to college to get a better life and afford the things my family needs.” “My family was always advising me to not give up and keep
- [Patience is Critical](https://kresge.org/news-views/patience-is-critical/) - Laura Weego City: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Title: North Louisiana Regional Coordinator, Career Compass of Louisiana A former college admissions officer, Laura Weego now serves on the other side of the college access pipeline. She leads a team of college and career coaches at Career Compass of Louisiana who help students create plans for what happens
- [Boosting FAFSA completion through one-on-one conversations](https://kresge.org/news-views/boosting-fafsa-completion-through-one-on-one-conversations/) - Nina Stemm City: Vancouver, WA Title: GEAR UP District Coordinator, Vancouver Public Schools Nina Stemm is known as the “FAFSA Expert” in the Vancouver Public Schools district. As GEAR UP district coordinator, she works with eight high schools to help counselors and school leaders build their FAFSA expertise. She routinely conducts focus groups with students
- [Following a Dream to Help Cure Epilepsy](https://kresge.org/news-views/following-a-dream-to-help-cure-epilepsy/) - Maya Age: 18 City: Phoenix, AZ College: Bryn Mawr College “My grandmother said over and over again, ‘You are going to college.’ Her side of the family didn’t have much opportunity to get an education. My great-grandfather came to the U.S. as a farm worker from Mexico at age 13. He didn’t even have an
- [Insights into selecting BOOST city partnerships at the forefront of change](https://kresge.org/news-views/insights-into-selecting-boost-city-partnerships-at-the-forefront-of-change/) -  On a cold, snowy day in December 2018, Kresge’s Education and Human Services teams met to explore a simple idea – Can human services organizations and higher education institutions achieve better and more equitable outcomes for their clients and students if they partnered? Our sense from our existing grantee partners, prior evaluations, and thought
- [Kresge commits to 10 resolutions to further strengthen grantee relations](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-commits-to-10-resolutions-to-further-strengthen-grantee-relations/) - In 2019, Kresge worked with the Center for Effective Philanthropy to conduct a survey to better understand and evaluate grantee and applicant experiences. The report found that Kresge has made great strides in areas such as transparency and clarity of grantmaking processes but can improve in understanding the local context and needs of communities where we work. In response to
- [Three years in, Hope Starts Here celebrates successes and picks up momentum](https://kresge.org/news-views/three-years-in-hope-starts-here-celebrates-successes-and-picks-up-momentum/) - More than 400 civic and business leaders, early childhood development providers, community members and parents gathered at Marygrove College in Detroit on Friday to commemorate the three-year anniversary of the launch of Hope Starts Here, a community-driven collaboration to transform Detroit into a city that puts young children first by 2027. The 2019 Hope Starts
- [Center for Youth Wellness report assesses Detroit’s readiness for ACE screening and education](https://kresge.org/news-views/center-for-youth-wellness-report-assesses-detroits-readiness-for-ace-screening-and-education/) - Research tells us that almost half of us will experience a traumatic event such as a loss of a loved one, a serious injury, witnessing a violent crime, domestic violence, abuse or neglect at some point in our lives. When we experience a traumatic event before age 17, it is called an Adverse Childhood Experience,
- [Kresge closes its physical offices, but the work of our foundation continues amid COVID-19](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-closes-its-physical-offices-but-the-work-of-our-foundation-continues-amid-covid-19/) - To Our Valued Kresge Partners: In accordance with guidance and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the State of Michigan to mitigate community spread of COVID-19, The Kresge Foundation is closing its Troy and Detroit, Michigan offices until further notice. Our work will nonetheless continue. Our mission to expand opportunity in American cities
- [Kresge sends letter to HUD strongly opposing changes to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-sends-letter-to-hud-strongly-opposing-changes-to-affirmatively-furthering-fair-housing-rule/) - On Monday, March 16, Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development opposing the Trump administration’s proposed changes to the 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. Part of the Fair Housing Act, the AFFH rule was a critical step in addressing historic and ongoing
- [Kresge commits to full flexibility for grantees and partners during COVID-19](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-commits-to-full-flexibility-for-grantees-and-partners-during-covid-19/) - Greetings, As COVID-19 accelerates into every corner of our nation, we find ourselves face-to-face with a challenge unlike any in our lifetimes. But rather than yield to fatalism and inertia, community after community in America has begun to draw on deep reservoirs of the kind of courage, creativity, and fortitude that will be required to
- [World Water Day reminds us access to clean water is essential to battle COVID-19](https://kresge.org/news-views/commentary-world-water-day-reminds-us-access-to-clean-water-is-essential-to-battle-covid-19/) - Over the past several weeks, people across the world have been reminded of the importance of something many take for granted every day: access to clean water. COVID-19 has forced us to recognize the important practice of handwashing as our first line of defense, assuming you have access to water to protect yourself, your family
- [Shared Prosperity Partnership briefs detail state policies to promote inclusive economies](https://kresge.org/news-views/shared-prosperity-partnership-briefs-detail-state-policies-to-promote-inclusive-economies/) - The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing many thinly veiled ills of urban America into stark relief. As already low-wage workers find themselves without pay, ripple effects such as food and housing insecurity show the importance of ensuring all people experience economic security. States play an important role in guaranteeing there is economic inclusion in cities. State
- [Issue brief explores health care’s role in multi-sector networks for population health](https://kresge.org/news-views/issue-brief-explores-health-cares-role-in-multi-sector-networks-for-population-health/) - As part of a two-year project exploring how health care organizations acting as integrators can join, catalyze and sustain cross-sector networks working on shared population health goals, Nemours Children’s Health System has released an issue brief, “Preliminary Findings on the Role of Health Care in Multi-Sector Networks for Population Health: Notes from the Field,” with
- [Building climate resilience, improving health is goal of new initiative from Environment, Health programs](https://kresge.org/news-views/building-climate-resilience-improving-health-is-goal-of-new-initiative-from-environment-health-programs/) - Building climate resilience with policies and practices that also improve community health is the goal of a multi-year effort from The Kresge Foundation’s Health and Environment programs. Through the community-based strategy of this national initiative, Kresge will fund planning grants of up to $100,000 each to 12 to 15 community-based nonprofit organizations. After the 14-month
- [Is climate change the newest social determinant of health?](https://kresge.org/news-views/is-climate-change-the-newest-social-determinant-of-health/) - As Senior Program Officer for Environment at The Kresge Foundation, Shamar Bibbins is responsible for grant making that helps communities build resilience in the face of climate change. This includes managing Kresge’s Climate Change, Health & Equity initiative, a multi-year effort that seeks to mobilize a strong constituency for equitable climate action within health care institutions,
- [Jalonne White-Newsome to deliver U-M Health Sciences 2020 MLK Lecture: The (Mis)Education of US on Climate and Health](https://kresge.org/news-views/jalonne-white-newsome-to-deliver-u-m-health-sciences-2020-mlk-lecture-the-miseducation-of-us-on-climate-and-health/) - A renowned expert in the field of health equity and an alumna of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome will deliver the 30th annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Day Health Sciences Lecture. White-Newsome is a senior program officer at The Kresge Foundation and a researcher on climate, health and
- [Announcing the FreshLo Menu: Food, Arts and Culture](https://kresge.org/news-views/announcing-the-freshlo-menu-food-arts-and-culture/) - An unprecedented approach to strengthening economic vitality, cultural expression and health in low-income communities launched today with The Kresge Foundation’s announcement that 26 organizations across the nation will receive nearly $2 million in grant funding to develop food-oriented initiatives in cities across the nation. Dubbed “FreshLo” – for “Fresh, Local & Equitable: Food as a
- [FreshLo grantees from across U.S. gather to share progress, ideas and reflect on meaning of their work](https://kresge.org/news-views/freshlo-grantees-from-across-u-s-gather-to-share-progress-ideas-and-reflect-on-meaning-of-their-work/) - Smiles, laughter, introspection, and more than a few tears graced a convening of more than 100 partners in Kresge’s groundbreaking Fresh, Local and Equitable (FreshLo) initiative last week as participants shared successes, challenges and positive impacts the work has had in their neighborhoods. It seemed far removed from 2015, when a philanthropic initiative fusing local
- [New funding opportunity to strengthen partnerships between 2-year colleges, human services nonprofits](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-funding-opportunity-to-strengthen-partnerships-between-2-year-colleges-human-services-nonprofits/) - The Kresge Foundation announced a $3.6 million funding opportunity to strengthen partnerships between community colleges and nonprofit human services organizations that connect people with low incomes in cities to critical human service supports and educational pathways that advance social and economic mobility. “Just as many community colleges seek to help students overcome non-academic barriers, human
- [As waters rise, so must we. New report calls for equitable solutions to urban flooding](https://kresge.org/news-views/as-waters-rise-so-must-we-new-report-calls-for-equitable-solutions-to-urban-flooding/) - By Katy Lackey, Senior Program Manager, US Water Alliance This guest commentary comes from the US Water Alliance, an Environment Program grantee partner through the CREWS initiative. Driving a One Water movement, the Alliance brings together diverse organizations to identify and advance common-ground, practical and achievable solutions to solve our nation’s most pressing water challenges.
- [Kresge awards $1.4 million in COVID-19 response grants](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-awards-1-4-million-in-covid-19-response-grants/) - This fifth round of funding brings Kresge’s total COVID-related grant investments to an estimated $11.7M The Kresge Foundation announced today a fifth round of grantmaking commitments – totaling more than $1.4 million – to support nonprofit organizations that are on the frontlines of community-based and national responses to the COVID-19 crisis. Since April, Kresge has
- [Food, culture, entrepreneurship on the menu at community-led Mercado Esperanza](https://kresge.org/news-views/food-culture-entrepreneurship-on-the-menu-at-community-led-mercado-esperanza/) - In Spanish, the word esperanza translates to “hope” in English. In New Brunswick, New Jersey, the residents of the Esperanza neighborhood aren’t just hoping for better housing, education and access to healthy food, they are stepping up as civic leaders, making their voices heard and creating changes in their community. At Elijah’s Promise, a non-profit
- [Health Department, area tenants take on healthy housing issue in Tacoma](https://kresge.org/news-views/health-department-area-tenants-take-on-healthy-housing-issue-in-tacoma/) - Donna Seay stood outside her apartment in Tacoma, Washington staring at a piece of paper stuck to her door. Her apartment complex had new owners, and Donna, along with residents in the 58 other units, had only 20 days to vacate. “I panicked,” Seay said. Confined to a wheelchair because of partial paralysis, Donna had
- [Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation stands with tenants to create safe and stable homes](https://kresge.org/news-views/atlanta-volunteer-lawyers-foundation-stands-with-tenants-to-create-safe-and-stable-homes/) - The sound of dozens of young children’s voices filled the brightly colored hallways at the start of a new school year at Thomasville Heights Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia. A short walk away from the elementary school is Forest Cove Apartments. Boarded up windows, broken glass, leaky roofs, holes in the floors, mold, mildew and
- [Setting Week-by-Week FAFSA Completion Goals](https://kresge.org/news-views/setting-week-by-week-fafsa-completion-goals/) - Christina Fontenot City: New Orleans, Louisiana Title: Director of College Counseling , Abramson Sci Academy Like many of her students, Christina Fontenot was the first in her family to go to college. As a college success coach at Abramson Sci Academy in New Orleans, Louisiana, Christina works to build a culture of excitement and accomplishment
- [Helping Every Single Student, No Matter How Long it Takes](https://kresge.org/news-views/helping-every-single-student-no-matter-how-long-it-takes/) - Sambat Kim City: West Valley City, Utah Title: College Access Advisor, Hunter High School Sambat Kim, an alumnus of Hunter High School in West Valley City, returned to his alma mater to help more students pursue their educational goals after completing high school. To increase FAFSA completion among its students, Hunter High School partnered with
- [We Were in Their Shoes](https://kresge.org/news-views/we-were-in-their-shoes/) - London Johnson & Jassadi Moore City: Detroit, Michigan Title: College Counselors, Detroit Cristo Rey High School Detroit Cristo Rey High School College Counselors London Johnson and Jassadi Moore find innovative ways to engage students and their families to complete the FAFSA, including inviting local civic leaders to provide support during the process. They utilized this
- [Building Trust With Students and Families](https://kresge.org/news-views/building-trust-with-students-and-families/) - Andrea Wyatt City: Denton, Texas Title: Lead School Counselor, John H. Guyer High School At John H. Guyer High School in Denton, Texas, Lead School Counselor Andrea Wyatt makes FAFSA completion among seniors a top priority for the entire school. Counselors, teachers and staff work together to build trust among students and families while supporting
- [Benjamin Kennedy named Kresge Vice President of Programs](https://kresge.org/news-views/benjamin-kennedy-named-kresge-vice-president-of-programs/) - Benjamin S. Kennedy has been named vice president of Programs at The Kresge Foundation. In this expanded role, Kennedy will support the foundation’s 7 national and place-based grantmaking disciplines. "Benjy has demonstrated throughout his career at Kresge the qualities of compassion, fair-mindedness, integrity, insight and vision that are the prerequisites of a truly gifted leader, said Kresge
- [Kresge shares message of support for nation's public health heroes](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-shares-message-of-support-for-nations-public-health-heroes/) - Our health and well-being are inextricably connected to our communities – the places where we live, work, learn and play. When everyone has safe, affordable housing, fresh food, clean air, primary care and economic opportunities, we all can thrive. But healthy communities don’t happen by accident. They require the effort of countless public health leaders
- [For artists, the shows go on during COVID-19 – but now they're online](https://kresge.org/news-views/for-artists-the-shows-go-on-during-covid-19-but-now-theyre-online/) - With half of humanity under some sort of stay-at-home order, it’s safe to say that that half is yearning to find new ways to connect. Artists, whether in Detroit or around the world, are no different. The plethora of new attempts to reach out is heartening – which is clearly the intent. A sampling of national efforts
- [Kresge grants $2.6 million to organizations confronting COVID-19 in Detroit, New Orleans and Memphis](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-grants-2-6-million-to-organizations-confronting-covid-19-in-detroit-new-orleans-and-memphis/) - Foundation also waives $1M in interest payments for 6 months on active PRIs The Kresge Foundation announced a combined $2.6 million in grants in Detroit, New Orleans and Memphis in a round of funding in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Thursday. Among other uses, $1.55 million in Detroit grant funding will support emergency relief
- [Kresge and Kellogg support childcare providers with $225,000 fund during COVID-19 crisis](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-and-kellogg-support-childcare-providers-with-225000-fund-during-covid-19-crisis/) - The Kresge Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation are supporting a $225,000 fund for operating grants to small childcare providers serving essential workers during Detroit’s COVID-19 crisis. The Community Connections Bridging the Gap Response Fund provides up to $2,500 to childcare providers – many of them home-based – that serve up to 30 children for
- [Amidst the COVID-19 public health crisis, losing electricity has more dire consequences than ever before](https://kresge.org/news-views/amidst-the-covid-19-public-health-crisis-losing-electricity-has-more-dire-consequences-than-ever-before/) - State efficiency programs are working to make reliable power affordable for all A new study from Harvard University confirms the link between air pollution from power plants and COVID-19 health impacts in several cities. According to the report, a small decrease in exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5, which results largely from local power plants and vehicles
- [Report examines low-cost alternatives to hard-to-find disinfectants effective against COVID-19](https://kresge.org/news-views/report-examines-low-cost-alternatives-to-hard-to-find-disinfectants-effective-against-covid-19/) - As we all work to prevent the continued spread of COVID-19, both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization recommend cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces. But in a time where travel is often restricted and resources are tight, cleaning products containing chlorine bleach can be hard to find or cost
- [Two Memphis leaders explore how Artist Emergency Fund provided relief to artists](https://kresge.org/news-views/two-memphis-leaders-explore-how-artist-emergency-fund-provided-relief-to-artists/) - ArtsMemphis' Elizabeth Rouse and Music Export Memphis' Elizabeth Cawein share how artists, community have benefited The arts and cultural sector has experienced a setback not unlike that in the business community. Beyond closing doors and canceling programs, organizations are grappling with how to meet payroll and shift from in-person programming to virtual platforms. For individual artists
- [Center for Cultural Power releases COVID-19 strategy guide for artists and activists](https://kresge.org/news-views/center-for-cultural-power-releases-covid-19-strategy-guide-for-artists-and-activists/) - The COVID-19 pandemic and national movement for racial justice have magnified the power of arts and culture to uplift, disrupt and build communities. Working to guide and inspire artists and activists during these unprecedented times, The Center for Cultural Power recently released “No Going Back: A COVID-19 Cultural Strategy Activation Guide for Artists and Activists.”
- [Fill the Walls With Hope project uplifts role of artists in time of crisis](https://kresge.org/news-views/fill-the-walls-with-hope-project-uplifts-role-of-artists-in-time-of-crisis/) - How can artists fill public streets with images and words to support emotional and mental health, while sharing resources and dreams of a more just future in this critical moment of COVID-19? This question was the inspiration for a new project titled, “Fill the Walls With Hope, Rage, Resources and Dreams,” that showcases the vital role
- [Rebeca Ontiveros-Chavez and John Burkhardt on shaping Aspire Higher: An Undocumented Student Guide to College In Michigan](https://kresge.org/news-views/rebeca-ontiveros-chavez-and-john-burkhardt-on-shaping-aspire-higher-an-undocumented-student-guide-to-college-in-michigan/) - Researchers, immigrants’ rights advocates and college access professionals partner to provide a critical resource for Michiganders with dreams of pursuing a college education
- [New AERA book looks at maximizing the effectiveness of college promise programs](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-aera-book-looks-at-maximizing-the-effectiveness-of-college-promise-programs/) - Editor’s Note: This Q&A was first published in American Educational Research Association’s November 2019 edition of AERA Highlights. In January, AERA is releasing a new book on Improving Research-Based Knowledge of College Promise Programs. This volume emanated from an AERA Research Conference aimed at addressing research- and research-driven pathways for college promise programs. In the
- [CatchLight Local fellow documents how Salinas farmworkers survive amid California's escalating housing crisis](https://kresge.org/news-views/catchlight-local-fellow-documents-how-salinas-farmworkers-survive-amid-californias-escalating-housing-crisis/) - Sebastian Hidalgo’s award-winning visual storytelling is shifting conversations about inequity Mark your calendar: CatchLight will take over Kresge’s social channels on Tuesday, Aug. 18! Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to support our grantee partners as they #TakeoverKresge. Salinas, California is home to an $8.5 billion farming industry and is one of the most expensive places
- [Genise Singleton promoted to lead Kresge Grants Management function](https://kresge.org/news-views/genise-singleton-promoted-to-lead-kresge-grants-management-function/) - Genise T. Singleton has been named director of Grants Management at The Kresge Foundation. Singleton joined the foundation in 1995 and most recently served as manager of the department, which was previously named Program Operations and Information Management. The department has been renamed to better align with nonprofit sector nomenclature and to provide clarity to internal
- [How Philanthropy Can Meet the Moment: The Vital Importance of Trust](https://kresge.org/news-views/how-philanthropy-can-meet-the-moment-the-vital-importance-of-trust/) - A commentary piece first published by Nonprofit Quarterly You’ve heard the saying, “Change moves at the speed of trust.” In the climate movement, we have serious trust issues. Frontline, community-based organizations—often with leaders who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)—are at the forefront of movements on climate, racial justice, and more. But too
- [Virtual workshops for early childhood professionals will build career and caring skills needed during pandemic and beyond](https://kresge.org/news-views/virtual-workshops-for-early-childhood-professionals-will-build-career-and-caring-skills-needed-during-pandemic-and-beyond/) - Responding to COVID-19 and possible center re-openings, Detroit Public TV, Kresge and School Readiness Consulting offer free interactive programs beginning August 20 An innovative virtual program for professionals caring for young children during the pandemic – whether in home-based care, day care centers or pre-schools – will soon be available online and free of charge
- [Kresge grants $1.9 million for 28 new projects and planning efforts to transform Detroit neighborhoods](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-grants-1-9-million-for-28-new-projects-and-planning-efforts-to-transform-detroit-neighborhoods/) - Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit efforts include neighborhood hubs, green spaces, public art and more A cohort of 28 community groups across Detroit will open new green spaces, restore vacant buildings as activity hubs and cooperative housing, commission public art, and plan or implement a range of other activities with new grants totaling nearly $1.9 million
- [New Freedom Maps report explores the legacy of culture, art and organizing in the U.S. South](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-freedom-maps-report-explores-the-legacy-of-culture-art-and-organizing-in-the-u-s-south/) - The U.S. South is the country’s most populated region, yet it is also the most underfunded and overlooked. According to the National Center for Responsive Philanthropy, between 2010 and 2014 the South received $41 in foundation funding per person, compared to the national funding rate of $451 per person and the New York state rate
- [Alabama students tackle urban blight and prepare for home ownership through Green Summer Work Experience](https://kresge.org/news-views/alabama-students-tackle-urban-blight-and-prepare-for-home-ownership-through-green-summer-work-experience/) - Students in Birmingham, Alabama have been working daily over the past three weeks to build up their Ensley neighborhood. As part of the “Green Summer Work Experience” beginning July 13 and ending August 1, the group of entrepreneurial-minded teenagers and their parents have met each day – starting at 8 a.m. – to address poverty
- [Honoring the artistic truth-telling of the 2020 KAID Artist Fellows and Gilda Award recipients](https://kresge.org/news-views/honoring-the-artistic-truth-telling-of-the-2020-kaid-artist-fellows-and-gilda-award-recipients/) - Kresge President Rip Rapson has been writing daily notes to the staff during the COVID-19 pandemic as we continue to work from home. We are sharing a selection of these letters that touch on current events and issues relevant to these unprecedented times. Last week in a virtual event hosted by Kresge Arts in Detroit (KAID) and The
- [John Lewis and C.T. Vivian taught us the power of living lives of principle, action and commitment](https://kresge.org/news-views/john-lewis-and-c-t-vivian-taught-us-the-power-of-living-lives-of-principle-action-and-commitment/) - Kresge President Rip Rapson has been writing daily notes to the staff during the COVID-19 pandemic as we continue to work from home. We are sharing a selection of these letters that touch on current events and issues relevant to these unprecedented times. The passing Friday of John Lewis and C.T. Vivian has been observed with the
- [Designing Justice + Designing Spaces to transform an Atlanta detention center into a Center for Equity](https://kresge.org/news-views/designing-justice-designing-spaces-to-transform-an-atlanta-detention-center-into-a-center-for-equity/) - Municipalities across the United States are working to reduce jail and prison populations to mitigate the disastrous impact of COVID-19 on the incarcerated and their families. After spending more than a year working alongside the mayor’s office, local community organizers and hundreds of residents to reimagine a 471,000-square-foot Atlanta city jail, Designing Justice + Designing Spaces has
- [Accelerating developmental education reforms during the pandemic](https://kresge.org/news-views/accelerating-developmental-education-reforms-during-the-pandemic/) - This guest commentary comes from Strong Start to Finish, an initiative at Education Commission of the States that aims to help colleges and universities increase the number and proportion of students from low-income households, students of color and returning adults who succeed in college math and English. Christopher M. Mullin serves as director of the Strong Start to Finish initiative. The current
- [A true embrace of racial justice requires historical truth-telling and the removal of racially insensitive symbols](https://kresge.org/news-views/a-true-embrace-of-racial-justice-requires-historical-truth-telling-and-the-removal-of-racially-insensitive-symbols/) - Kresge President Rip Rapson has been writing daily notes to the staff during the COVID-19 pandemic as we continue to work from home. We are sharing a selection of these letters that touch on current events and issues relevant to these unprecedented times. The manifestations of constructive outrage that accelerate our nation’s embrace of racial
- [Digital platform supports and celebrates Kresge Artist Fellows during pandemic](https://kresge.org/news-views/digital-platform-supports-and-celebrates-kresge-artist-fellows-during-pandemic/) - Aid for artists in 'time of exceptional need and uncertainty' Approximately 100 Kresge Artist Fellows and winners of the Gilda Award are sharing their work through a new website and being paid through an initiative to support artists in a time of pandemic, economic downturn and social distancing. In March the Kresge Foundation gave its
- [Student success initiative in South Africa expands to new universities](https://kresge.org/news-views/student-success-initiative-in-south-africa-expands-to-new-universities/) - Siyaphumelela initiative aims to expand use of data-driven approaches to student success A Kresge Education Program initiative aimed at increasing the use of evidence-based approaches to enhance student success expands grantmaking support to seven of South Africa’s 26 universities. The grant support for Siyaphumelela (which means “we succeed” in isiXhosa) will expand the initiative’s partner universities by welcoming
- [New date! Learn about communicating critical messages during challenging times at July 1 webinar](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-date-learn-about-communicating-critical-messages-during-challenging-times-at-july-1-webinar/) - Every day, we rely on the experience and expertise of public health officials to protect us from threats like COVID-19. But as the pandemic continues, health departments around the country face challenges in communicating critical messages to the people they serve. Join The Kresge Foundation at a webinar from 5 to 6:30 p.m. (EST) on July
- [Voting and principled leadership offer vehicles to channel the energy of dissent into lasting change](https://kresge.org/news-views/voting-and-principled-leadership-offer-vehicles-to-channel-the-energy-of-dissent-into-lasting-change/) - Kresge President Rip Rapson has been writing daily notes to the staff during the COVID-19 pandemic as we continue to work from home. We are sharing a selection of these letters that touch on current events and issues relevant to these unprecedented times. Earlier this week, I wrote about the unthinkable irresponsibility of holding rallies while
- [Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund awards $1.45 million to improve community and habitat resilience](https://kresge.org/news-views/southeast-michigan-resilience-fund-awards-1-45-million-to-improve-community-and-habitat-resilience/) - Public-private partnership funds seven projects to reduce stormwater impact, improve water quality, increase usability of public green space Southeast Michigan Resilience Fund partners today announced seven projects selected to receive $1.45 million in grant funding to benefit communities and wildlife habitats in southeast Michigan. The grants awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) will
- [Retiring Trustee Phillip L. Clay reflects on partnership with Kresge Education Program](https://kresge.org/news-views/retiring-trustee-phillip-l-clay-reflects-on-partnership-with-kresge-education-program/) - Kresge’s Education Program recently connected with Dr. Phillip L. Clay to gather his reflections about serving as a foundation trustee for the past 12 years and his partnership with the program. A former Chancellor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Clay brought his passion for the transformative promise of higher education to his role as
- [New report outlines how cities and real estate sector can partner to fight climate change](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-report-outlines-how-cities-and-real-estate-sector-can-partner-to-fight-climate-change/) - Cities across the country have made bold commitments to limit climate change by reducing, and eventually eliminating, the carbon pollution from buildings. But the public sector can't deliver these commitments alone. Following through will require city leaders to work alongside community leaders, including those from the nonprofit and private sectors. A new report by the
- [COVID-19 Reveals An Urgent Need To Reimagine What A System Of Health Should Be](https://kresge.org/news-views/covid-19-reveals-an-urgent-need-to-reimagine-what-a-system-of-health-should-be/) - In Health Affairs post, David Fukuzawa says it's time to change how we think about what is possible to achieve health and well-being I turned my cart down the grocery store aisle and tried to stay close to one side to keep at least 6 feet away from shoppers coming from the other direction. Moments
- [Kresge bids farewell to two long-term, steadfast trustees](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-bids-farewell-to-two-long-term-steadfast-trustees/) - Kresge President Rip Rapson extends gratitude to Phil Clay and Steve Hamp as they retire from board This week The Kresge Foundation honors and thanks two dedicated trustees as they retire from our board. Phillip L. Clay and Steven K. Hamp have a combined 30 years of service with the foundation. Together and individually they
- [Dillard University President Walter Kimbrough on the important role of HBCUs in New Orleans](https://kresge.org/news-views/dillard-university-president-walter-kimbrough-on-the-important-role-of-hbcus-in-new-orleans/) - We connected with Dr. Walter Kimbrough, president of Dillard University, to explore how the institution, and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in New Orleans, shape the city’s economic ecosystem and will contribute to the city’s pandemic recovery. A grant from Kresge’s Education Program, which is focused on strengthening Urban Higher Education Ecosystems and institutional capacity building for
- [National initiative to reimagine public spaces for stronger communities expands to ten cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/national-initiative-to-reimagine-public-spaces-for-stronger-communities-expands-to-ten-cities/) - Reimagining the Civic Commons, a national initiative to support strategic investments in parks, libraries, trails, community centers and other civic assets, in order to foster civic engagement, economic opportunity and environmental sustainability, welcomes five new U.S. cities. Lexington, Macon, Miami, Minneapolis and San José will join Akron, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis and Philadelphia to create a network of
- [Arts & Transportation Rapid Response initiative now accepting applications](https://kresge.org/news-views/arts-transportation-rapid-response-initiative-now-accepting-applications/) - Using arts to create better pandemic projects Editor’s note: A version of this article was originally published by our partner, Smart Growth America With support from The Kresge Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, Smart Growth America is now accepting applications for the Arts & Transportation Rapid Response, a new opportunity for cities looking
- [How Kresge’s Detroit Program confronts the COVID-19 pandemic](https://kresge.org/news-views/how-kresges-detroit-program-confronts-the-covid-19-pandemic/) - “The level of grief … is off the chart,” says one grantee Rhonda Greene is one of the long-term believers in Detroit’s revitalization. Her focus is Detroit youth and their communities, sharing art that is accessible to Detroiters through African and African American cultural lenses. Rhonda seeks to instill youth with a sense of who
- [New e-book chronicles how creative placemaking can expand opportunities in disinvested communities](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-e-book-chronicles-how-creative-placemaking-can-expand-opportunities-in-disinvested-communities/) - “What if all community development started with local arts and culture?” This is the first headline in a new e-book published by Next City, a grantee partner of the Arts & Culture Program. Titled “For Whom, By Whom: Vol: 1”, the e-book is a compilation of articles chronicling how creative placemaking can expand opportunities for low-income residents and communities of
- [Kresge joins nationwide effort to share stories about 'Why Public Health Matters'](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-joins-nationwide-effort-to-share-stories-about-why-public-health-matters/) - Everyone knows what doctors, nurses, and hospital staff do during a pandemic like COVID-19, but fewer know about the many important roles that public health professionals play in protecting our communities. To tell the stories of public health professionals, The Kresge Foundation has joined a new nationwide effort to tell people “Why Public Health Matters.”
- [New paper outlines - in light of COVID-19 - how a growing network can advance inter-governmental arrangements to support cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/new-paper-outlines-in-light-of-covid-19-how-a-growing-network-can-advance-inter-governmental-arrangements-to-support-cities/) - Remaking federalism: How states can realign and rebuild a stronger and healthier union In Remaking Federalism: How States Can Realign and Rebuild a Stronger and Healthier Union, Neil Kleiman observes that there has been a redefinition of intergovernmental relations, one in which the country’s densest population centers have lost autonomy and authority in recent years. One of
- [Kresge’s health program expands with promotion of one fellow, addition of another](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresges-health-program-expands-with-promotion-of-one-fellow-addition-of-another/) - Katie Byerly has been promoted to program officer for the health program, from health philanthropy fellow. As a program officer, she will be focusing on grantmaking across the health team’s strategy while supporting development and implementation of new initiatives that advance the equity-focused systems of health; including health and housing, the integration of health and
- [25% by '25 Initiative celebrates first year](https://kresge.org/news-views/25-by-25-initiative-celebrates-first-year/) - This week marks the one-year anniversary of The Kresge Foundation’s 25% by '25 initiative — our commitment to ensuring that by 2025, 25% of our U.S. assets will be invested with firms owned by women and people of color. John Barker, managing director of Kresge’s Investment Office, took a moment to answer a few questions about the first year
- [We must continue to lift up, honor and thank health care workers](https://kresge.org/news-views/we-must-continue-to-lift-up-honor-and-thank-health-care-workers/) - COVID-19 backlash has public health workers facing threats, burnout Kresge President Rip Rapson has been writing daily notes to the staff during the COVID-19 pandemic as we continue to work from home. We are sharing a selection of these letters that touch on current events and issues relevant to these unprecedented times. Good evening everyone:
- [Our Commitment to Dismantling Systemic Barriers](https://kresge.org/news-views/our-commitment-to-dismantling-systemic-barriers/) - Partners, Like you, we have been rocked by the murder of George Floyd. His death, and the death of so many other African Americans, is rooted in centuries’ long systemic racism in policing and criminal justice policy. This latest horror occurred as the world, and our nation, faces not only an unprecedented pandemic, but an economic calamity
- [DACA decision affirms truth that immigrants are central to American story, history](https://kresge.org/news-views/daca-decision-affirms-truth-that-immigrants-are-central-to-american-story-history/) - Statement by The Kresge Foundation President & CEO Rip Rapson: "The Kresge Foundation applauds the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Today’s ruling is a victory for the nearly 700,000 immigrants who came to the United States as children and have known
- [Mental health awareness is paramount as we battle COVID-19 and racism](https://kresge.org/news-views/mental-health-awareness-is-paramount-as-we-battle-covid-19-and-racism/) - https://youtu.be/NvFRPNF7xOU Whether we are physically protesting, silently protesting, or just processing, there is no doubt what’s happening in our world is affecting everyone in some way. At this time, the importance of health – be it physical, mental or spiritual – is essential. As we cope with fear, uncertainty, loss, and multiple layers of stress
- [US Water Alliance offers "One Water Leadership Insights" for Earth Day](https://kresge.org/news-views/us-water-alliance-offers-one-water-leadership-insights-for-earth-day/) - Editor's note: This article was originally published by the US Water Alliance as part of a Q&A series with Jalonne L. White-Newsome, Environment Senior Program Officer, and Radhika Fox, CEO, US Water Alliance. Radhika: Happy Earth Day, Jalonne! To start, could you please introduce yourself to our readers without your title or affiliation. Jalonne: Thanks, Radhika. I’m a mom, teacher,
- [Kresge suspends $1 million in interest payments for 6 months in response to pandemic](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-suspends-1-million-in-interest-payments-for-6-months-in-response-to-pandemic/) - Measure will provide relief to 41 partners In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing financial crisis, The Kresge Foundation announced it will waive all interest payments on its portfolio of program-related investments for six months. The interest waiver period extends from April 1 to September 30, 2020 and will be applied automatically. In total,
- [The Kresge Foundation Returns to a Greener Headquarters](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-kresge-foundation-returns-to-a-greener-headquarters/) - TROY, MICHIGAN – The Kresge Foundation has returned to its newly-renovated headquarters on West Big Beaver Road in Troy, Michigan. The 82-year-old Foundation has added a 19,500-square-foot structure, restored a prairie landscape, and maintained and restored 19th century farm buildings on its three-acre site. The new office building is an innovative model for sustainable design.
- [Kresge Leadership Transition Complete](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-leadership-transition-complete/) - TROY, MICHIGAN – The leadership transition is now complete with Rip Rapson assuming the position of president and CEO as of July 1, 2006. He succeeds John E. Marshall III who retired after 27 years of leadership at The Kresge Foundation.Rip Rapson was most recently President of the McKnight Foundation, a $1.8 billion private foundation
- [The Kresge Foundation Welcomes Elaine Rosen as Board of Trustees Chair](https://kresge.org/news-views/the-kresge-foundation-welcomes-elaine-rosen-as-board-of-trustees-chair/) - DETROIT, MICHIGAN – The Kresge Foundation has selected Elaine D. Rosen, CLU, as the Chair of its Board of Trustees, a distinction shared by eight people over the course of the Foundation’s 83-year history. A Trustee of the Foundation since 2003, she most recently served as Co-Chair of the Search Committee, which led to the
- [Rip Rapson Outlines Kresge's New Approach To Grantmaking in a Recent Speech](https://kresge.org/news-views/rip-rapson-outlines-kresges-new-approach-to-grantmaking-in-a-recent-speech/) - Values, capacity for growth and long-term stability become the centerpiece of its new fundraising analysis. TROY, MICHIGAN – In a speech on July 12 to representatives of some of the nation’s most selective private colleges and universities, Rip Rapson, president of The Kresge Foundation, outlined the rationale for expanding the foundation’s strategic direction beyond its
- [Kresge Announces a New Values-Centered Approach to Grantmaking](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-announces-a-new-values-centered-approach-to-grantmaking/) - TROY, MICHIGAN – The national foundation long-recognized for its support of nonprofit capital campaigns is expanding its grantmaking to better serve the pressing needs of society. Nine values have been identified as strategic priorities and constitute new grantmaking criteria. “We have embarked upon an unprecedented process to expand our grantmaking – one that will stretch
- [Kresge Achieves Highest-level LEED Platinum Certification for Design, Construction and Operation of its Headquarters](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-achieves-highest-level-leed-platinum-certification-for-design-construction-and-operation-of-its-headquarters/) - The decision to build green underscores the foundation’s commitment to cutting greenhouse-gas emissions and finding solutions to global climate change. TROY, MICHIGAN – The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded The Kresge Foundation headquarters Platinum certification, the highest attainable level in the LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – Green Building Rating System,
- [Rip Rapson, Kresge President and CEO, Talks About New Values-Centered Grantmaking in Responsive Philanthropy](https://kresge.org/news-views/rip-rapson-kresge-president-and-ceo-talks-about-new-values-centered-grantmaking-in-responsive-philanthropy/) - Reprinted with permission from the National Committee For Responsive Philanthropy's journal, Responsive Philanthropy, Spring 2008. TROY, MICHIGAN – For more than 83 years, the Detroit-based Kresge Foundation has helped build the country’s nonprofit infrastructure, from libraries and schools to food banks and community centers. This $3.9 billion private foundation recently unveiled a new values-centered approach
- [Kresge Announces Two New Grantmaking Programs - the Health Program and the Environment Program](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-announces-two-new-grantmaking-programs-the-health-program-and-the-environment-program/) - TROY, MICHIGAN – The Kresge Foundation’s long-standing interest in the fields of health and the environment has led to the formation, in June 2008, of two major, comprehensive programs: the Health Program and the Environment Program. Historically, the foundation has worked in six fields of interest: health, the environment, arts and culture, education, human services
- [MIT’s Chancellor, Phillip L. Clay, Joins The Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees](https://kresge.org/news-views/mits-chancellor-phillip-l-clay-joins-the-kresge-foundation-board-of-trustees/) - Clay brings an extensive background in education, housing and urban development. Troy, Michigan – The Kresge Foundation is pleased to announce Phillip L. Clay, a prominent leader in higher education, a noted researcher and author, and an influential advisor on U.S. housing policy and community-based development, has joined its board of trustees. Clay is the chancellor
- [Living Cities Funds Strategic and Innovative Approach to Foreclosure Crisis in Detroit](https://kresge.org/news-views/living-cities-funds-strategic-and-innovative-approach-to-foreclosure-crisis-in-detroit/) - Reprinted with permission from Living Cities: The National Community Development Initiative. TROY, MICHIGAN – Foreclosures, like the subprime lending that precipitated them, have been heavily concentrated in vulnerable neighborhoods. The resulting vacant and abandoned properties threaten values of neighboring homeowners, invite crime, and discourage further investment. In response, Living Cities, a collaborative of major philanthropies
- [Kresge Arts in Detroit: Foundation makes $8.8 million investment in local artists and arts-related organizations](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-arts-in-detroit-foundation-makes-8-8-million-investment-in-local-artists-and-arts-related-organizations/) - The multi-faceted effort is designed to support the arts ecosystem in metropolitan Detroit. TROY, Mich. – Surrounded by Mexican muralist Diego Rivera’s larger-than-life frescos depicting Detroit’s industrial might and serenaded by jazz music from the Harvey Reed Quartet, Rip Rapson, president of The Kresge Foundation, unveiled an $8.8 million investment in individual artists and arts
- [Kresge President Urges Private Philanthropy to Take a Bolder Role in Revitalizing American Cities](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-president-urges-private-philanthropy-to-take-a-bolder-role-in-revitalizing-american-cities/) - Speaking to CEOs for Cities, Rapson outlines long-term foundation strategies to address underlying urban problems. TROY, MICHIGAN – Private philanthropy must work at the heart, rather than at the margins, of the complex economic, social, political and environmental problems plaguing American cities in order to contribute meaningfully to their revitalization and success, Kresge President Rip
- [Kresge Foundation Meets Economic Downturn Head On, Awarding a Record $63.6 Million in Grants in Fourth Quarter 2008](https://kresge.org/news-views/kresge-foundation-meets-economic-downturn-head-on-awarding-a-record-63-6-million-in-grants-in-fourth-quarter-2008/) - Grants advance foundation’s strategic objectives in 30 states, particularly in the areas of community development, health and the environment. TROY, MICHIGAN – The state of the economy did not deter the trustees of The Kresge Foundation from awarding $63.6 million in grants at its fourth-quarter board meeting in December, making the quarter, together with the

## Pages

- [Homepage](https://kresge.org/) - We Work to Expand Equity and Opportunity in Cities Across America Learn More About Us OUR STORY AT 100 Move down The LatestAll News and ViewsPathbreaking painter, arts activist and Heidelberg Project founder Tyree Guyton tapped as 2026 Kresge Eminent ArtistPathbreaking painter, arts activist and Heidelberg Project founder Tyree Guyton tapped as 2026 Kresge Eminent
- [Environment](https://kresge.org/our-work/environment/) - About The Environment Program Kresge’s Environment Program helps cities combat and adapt to climate change while advancing racial and economic justice. We believe that cities should work on limiting climate change and preparing for its effects at the same time. Climate change hits some communities harder than others. The pollution that creates dangerous heat waves
- [Health](https://kresge.org/our-work/health/) - About the Health Program Health is about so much more than health care. Our health depends on where we live, our education, having enough money, being able to around town and the other services we all need. It also includes how much we can participate in our community and how we interact with police and
- [Detroit](https://kresge.org/our-work/detroit/) - About The Detroit Program The Detroit Program works with a range of partners, including resident leaders, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and state and city governments. We believe centering people, racial equity and place is crucial to the broad, equitable development needed across neighborhoods of the iconic city that is our hometown. This is an evolution of
- [News & Views](https://kresge.org/news-views/)
- [Arts & Culture](https://kresge.org/our-work/arts-culture/) - About The Arts & Culture Program As a national program that supports place-based activities, our vision is that creativity is valued widely as an integral resource for healthy and sustainable places and for residents of color to live abundant and self-determined lives. Our core beliefs include: Residents possess the imagination, wisdom, and lived experiences necessary
- [Careers](https://kresge.org/about-us/careers/) - Working at Kresge The Kresge Foundation is one of the top 20 largest private foundations in the U.S. Our staff of more than 125 employees works to expand equity and opportunities in America’s cities for people with low incomes. We do this through grantmaking and social investing nationally in arts and culture, education, environment, health,
- [Current Funding Opportunities](https://kresge.org/grants-social-investments/current-funding-opportunities/) - All Current, Open Funding Opportunities Are Listed Below Thank you for your interest in funding opportunities from The Kresge Foundation. We make grants through seven Programs and a Social Investment Practice. Each Program has established specific objectives to advance strategic goals. These objectives are called Focus Areas. It is through Focus Areas that grant opportunities
- [Resources](https://kresge.org/resources/)
- [Education](https://kresge.org/our-work/education/) - About The Education Program Earning a quality postsecondary education is the surest pathway to increased opportunity and economic mobility among graduates. Bachelor’s degree recipients earn on average $1 million more over their lifetimes than high school graduates. Degree attainment is also a key component of self-determination and can help graduates positively shape their circumstances. But
- [Social Investment Practice](https://kresge.org/our-work/social-investment-practice/) - About the Practice We use the full spectrum of capital tools to address the financial barriers that confront communities of color and other underserved communities. We work alongside our seven program teams to unlock capital for those places and projects that improve equitable outcomes. Our work supports an often under-resourced community-development financial system and includes
- [Financials](https://kresge.org/about-us/financials/) - We post our audited financial statements and tax returns as they become available. A 990-PF (Return of Private Foundation) is the IRS form used by all private foundations. Typically, financial statements are available in mid-June and our 990-PF in mid-November. $160m Kresge invests more than $160 million annually to foster economic and social change. $148.9m
- [American Cities](https://kresge.org/our-work/american-cities/) - About The American Cities Program America’s cities are linchpins of socioeconomic mobility and increased opportunity. In many cities, however, access to opportunity is not shared equitably among all people. This makes our urban centers the frontlines of advancing opportunity including access to quality, affordable housing; vibrant, connected neighborhoods; meaningful workforce preparation and employment opportunities; and
- [HQ FAQs](https://kresge.org/hq-faqs/) - Kresge’s HQ Frequently Asked Questions You can learn more about the project in this announcement or at Kresge.org/HQ. Sign up for updates on the HQ on our Subscribe & Connect page. Send any further questions to us at communications@kresge.org. When will the HQ building open?We aim to open and move in by late 2028. Why
- [Field Building](https://kresge.org/our-work/environment/building-capacity-and-commitment/) - Taking action to reduce climate change requires a strong, well-resourced and well-networked movement of trusted nonprofit organizations and leaders who center justice in every climate solution. We work to support and strengthen leaders and organizations whose work is critical to addressing climate change while advancing racial and economic justice. Learn more about our three key
- [Subscribe & Connect](https://kresge.org/subscribe-connect/) - Receive Kresge Newsletters Sign up for our e-newsletters, including Kresge Weekly News, to stay updated on what we’re learning, program updates, funding news, staff announcements, and more. Your email address will not be provided to third parties for any reason. Kresge Weekly News comes out regularly on Thursdays. Our program newsletters come out quarterly and
- [Kresge HQ](https://kresge.org/hq/) - A recommitment to our hometown as the epicenter of our mission and a launchpad for the next century of work in American cities Headquarters Where Place and Purpose Meet. Nestled within the historic Marygrove Conservancy campus in Northwest Detroit’s Fitzgerald neighborhood, Kresge’s new headquarters will be more than a workplace: it’s a manifestation of our
- [Centennial](https://kresge.org/centennial/) - Founded in 1924 to promote human progress. Expanding equity and opportunity in American cities today. Dive into the history and stories of The Kresge Foundation as it celebrates a century of grantmaking. The foundation was established in Detroit by Sebastian Spering Kresge, whose retail empire, the S.S. Kresge Co., brought low-priced goods to the masses
- [For Current Grantees](https://kresge.org/grants-social-investments/for-current-grantees/) - About Your Grant Congratulations! We are delighted that your organization is a valued grantee partner. As a funder, we see ourselves as your strategic partner, and commit to investing the time, energy and resources to listen and learn and deepen our understanding of the communities in which we work. Throughout our work together, know that
- [Our Workspaces](https://kresge.org/about-us/our-workspaces/) - Our Green Headquarters The Kresge Foundation is currently located on a 3-acre campus in suburban Detroit, anchored by an 1850s-era farmhouse and barn. By the end of 2028, we will be located in Northwest Detroit, on the Marygrove Conservancy campus, where we are building a new, 70,000 square-foot headquarters and community hub. But for now,
- [How We Operate](https://kresge.org/about-us/how-we-operate/) - Transparency and Accountability Kresge seeks to be a transparent organization and has achieved Candid’s gold transparency designation for sharing specific information about our foundation, including staff and trustee demographic data. On Kresge.org, we also share thorough details about our grantmaking and social investments. In addition, we publish annual tax returns and financial statements, our bylaws,
- [Grants & Social Investments](https://kresge.org/grants-social-investments/) - About Our Grantmaking Our programs work both independently and in collaboration to award single-year and multiyear grants that fund general operating, projects and planning activities advancing strategic objectives. Most of our funding is to work in the U.S. but our Education Program also supports a portfolio of institutions in South Africa. Most often, we invite
- [Transforming Urban Systems](https://kresge.org/our-work/environment/transforming-key-urban-systems/) - Climate change requires that U.S. cities change how they manage the energy, health and water systems that are critical to their residents health, safety and quality of life. We work with cities to accelerate climate solutions that benefit all residents by transforming the energy, health and water systems they depend on. Learn more about our
- [Transformative Project<span style="display: inline-block;"></span>/Marygrove Cradle-to-Career Campus](https://kresge.org/our-work/detroit/transformative-project-marygrove-cradle-to-career-campus/) - The creation of a cradle-to-career P-20 educational continuum on the Marygrove Conservancy campus in Northwest Detroit puts quality education at the center of the surrounding neighborhood’s revitalization. With a $50 million Kresge commitment, and entailing an array of partners, the campus is anticipated to serve more than 1,000 students at full capacity. The P-20 cradle-to-career
- [Press Room](https://kresge.org/about-us/press-room/) - For the Media The External Affairs and Communications team is happy to help you find the sources and stories you need from our staff and network of nonprofit partners throughout the U.S. Contact us with your request to arrange an interview. We invite you to explore our website to find out more about our
- [Community Health Ecosystems](https://kresge.org/our-work/health/community-health-ecosystems/) - Community health ecosystems are more than basic structures required to keep people healthy. They include the environments, people, relationships, practices and services that support safe and holistic health systems. To create thriving communities, we need to strengthen and sustain local health ecosystems that encourage community engagement, include high-quality systems of care and keep communities safe.
- [Community Investment for Health Equity](https://kresge.org/our-work/health/community-investment-in-health-equity/) - Decades of disinvestment has left many communities in cities across the country with low-quality housing, few options for healthy food and a lack of other resources that help people stay healthy. This lack of investment was not an accident – it resulted from racist housing, transportation, planning and development policies that kept many Black, Indigenous
- [Community-Driven Solutions](https://kresge.org/our-work/health/community-driven-solutions/) - Our health depends on where we live, the food we eat and the air we breath. However, in far too many communities throughout the nation, decades of structural inequities and institutional racism has left people of color and people with low incomes with low-quality housing, polluted air, limited access to healthy food and a lack
- [Contact Us](https://kresge.org/contact/) - The Kresge Foundation Main Office 3215 W. Big Beaver Road Troy, MI 48084 +1-248-643-9630 Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (We close at 12:30 p.m. on Fridays.) Detroit Office 3965 Woodward Ave. Detroit, MI 48201 Visits to the Detroit Office are by invitation only. Mail should be directed to Troy Headquarters address. Questions? If you have a
- [Strategic Learning, Research & Evaluation](https://kresge.org/our-work/strategic-learning-research-evaluation/) - How we prioritize learning We bring an equity lens to all evaluative thinking. We seek and hold a line of sight from data to insights to actions, with the intent to advance equitable processes and outcomes in and for communities in which the foundation invests. Growing our Knowledge Endowment Kresge codified a Strategic Learning, Research
- [Human Services](https://kresge.org/our-work/human-services/) - About the Human Services Program We center racial equity and racial justice to advance multi-generational family social and economic success, which includes social and economic mobility. We define social and economic mobility as the movement of families between social strata and their ability to improve their wealth and economic status. This includes a person’s autonomy,
- [How to Apply](https://kresge.org/grants-social-investments/how-to-apply/) - Application Process The Kresge Foundation awards grants in the following areas: American Cities, Arts & Culture, Detroit, Education, Environment, Health, Human Services, and Social Investment Practice. We most often proactively invite or solicit applications from individual organizations. Occasionally, program teams will do an open call for proposals within a focus area. For initiatives, we often use a
- [Our Work](https://kresge.org/our-work/) - Our Approach Today, Kresge works strategically to find the intersections between eight programs and practices to expand equity and opportunity in America’s cities. We work deeply in places like Detroit, Fresno, Memphis and New Orleans. We also fund work nationally, to improve systems and advance equitable policies nationwide. We use an array of flexible grantmaking
- [FAQs](https://kresge.org/about-us/faqs/) - Frequently Asked Questions about The Kresge Foundation. About Philanthropy What is a private foundation? A foundation is an organization with a fund, or endowment, that gives money to other organizations for charitable purposes. A private foundation can be set up by an individual, family or business. How are foundations different from other tax-exempt nonprofits or
- [Early Childhood<span style="display: inline-block;"></span>/Hope Starts Here](https://kresge.org/our-work/detroit/early-childhood-hope-starts-here/) - We are reimagining the city’s neighborhoods by putting essential building blocks in place that will support the healthy development of young children. We do this in alignment with Hope Starts Here (HSH), an initiative launched in partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, focused on helping create a Detroit where children are born healthy, well-prepared for
- [About Us](https://kresge.org/about-us/) - Expanding Equity and Opportunity in America’s Cities The Kresge Foundation is a private, national foundation that works to expand equity and opportunities in America’s cities through grantmaking and social investing in arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services and community development, nationally and in Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans and Fresno. In collaboration with our
- [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion](https://kresge.org/about-us/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/) - What We Believe The foundation’s North Star is the expansion of equity and opportunity in America’s cities. Equity means to us that all people – regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ZIP code, health and ability status, or any other consideration – have equal, inviolable dignity, value and opportunity to participate justly,
- [Thrive Leaders Network](https://kresge.org/thrive-leaders-network/) - In 2022, The Kresge Foundation launched the Thrive Leaders Network with a grant of $500,000 to support the leadership and well-being of 40 leaders of color over one year. In addition to each leader’s unrestricted award, the program also offered executive coach matching, virtual programming, in-person gatherings and communications tools to foster community and fuel
- [2023 Annual Report](https://kresge.org/2023-annual-report/) - Introduction 2023 marks a momentous milestone: our Centennial—a century dedicated to fostering opportunities across the United States and the world. In this special annual report, we present a unique experience: four pop-ups that bring to life iconic landmarks from the cities of Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans and Fresno. These symbolize our deep-rooted commitment to these
- [Fresno, Memphis & New Orleans](https://kresge.org/our-work/american-cities/fresno-memphis-new-orleans/) - We work to expand equity and opportunity in Fresno, Memphis and New Orleans. Inspired by the foundation’s efforts in our hometown of Detroit, we support cross-sector collaboration, comprehensive community development and ecosystems that center resident priorities to advance equitable change. We seek to strengthen neighborhoods and the organizations and systems that serve their residents. This
- [Coordinated Investments and Technical Assistance](https://kresge.org/our-work/detroit/coordinated-investments-and-technical-assistance/) - Our Detroit Program works to provide coordinated investments (such as grants and social investments) to neighborhood stewards that implement catalytic projects across Detroit neighborhoods. Stewards connect these layered resources to amplify the strengths and enhance the unique character of the community. Today, we seek to extend and adapt these lessons in Livernois-McNichols (Live6), Southwest Detroit,
- [Equitable Community Development](https://kresge.org/our-work/detroit/equitable-community-development/) - We support activities and investments for transformative changes that improve the conditions and prospects of Detroiters. We particularly seek to bolster – through project grants, operating support and social investing – a range of community development organizations that authentically engage community on neighborhood-level change, as well as the community development systems and intermediaries that support
- [Arts and Culture Ecosystem](https://kresge.org/our-work/detroit/arts-and-culture-ecosystem/) - We support metro Detroit arts and culture at multiple levels, including operating support to organizations of various sizes, support for neighborhood-based Creative Placemaking efforts and projects in the city of Detroit, as well as unrestricted financial support for individual creators. We actively promote the power of arts and culture to preserve and enhance identity, connectedness
- [Our Origins](https://kresge.org/our-origin/) - Generosity Directed to Promote Human Progress The First Quarter Century: 1924 – 1949 The S.S. Kresge Company was 25 years old in 1924. Sebastian S. Kresge himself was 57. To commemorate the anniversary of his growing company, on June 11 he established The Kresge Foundation in booming Detroit, where the auto industry, also 25-years old
- [Our Founder: Sebastian S. Kresge](https://kresge.org/our-founder-s-s-kresge/) - Merchant — Humanitarian — Philanthropist With a simple but profound directive, “To promote the well-being of mankind,” The Kresge Foundation was established in 1924 by Detroit retail magnate Sebastian Spering Kresge (1867-1966) as he built one of America’s largest retail enterprises, the S.S. Kresge Company, and used his wealth to contribute to the general benefit
- [The S.S. Kresge Company](https://kresge.org/the-store/) - 20th Century Retail Success “The story of my father and the business that he built has a very familiar ring. It is as American as New England and as earthy as common toil. It is a story repeated in a hundred different forms by men who had the same dreams and the same vision
- [Strengthen Cross-Sector Partnerships](https://kresge.org/our-work/arts-culture/strengthen-cross-sector-partnerships/) - Connecting equitable practices across sectors We work to fortify an enabling environment that connects creative practices and drives systems change while recognizing the challenges communities of color face are too large to solve on our own. Our Approach We work across sectors with philanthropic partners, including Kresge programs and others, to embed culture and creativity
- [Invest in People Mobilizing for Change](https://kresge.org/our-work/arts-culture/invest-in-people-mobilizing-for-change/) - Support creative and community connectors as leaders. We recognize the gifts and power (and limited support) of community and creative facilitators in change efforts. We work to support the care and strengthen networks of creative practitioners, cultural strategists and community leaders who are centering community voice and agency in cross-sector local and national initiatives. Our
- [Advance Creative Strategies in Place](https://kresge.org/our-work/arts-culture/advance-creative-strategies-in-place/) - We work to invest in creative practices that strengthen resident agency, social cohesion and narrative control and that promote collective action for equitable and long-term change in neighborhoods. Our Approach We support neighborhood-based organizations and place-based approaches that advance creative practices in community-driven and resident-led initiatives across the United States and, in partnership with Kresge’s
- [Nonprofit Capacity Building and Leadership Development](https://kresge.org/our-work/detroit/nonprofit-capacity-building-and-leadership-development/) - We aim to build a more inclusive Detroit by elevating talented leaders outside traditional power structures and providing residents and nonprofit leaders of color opportunities and resources to shape their city. We invest to expand their capacity to bring about transformational policy conversations, projects and programs. This includes support for citywide networks and intermediaries, and
- [Developing Public Policy Solutions and Field Building](https://kresge.org/our-work/human-services/developing-supportive-aligned-public-policy/) - Through our place-based opportunity ecosystems and NextGen efforts, we leverage lessons learned about the structural barriers faced by families to advance policy solutions. This work is grounded in the importance of person-centered systems change. We see families and communities as experts on the future they envision for themselves. Therefore, we insist on engaging families as
- [Fostering the Next Generation of Nonprofit and Public Human Services Organizations](https://kresge.org/our-work/human-services/fostering-the-next-generation-of-nonprofit-and-public-human-services-organizations/) - With a focus on public and nonprofit community-serving organizations that center racial equity and racial justice to advance multigenerational social and economic success, partners in our Next Generation (NextGen) initiative are committed to ensuring all efforts are informed directly by the lived experience and expertise of families and communities. These partners are dedicated to strength-based
- [Place-Based Opportunity Ecosystems](https://kresge.org/our-work/human-services/place-based-opportunity-ecosystems/) - Local community, place-based opportunity ecosystems – made up of public and nonprofit organizations working across systems such as human services, early childhood, education, health and workforce development – hold enormous promise in advancing multigenerational family social and economic success. Through our Place-Based Opportunity Ecosystems strategy, we center racial equity and racial justice to advance multigenerational
- [Human Services Test 2](https://kresge.org/our-work/human-services-test-2/) - About the Human Services Program We center racial equity and racial justice to advance multi-generational family social and economic success, which includes social and economic mobility. We define social and economic mobility as the movement of families between social strata and their ability to improve their wealth and economic status. This includes a person’s autonomy,
- [Social Investments Made](https://kresge.org/grants-social-investments/social-investments-made/)
- [CREWS 2020 Convening](https://kresge.org/crews-2020-convening/) - We are so excited and thankful that you’re able to join us for this event. The year 2020 has been challenging: the COVID-19 pandemic; the ongoing fights for racial and environmental justice; a pivotal presidential election; and the continuous impact of more frequent and intense storms and flooding on communities across the country. Addressing racism
- [National Intermediaries](https://kresge.org/our-work/american-cities/national-intermediaries/) - We support national community-development organizations that work in cities. We particularly partner with national intermediaries focused on advancing equity at the local level. Local community development does not occur in a vacuum. Often, national intermediaries with offices in cities are critical on-the-ground partners to local actors. We seek to ensure there is a strong ecosystem
- [Building a More Robust Human Services Field](https://kresge.org/our-work/human-services/building-a-more-robust-human-services-field/) - Through convenings and testing policy solutions, we partner with the field to share mutual lessons learned about practice-informed and evidence-based practices that can strengthen the sector and lead to lasting changes for families in cities around the country. In collaboration with our place-based ecosystems, NextGen, and other partners, we seek to strengthen outcomes-based, person-centered practices
- [Knowledge Exchange](https://kresge.org/our-work/american-cities/knowledge-exchange/) - We fund research, thought leadership and convenings that seek to improve place-based community development practice in cities. We promote the transfer of ideas across urban practitioners, including those from the fields of philanthropy, community organizations, business, municipal government and other cross-sector partnerships. We seek to foster knowledge exchange among community and economic development practitioners. This
- [Multi-City Initiatives](https://kresge.org/our-work/american-cities/multi-city-initiatives/) - We support initiatives that surface, seed and scale effective approaches to community development. We particularly support projects that pilot a new way of working across a cohort of cities. We support multi-city community development initiatives through grants and social investments. We’ve seeded and scaled, for example, the Boston Federal Reserve Bank’s Working Cities Challenge, which
- [Urban Pathways to College](https://kresge.org/our-work/education/urban-pathways-to-college/) - We seek to increase the number of students from low-income households – recent high school graduates, people returning to college, or people attending college for the first time – who can access a high-quality postsecondary education. By improving college access for more students, our primary goal is to increase the number of underrepresented students who
- [Institutional Capacity Building For Student Success](https://kresge.org/our-work/education/institutional-capacity-building-for-student-success/) - We seek to help colleges reform outdated ways of working to better ensure student success in the 21st century. We also support colleges with an explicit focus on serving underrepresented students – such as minority-serving institutions, community colleges and public universities – carry out their missions and better help students succeed. Colleges and universities are
- [Aligning and Strengthening Urban Higher Education Ecosystems](https://kresge.org/our-work/education/aligning-and-strengthening-urban-higher-education-ecosystems/) - When educational institutions and urban systems collaborate to put students’ needs first, more students persist and succeed in college. Students living with low incomes often attend college in urban areas and can be stymied by nonacademic or off-campus barriers to success. This focus area works to eliminate those barriers. The urban higher education ecosystem, or
- [Strengthening the Evidence Base and Developing Tools](https://kresge.org/our-work/environment/strengthening-the-evidence-base-and-developing-tools/) - We help urban leaders access information and tools to support them in acting on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Officials at the local and regional levels pursue climate mitigation and adaptation actions only when they are confident those solutions are necessary and fiscally prudent. We seek to strengthen that evidence base; make it easier for
- [Legal](https://kresge.org/legal/) - Privacy Policy By visiting our website, you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not use this website. The Kresge Foundation (the “Foundation”) has created this privacy policy in order to demonstrate its firm commitment to the privacy of
- [Board of Trustees](https://kresge.org/about-us/board-of-trustees/)
- [Initiatives](https://kresge.org/our-work/initiatives/)
- [Our Staff](https://kresge.org/about-us/our-staff/)
- [Grants Awarded](https://kresge.org/grants-social-investments/grants-awarded/)
- [Sample Page](https://kresge.org/sample-page/) - This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this: Hi there! I'm a bike messenger

## Milestones

- [1948](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1948/) - Kresge Eye Institute is established through a $612,000 gift for ophthalmological research, education and “better care for indigent eye patients.” The foundation continues to fund it for 20 years until it is made part of Wayne State University in 1968.
- [1943](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1944/) - On behalf of Wayne (State) University, the foundation purchases the complete Hooker Scientific Library, a globally significant collection of more than 21,000 volumes of contemporary and early scientific periodicals from around the world. To house the collection, Kresge grants the university $1 million in 1947 for the construction of the Kresge Science Library. The building
- [1967](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1967/) - Protests against the Vietnam War and urban unrest rattle the nation and have a devastating impact on the city of Detroit. In William (Bill) Baldwin’s “President’s Report," he acknowledges frustration with the magnitude of problems in both the country and the world. Baldwin then reconfirms the foundation’s duty to fulfill a sense of hope through
- [1925](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1925/) - The first meeting of the Foundation trustees takes place and a $100 disbursement is made to the Salvation Army of Detroit. Later that year, Sebastian resigns as president of the S.S. Kresge Co.; he remains chairman of the retail company until his death in 1966.
- [1927](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1927/) - The foundation makes its first capital grant to the Methodist Children’s Home Society for the purchase of 28 acres of land, construction of a new children's home (Children's Village in Redford, Mich.), operating expenses, and establishment of an endowment. Gifts from prominent Detroiters like the Webber, Hudson, and Edsel Ford families augmented the Kresge grant.
- [1949](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1949/) - On its 25th anniversary, the foundation makes a commitment of up to $3 million to the University of Michigan to build a medical research building, representing its first commitment topping $1 million.
- [1952](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1952/) - Kresge's first president, Paul Voorhies, dies on January 8. Stanley Kresge becomes the new foundation president.
- [1953](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1953-2/) - Sebastian Kresge gives an oft-quoted speech, saying “I never made a dime talking." This came at the dedication of the $2.25 million Kresge Hall at the Harvard University Graduate School of Business. The area is now called "The Kresge Way." The Hall was demolished in 2014.
- [1953](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1953/) - By the foundation's 30-year anniversary, it can tally 536 grants and $34 million disbursed since inception.
- [1957](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1957-2/) - The foundation's first "Three Year Report" is published which documents each grant awarded during the period. Trustees also include the foundation's policies and indicate that Kresge “does not specialize in any one field of activity or research.”
- [1957](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1957/) - The foundation’s capital challenge grant specialty comes into focus. Stanley says during a speech: “We operate under a broad charter with wide aims and purposes. We have no desire to close any avenue that in the judgement of the Trustees may lead to a better allocation of funds. In our experience, conditional grants have been
- [1924](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1924/) - On June 11, 1924, on the occasion of his retail company’s 25th anniversary, Sebastian Kresge at age 57 establishes The Kresge Foundation with an endowment of $1.3 million with the purpose that funds gained on income are used “to benefit humanity."
- [1947](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1947/) - Kresge makes a $6,500 grant to the $1.3 million campaign of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).
- [1962](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1962-3/) - S.S. Kresge Co. opens its first Kmart-branded store in San Fernando, California in January. In March, the first ground-up Kmart store – and the one most recognized as “the first” — opens in Garden City, Mich.
- [1941](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1941/) - Kresge makes its first medical grant to the University of Michigan. The $15,000 award over three years supports the university's research on the common cold.
- [1926](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1926/) - The establishment of the foundation becomes public in May when it announces that S.S. Kresge has contributed additional monies (via 500,000 common shares of S.S. Kresge Co. stock), valued at $22 million, to the organization. According to May 1926 news clips, “Mr. Kresge indicated he would make additional gifts to maintain a perpetual fund for
- [1929](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1929/) - The Foundation makes its first challenge grants: $5,000 to the Clarke School for the deaf (Northampton, Mass.), provided $2,000,000 is raised in its fundraising campaign. $25,000 to build the S. S. Kresge Consolidated School in Kresgeville, Pennsylvania
- [1930](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1930-2/) - Stanley Kresge, Sebastian Kresge's eldest son, is elected to the Board of Trustees as Vice President.
- [1930](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1930/) - Through the 1930s-40s, as the nation recovers from the Great Depression, creditors press on churches to repay their debts; churches subsequently push to build or expand facilities after population growth. Kresge helps churches alleviate debt, then extensively funds expansions until WWII ends.
- [1940](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1940/) - The first conditional grant with a specified challenge deadline is made to the College of the Ozarks to relieve its mortgage debt, provided $54,000 is also raised by the institution.
- [1976](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1976/) - Stanley Kresge steps down from the S. S. Kresge Company Board of Directors, ending family participation in the retail company’s governance after 64 years.
- [1977](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1977/) - The S. S. Kresge Company is renamed the Kmart Corporation; the Kresge family protests the name change. Stanley Kresge says, “I don’t think it makes any sense to change from the name of a founder to a name that doesn’t relate to an individual."
- [1971](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1971/) - The fair market value of stocks held by Kresge increases from $377 million to $650 million in a single year, primarily on the strength of its S. S. Kresge Company stock, which is appreciating rapidly on the back of the rapid expansion of the company’s Kmart stores.
- [1984](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1984-3/) - Kresge commits $3 million as a capstone challenge to the renovation of the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island, a major national effort prior to the statue’s 100th anniversary in 1986.
- [1979](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1979/) - The foundation makes a $6 million conditional multiyear commitment to the United Negro College Fund special building and renovation fund drive. It's Kresge's largest single grant commitment in its history. Final payment to fulfill the grant was made in 1983.
- [1978](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1978/) - Stanley Kresge steps down as chairman of the foundation's board but remains a trustee and is named “honorary chairman." Bill Baldwin retires as president to become chairman; Ted Taylor is named Kresge's first full-time president.
- [1984](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1984-2/) - The foundation moves to its current 3-acre location on Big Beaver Road in Troy. The 10,000-square-foot, glass-enclosed, U-shaped structure is designed by Bill Kessler and built to complement an 1850s-era farmhouse on the site known as the Brooks Farm. In its 60th year of operation, foundation total grants since inception surpass $500 million.
- [1974](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1974/) - The foundation conducts a survey of 860 grantees to assess the adequacy of its policies and practices. This is the second of three similar surveys conducted over the next 15 years to assess grantee perceptions of the foundation.
- [1974](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1974-2/) - Kresge celebrates its 50th anniversary. A total of 3,252 grants have been awarded totaling $207 million since the foundation's inception.
- [1984](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1984/) - Kresge helps stand up the newly formed Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan with a $3 million grant for its permanent endowment and an additional $2 million challenge grant.
- [1962](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1962-2/) - Trustees for the first time indicate defined funding priorities: Colleges and universities, hospitals and medical research, institutions for religious training and leadership, organizations and institutions serving youth and the aging, and cultural and social welfare programs.
- [1969](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1969/) - For the first time, conservation is identified as a Kresge field of interest. Most early grants are awarded to projects focused on purchasing conservation lands or education about the natural environment. This year, Kresge pays out $6.7 million in grants and has an endowment of $147.9 million.
- [1972](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1972-2/) - The foundation headquarters move to Troy, Michigan. Kresge begins to sell off its 10.2 million shares of S.S. Kresge Co. stock and executes a stock swap valued at more than $20 million with the Ford Foundation for shares of Ford Motor Company stock. The swap allows both foundations to diversify their portfolios and reduce exposure
- [1965](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1965/) - The foundation passes the $75 million mark in all-time giving. That year, foundation offices move from the retail company's Second Avenue headquarters to a new building at 211 Fort Street West in Detroit's financial district.
- [1966](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1966/) - Sebastian Kresge resigns from his roles as chairman of the S. S. Kresge Company and trustee of The Kresge Foundation, and dies on October 18 at the age of 99. Stanley Kresge becomes Chairman of both the S. S. Kresge Company and the Kresge Board of Trustees.
- [1962](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1962/) - The foundation celebrates its 40th anniversary. Since inception, it has paid out more than $63 million in grants. Of those, about 50% went to colleges or universities; 25% contributed to scientific research, hospitals & health related projects; and the final 25% benefited religious institutions, the care of youth or the aging, and other social services.
- [1970](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1970/) - Three years after the Detroit rebellion, the foundation moves its headquarters from the central city to an Oakland County suburb. With a massive new headquarters campus under construction in nearby Troy, the S.S. Kresge Co. moves out of the city in 1972.
- [1972](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1972/) - Grant commitments increase from $8.9 million (1971) to $28.1 million to satisfy the provisions of the 1969 Tax Reform Act.
- [2001](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2001/) - After the September 11 terrorist attacks, a $2 million grant is issued to the Nonprofit Finance Fund in New York City to address local nonprofit needs following the tragedy. In Detroit, home to one of the largest concentrations of Arab Americans in the country, a $350,000 grant is made to the Arab Community Center for
- [1999](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1999-2/) - Deborah McDowell is elected a trustee. The daughter of Bruce Kresge, she is the first fourth-generation member of the Kresge family to join the Board.
- [2000](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2000/) - Bruce Kresge is elected chairman of the Board.
- [1999](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1999-3/) - The Partnership to Build Community Capital launches (1999-2005). The $18 million, five-year initiative helps six community foundations at a key point in their development. Participating are the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (MD), Sioux Falls Community Foundation (SD), Wyoming Community Foundation, Community Foundation of South Alabama, Saginaw Community Foundation (MI) & Community Foundation of
- [1997](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1997/) - Endowment surpasses $2 billion. Jill Conway is elected chairwoman of the Board (the second consecutive female chair).
- [1999](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1999/) - The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Initiative launches to help build fundraising capacity at five HBCUs. The five-year program runs through 2005 and awards $18 million. Participating institutions include Bethune Cookman College (Daytona, Florida), Dillard University (New Orleans, Louisiana), Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, North Carolina), Meharry Medical College (Nashville, Tennessee), and Xavier University
- [1998](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1998/) - Annual grants awarded surpass $100 million. The foundation extends the terms and doubles its commitment to the Detroit Initiative with $75 million (in advance of its 75th anniversary in 1999) for new programs and projects through 2003. To further build up Detroit-area nonprofit endowments following the conclusion of the Van Dusen Endowment Challenge (see 1991),
- [1993](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1993-2/) - Trustees approve a special five-year funding program for Metro Detroit organizations. The Detroit Area Special Grants Program (the “Detroit Initiative”) offers grants to help revitalize the city. During the program's first five years, it awards $34.45 million. Total foundation giving since inception surpasses the $1 billion mark.
- [1985](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1985-3/) - The foundation begins accepting grant applications and awarding grants year-round. Previously Kresge accepted grants only between January 1 and February 15, and awarded grants in July. The change creates greater accessibility to grant seeking organizations, accelerates response time and better balances workflow for foundation staff.
- [1985](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1985-2/) - Stanley Kresge retires as a trustee after 50 years with the company & foundation; he dies on June 30 at age 85.
- [1985](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1985/) - Margaret T. Smith, the first woman trustee in the foundation’s history, is elected. In 1994 she becomes the foundation's first woman to hold the chairmanship.
- [2002](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2002-2/) - The foundation makes its largest commitment to date through a $50 million commitment to develop the Detroit RiverWalk and establish the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. Through 14 grants between 2002–2016, Kresge invests more than $51.6 million in the RiverWalk and Dequindre Cut project.
- [1986](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1986/) - Kresge sells all its contributed shares of Kmart Corporation stock (valued at $214 million with realized net gain of $193 million). Market value of the endowment surpasses $1 billion.
- [1987](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1987-2/) - The foundation undertakes a third survey of grantees and declined applicants (see 1974), the feedback from which reinforces a commitment to the bricks-and-mortar/challenge-grant model.
- [1987](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1987/) - John Marshall becomes president of the foundation. He has served as vice president since joining Kresge in 1979. Marshall served 27 years with Kresge before retiring in 2006. During his 19-year tenure as president, he oversaw more than $2 billion in grant awards.
- [1988](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1988/) - The Science Initiative (1988-2007) begins, allowing organizations to request funds to upgrade and endow scientific equipment and laboratories in colleges and universities, teaching hospitals, medical schools and research institutions separately from bricks-and-mortar projects. Through 2005, Kresge awards 148 grants totaling $52.2 million in this initiative. In turn, these funds leverage $163.8 million in endowment funds
- [1990](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1990/) - A New York Times Magazine article offers a somber exploration of Detroit’s economic, social, and political factors that contributed to the decline of the once-thriving American city. The piece prompts Trustee Margaret Smith to suggest the foundation should be more heavily involved in rebuilding the city.
- [1981](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1981/) - Sebastian’s wife Clara K. (nee Zith) Kresge, dies at age 87. Financial statements show the foundation is named a beneficiary of her will, which receives $21,571,718 in the form of real estate, cash, stocks, and Kmart stock between 1981-1985.
- [1991](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1991/) - With the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan, Kresge launches a six-year, $18.4 million Van Dusen Endowment Challenge (named for Trustee Richard Van Dusen, who died in 1991), which allows grants to be used to build endowments for Detroit area nonprofit organizations. When it ended in 1997, 38 Detroit nonprofits increased their endowments by $50 million
- [1993](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/1993/) - Trustees approve the first statement on diversity, equity and inclusion. It reads: "The Foundation’s Trustees believe that American Philanthropy should serve the needs and concerns of our diverse nation. Accordingly, The Kresge Foundation’s review of grant requests takes into account the event to which potential grant recipients demonstrate, through their governance, staff, and individuals served,
- [2007](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2007-2/) - A five-part strategic framework is adopted to focus work in Detroit: revitalizing the downtown, recalibrating the regional economy, stabilizing neighborhoods, enhancing the national environment, and promoting a robust arts and culture ecosystem. Nationally, the foundation opens eligibility for education grants to community colleges.
- [2008](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2008-2/) - The M-1 RAIL public/private partnership is established to advance regional transit through a light rail line in Detroit; Kresge will support the research, planning, development and operation of the new streetcar line (the QLine) through more than $58 million in grants between 2007-2022. The line begins operating in 2017.
- [2009](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2009-2/) - The Foundation elects not to decrease funding levels in view of the financial and economic crisis, and to allocate funds to aid those hardest hit. It also makes 14 no-interest loans to human service agencies.
- [2003](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2003-2/) - The Green Building Initiative (2003-2009) launches to encourage construction or renovation of environmentally sustainable and LEED certified facilities. Bonus grants of $150,000 (Gold) or $250,000 (Platinum) are awarded for LEED certification achieved.
- [2006](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2006-3/) - Kresge constructs and opens a 19,500-square-foot, environmentally sustainable office building on the Brooks Farm site. The design integrates a renovation of the historic 19th-century farmhouse and barn, which had served as offices for years, with the construction of a contemporary LEED Platinum building.
- [2007](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2007/) - Under Rapson's leadership, Kresge expands beyond capital challenge grants and begins to work under a new philosophy of "strategic philanthropy" based on “value criteria," including whether work creates opportunity for low-income people, provides additional community impact beyond the project itself, contributes to an institution’s transformation, involves thoughtful risk-taking, promotes environmental conservation, demonstrates innovation, encourages collaboration
- [2002](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2002/) - Kresge approves the Special Opportunities Initiative to help seven nonprofit organizations nationwide create or expand their private fundraising capacity through $4 million in grants over five years. The first four organizations selected are: Bay Cove Human Services (Boston, MA), La Clinica de La Raza (Oakland, CA), Olney Theater (Olney, MD), and Project Renewal (New York,
- [2006](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2006-2/) - Rip Rapson, president of the McKnight Foundation in Minneapolis, becomes president following the retirement John Marshall Elaine Rosen is elected chairwoman. Under Rapson’s leadership, more than 8,000 grants exceeding $2.9 billion, and 152 social investments valued at more than $510 million, have been awarded.
- [2008](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2008/) - The Kresge Arts in Detroit (KAID) program begins as an effort to solidify an arts and culture ecology with support to arts organizations big and small, foster audience development and patronage, and to individual artists in Detroit’s Tri-county area; Charles McGee is the first Kresge Eminent Artist.
- [2003](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2003/) - Bruce Kresge steps down as chairman and retires as a trustee after 37 years with the foundation. Irene Hirano is elected chairwoman. Katherine Lutey, Bruce Kresge's second eldest daughter, joins as a trustee. She serves through 2009. The foundation surpasses $2 billion in grants awarded.
- [2005](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2005/) - The foundation launches a five-year, $15 million International Initiative to aid organizations in Mexico and South Africa. - The Mexico initiative is a 5-year, $5 million effort to help build private philanthropy in Mexico. - The South Africa Initiative is a $10 million, 5-year effort to partner with the South African Institute of Development (Inyathelo)
- [2006](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2006/) - A challenge grant for Detroit's Eastern Market restoration of Sheds 2 & 3 is approved and renovations begin. Kresge has continued to support the restoration of Eastern Market, its operations and its community development efforts through grants and social investments exceeding $4 million.
- [2010](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2010-2/) - An internal cross-team working group for New Orleans and the Gulf Coast is established. The Social Investment Practice is formally established; the foundation's first social investment was made in 2008.
- [2012](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2012-2/) - The Detroit Future City framework is introduced. The comprehensive blueprint for the city’s future engaged 150,000 residents to understand and guide the city in its policy, planning and fiscal decision-making to create a shared, achievable new vision for the city. It is funded in large part by the Kresge and Kellogg foundations.
- [2012](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2012/) - Kresge, Morgan Stanley and LISC establish the $100 million Healthy Futures Fund. The Fund uses Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and New Market Tax Credits to support the construction of 500 affordable housing units with integrated health services and eight federally qualified health centers that will serve an estimated 75,000 people.
- [2014](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2014-2/) - Kresge contributes $100 million to the Grand Bargain, a $300-plus million effort to help Detroit meet its pension obligations, preserve the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts, and facilitate a speedy return to solvency.
- [2020](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2020/) - At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kresge commits $17 million in grants and $2 million in social investments to support partners' response. The foundation also extends additional flexibility, expedites grant and amendment decisions, and suspends reporting to ease the burden on grantees during this time.
- [2023](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2023/) - Trustee Cynthia Kresge retires from Kresge's board after 10 years; her youngest sibling, Stephen “Scott” Kresge, is appointed to the board in June 2023.
- [2009](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2009/) - Rip Rapson introduces “Re-Imagining Detroit 2020,” a new strategic framework. The plan is an attempt to record and organize nine discrete, yet tightly interrelated, bodies of work that were currently underway in Detroit, funded largely by local philanthropy.
- [2010](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2010/) - ArtPlace, a funder collaborative working alongside the National Endowment for the Arts, is established with Kresge support to accelerate Creative Placemaking across the U.S. using investments in the arts and other creative efforts to advance revitalization in cities. The ten-year, $150 million collaboration among a number of foundations, federal agencies, and financial institutions operates from
- [2015](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2015-2/) - The American Cities Practice (now Program) launches and a Memphis internal cross-team working group is established. Memphis, which has become one of the foundation’s focus cities, has received more than $23 million in grant support.
- [2015](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2015/) - Kresge Trustees make a commitment to deploy $350 million in social investments by 2020, with a goal to attract an additional $1 billion from other investors.
- [2018](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2018/) - Kresge makes a $50 million commitment to transform the Marygrove campus into a robust preschool-to-postsecondary resource for Detroit.
- [2015](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2015-3/) - Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit (now KIP:D+) launches with $5 million to fund Detroit-based nonprofits in transformative projects across the city. The 2023 round of KIP:D+ brings the total of granted projects and planning efforts to 184 – along with $13.7 million in total grant support dollars – since launch. Similar “KIP” initiatives are established in Memphis
- [2019](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2019/) - Ground breaks on a state-of-the-art early childhood center on the Marygrove campus.
- [2022](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2022/) - Trustee Cecilia Muñoz assumes the role of chairwoman of the board. She is the first Latina to serve in the position.
- [2016](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2016/) - Kresge Early Years for Success (KEYS) launches with the goal to strengthen the city’s early childhood education and development systems and to ensure all Detroit children grow up ready to learn in kindergarten and beyond. This is the precursor to Hope Starts Here, a citywide initiative that launches in 2017 in partnership with the W.K.
- [2020](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2020-2/) - Kresge makes $30 million in grant commitments to nearly 60 national organizations working to advance racial justice, a “pivotal institutional milestone” as the foundation doubles-down on its commitment to racial justice organizations across the nation and in focus cities of Detroit, Fresno, Memphis & New Orleans. Kresge awards 742 grants – the most ever in
- [2021](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2021/) - The Inyathelo initiative in South Africa ends after 13 years and more than $17 million in support. It helped eight universities and one teaching hospital double, triple, and in some cases, quadruple private fundraising between 2006 and 2018.
- [2019](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2019-2/) - Kresge adopts Equity as its sixth organizational value. The statement begins: "The Kresge Foundation centers equity as one of its organizational values. Equity to us means that all people — regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, zip code, health and ability status, or any other consideration — have equal and inviolable dignity,
- [2014](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2014/) - The Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity (CRUO) Initiative launches. This five-year, $29 million effort prioritized work led by advocates and organizers in urban communities facing disproportionate environmental burdens.
- [2015](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2015-4/) - The FreshLo (Fresh, Local & Equitable) initiative launches. Before sunsetting in 2021, the initiative provides $8.4 million in grant funding, technical assistance and learning opportunities to 23 organizations promoting the integration of food, creative placemaking and community to drive equitable neighborhood revitalization.
- [2019](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2019-3/) - Marygrove welcomes its first high school freshman class to the new The School at Marygrove.
- [2016](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2016-2/) - Kresge begins to help Marygrove College through substantial financial issues. This work accelerates over the coming years with a commitment to chart a path forward for the campus to return to its educational roots and bolster surrounding neighborhoods.
- [2021](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2021-2/) - Marygrove's state-of-the-art $22 million Early Childhood Education Center opens and welcomes its first class of 144 children from birth to age 5.
- [2013](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2013-2/) - Kresge adopts five values to guide its work: Creativity, Opportunity, Respect, Partnership, and Stewardship.
- [2015](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2015-5/) - Construction wraps up on the 16,000-square-foot expansion to the Kresge headquarters in Troy.
- [2013](https://kresge.org/news-views/milestone/2013/) - Amidst a backdrop of Detroit's bankruptcy, the $30.25 million Woodward Corridor Investment Fund launches to provide critically needed real estate financing in Detroit. Kresge, NCB Capital Impact MetLife, Inc., PNC Bank, Prudential, Calvert Foundation, Living Cities & Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation will provide capital to projects that are mixed-use, mixed-income, transit-oriented and

## People

- [Katherine Boswell](https://kresge.org/person/katherine-s-boswell/) - Kate Boswell (she/her) is the external affairs and communications assistant at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2023. Previously, Kate served as an executive administrative assistant at Park West Gallery, where she was involved with administrative support and program management. Kate has also held positions with Rocket Mortgage and The Detroit Institute of
- [Ryan Failla](https://kresge.org/person/ryan-failla/) - Ryan Failla is a grants management associate at The Kresge Foundation, supporting the Education, Health, and Human Services programs.
- [Sheryl M. Madden](https://kresge.org/person/sheryl-m-madden/) - Sheryl M. Madden is Deputy CFO for The Kresge Foundation and is responsible for strategic management of the foundation’s accounting, tax and finance functions. She joined Kresge in 2009. Sheryl served as a member of the Equity Task Force, leaning in on supporting the foundation’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice (DEIJ) framework. She was previously
- [Demetrius Starling](https://kresge.org/person/demetrius-starling/) - Demetrius Starling (he/him) is a program officer at The Kresge Foundation. Demetrius supports the human services program. He joined the foundation in 2026. Demetrius is the previous senior deputy director for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ (MDHHS) Children’s Services Administration (CSA), where he led Michigan’s statewide child welfare system, including children’s protective services, foster care, adoption, licensing, guardianship, family preservation, prevention
- [Sarah E. Traxler](https://kresge.org/person/sarah-e-traxler/) - Sarah Traxler is the director of the executive office at The Kresge Foundation. Sarah provides multi-faceted support to the President and CEO and members of the Board of Trustees while coordinating special initiatives with Kresge staff and foundation partners. Sarah joined the foundation in 2023. Previously, Sarah spent several years as Vice President at McKenna,
- [Jhane Perdue](https://kresge.org/person/jhane-perdue/) - Jhané Perdue (she/her/they) is a program team assistant supporting the Arts & Culture Program at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2024. Previously, Jhane served as executive administrative assistant at Greater Flint Health, where she was involved with The Community Health Access Program (CHAP). She has also held positions with Opera Theatre of
- [Christie McMahon](https://kresge.org/person/christie-mcmahon/) - Christie McMahon (she/her) is a program team assistant at The Kresge Foundation, providing administrative support to the foundation’s Health program. She joined the foundation in 2024. Previously, Christie worked for Buhler Technologies in Rochester Hills, where she was the executive administrator responsible for daily and executive operations. She has also held positions at the City
- [Jan M. Delatorre](https://kresge.org/person/jan-m-delatorre/) - Jan M. Delatorre (he/him) is a program officer at The Kresge Foundation. Jan supports the Health Program and the Climate Change, Health and Equity initiative at Kresge. He joined the foundation in 2026. Previously, Jan served as a program officer at the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, where he was involved with expanding access to healthy food and wellness opportunities for children, their families, and their communities. He has also held positions with the Michigan
- [Maximilian Zachary](https://kresge.org/person/maximillian-zachary/) - Maximilian Zachary is an investment associate at The Kresge Foundation. He joined the foundation in 2023. A native of metro Detroit, Max earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Oakland University. As part of his coursework at Oakland University, Max helped manage a student-managed investment fund, which was established by Kresge to teach students the
- [Amani Strong](https://kresge.org/person/amani-strong/) - Amani Strong (she/her) is a grant management associate at The Kresge Foundation and supports the Presidential Discretionary and Special Initiative grants. Her responsibilities include ensuring compliance with regulations, managing data and maintaining documentation throughout the grantmaking process. She joined Kresge in 2025. Previously, Amani served as the program director for the Transforming Power Fund. Amani
- [Mary Beth Baumeister](https://kresge.org/person/mary-beth-baumeister/) - Mary Beth Baumeister is a Grants Manager at The Kresge Foundation. She manages and oversees compliance for grants and program-related investments as well as supports grant making for the Social Investments Practice at Kresge. Mary Beth joined the foundation in 2021. Previously Mary Beth served as the Grants Manager for the Skillman Foundation. Mary Beth
- [Greg Freeman](https://kresge.org/person/greg-freeman/) - Greg Freeman joined The Kresge Foundation in 2020, after nearly 30 years of combined experience in the corporate and non-profit sectors. As a grants management associate, Greg supports the grantmaking process for the Detroit program, by advising internal teams on compliance issues, tracking grant recommendations through the approval process, monitoring payments and creating reports for
- [Stephanie Davison](https://kresge.org/person/stephanie-davison/) - Stephanie Davison is a senior program officer on the Programs team at The Kresge Foundation, where she champions efforts that strengthen social sector talent and leadership. Additionally, she guides and facilitates projects and efforts across teams to drive alignment, innovation, and impact throughout the foundation's program areas. Stephanie joined Kresge in 2018 as a program
- [Craig G. Fields](https://kresge.org/person/craig-g-fields/) - Craig G. Fields serves as controller for The Kresge Foundation. He is responsible for supporting accounting and tax functions, which includes budgeting and payables, tax reporting, reconciliations, and general ledger accounts. Prior to joining the foundation in 2015, Craig was senior manager for Deloitte & Touche, LLP in Detroit, where he was a member of
- [Alejandra Hernandez](https://kresge.org/person/alejandra-hernandez/) - Alejandra Hernandez (she/her/hers) is a program officer for The Kresge Foundation's Environment Program, which supports cities in combating and adapting to climate change while advancing racial and economic equity. She plays a leading role in the foundation's Climate Change, Health, and Equity (CCHE) initiative, helping to shape its vision and implementation to address the intersecting
- [Christopher Chegash](https://kresge.org/person/chris-chegash/) - Chris Chegash is investment director for asset allocation and risk at The Kresge Foundation. Chris supports the cash management, trading and asset allocation functions of Kresge’s investment portfolio. He joined the foundation in 2022. Previously, Chris worked as an investment manager at Brush Street Investments, where he was involved with manager due diligence and investment
- [Heather M. Hacker](https://kresge.org/person/heather-m-hacker/) - Heather M. Hacker is director of human resources at The Kresge Foundation, supporting benefits and payroll operations. She joined the foundation in 2012. Previously, she held positions with Wayne State University, Lafarge North America, and Art Van Furniture. A native of Michigan, Heather earned a bachelor’s degree in human resources management from Oakland University in
- [Nyree Hill](https://kresge.org/person/nyree-hill/) - Nyree Hill is the senior grants management team assistant at The Kresge Foundation. She manages and maintains the registration process and provides administrative support for the foundation’s grants management department. Nyree joined the foundation in October 2022. Previously, Nyree worked for Ford Motor Company, where she served as an information specialist assistant in the Ford
- [Emily Bertsche](https://kresge.org/person/emily-bertsche/) - Emily Bertsche is a managing director at The Kresge Foundation. Emily is focused on the private portfolio, which includes investments in venture capital, buyout, real estate and natural resources. She joined the foundation in 2024 as an investment director working on the public market portfolio. Previously, Emily served as the director of growth assets for
- [Nikki Bonomo](https://kresge.org/person/nikki-bonomo/) - Nikki Bonomo is an IT infrastructure manager at The Kresge Foundation. Nikki supports IT security and compliance and overall data availability at the foundation. She joined Kresge in 2022 after serving as an independent cybersecurity consultant.
- [Kathy Hoffman](https://kresge.org/person/kathy-hoffman/) - Kathy Hoffman is an executive assistant to the vice president of programs at The Kresge Foundation, providing administrative support for the Program department and Strategic Learning, Research and Evaluation. Kathy joined the foundation in 2019. Previously she served as a team assistant at Mission Throttle, where she supported the advisory services team. Kathy has also
- [Janis Bowdler](https://kresge.org/person/janis-bowdler/) - Janis Bowdler is a nationally recognized leader in economic inclusion and equity, with more than two decades of experience spanning government, philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. She is President of Solutions for Enterprise Community Partners, where she leads a team delivering a broad range of housing and advisory programs across the U.S. Previously, she served
- [Jonathan Hui](https://kresge.org/person/jonathan-hui/) - Jonathan Hui is a senior program officer at The Kresge Foundation. He supports the Detroit Program’s work to advance socioeconomic mobility for children and families through strong, comprehensive child- and family-centered neighborhoods. His work focuses on building cross-sectoral coalitions to implement policy and place-based solutions from cradle to career that ensure neighborhoods support thriving, healthy
- [Aaron Seybert](https://kresge.org/person/aaron-seybert/) - Aaron Seybert is managing director of the Social Investment Practice at The Kresge Foundation. He previously served as a social investment officer supporting the American Cities and Detroit Programs at Kresge. He joined the foundation in 2016. Prior to Kresge, he served as executive director at JPMorgan Chase Bank, where he was involved with community development banking
- [Joelle-Jude Fontaine](https://kresge.org/person/joelle-jude-fontaine/) - Joelle-Jude Fontaine is a senior program officer for the Human Services team. Before joining Kresge in 2017, Joelle-Jude served as a program officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where she led the development of its early childhood funding strategies focusing on obtaining equitable outcomes for children pre-birth to age eight. She also led the development
- [Kat Sisler](https://kresge.org/person/kat-sisler/) - Kat Sisler is a program officer on the Environment Team at The Kresge Foundation. She supports Kresge’s Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) initiative focused on climate justice and health equity in cities across the U.S. Kat also supports the program’s broader grantmaking strategy to help cities combat and adapt to climate change while advancing
- [Regina R. Smith](https://kresge.org/person/regina-r-smith/) - Regina R. Smith is managing director of The Kresge Foundation’s Arts & Culture Program, where she leads a team and works across sectors to position culture and creativity as drivers of more just communities. Her tenure at Kresge began in 2008 as a program officer. Before joining Kresge, Regina held leadership positions in the public
- [Shamar Bibbins](https://kresge.org/person/shamar-bibbins/) - Shamar Bibbins serves as managing director of The Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program, which helps U.S. cities combat and adapt to climate change while advancing racial and economic justice. Shamar joined Kresge in 2014 as a program officer to manage a new grantmaking strategy designed to fund community-based, equity-focused, nonprofit organizations to deepen their expertise on
- [Jessica E. Boehland](https://kresge.org/person/jessica-e-boehland/) - Jessica Boehland works as a senior program officer with The Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program, which helps U.S. cities combat and adapt to climate change while advancing racial and economic justice. Jessica leads the team’s grantmaking and other activities that support cities in making an equitable and just energy transition. She also supports Kresge’s Social Investment
- [Inés Familiar Miller](https://kresge.org/person/ines-familiar-miller/) - Inés Familiar Miller is a program officer for the Arts & Culture Program at The Kresge Foundation. Inés helps advance the team’s priorities by reviewing grant requests, making recommendations for funding and managing a portfolio of grants. She joined the foundation in 2020. Previously, Inés served as a program associate at the California Community Foundation,
- [Raquel T. Hatter](https://kresge.org/person/raquel-t-hatter/) - Raquel Hatter, Ed. D., is managing director of the Human Services Program at The Kresge Foundation, which seeks to advance social and economic mobility with an applied racial equity lens driven by a two-generation, whole-family approach. She has served families and communities for more than 30 years in leadership roles across the child welfare, juvenile justice,
- [Bryan P. Hogle](https://kresge.org/person/bryan-p-hogle/) - Bryan P. Hogle is a senior program manager with The Kresge Foundation’s Detroit Program. He joined Kresge in September 2013, serving as a fellow in the Executive Office and transitioned to the program staff in June 2014. Before that, he worked with the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. in Detroit for two years. Bryan earned
- [Wendy Lewis Jackson](https://kresge.org/person/wendy-lewis-jackson/) - Wendy Lewis Jackson is managing director for the Detroit Program. She leads The Kresge Foundation’s efforts to revitalize Detroit and to strengthen its social and economic fabric. Her work supports organizations providing economic opportunity for low-income people and addresses the needs of vulnerable children and families. Prior to joining Kresge in 2008, Wendy was a program
- [Jill A. Johnson](https://kresge.org/person/jill-a-johnson/) - Jill A. Johnson is a senior program team assistant at Kresge where she works with the Environment Program. In that role, she coordinates meetings and travel, and communication with the team’s many partners. It’s all about getting people where they need to be with the resources they need, she says. Jill also fields queries from
- [Michelle D. Johnson](https://kresge.org/person/michelle-d-johnson/) - Michelle D. Johnson serves as a senior program officer with The Kresge Foundation’s Detroit Program. Michelle joined Kresge in 2006. During this time span, she has supported several national Program teams – including Arts & Culture, Human Services, Health and Detroit – allowing her to foster cross-sector collaboration while bringing an intersectional lens to
- [Krista C. Lowes](https://kresge.org/person/krista-c-lowes/) - Krista C. Lowes is operations coordinator at The Kresge Foundation, providing administrative support for the Detroit Program and American Cities Program. She joined the foundation in 2007. Previously, she served as chief financial officer and office manager for Lighthouse Molding Inc., a manufacturing company. A native of Dearborn and Traverse City, Michigan, she attended the
- [William F. L. Moses](https://kresge.org/person/william-f-l-moses/) - William (Bill) F. L. Moses serves as managing director for The Kresge Foundation’s Education Program, which supports postsecondary access and success for low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students. The key architect of Kresge’s education programming, Bill leads the team’s continuum of domestic and international grant activities from developing program strategy, reviewing preliminary ideas, and helping grantees
- [Phyllis D. Meadows](https://kresge.org/person/phyllis-d-meadows/) - As a senior fellow with the Detroit Program, Phyllis D. Meadows engages in all levels of grantmaking activity. Since joining The Kresge Foundation in 2009, she has advised the Detroit and Health teams on the development of its overall strategic direction and provided leadership in the design and implementation of grantmaking initiatives and projects. Phyllis
- [Jessica McKay](https://kresge.org/person/jessica-mckay/) - Jessica T. McKay is a senior program team assistant with the Detroit Program at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in February 2015. Previously, she served as an executive assistant to the director of clinical informatics at the Vancouver Island Health Authority, where she helped implement the use of electronic health records through the
- [Chantel Rush Tebbe](https://kresge.org/person/chantel-rush/) - Chantel Rush Tebbe is managing director of The Kresge Foundation’s American Cities Program. Her work advances the foundation’s efforts to catalyze effective community and economic development practices that expand opportunities for people with low incomes in American cities. Chantel joined Kresge in 2015 as a Fellow in the Executive Office before taking on progressive responsibility
- [Sam Kiyomi Turner](https://kresge.org/person/sam-kiyomi-turner/) - Sam Kiyomi Turner is a program officer with The Kresge Foundation's Detroit Program. He joined the foundation in 2019. Previously, Sam served as program director for an urban farm and food justice academy in New Orleans. He has also been a strategy and development consultant for various nonprofits in New York. Sam earned a bachelor’s
- [Caroline Altman Smith](https://kresge.org/person/caroline-altman-smith/) - Caroline Altman Smith is deputy director of The Kresge Foundation’s Education Program. She supports the team’s domestic grantmaking, which funds higher education institutions and national nonprofit organizations that work to help more underserved students enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Before joining Kresge in 2008, Caroline served for five years as a program officer at
- [Monica Valdes Lupi](https://kresge.org/person/monica-valdes-lupi/) - Monica Valdes Lupi, JD, MPH brings more than 20 years of experience in public health to her role as managing director of The Kresge Foundation’s Health Program. Valdes Lupi most recently served as senior fellow at the de Beaumont Foundation, where she advised and led its efforts to amplify and accelerate policy initiatives aimed at
- [Wendy Kuhn](https://kresge.org/person/wendy-kuhn/) - Wendy Kuhn is a senior program team assistant at The Kresge Foundation, providing administrative support for the Education Program. She joined the foundation in 2020. Previously, Wendy served as an executive assistant at the world headquarters of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. She has also held positions with First American Title and General Electric in Orange County,
- [Jennifer Bradley](https://kresge.org/person/jennifer-bradley/) - Jennifer Bradley is a senior fellow at The Kresge Foundation. Jennifer supports the American Cities Program at Kresge through convenings and thought leadership. She joined the foundation in 2021. Previously, Jennifer served as the director of the Center for Urban Innovation at the Aspen Institute, where she focused on inclusive innovation and equitable economic development
- [Ashley Johnson](https://kresge.org/person/ashley-johnson/) - Ashley Johnson is a program officer at The Kresge Foundation. Ashley supports the Education Program in funding student-focused postsecondary access and success efforts that remove barriers to postsecondary degrees for traditionally marginalized populations. Before joining the foundation in 2021, Ashley served as the founding executive director of Detroit College Access Network (DCAN) and the director
- [Yeou-Rong Jih](https://kresge.org/person/yeou-rong-jih/) - Yeou-Rong Jih (she/her/hers) serves as a program officer for The Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program, which helps communities build resilience in the face of climate change. Yeou-Rong supports the foundation’s Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) initiative grantmaking efforts, which advance equitable solutions to climate-related urban flooding. She joined the foundation in 2021, bringing a
- [Christopher LeFlore](https://kresge.org/person/christopher-leflore/) - Chris LeFlore is an associate program officer with The Kresge Foundation's Detroit Program. He joined the foundation in 2021 as a special assistant to the president. Previously, Chris worked as a policy analyst for the City of Detroit in the office of Council Member Ayers. Chris was also chosen as a fellow for the Congressional
- [Adena Hill](https://kresge.org/person/adena-hill/) - Adena Hill is a program officer with The Kresge Foundation’s Detroit Program. Adena supports the development and execution of housing, economic security and racial justice strategies and initiatives at Kresge. She joined the foundation in 2021. Previously, Adena served as a program analyst and public private partnership specialist with the City of Detroit, where she
- [Kevin Washington](https://kresge.org/person/kevin-washington/) - Kevin Washington (he/him) is an associate program officer with The Kresge Foundation’s American Cities Program. Kevin supports the program’s strategy to expand opportunity by promoting effective and inclusive community development practices in America’s cities. He joined the foundation in 2021. Previously, Kevin worked for the Greater Flint Health Coalition, where he managed a federally funded
- [Kevin Gray](https://kresge.org/person/kevin-gray/) - Kevin Gray is a program officer with the American Cities Program. Before joining Kresge in 2022, Kevin was a senior project and program manager with the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA), managing NORA’s strategic land acquisition, affordable housing and commercial development financing and grant programs. Prior to working at NORA, Kevin was the director of
- [Irene Burdalas](https://kresge.org/person/irene-burdalas/) - Irene Burdalas is a senior program team assistant at The Kresge Foundation, providing administrative support for the American Cities Program. Irene joined the foundation in 2022. Previously, she served in a support and business development role at a Michigan-based funding company, where she was involved with client relations, customer relationship management and advertising. Irene has
- [Candace Kita](https://kresge.org/person/candace-kita/) - Candace Kita (she/her) is a Program Officer with The Kresge Foundation’s Arts & Culture Program. Candace supports the team’s strategies by reviewing grants, making funding recommendations and fostering equitable Creative Placemaking practices nationally. She joined the foundation in 2022. Previously, Candace served as cultural strategy director at the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, where
- [Alisia Taylor](https://kresge.org/person/alisia-taylor/) - Alisia Taylor (she/her) is the senior program team assistant for the Human Services Program at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2023. Previously, Alisia served as an administrative assistant in the Office of Health Research at Wayne State University (WSU). She has also held positions with WSU’s Housing and Residential Life, College of
- [Reuben Kapp](https://kresge.org/person/reuben-kapp/) - Reuben C. Kapp (he/his) is a program officer at The Kresge Foundation. Reuben supports Kresge's Education Program to increase college access and success for marginalized students. Before joining the foundation in 2023, Reuben served as a research assistant, college success coach and senior admissions representative at the University of Michigan. He also previously worked as
- [Anand Sharma](https://kresge.org/person/anand-sharma/) - Anand Sharma is a program officer at The Kresge Foundation. He supports the American Cities program by promoting effective and inclusive community development practices across the nation. He joined the foundation in 2023. Previously, he served as a senior associate at the Center for the Study of Social Policy, where he partnered with leaders to
- [Kara Elliott-Ortega](https://kresge.org/person/kara-elliott-ortega/) - Kara Elliott-Ortega is the Senior Program Officer for the Arts and Culture Program at The Kresge Foundation. Kara works on grantmaking and social investment initiatives that advance the Arts and Culture Program strategy and promote creative community development, cultural strategy, and organizing efforts. She joined the foundation in 2025. Previously, Kara served as the Chief
- [Katie Van Dusen](https://kresge.org/person/katie-van-dusen/) - Katie Van Dusen (she/they) is a program officer with the American Cities Program at The Kresge Foundation. Katie supports partners and stewards grants that align with the practice’s focus on expanding opportunity by promoting effective and inclusive community development practices in American cities. They joined the foundation in 2025. In addition to being a recording
- [Saunteel Jenkins](https://kresge.org/person/saunteel-jenkins/) - Saunteel Jenkins was most recently the CEO of The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW), a nonprofit organization that provides energy and utility assistance to Michigan residents in need. A distinguished nonprofit leader and public servant, she was elected to the Detroit City Council in 2010 and as Council President in 2013. Jenkins also was a
- [Drew Dolan](https://kresge.org/person/drew-dolan/) - Drew Dolan is an investment director at The Kresge Foundation, where he focuses on the private markets portfolio, including venture capital, natural resources, private equity, and real estate. He joined the foundation in 2017. Previously he served as a senior analyst at Ally Financial, where he worked on the structured funding team. A native of
- [Rip Rapson](https://kresge.org/person/rip-rapson/) - Rip Rapson is president and CEO of The Kresge Foundation, a private, national foundation founded in 1924, which is dedicated to expanding opportunities in America’s cities through grantmaking and social investing. Since his appointment in 2006, Rapson has led the foundation to adopt an array of grantmaking and investing tools to improve the economic, social,
- [Kimberly Bakaturski](https://kresge.org/person/kimberly-bakaturski/) - Kimberly Bakaturski is the investment records analyst for the Investment Office at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2017. Previously, she served as accounting and billing clerk at White and Steele, PC in Denver. She started her career as a paralegal at Tressler, Soderstrom, Maloney & Priess in Chicago. A native of metro
- [Sonita Martin](https://kresge.org/person/sonita-martin/) - Sonita C. Martin is a grants management associate at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2013. Previously she served as human resources administrator at Total Pack Management LLC in Detroit, where she managed benefits and compensation. She was also an executive administrative assistant at Commodity Sourcing Group LLC in Detroit. A native of
- [Mo Brunner](https://kresge.org/person/mo-brunner/) - Mo Brunner (they/them) is an investment associate at The Kresge Foundation. They joined the foundation in 2023. Previously, Mo served as a women’s entrepreneurship initiative intern at Michigan Women Forward, where they were involved with underwriting microloans and data analysis. A native of metro Detroit, they earned bachelor’s degrees in finance and psychology from Wayne
- [Jenny M. Garnica-Bermejo](https://kresge.org/person/jenny-m-garnica-bermejo/) - Jenny M. Garnica-Bermejo is the talent and human resources assistant at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2025. Previously, Jenny worked at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan as an HR assistant, where she supported recruitment efforts, onboarding processes, and staff engagement activities. She has also held multiple roles at the Southwest Detroit
- [Jordan Duckens](https://kresge.org/person/jordan-duckens/) - Jordan Duckens is a communications officer at The Kresge Foundation, where she supports the American Cities and Human Services programs at Kresge. She joined the foundation in 2025. Previously, Jordan served as communications strategist at Kresge Arts in Detroit, where she was involved with celebrating metro Detroit artists through promotion and community partnerships. She started
- [Allie Levine](https://kresge.org/person/allie-levine/) - Allie Levine is an associate investment director at The Kresge Foundation. Allie is focused on Kresge’s public market portfolio, which includes investments in public equity, diversified strategies and credit. She joined the foundation in 2025. Prior to joining the foundation, Allie was a senior investment associate at the University of Michigan Investment Office working on
- [Kelly Bailiff](https://kresge.org/person/kelly-bailiff/) - Kelly Bailiff (she/her) is the executive assistant to the VP, CFO, Chief Administrative Officer, and to the General Counsel at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2025. Previously, she served as a consultant at Accenture where her work spanned various aspects of project management, including change management, training strategy, and development. Kelly also
- [Victoria Shubelyak](https://kresge.org/person/victoria-shubelyak/) - Victoria Shubelyak is a risk & operations investment analyst at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2025. Previously, Victoria served as a finance operations intern at General Motors, where she was involved with global product development of electric vehicle batteries and finance operations. A native of metro Detroit, Victoria earned a bachelor’s degree
- [Audrey Choi](https://kresge.org/person/audrey-choi/) - Audrey Choi is chair of the Generation Foundation and a pioneer in the fields of corporate sustainability and sustainable finance. Her career has spanned the highest levels of finance, government and journalism as an officer at Morgan Stanley, as chief of staff of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisors and as bureau chief for
- [Crystal Y. Sewell](https://kresge.org/person/crystal-y-sewell/) - Crystal Sewell is the chief human resources officer at The Kresge Foundation, and is charged with leading the strategic talent and human resource function. She joined the foundation in 2008 as the inaugural director to lead the foundation’s newly established human resources department. Previously, she served as director of human resources at the Toledo Museum
- [Justin Garcia](https://kresge.org/person/justin-garcia/) - Justin Garcia (he/him) is a program analyst at The Kresge Foundation. He joined the foundation in 2023. Previously, Justin worked for Creative Artists Agency in New York City, where he partnered with the company and its clients on multiple philanthropic and nonprofit endeavors. He has also worked at the Ford Foundation as an assistant with the
- [Tracey Pearson](https://kresge.org/person/tracey-pearson/) - Tracey L. Pearson is a Communications Officer at The Kresge Foundation. Tracey supports the Arts & Culture and Detroit Programs at Kresge. She joined the foundation in 2021. Prior to joining the foundation, she was responsible for leading media strategy and PR planning for the City of Detroit as the deputy media relations director. In
- [Marilia Ramos](https://kresge.org/person/marilia-ramos/) - Marilia Ramos de Alencar Feitoza (she/her) is a Social Investments fellow at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2024. Previously, Marilia served as a Capital Innovations Lab intern at LISC Strategic Investment. Marilia holds a Master of International Business from Tufts University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Management and Foreign Trade
- [Cecilia Muñoz](https://kresge.org/person/cecilia-munoz/) - Cecilia Muñoz joined The Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees in 2017 and assumed the role of board chair in March 2022. She is a national expert on public policy and public interest technology with deep roots in Detroit and in the civil rights movement. She spent the formative years of her career at the National
- [Katharine McLaughlin](https://kresge.org/person/katharine-mclaughlin/) - As a senior communications officer at The Kresge Foundation, Katharine McLaughlin leads strategic communications for the foundation's national Health and Environment Programs. In this role, she supports initiatives focused on issues such as climate change, health equity, equitable food-oriented development, healthy housing, urban energy, water systems, community safety and public health leadership. Before joining Kresge,
- [Fadia Meda](https://kresge.org/person/fadia-meda/) - Fadia Meda is a finance operations specialist at The Kresge Foundation and supports the foundation’s finance team with various accounting functions. She joined Kresge in 2024. Previously, Fadia held positions as the accounts payable manager and corporate accountant at Sachse Construction, where she was involved with all accounting functions in the finance department. She also
- [Jeni Norman](https://kresge.org/person/jeni-norman/) - Jeni Norman is the director of portfolio management for The Kresge Foundation’s Social Investment Practice, overseeing the team managing a portfolio of more than 100 program-related investments. Jeni previously served as the vice president of finance and administration at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) where she managed finance operations. Prior to joining CFSEM,
- [Julie A. Bagley](https://kresge.org/person/julie-a-bagley/) - Julie A. Bagley is the senior social investment assistant for the Social Investment Practice at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2013, and previously served as the communications assistant for the External Affairs & Communications team and has helped to champion the foundation's efforts to expand diversity, equity and inclusion. Prior to joining
- [David Sullivan](https://kresge.org/person/david-sullivan/) - David Sullivan is a senior finance operations specialist at The Kresge Foundation. He assists with filing the foundation’s tax returns and with other accounting tasks. David joined the foundation in 2019. Previously, he served as tax staff/in-charge at Plante Moran, where he was involved with tax return preparation for non-profit and real estate entities. A
- [Joe Evans](https://kresge.org/person/joe-evans/) - Joe Evans is the Social Investment Practice's senior social investment officer. In his role, he originates social investments that support the Environment Program's strategy around building the climate finance ecosystem. Evans joined the foundation in 2014. Before joining Kresge, he worked for more than a decade as a generalist with a nationally recognized consulting firm
- [Randal Brown](https://kresge.org/person/randal-brown/) - Randal Brown is the associate general counsel at The Kresge Foundation. He supports the general counsel in managing the overall legal affairs of the foundation and he joined Kresge in 2023. Previously, Randal served as deputy chief administrative and compliance officer/general counsel at the Great Lakes Water Authority in Southeast Michigan. He has also held
- [Elizabeth A. Goldsberry](https://kresge.org/person/elizabeth-a-goldsberry/) - Elizabeth is the chief risk and operations officer at the Kresge Foundation and is responsible for financial matters, reporting, risk management and internal controls. She joined Kresge in 2008 after serving as director of finance for capital markets at Fannie Mae, and in a variety of treasury functions for Ford Motor Company. She earned her
- [Jack Barrios](https://kresge.org/person/jack-barrios/) - Jack Barrios is an investment associate at The Kresge Foundation. He joined the foundation in 2023. Previously, Jack interned at Wells Fargo in the wealth management control division, where he was involved in strategic planning and control development. A native of Miami, Florida, he earned his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of North
- [Julie Burlingame](https://kresge.org/person/julie-burlingame/) - Julie Burlingame is a social investment associate non-rotational with the Social Investment Practice at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2017. Previously, she served as the assistant for the Social Investment Practice. Prior to Kresge, she was a branch office administrator at Edward Jones, where she was involved with financial management and client
- [Anna Blanding](https://kresge.org/person/anna-blanding/) - Anna Blanding is chief investment officer (CIO) at ConnCORP, a Connecticut-based impact enterprise whose mission is to drive transformational economic development through strategic investment in commercial and residential real estate and scalable businesses. Blanding co-leads the company's signature $225 million mixed-use sustainable real estate development located in an historic African American community near Yale University
- [Scott Kresge](https://kresge.org/person/scott-kresge/) - Scott Kresge joined The Kresge Foundation Board of Trustees in June 2023. He is the eighth family representative to serve on the foundation’s governing body which was created in 1924 by his great-grandfather, Sebastian S. Kresge. Scott is a hardware/software test and development engineer. He has worked in the medical device industry for nearly four
- [Linda Hill](https://kresge.org/person/linda-hill/) - Dr. Linda Hill is the Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, where she also serves as faculty chair of its Leadership Initiative. An internationally recognized authority and academic on the topics of leadership and innovation, Hill's research and consulting focuses on leadership development, leading change and innovation and implementing global
- [John Fry](https://kresge.org/person/john-fry/) - John Fry is president of Temple University, a top-tier research institution and Philadelphia’s only public university, with a strong focus on providing an accessible, affordable education of academic excellence and promoting service and engagement throughout Philadelphia. Fry officially began his tenure as Temple’s 15th president in the fall of 2024 after serving 14 years as
- [Jennifer Jaramillo](https://kresge.org/person/jennifer-jaramillo/) - Jennifer Jaramillo is chief culture officer at The Kresge Foundation. She is responsible for creating and implementing the talent and organizational development strategy at Kresge. She joined the foundation in 2016. Previously Jennifer worked for more than 14 years with Accenture where, as strategy senior manager, she co-led the organization’s Global Talent Professional Community. She
- [Krista A. Jahnke](https://kresge.org/person/krista-a-jahnke/) - Krista A. Jahnke is a communications manager at The Kresge Foundation. She leads the External Affairs and Communications department's digital team and provides strategic communications support to the Social Investment Practice. She joined Kresge in 2015. Previously, she served as senior communications officer at the Detroit-based Skillman Foundation, where she led external communications efforts, including
- [Maria DeLorenzo](https://kresge.org/person/maria-delorenzo/) - Maria DeLorenzo is a communications officer supporting the Education Program and Social Investment Practice at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2024. Previously, Maria served as communications director at Endeavor, where she worked with founders of high-growth startup companies and led external communications efforts including social media, website development and digital publications. Maria
- [Shineen Austin](https://kresge.org/person/shineen-austin/) - Shineen Austin is the facilities, financial planning and analysis and general team assistant at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2022. Previously, Shineen worked for Janssen Pharmaceuticals as an executive assistant to four regional business directors and their respective therapeutic field operations teams. She started her career as a paralegal working for companies
- [Shaifali Sood](https://kresge.org/person/shaifali-sood/) - Shaifali Sood is the data application engineer at The Kresge Foundation and supports the designing, documenting, implementing and maintaining of all processes, procedures and practices related to Kresge’s data collection, structures and storage. She joined the foundation in 2024. Previously Shaifali served as a software developer and analytics engineer at General Motors, where she was
- [Sarah Moreau](https://kresge.org/person/sarah-moreau/) - Sarah Moreau serves as internal communications officer at The Kresge Foundation. Sarah provides strategic employee communication guidance and supports editorial efforts at Kresge. She joined the foundation in 2024. Previously, Sarah was the communications officer for the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, where she led a team of professionals in sharing information related to local
- [Richard Yang](https://kresge.org/person/richard-yang/) - Richard Yang (he/him) is the senior accountant and tax specialist at The Kresge Foundation. He supports the assistant controller and controller with tax and accounting functions, including collecting tax documents, reviewing tax returns and preparing tax reports. He joined the foundation in 2024. Previously, Richard held a position at Cohen & Company in St. Clair
- [Amy B. Robinson](https://kresge.org/person/amy-b-robinson/) - Amy B. Robinson is vice president, CFO and Chief Administrative Officer of The Kresge Foundation and serves as treasurer for the foundation’s board of trustees. She manages the facilities, finance, grants management and information technology teams for the foundation. Amy is a member of Kresge's executive team and has served as secretary to the foundation's
- [Mariah Bosquez](https://kresge.org/person/mariah-bosquez/) - Mariah Bosquez (she/her) is an Environment Program fellow at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2024. Previously, Mariah served as the director of land use and creative placemaking at Urban Neighborhood Initiatives (UNI) in Detroit, where she oversaw the use and development of UNI’s parks and green spaces, land-based youth programs, and placemaking
- [Michael Thompson](https://kresge.org/person/michael-thompson/) - Michael Thompson (he/him) is a Health Program fellow at The Kresge Foundation. Michael supports the foundation’s community safety, health, climate change and equity work. He joined Kresge in August 2024. Previously, Michael was a research assistant at Brown University, where he was involved in public health research and community outreach focused on health equity in
- [Analicia Banales-Feuille](https://kresge.org/person/analicia-banales-feuille/) - Analicia D. Bañales-Feuille (she/her/hers) is a fellow for the American Cities Program at The Kresge Foundation. Analicia supports the implementation of the program’s strategy to conduct place-based philanthropy and cross-team collaborative efforts to advance the foundation’s work nationally and on-the-ground in American cities. She joined the foundation in 2024. Previously, Analicia worked in the provost’s
- [Cynthia Guerrero](https://kresge.org/person/cynthia-guerrero/) - Cynthia Guerrero (she/her) is a Fellow at The Kresge Foundation, where she supports the Education Program. She joined the foundation in 2024. Before joining Kresge, Cynthia worked for The Academy Group in Chicago, where she was involved in streamlining administrative and operational support. Previously she worked as an English Teaching Assistant in Peru as a
- [Zenna Elhasan](https://kresge.org/person/zenna-elhasan/) - Zenna Faraj Elhasan is the general counsel at The Kresge Foundation and serves as secretary for the foundation’s board of trustees. She is responsible for managing the overall legal affairs of the foundation, supports the development and enforcement of foundation policies and practices, supports the board on governance matters and manages outside counsel relationships. She
- [Tosha Tabron](https://kresge.org/person/tosha-tabron/) - Tosha Tabron is director of originations at The Kresge Foundation. She focuses on Detroit and other national programs, identifying opportunities to deploy program-related investments in areas such as early childhood education, nonprofit capacity building, equitable community development and arts and culture. She joined the foundation in 2021. Previously, Tosha worked for the community development finance
- [Curtis Probst](https://kresge.org/person/curtis-probst/)
- [Wendye Mingo](https://kresge.org/person/wendye-mingo/) - Wendye Mingo is the chief technology officer at The Kresge Foundation. She provides strategic and operational leadership for the coordination of IT services to support the foundation’s grantmaking, social investment and institutional investment strategies as well as its administrative functions. Wendye joined the foundation in 2017. Previously she worked as an IT leader in the
- [Rebecca Margavich](https://kresge.org/person/rebecca-margavich/) - Rebecca K. Margavich is a deal analyst with the Investment Office, where she is responsible for preparing and documenting the foundation’s investment transactions, including collecting and verifying documents to ensure Kresge is complying with all regulatory bodies. She joined The Kresge Foundation in 2014. Previously, Rebecca worked in marketing at the Barron Rosenberg law firm
- [Danielle McDonald](https://kresge.org/person/danielle-mcdonald/) - Danielle L. McDonald is the workplace services coordinator for Facilities at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 2014. Previously, Danielle worked for the Grosse Pointe Club in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, where she was involved with records management. She started her career in business administration at the JARC physical therapy clinic in Farmington Hills, Michigan,
- [Daryl Wojtowicz](https://kresge.org/person/daryl-wojtowicz/) - Daryl Wojtowicz (he/him) is the Information Technology (IT) Application Administrator at The Kresge Foundation. He supports designing, documenting, implementing and maintaining critical information technology and grants management applications at the foundation. He joined Kresge in 2023. Previously Daryl worked for Secured Data Solutions, where he was involved with supporting area organizations with managing critical applications,
- [Alejandro L. Herrera](https://kresge.org/person/alejandro-l-herrera/) - Alejandro L. Herrera is a senior graphic designer at The Kresge Foundation. He supports visual communications at the foundation. He joined Kresge in 2016. Previously he worked for Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills, Mich., where he supported internal and external marketing and communications. A Pontiac, Mich. native, he earned a bachelor’s degree in studio
- [Lourdes Germán](https://kresge.org/person/lourdes-german/)
- [Paula B. Pretlow](https://kresge.org/person/paula-b-pretlow/) - Paula B. Pretlow is actively engaged in corporate and philanthropy board service since retiring from The Capital Group Companies as a senior vice president in 2011. At The Capital Group, one of the world’s largest investment management firms, she led the business development and client relationship group responsible for U.S. public pension plans. She joined
- [Sean Radatz](https://kresge.org/person/sean-radatz/) - Sean Radatz is technology services manager at The Kresge Foundation. He is responsible for designing, documenting, implementing, maintaining and supporting all processes, procedures and practices related to critical information technology applications at Kresge. Sean joined the foundation in 2019. Previously, Sean served as systems administrator at TEKSystems, where he was involved with server administration and
- [Elizabeth Davidson](https://kresge.org/person/elizabeth-davidson/) - Elizabeth Davidson (she/her) is the Portfolio Manager for The Kresge Foundation’s Social Investment Practice. She helps manage loans, guarantees, deposits and equity investments that support Kresge’s mission. She joined the foundation in 2022. Previously, Elizabeth was a consultant at Innosight, where she worked on innovation and growth strategy projects. Prior to Kresge, Elizabeth worked in
- [Joshua Beckman](https://kresge.org/person/joshua-beckman/) - Josh Beckman is a financial planning and analysis analyst at The Kresge Foundation. In his role, Josh supports the foundation’s budget and forecasting processes and financial analysis projects. He joined the foundation in 2022. Previously, Josh worked for McQueen Financial Advisors, where he was involved with asset liability management. He also held positions at Cambridge
- [John A. Barker](https://kresge.org/person/john-a-barker/) - John A. Barker is vice president and chief investment officer. As a member of the executive team, he is a partner in the development and implementation of the foundation’s strategy. John is also responsible for the investment of the foundation’s endowment and for the management of the Investment Office and its staff. Since joining the
- [Kathy Ko Chin](https://kresge.org/person/kathy-ko-chin/) - Kathy Ko Chin serves as the CEO of Jasper Inclusion Advisors, which advises philanthropic organizations, nonprofits, and government entities. Most recently, she served as president & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) for over a decade. The daughter of immigrants from China and a Cleveland, Ohio native, Ko Chin's 40-year
- [Kevin Pearson](https://kresge.org/person/kevin-pearson/) - Kevin Pearson is apprentice engineer at The Kresge Foundation, supporting general maintenance, repair, and monitoring of all foundation facilities, grounds and equipment. Kevin joined Kresge in 2012. Previously, Kevin served as a maintenance technician with property management companies Jones Lang LaSalle and Larson Realty Group. Photo: Douglas Schaible
- [Elwood Hopkins](https://kresge.org/person/elwood-hopkins/)
- [Richard Buery Jr.](https://kresge.org/person/richard-buery-jr/) - Richard Buery Jr. is the chief executive officer of Robin Hood, New York’s largest poverty-fighting organization. Most recently, he served as the CEO of Robin Hood’s community partner, Achievement First, a charter network with 37 schools in Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island. Prior to Robin Hood and Achievement First, Buery was the chief of
- [Nikita Miller](https://kresge.org/person/nikita-miller/) - Nikita Miller is the director of facilities and financial planning and analysis at The Kresge Foundation, supporting the foundation’s strategic and financial planning. She joined the foundation in 2018. Previously, Nikita served as director of financial analysis at the United Auto Workers’ Retiree Medical Benefits Trust, where she was involved with budgeting, management reporting and analytics.
- [Suzanne Shank](https://kresge.org/person/suzanne-shank/) - Suzanne Shank is CEO of Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC (SWS), the nation’s top ranked minority and woman owned (MWBE) investment bank. Prior to forming SWS through a merger in 2019, she was CEO of Siebert Cisneros Shank, LLC, a firm she co-founded in 1996, which grew to become the first MWBE firm to rank
- [Amber Umscheid](https://kresge.org/person/amber-umscheid/)
- [Alisha Opperman](https://kresge.org/person/alisha-opperman/)
- [Raúl Echevarría](https://kresge.org/person/raul-echevarria/)
- [Shamyle Maya Dobbs](https://kresge.org/person/shamyle-maya-dobbs/)
- [Hannah Colborn](https://kresge.org/person/hannah-colborn/)
- [Jackie Garrett](https://kresge.org/person/jackie-garrett/)
- [Jamii Tata](https://kresge.org/person/jamii-tata/)
- [Mobolaji Ayeni](https://kresge.org/person/mobolaji-ayeni/)
- [Lauren Boone](https://kresge.org/person/lauren-boone/)
- [Kyla Carlsen](https://kresge.org/person/kyla-carlsen/)
- [Allandra Bulger](https://kresge.org/person/allandra-bulger-executive-director-co-act-detroit/)
- [Neesha Modi](https://kresge.org/person/neesha-modi/) - Neesha B. Modi is director of program and social investment operations with The Kresge Foundation’s Program department and social investment practice. In this role, Neesha works across the organization to refine and strengthen the systems, processes and culture of Kresge’s Program and social investment departments to ensure that our grants and social investments knit together
- [Christine Jacobs](https://kresge.org/person/christine-jacobs/) - Christine Jacobs is the deputy director for external affairs and communications at The Kresge Foundation. She provides strategic communications, media relations and marketing support to the foundation’s programs and practices. Prior to joining Kresge, Christine was communications director for the Governance Studies Program at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., where she led strategic communications
- [Emily Bourcier, guest author](https://kresge.org/person/emily-bourcier/)
- [Carol Cahill, guest author](https://kresge.org/person/carol-cahill/)
- [Derek Trombley](https://kresge.org/person/derek-trombley/) - Derek Trombley is the building engineer at The Kresge Foundation. He supports building upkeep and energy management at the foundation. He joined Kresge in April 2019. Previously, he worked for Metro Controls Inc. in Clinton Township, Michigan, where he was involved with building automation technology and HVAC systems. As a native of Fraser, Michigan, he
- [Genise T. Singleton](https://kresge.org/person/genise-t-singleton/) - In her role as director of Grants Management, Genise T. Singleton oversees the day-to-day operations of the department that aligns internal processes, ensures compliance, manages data systems and provides principled grantmaking and social investments support within the foundation. The department supports the execution of more than 400 grants and social investments per year totaling nearly
- [Hannah McGraw](https://kresge.org/person/hannah-mcgraw/) - Hannah McGraw is the talent acquisition coordinator at The Kresge Foundation. She supports the recruiting process and onboarding of newly hired Kresge staff members. She joined the foundation in 2017. Previously, she served as a proposal writer at ICONMA Inc., where she was involved with marketing duties. She has also held positions with Ciber Inc.
- [Benjamin S. Kennedy](https://kresge.org/person/benjamin-s-kennedy/) - Benjamin Kennedy is vice president of Programs. Benjamin’s leadership involves overseeing the foundation's seven grantmaking Programs, which are aimed at helping people living with low-incomes in American cities grapple with a wide array of socio-economic issues. Prior to joining Kresge in 2009, Benjamin was with JPMorgan Chase in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was an
- [Carla S. Forkin](https://kresge.org/person/carla-s-forkin/) - Carla S. Forkin is accounting manager at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in 1998 and is responsible for managing the accounting computer systems, coordinating the annual budgeting process and preparing monthly financial statements as well as tax, audit and grant schedules. Previously she worked in accounting in real estate development and property management.
- [Jon D. Gentry](https://kresge.org/person/jon-d-gentry/) - Jon joined Kresge in 2005 after 15 years at the University of Notre Dame Investment Office. At Notre Dame, he oversaw the public equity portfolio, which accounted for roughly 40 percent of the endowment. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Notre Dame, holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a Certified
- [David Grabowski](https://kresge.org/person/david-grabowski/) - David G. Grabowski is the engineering manager at The Kresge Foundation. He supports the Facilities Management team, which provides safety, comfort and maintenance to all Kresge departments. He joined the foundation in 2015. Previously he served as director of engineering at Bedrock, where he was involved with managing many commercial properties and construction projects, including
- [David Carrig](https://kresge.org/person/david-carrig/) - David Carrig is the digital media specialist at The Kresge Foundation, where he supports digital media communication. He joined the foundation in 2019. Previously, David worked as a digital reporter and editor at USA Today in McLean, Virginia, where he served in a variety of roles covering financial and business news. He has also held positions
- [Heather Kilgore](https://kresge.org/person/heather-kilgore/) - Heather Kilgore is the payroll and benefits coordinator at The Kresge Foundation. She supports the payroll, benefit and wellness program administration for Kresge staff. She joined the foundation in 2011. She has also served as Kresge’s human resources office coordinator, assisting recruitment and coordination of new talent, and as the records management assistant, involved with
- [Jennifer Kulczycki](https://kresge.org/person/jennifer-kulczycki/) - Jennifer Kulczycki is director for external affairs and communications at The Kresge Foundation. She joined the foundation in January 2015 and leads Kresge’s strategic communication activities including digital/social engagement, executive and internal communications, and media relations. Previously, she served as vice president of communications at Rock Ventures LLC in Detroit, where she provided brand and
- [Glenda Ward](https://kresge.org/person/glenda-ward/) - Glenda Ward is director of talent and organizational development at The Kresge Foundation. She supports developing, implementing and managing talent management initiatives aligned with foundation objectives. She joined the foundation in 2018. Previously, she served as talent and training manager at Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan, where she was involved with creating the

## Initiatives

- [Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE)](https://kresge.org/initiative/climate-change-health-and-equity-cche/) - What We Support/Key Strategies Accelerating Community-Based Solutions Building a national movement Climate change is affecting people in real ways every day. Extreme weather, high heat, air pollution and floods are impacting our health and well-being more and more each day. While we are all affected, risks are greater for low-wealth communities and communities of color.
- [Public Health Regenerative Leadership Synergy (PHEARLESS)](https://kresge.org/initiative/public-health-regenerative-leadership-synergy-phearless/) - What We Support/Key Strategies Supporting a strengths-based, adaptive approach to leadership Creating opportunities for collaboration Harnessing the power of strategic communications and messaging New challenges that public health departments around the country face require governmental public health leaders to develop and grow new skills and relationships to meet the needs of the people and communities
- [Advancing Health Equity Through Housing](https://kresge.org/initiative/advancing-health-equity-through-housing/) - Key Strategies Identify and accelerate community-led policy and system changes Support innovative funding strategies that better connect housing and health sectors Recognize multisector partnerships that preserve and increase the supply of stable housing Where we live matters. When housing is affordable, accessible and safe, our neighbors and our neighborhoods thrive. But decades of discriminatory housing,
- [Shared Prosperity Partnership](https://kresge.org/initiative/shared-prosperity-partnership/) - Primary Goals Engage with Cities to Understand the Most Pressing Challenges to Building a More Inclusive Economy WORK WITH LOCAL LEADERS TO DETERMINE IF, WHERE, AND HOW PARTNERS CAN PROVIDE MEANINGFUL SUPPORT Elevate what we learn by sharing insights with other leaders to inform the urban practice field The strength of American cities – and
- [Racial Justice Grantmaking](https://kresge.org/initiative/racial-justice-grantmaking/) - Strategies for the work Supporting front-line racial justice organizations Fortifying resident-led change Strengthening neighborhood economies Integrating community systems and supports About our Racial Justice Grantmaking In a sweeping pledge to advance its long-term commitment to equity and opportunity, The Kresge Foundation announced in November of 2020 a $30 million grant commitment to support racial justice
- [Boosting Opportunities for Social and Economic Mobility for Families (BOOST)](https://kresge.org/initiative/boost/) - What We Support/Key Strategies Strong Community College and Human Service Partnerships Programs, Policies and System Reforms Alignment of Critical Supports Educational Pathways Lifetime and Springboard Jobs In America’s cities, many people with low incomes dream of and strive for a more secure and prosperous future for their families. The good news is that a high-quality
- [Fostering Urban Equitable Leadership (FUEL)](https://kresge.org/initiative/fostering-urban-equitable-leadership-fuel/) - What We Support/Key Strategies Leadership Training and Workshops With a Racial Equity Lens Scholarships to Attend Professional Development Programs Cross-Organizational Cohorts Focused on Strengthening Grantees’ Ability to Develop More Equitable Practices 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
- [CoPro2.0](https://kresge.org/initiative/copro2-0/) - Funding Streams Program Innovation and Redesign Research on Financial Sustainability Strategic Local Implementation Community colleges play a vital role in providing postsecondary opportunities for people from underserved groups and advancing the well-being of local communities. Yet many community colleges are experiencing enrollment declines, financial constraints, and tensions about how to best serve varied student needs
- [Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus (KIP:D+)](https://kresge.org/initiative/kipd-plus/) - WHAT WE SUPPORT / KEY STRATEGIES Detroit-, Highland Park- and Hamtramck-based nonprofits serving residents & neighborhoods Projects to improve quality of life for residents Projects reflecting neighborhood priorities & culture Visions shaped by community members In 2014, Kresge’s Detroit Program launched Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit to support nonprofits in their work to improve the quality
- [Siyaphumelela](https://kresge.org/initiative/siyaphumelela/) - Siyaphumelela Goals Improve institutional Capacity to Enact Data-Driven Strategies That Support Student Success Create Models of South African Universities Using Data Analytics to Improve Student Outcomes Create Greater Awareness and Support for Data Use to Improve Student Success in South Africa Create a Shared Vocabulary and Consensus on Effective Practices to Improve Student Success Grow
- [Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS)](https://kresge.org/initiative/climate-resilient-and-equitable-water-systems-crews/) - Key Strategies Convening urban leaders to build climate and equity knowledge that leads to action Providing evidence to make the case for policy and funding to strengthen planning and management Increasing investment in cities that use community-led and climate data-driven approaches Low-income communities and communities of color across the U.S. are disproportionately vulnerable to urban
- [Community Development Climate Finance Ecosystem](https://kresge.org/initiative/community-development-climate-finance-ecosystem/) - We work to strengthen community-focused co-developers of climate-beneficial projects – and the financing intermediaries and technical assistance providers working with them – to ensure communities of color and low-wealth communities have equitable access to public and private capital to deploy renewable energy and address climate challenges. Through our Field Building focus area, we prioritize supporting
- [Equitable & Just Energy Transition](https://kresge.org/initiative/equitable-just-energy-transition/) - The effects of climate change—including increasingly intense heatwaves, storms, wildfires, and floods—threaten all communities but bring disproportionate harm to people of color and those with few resources. Reducing the threat of climate change and the inequities it carries requires rapidly transitioning from the fossil fuels driving this climate disruption to clean, renewable energy. Advancing climate
- [Next Generation](https://kresge.org/initiative/next-generation-nextgen/) - What We Support/Key Strategies Advancing Racial Equity Learning and Action Community Two-GEneration, Whole Family Approaches Action Plans That Advance Social and Economic Mobility Across the nation, human services organizations are working to help people achieve their version of the American dream by advancing the policies, institutions, organizations, systems and services that provide the platform for
- [Kresge Innovative Projects: Memphis (KIP:M)](https://kresge.org/initiative/kresge-innovative-projects-memphis-kipm/) - What We Support/Key Strategies Memphis-Based Nonprofits Serving Residents and Neighborhoods Projects to Improve the Quality of Life for Residents Projects Reflecting Neighborhood Priorities and Culture Visions Shaped by the Community Inspired by Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit, Kresge Innovative Projects: Memphis (KIP:M) provides planning and implementation funding for projects that reflect the vision and creativity of
- [Culture of Justice](https://kresge.org/initiative/culture-of-justice/) - Our Goals Integrate promising practices into local community development and human service systems Deepen leadership roles of residents involved in the justice system, particularly boys and men of color Center social and economic mobility in those processes Share authentic narratives of individuals and communities impacted by the U.S. justice system Created to ignite new approaches
- [Building and Supporting Equitable Development (BASED)](https://kresge.org/initiative/building-and-supporting-equitable-development-based/) - Key Strategies Creative Placemaking Equitable Community Development Engaging Artists and Culture Bearers Uplifting Residents as Key Drivers and Co-Creators The BASED initiative explored the advancement of community development through arts and culture. This national program provided a platform for continued learning of leading practitioners and Kresge staff around emerging field priorities, such as strengthening racial
- [Fresh, Local & Equitable (FreshLo)](https://kresge.org/initiative/fresh-local-equitable-freshlo/) - Core Values Equity Creative Placemaking Health Economic Development Fresh, Local & Equitable (FreshLo) sought to improve access to healthy food, ignite entrepreneurship, spur economic development and integrate arts, culture and community-engaged design – which we call Creative Placemaking – to spark neighborhood revitalization in cities around the country. With FreshLo, The Kresge Foundation was the
- [COVID-19](https://kresge.org/initiative/covid-19/) - How Kresge is doing its part Flexibility Suspension on grant reports and site visits Expedited decisions on grants and amendments Re-purposing event funding COF Pledge of Action New grants and social investments Supporting Our Partners In April 2020, Kresge’s President & CEO Rip Rapson wrote that, “we find ourselves face-to-face with a challenge unlike any
- [Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity (CRUO)](https://kresge.org/initiative/climate-resilience-and-urban-opportunity-cruo/) - What We Support/Key Strategies Building the Capacity of Community-Based Leadership Advancing Equity-Driven Policy and Planning Solutions Strengthening the Evidence Base for Equitable Climate Approaches In 2014, Kresge launched the CRUO initiative, a five-year, $29 million effort created to prioritize work led by advocates and organizers in urban communities facing disproportionate environmental burdens. A cohort of
- [Emerging Leaders in Public Health](https://kresge.org/initiative/emerging-leaders-in-public-health-elph/) - What We Support/Key Strategies Leadership development Projects to transform the role of local public health departments in addressing health challenges In a constantly changing health care environment, Emerging Leaders in Public Health has equipped more than 100 visionary leaders at local and county public health departments around the country with the knowledge and skills to
- [Kresge Community Finance (KCF)](https://kresge.org/initiative/kresge-community-finance-kcf/) - What We Support/Key Strategies Invest $30 million in CDFIs and DFAs Make $1.5 million in equity grants Provide staff learning opportunities Use efficient processes and a standardized product In 2016, our Social Investment Practice made a commitment to invest millions of dollars through a standard loan offering to Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) and Development
- [Leadership and Infrastructure Funding Team (LIFT)](https://kresge.org/initiative/leadership-and-infrastructure-funding-team-lift/) - How We Support Grantees Support the Field of Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership Development Provide Equity-Focused Leadership Training Programs and Services Strengthen Relationships With Associations, Affinity Groups and Infrastructure Organizations The Kresge Foundation’s Leadership and Infrastructure Funding Team (LIFT) is a 13-person, cross-departmental committee comprising program, practice and operational staff. Our grantmaking is dedicated to supporting
- [Kresge Community Support: Fresno](https://kresge.org/initiative/kresge-community-support-fresno/) - Key Goals Strengthen community development organizations Seed resident-driven change in Fresno’s under-resourced neighborhoods Kresge Community Support: Fresno aims to support the growth of the city’s community development infrastructure, and in turn, improve the quality of life for residents in Fresno neighborhoods.Though Fresno is California’s fifth-largest city, many residents in its under-resourced neighborhoods grapple with the
- [Climate Justice Movement Support](https://kresge.org/initiative/climate-justice-movement-support/) - We work to support leaders, organizations, and the network infrastructure to advance the climate justice movement. Through our Field Building focus area, we prioritize supporting and strengthening leaders and organizations whose work is critical to addressing climate change while advancing racial and economic justice. Objectives: Provide leadership and organizational effectiveness support for Kresge grantee partners.
- [Public Sector Leadership Support](https://kresge.org/initiative/public-sector-leadership-support/) - We work to accelerate the efforts of public-sector leaders whose work is critical to advancing an equitable climate action agenda. Through our Field Building focus area, we prioritize supporting and strengthening leaders and organizations whose work is critical to addressing climate change while advancing racial and economic justice. Objectives: Support national and regional peer-learning and
- [Advancing Student Transportation Solutions](https://kresge.org/initiative/advancing-student-transportation-solutions/) - Key Goals Launch or grow solutions that meet students’ transportation needs Develop cross-sector partnerships focused on identifying student transportation solutions Build the evidence-base of transportation solutions on student enrollment, persistence, and completion Students often cite transportation, a key aspect of the Urban Higher Education Ecosystem, as a significant component of the cost of college attendance
- [Opportunity Fund](https://kresge.org/initiative/opportunity-fund/) - About the Fund The Opportunity Fund was a portfolio of investments that sought to promote the values of fairness, equity, justice and opportunity. Launched in 2016, the Opportunity Fund sunsetted in 2020. During this time, the Opportunity Fund granted nearly $17 million to nonprofit organizations working in policy priority areas. The Opportunity Fund aimed to
- [Kresge Arts in Detroit](https://kresge.org/initiative/kresge-arts-in-detroit/)

## Resources

- [Webinar: Role of culture in building community power](https://kresge.org/resource/webinar-role-of-culture-in-building-community-power/) - What does it take for communities to have true decision-making power, control of their own narratives and systems for mutual care? Culture is a critical — and often overlooked — part of the answer. This Next City webinar, sponsored by Kresge’s Arts & Culture Program, brings together cultural leaders from New Orleans and Memphis to
- [Lessons from Smart Growth America’s Culture and Community Network: A Blueprint for Integrating Arts and Culture into Regional Planning](https://kresge.org/resource/lessons-from-smart-growth-americas-culture-and-community-network-a-blueprint-for-integrating-arts-and-culture-into-regional-planning/) - For metropolitan planning organization staff, arts and culture professionals, equity practitioners and funders supporting innovation in regional planning, Smart Growth America has released a comprehensive blueprint on integrating arts and culture into community engagement. Based on the Culture and Community Network's work from April through October 2025, the report documents both breakthroughs and challenges, offering
- [Webinar: CDFIs at a Crossroad: Taking Stock & Taking Action](https://kresge.org/resource/webinar-cdfis-at-a-crossroad-taking-stock-taking-action/) - On January 7, 2026, CDFI Friendly America convened “CDFIs at a Crossroad: Taking Stock & Taking Action,” bringing together leaders from philanthropy, nonprofit advocacy and frontline CDFI practice to examine the critical choices facing community development financial institutions amid significant industry change. Aaron Seybert of The Kresge Foundation, Oswaldo Acosta of CityFirst Enterprises, Diane Yentel
- [Detroit Regional Chamber report: 2025 State of Education and Talent](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-regional-chamber-report-2025-state-of-education-and-talent/) - The state of Michigan ranks 40th in per capita income — its lowest ranking ever. The new 2025 State of Education and Talent report from the Detroit Regional Chamber reveals what's driving this decline: educational attainment. The Detroit Region ranks last among peer cities, with only 55% of working-age adults holding a post-high school credential.
- [Making Broken Systems Work: A case study of the California College Guidance Initiative](https://kresge.org/resource/making-broken-systems-work-a-case-study-of-the-california-college-guidance-initiative/) - Making Broken Systems Work: A Story About Repair and Innovation is a case study of the California College Guidance Initiative (CCGI). It traces CCGI’s origins to a 2012 administrative error in which 114 students were erroneously denied admission to California State Universities because of a 10th-grade Spanish credit mis-evaluation. That error exposed deeper systemic failures
- [Hope and Hard Work Ahead: Building a Strong and Diverse Teacher Workforce for Michigan’s Students](https://kresge.org/resource/hope-and-hard-work-ahead-building-a-strong-and-diverse-teacher-workforce-for-michigans-students/) - Decades of research confirm what students and families already know: teachers are among the most important factors in student success. Yet Michigan is facing a teacher shortage crisis, with the impact felt most deeply in communities that have long been underserved. Ensuring every classroom has a highly qualified, effective teacher isn't just an education issue—it's
- [Strategies for Re-Enrolling Adult Learners at Community Colleges](https://kresge.org/resource/strategies-for-re-enrolling-adult-learners-at-community-colleges/) - This report from New America examines strategies to re-engage adult learners in U.S. community colleges, where enrollment has declined after the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on a literature review, state policy landscape analysis, and 15 interviews with college administrators and experts, the authors document institutional, state, and third-party efforts to encourage re-enrollment, persistence, and credential completion.
- [Fact sheet outlines planned programs and resources for Detroit's Livernois-McNichols residents](https://kresge.org/resource/fact-sheet-outlines-planned-programs-and-resources-for-detroits-livernois-mcnichols-residents/) - The Kresge Foundation is investing $50 million in Detroit's Livernois-McNichols neighborhoods and moving its headquarters to the Marygrove Conservancy campus—an investment that will shaped by what residents have said they want to see in their communities. This fact sheet outlines upcoming programs and resources available to neighbors in Fitzgerald, Bagley, University District and Martin Park,
- [The Financial Needs of Students in Community College Promise Programs](https://kresge.org/resource/the-financial-needs-of-students-in-community-college-promise-programs/) - College Promise programs are a form of financial aid that cover tuition and fees for students to attend college. But Promise programs that cover only tuition and fees may be falling short of their potential to expand college opportunity, according to research by Amy Y. Li of Florida International University and Meredith S. Billings of The University of
- [Strengthening Child- and Family-Centered Neighborhoods in Detroit: Partnership Opportunities With the New Mayoral Administration](https://kresge.org/resource/strengthening-child-and-family-centered-neighborhoods-in-detroit-partnership-opportunities-with-the-new-mayoral-administration/) - As Detroit welcomes a new mayor in 2026, the city has a unique opportunity to put children and families at the center of the city's future. This strategic brief outlines five key partnership opportunities between city government, schools and community organizations to strengthen neighborhoods and retain families. From activating public spaces and coordinating essential services
- [Beyond the Cliff: The Challenge of Benefits Cliffs and How to Fix Them](https://kresge.org/resource/beyond-the-cliff-the-challenge-of-benefits-cliffs-and-how-to-fix-them/) - Benefits cliffs are a critical challenge in America’s public benefits system, including programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Medicaid, housing assistance and childcare subsidies. These programs help families with low incomes meet basic needs, but rigid eligibility rules often penalize work and advancement. As earnings rise even slightly, families can lose essential benefits, leaving
- [Kresge American Cities Program Brochure](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-american-cities-program/) - A summary of the American Cities Program, its premise, approach and four focus areas: Place-based Work in Fresno, Memphis and New Orleans Knowledge Exchange Multi-City Initiatives National Intermediaries Updated October 2025.
- [Case study: 32 practitoners share best practices on Promise Programs](https://kresge.org/resource/commentary-administrators-push-to-improve-free-college-access/) - Since 2005, free college programs, also known as promise programs, have expanded as a popular form of financial aid to address college affordability and access. Promise programs are a form of financial aid that cover tuition and fees for students to attend college. Over the last several decades, these programs have proliferated, with more than
- [The Free College Handbook: A Practitioner’s Guide to Promise Research (Revised and expanded 2025)](https://kresge.org/resource/the-free-college-handbook-a-practitioners-guide-to-promise-research-revised-and-expanded-2025/) - State and local leaders considering tuition-free college programs have an updated resource: The Free College Handbook: A Practitioner’s Guide to Promise Research, a practical guide to designing and implementing place-based scholarship programs, produced by the Upjohn Institute for Employment Research. Designed for mayors, state officials, college administrators, nonprofit leaders, philanthropists and civic groups, the handbook
- [Kresge Weekly Newsletter: 2020-2025](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-weekly-newsletter-2020/) - Issues of the weekly newsletter News From The Kresge Foundation, containing information about funding initiatives, events, research and our work to expand opportunity in America’s cities. See previous newsletters: 2016-2019 November 6, 2025 Featured items: Building an economy that works for everyone: Fresno DRIVE celebrates five years of community-led change; new report reveals what works in community narrative power
- [Detroit Export, HBCU Import: Detroit Students on the Yard and Back Home Again](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-export-hbcu-import-detroit-students-on-the-yard-and-back-home-again/) - "Detroit Export, HBCU Import: Detroit Students on the Yard and Back Home Again," is a groundbreaking 18-month study examining how Detroit students can successfully enroll in, graduate from, and return home after attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This comprehensive research reveals that when Detroit students leave Michigan for a four-year college, 86% choose
- [CCHE Peer Learning Resources](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-change-health-equity-peer-learning-resources/) - A core strategy of the CCHE initiative is to facilitate peer-learning and network-building opportunities among our grantees. In addition, we provide technical assistance and capacity building support to build a community of practice among grantees and project partners to help accelerate innovation and promote equitable solutions that improve climate-resilience, reduce health risks and advance racial
- [A Century of Impact: Lessons From The Kresge Foundation's Transformative Urban Approach](https://kresge.org/resource/a-century-of-impact-lessons-from-the-kresge-foundations-transformative-urban-approach/) - This landmark report "100 Years of Grantmaking" distills powerful insights from Kresge's 2024 Centennial Convenings, offering a blueprint for equitable urban transformation. This comprehensive analysis reveals how sustainable community development emerges at the intersection of multisectoral collaboration, community self-determination, and innovative philanthropic practice. Through compelling case studies from Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, and beyond, the
- [Kresge Education Program Brochure](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-education-program/) - A summary of the Education Program, its premise, approach and focus areas: Aligning and Strengthening Urban Higher Education Ecosystems Institutional Capacity Building for Student Success Urban Pathways To College Updated October 2025.
- [The Kresge Foundation Overview Brochure](https://kresge.org/resource/the-kresge-foundation-overview/) - This brochure includes an overview of the foundation including brief descriptions of our programs, practices and funding methods and a summary of our history. Updated October 2025.
- [Kresge Environment Program Brochure](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-environment-program/) - A summary of the Environment Program, its premise, approach and focus areas: Field-Building: Climate Justice Movement Support Public Sector Leadership Support Community Development Climate Finance Ecosystem Transforming Urban Systems: Climate Change, Equity & Health Initiative (CCHE) Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems Initiative (CREWS) Equitable & Just Energy Transition Initiative (EJET) Updated October 2025.
- [The future of urban climate action: Shaping systems for equitable, long-term change](https://kresge.org/resource/the-future-of-urban-climate-action-shaping-systems-for-equitable-long-term-change/) - This report is the product of a collaborative effort between the Centre for Public Impact, The Kresge Foundation, C40 Cities North America, the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) and Climate Mayors. Insights on the future of urban climate action are inspired by the contributions of city leaders, funders, and nonprofit partners who came together for a closed-door roundtable at the Aspen
- ['The Price of Excellence:' A documentary short on the legacy of HBCUs](https://kresge.org/resource/the-price-of-excellence-a-documentary-short-on-the-legacy-of-hbcus/) - The Century Foundation, with support from The Kresge Foundation, released The Price of Excellence, a short film that dissects the unequal treatment and funding of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) compared to their non-HBCU peer institutions. Filmed on campus at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, the documentary puts viewers in the shoes
- [Rethinking assumptions and community resilience financing tools in the face of growing climate loss and risk](https://kresge.org/resource/rethinking-assumptions-and-community-resilience-financing-tools-in-the-face-of-growing-climate-loss-and-risk/) - In communities across the country, the weather is not just extreme, but relentless. Floods are getting stronger and lasting longer; wildfires are bigger and harder to control; and hurricanes are intensifying rapidly. The country has made progress in raising awareness and developing strategies for climate adaptation, but financing resilience is still a major challenge. Traditional
- [Marion Hayden, 2025 Kresge Eminent Artist monograph, "Daughter of the Way"](https://kresge.org/resource/marion-hayden-2025-kresge-eminent-artist-monograph-daughter-of-the-way/) - Step into the extraordinary world of Marion Hayden, Detroit's "Queen of the Bass" and 2025 Kresge Eminent Artist. This captivating monograph celebrates a musical journey spanning five decades, from a young girl discovering jazz in her father's record collection to becoming one of Detroit's most revered jazz musicians. Through intimate interviews, stunning photography, and heartfelt
- [HQ announcement photo gallery](https://kresge.org/resource/hq-announcement-photo-gallery/) - Speakers and attendees at the announcement of Kesge's new headquarters and $180 million investment into Northwest Detroit, held September 12, 2025, on the Marygrove Conservancy campus. Photo credit: Darrel Ellis/The Kresge Foundation
- [Midtown Detroit Office](https://kresge.org/resource/midtown-detroit-office/) - Overlooking Woodward Avenue in the bustling Midtown district, The Kresge Foundation's Detroit office is an expression of the organization's commitment to reinvigorating the city and its people.
- [Fact Sheet: How Kresge invests in New Orleans](https://kresge.org/resource/fact-sheet-how-kresge-invests-in-new-orleans/) - New Orleans is home to a richness of culture, creativity and leadership. Kresge’s grantmaking and social investing in New Orleans seek to expand urban opportunity and address challenges in this great city. After Hurricane Katrina, we recognized an opportunity to increase our support for the city and its people and respond in more strategic ways
- [National Consumer Law Center Student Loan Toolkit, help videos and resources](https://kresge.org/resource/national-consumer-law-center-student-loan-toolkit-help-videos-and-resources/) - Due to a new law passed in July 2025, major changes are coming to the student loan system over the next two years, including loan repayment plans and other kinds of student support. In addition to this new law, two court decisions have temporarily blocked parts of the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan and other
- [Community Ownership and Self-Determination: Case Studies from Atlanta, Boston, Lisjan Territory, and New Orleans](https://kresge.org/resource/community-ownership-and-self-determination-case-studies-from-atlanta-boston-lisjan-territory-and-new-orleans/) - Community ownership is a strategy that gives long-time residents, workers and local institutions greater ability to own assets in their neighborhoods and make decisions about them. In practice, this approach to power-building can take many forms, including land trusts, cooperatives, democratic investment funds, neighborhood real estate investment trusts and more. Potential economic benefits include: Greater
- [Marcus Belgrave: 2009 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/resource/marcus-belgrave-2009-kresge-eminent-artist/) - By The Kresge Foundation, a monograph on the life, art and community contributions of the master trumpet player and 2009 recipient of the Kresge Eminent Artist Award. (2009). The Kresge Foundation.
- [Uninhibited, Robust, and Wide-open: A Free Press for a New Century](https://kresge.org/resource/uninhibited-robust-and-wide-open-a-free-press-for-a-new-century/) - By Lee C. Bollinger. (2010). New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.
- [Charles McGee: 2008 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/resource/charles-mcgee-2008-kresge-eminent-artist/) - By The Kresge Foundation, a monograph on the life, art and community contributions of the visual artist and 2008 recipient of the Kresge Eminent Artist Award. (2010). The Kresge Foundation.
- [At Washington forum, Rapson outlines the partnership between philanthropy and Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/at-washington-forum-rapson-outlines-the-partnership-between-philanthropy-and-detroit/) - Philanthropy is helping crystallize a coherent municipal picture for Detroit – one that blends the public sector’s core competencies and responsibilities with philanthropy’s willingness to invest in the requisite preconditions for an improved quality of life, in new trajectories of economic opportunity and in community support structures for children and families. (Remarks at a summit
- [Bill Harris: 2011 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/resource/bill-harris-2011-kresge-eminent-artist/) - By The Kresge Foundation, a monograph on the life and work of this literary artist and 2011 recipient of the Kresge Eminent Artist Award. (2011). The Kresge Foundation. ALSO SEE: Announcement of Harris's selection Harris talk about writing and teaching "the Detroit way" in a video
- [2007 Perception Survey](https://kresge.org/resource/2007-perception-survey/) - A report by The Center for Effective Philanthropy commissioned by The Kresge Foundation, Summer 2007.
- [Weaving Success: Voices of Change in African Education](https://kresge.org/resource/weaving-success-voices-of-change-in-african-education/) - A digital book by Megan Lindow. Published by the Institute of International Education. The book documents the impact of the investment by the Partnership for Higher Education in Africa, Collectively, seven foundations invested $440 million in African higher education over the partnership's 10-year life. (A limited number of physical books were also published. Digital editions
- [Naomi Long Madgett: 2012 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/resource/naomi-long-madgett-2012-kresge-eminent-artist/) - By The Kresge Foundation, a monograph on the life and work of this poet, editor, and educator and 2012 recipient of the Kresge Eminent Artist Award. (2012). The Kresge Foundation. ALSO SEE: News announcement of Madgett's selection Video of Madgett talking about poetry, publishing and helping others advance their craft
- [David DiChiera: 2013 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/resource/david-dichiera-2013-kresge-eminent-artist/) - A monograph on the life and work of David DiChiera, founder and longtime music and general director of the Michigan Opera Theatre and the 2013 Kresge Eminent Artist. Prepared and published by The Kresge Foundation (2013). To accompany the monograph, Kresge supported the recording of DiChiera's "Four Sonnets." DiChiera set the sonnets by poet Edna
- [Bill Rauhauser: 2014 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/resource/bill-rauhauser-2014-kresge-eminent-artist/) - A monograph on the life and work of Bill Rauhauser, dean of Detroit's street photographers, educator and the 2014 Kresge Eminent Artist (PDF). Prepared and published by The Kresge Foundation (2014). Also: A video highlighting his career
- [A toast to Kresge Eminent Artist Bill Rauhauser](https://kresge.org/resource/a-toast-to-kresge-eminent-artist-bill-rauhauser/) - Shooting Detroit’s lunch counters and auto shows, parks and grocery stores – decisive moment by decisive moment, Bill Rauhauser captured his times, and our city, for eternity. (Remarks at an event at the Detroit Institute of Arts honoring The Kresge Foundation’s 2014 Eminent Artist.) Delivered on March 24 at a dinner at the Detroit Institute
- [Ruth Adler Schnee: 2015 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/resource/ruth-adler-schnee-2015-kresge-eminent-artist/) - A monograph on the life and work of Ruth Adler Schnee, textile artist, architect, entrepreneur and the 2015 Kresge Eminent Artist (PDF). Prepared and published by The Kresge Foundation (2015). Also: News about her art and life story on display in Detroit (through Oct. 24, 2015) News announcement of Schnee's selection News from release of
- [Leni Sinclair: 2016 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/resource/leni-sinclair-2016-kresge-eminent-artist/) - A monograph on the life and work of Leni Sinclair, photographer and activist, and the 2016 Kresge Eminent Artist (PDF). Prepared and published by The Kresge Foundation (2016). Also: News announcement about Sinclair's selection Sinclair interviewed on Detroit's WDET A video highlighting her career
- [FreshLo graphic recordings from Cleveland Convening, August, 2016](https://kresge.org/resource/freshlo-graphic-recordings-from-cleveland-convening-august-2016/) - The nexus of food, culture and community connections is illustrated in the “Welcome” artwork, with nourishing and nurturing themes. Conveners were asked how they “get fresh.” Cooking was a theme among answers that ranged from the intense (skiing) to the sedentary (sleeping). Storytelling across diverse platforms is a critical way to tell
- [Creative Placemaking introduction booklet](https://kresge.org/resource/creative-placemaking-introduction-booklet/) - This booklet explains the basic concepts of Creative Placemaking and offers examples of such work supported by Kresge.
- [Creative Placemaking case studies](https://kresge.org/resource/press-release-creative-placemaking-case-studies/) - Press release from June 29, 2017: The integration of arts, culture, and community-engaged design into community development has injected new life into post-industrial neighborhoods in Cleveland, Ohio and Washington, D.C. – and those successes are chronicled in depth in a pair of case studies and companion videos released by The Kresge Foundation and Point Forward.
- [Propel Nonprofits](https://kresge.org/resource/propel-nonprofits/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in Propel Nonprofits (previously the Nonprofits Assistance Fund.) This 2016 transaction focused on capacity building support that would help stabilize and shift business models and leadership mindsets for organizations leading Creative Placemaking work from one of austerity to
- [Greater Cincinnati Redevelopment Authority](https://kresge.org/resource/greater-cincinnati-redevelopment-authority/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in the Greater Cincinnati Redevelopment Authority. This 2016 transaction is intended to help the Authority develop micro business districts with neighborhood-serving small businesses in Cincinnati neighborhoods where there is also housing development in place.
- [Self-Help Ventures Fund](https://kresge.org/resource/self-help-ventures-fund/) - In this short case study, explain how and why the Kresge Social Investment Pratice made an investment in Self-Help Venture Fund. The Self-Help Ventures Fund will use a $3 million PRI to support $15 million in investments to strengthen local food systems. This investment was a part of the Kresge Community Finance initiaitive.
- [Advancing Racial Equity Through Capacity Building: The Kresge Foundation’s Talent and Leadership Development Efforts](https://kresge.org/resource/advancing-racial-equity-through-capacity-building-the-kresge-foundations-talent-and-leadership-development-efforts/) - This report documents the first year of Fostering Urban Equitable Leadership (FUEL), a capacity-building program for grantees launched in 2016 by Kresge's Leadership and Infrastructure Funding Team (LIFT), made up of staff from across the foundation. The pilot program focuses specifically on leadership development through a racial equity lens.
- [Wendell Harrison: 2018 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/resource/wendell-harrison-2018-kresge-eminent-artist/) - A monograph on the life and work of Wendell Harrison, musician and educator, and the 2017 Kresge Eminent Artist (PDF). Prepared and published by The Kresge Foundation (2017).
- [Capital Impact Partners](https://kresge.org/resource/capital-impact-partners/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in Capital Impact Partners (CIP). This 2016 program-related investment loan will allow CIP to partner with the Memphis Medical District Collaborative to raise a flexible debt fund to support real estate development, small-business development and transit-oriented investment in the district.
- [New Jersey Community Capital](https://kresge.org/resource/new-jersey-community-capital/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in New Jersey Community Capital to provide capitalization and credit support for a $12 million New Jersey Creative Placemaking Fund managed by NJCC.
- [Hope Federal Credit Union](https://kresge.org/resource/hope-federal-credit-union/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in Hope Federal Credit Union to grow its equity, which enabled it to add a branch in Memphis, a focus city for Kresge’s American Cities Practice, while growing its membership base and its overall community-banking activity.
- [Connecticut Green Bank](https://kresge.org/resource/connecticut-green-bank/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in Connecticut Green Bank to install resilient power systems that combine solar panels and battery storage on roughly 13-18 affordable housing and community buildings in low-income neighborhoods.
- [Reinvestment Fund](https://kresge.org/resource/reinvestment-fund/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in Reinvestment Fund to raise capital to support and extend its Creative Placemaking strategy. Projects financed through this investment will be community driven and target work that eliminates blight, reduces vacancies, provides school or community programming and/or creates jobs.
- [Gloria House: 2019 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/resource/gloria-house-2019-kresge-eminent-artist/) - A monograph on the life and work of Gloria House, poet, essayist, human rights advocate and educator. Gloria is the 11th artist to receive the honor in recognition of professional achievements in an art form, contributions to the cultural community and dedication to Detroit and its residents. Prepared and published by the Kresge Foundation (2019).
- [Kresge Education newsletter: Every Degree Matters](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-education-newsletter-every-degree-matters/) - Issues of the Education Program’s bimonthly newsletter Every Degree Matters, containing grantee insights, research, recently awarded grants, funding opportunities, interesting news articles and highlights from the program’s work to increase college access and success in the U.S. and South Africa. December 2020 Featured items: Partner spotlight on The Steve Fund; A conversation with Dr. Tressie
- [CARES Act Summary](https://kresge.org/resource/cares-act-summary/) - Kresge's Lead Attorney Zenna Elhasan, provides a summary of the resources and elements available via the 2020 Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
- [Social Investing: How Kresge uses tools beyond grants to expand opportunity](https://kresge.org/resource/social-investing-how-kresge-uses-tools-beyond-grants-to-expand-opportunity/) - Beyond making grants, philanthropic organizations can support nonprofits with other forms of capital, including program-related investment loans, guarantees, equity and deposits. This webinar provided an overview of how Kresge uses impact investments to bring about social change in community development, climate, health, human services and other sectors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfTXXB3REMY
- [The Free College Handbook: A Practitioner’s Guide to Promise Research](https://kresge.org/resource/the-free-college-handbook-a-practitioners-guide-to-promise-research/) - Translating more than a decade of research into actionable strategies, the Free College Handbook: A Practitioners Guide to Promise Research is designed to help understand how reducing college costs can simultaneously help students and the places they live. Funded by a Kresge Education Program CoPro 2.0 grant, the resource is the product of collaboration among a
- [Pivoting to Meet the Moment: A Case Study of Community Organizing Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic](https://kresge.org/resource/pivoting-to-meet-the-moment-a-case-study-of-community-organizing-amid-the-covid-19-pandemic/) - In 2019, Community Catalyst launched a project with three advocacy groups aimed at organizing their local communities to influence health systems to be more responsive to community needs. In a new report, the organization highlights community resilience and illustrates the importance of adapting projects and funding to enable organizations to respond to community priorities, especially for
- [Cities' Trillion Dollar Moment: Philanthropy's Role in Helping Federal Dollars Land in Place](https://kresge.org/resource/cities-trillion-dollar-moment-philanthropys-role-in-helping-federal-dollars-land-in-place/) - On Feb. 15, Kresge President & CEO Rip Rapson joined Joel Fleishman, director of the Center for Strategic Philanthropy and Civil Society at Duke University, for a conversation on the unprecedented federal funding opportunities available to cities through the American Rescue Plan Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. The discussion focuses on the role
- [CCHE Outcome Evaluation, Learning Cycle 2: Reflections on Cross-Strategy Activities & Progress for Strategy 1 & 2 Partners](https://kresge.org/resource/cche-outcome-evaluation-learning-cycle-2-reflections-on-cross-strategy-activities-progress-for-strategy-1-2-partners/) - The Reflections on Cross-Strategy Activities and Progress for Strategy 1 and 2 Grantee Partners report (June 2021 – May 2024) is the second of the Climate Change Health & Equity initiative outcome evaluation. (The first CCHE Outcome Evaluation, Learning Cycle 1 report: Reflections on cross-strategy activities and progress) It includes reflections on the national field
- [Tapping In: A Case Study on CDFI Sector Collaboration and Growth in Hawaii](https://kresge.org/resource/tapping-in-a-case-study-on-cdfi-sector-collaboration-and-growth-in-hawaii/) - Six community development financial institutions based in Hawaii — Hawai'i Community Lending, HHOC Mortgage, Hawaii Community Reinvestment Corporation, Lei Ho'olaha, Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association, and Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement — are taking part in a cohort supported by a $1 million investment to help them strengthen their applications to the CDFI Fund, improve
- [MIT CoLab Hub offers range of resources to transform long-term care system](https://kresge.org/resource/mit-colab-hub-offers-range-of-resources-to-transform-long-term-care-system/) - Our communities need more equitable and affordable long-term care systems to better serve workers, consumers and family caregivers. In the U.S., as more older adults and people with disabilities seek to live with independence, safety and dignity, the demand for care is continuing to rise. However, most Americans don’t have insurance coverage and can't afford
- [Greater Bergen Community Action solar case study](https://kresge.org/resource/greater-bergen-community-action-solar-case-study/) - Learn how Greater Bergen Community Action, a community action agency, navigated the solar marketplace in 2011, installed rooftop solar and reduced its energy costs by $900 a month. Before the solar installation, GBCA paid 15 cents per kilowatt hour to power the Midland Avenue campus. Now, through a power purchase agreement, GBCA pays 7.5 cents
- [Decarbonizing community facilities: case studies](https://kresge.org/resource/decarbonizing-community-facilities-solar-case-studies/) - Many community facilities operated by nonprofits can benefit from going solar. The influx of federal funds through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund makes 2024 a ripe moment to explore solar options, including solar+storage. Co-developing organizations are intermediaries well-versed in the solar installation and financing process. They can be productive partners
- [Sounds Like Summer: Music playlist from Kresge's Detroit Program team to heat up the season](https://kresge.org/resource/sounds-like-summer-music-playlist-from-kresges-detroit-program-team-to-heat-up-the-season/) - This summer, the Detroit Program team curated a playlist on Spotify filled with the songs that remind them of home, heat and joy. These Detroit Program-picked and sun-drenched songs make up the soundtrack to golden hours, iced drinks and endless vibes. From block party bangers to soulful summer anthems, these tracks capture the spirit of the
- [Connecting Detroit’s assets through strategic placemaking](https://kresge.org/resource/connecting-detroits-assets-through-strategic-placemaking-2/) - Placemaking and community planning may play out more powerfully in Detroit than anywhere else in the country, combining to take important roles in right-sizing existing networks for a smaller population and building citizen buy-in to Detroit’s future form and function by offering meaningful venues for engagement, strengthening bonds of social capital and creating new opportunities
- [Capital and Collaboration – An In-Depth Look at the Community Investment System in Massachusetts Working Cities](https://kresge.org/resource/capital-and-collaboration-an-in-depth-look-at-the-community-investment-system-in-massachusetts-working-cities/) - This publication presents the work of the Capital & Collaboration Initiative, a cross-sector effort designed to increase the scale, efficiency and impact of investments in Massachusetts cities of more than 35,000 people (excluding Boston), characterized by below-median family income and above-average poverty rates, which have been termed “Working Cities” by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. In 2013, the
- [Capital and Collaboration – Strengthening Community Investment in Smaller, Postindustrial Cities](https://kresge.org/resource/capital-and-collaboration-strengthening-community-investment-in-smaller-postindustrial-cities/) - This paper discusses use of the Capital Absorption Framework to understand and strengthen the community investment systems supporting 21 smaller, postindustrial cities in Massachusetts. The Capital and Collaboration project, a partnership of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Harvard Kennedy School and Robin Hacke of the Kresge Foundation, has conducted stakeholder interviews, convened focus
- [Climate Adaptation – The State of Practice in U.S. Communities](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-adaptation-the-state-of-practice-in-u-s-communities/) - This report examines efforts to develop and implement climate-adaptation projects in 17 cities across the U.S. The study analyzed efforts underway, motivations for action and how communities went from planning to implementation. It was produced by Abt Associates, with funding and support from The Kresge Foundation.
- [Climate Adaptation – The State of Practice in U.S. Communities - Case Studies](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-adaptation-the-state-of-practice-in-u-s-communities-case-studies/) - These case studies examine efforts to develop and implement climate-adaptation projects in 17 cities across the U.S. The study analyzed efforts underway, motivations for action and how communities went from planning to implementation. It was produced by Abt Associates, with funding and support from The Kresge Foundation.
- [Integrated Transactions: An Emerging Focus For Community Development](https://kresge.org/resource/integrated-transactions-an-emerging-focus-for-community-development/) - This paper prepared for Kresge by the Low Income Investment Fund and The Reinvestment Fund and examines development models that intentionally integrate elements from two or more sectors, the capital challenges inherent in such projects, and the unique role that CDFIs and philanthropy play in overcoming those challenges. Unlike fully integrated, outcomes-driven models that require significant
- [Driving Postsecondary Success with Impact Investing](https://kresge.org/resource/driving-postsecondary-success-with-impact-investing/) - This research by Avivar Capital, funded by The Kresge Foundation and Lumina Foundation, identifies capital barriers and maps opportunities to deploy various forms of capital – including mission-related and program-related investments – to support America’s need for talent while addressing challenges such as the increasing cost of education, the changing demographics of students and the rise of
- [M-1 RAIL Development and Construction Inclusion Report](https://kresge.org/resource/m-1-rail-development-and-construction-inclusion-report/) - This report documents the $7 billion in investments that have been made or are planned along the light-rail system along Woodward Avenue in Detroit since 2013. It also documents how some $50 million in contracts out of $180 million total went to local, minority- and women-owned companies.
- [Patricia Terry-Ross: 2017 Kresge Eminent Artist](https://kresge.org/resource/patricia-terry-ross-2017-kresge-eminent-artist/) - A monograph on the life and work of Patricia Terry-Ross, musician and educator, and the 2017 Kresge Eminent Artist (PDF). Prepared and published by The Kresge Foundation (2017). Also: News announcement about Terry Ross' selection A video highlighting her career
- [Passion, determination are the real powers behind healthy, stable, growing neighborhoods](https://kresge.org/resource/passion-determination-are-the-real-powers-behind-healthy-stable-growing-neighborhoods/) - I’m happy that so many of you could make time in your work schedule for us. As you can see from what we have here (gesturing toward dirt box and shovels, veiled murals and drum kit) we have a little more going on than at a typical media and community event. And not just inside
- [City Energy Project Formative Evaluation: A Model for Maximizing Impact](https://kresge.org/resource/city-energy-project-formative-evaluation-a-model-for-maximizing-impact/) - This is an analysis of the model used by the City Energy Project (CEP) -- a national initiative to create healthier and more prosperous American cities by improving the energy efficiency of large buildings. The Kresge Foundation supported the analysis as part of an evaluation of the CEP that provided demonstrable benefits to the field of commercial building
- [City Energy Project Formative Evaluation: Summary Report](https://kresge.org/resource/city-energy-project-formative-evaluation-summary-report/) - The Kresge Foundation funded a formative evaluation of the initial phase of the City Energy Project (CEP) – a national initiative to create healthier and more prosperous American cities by improving the energy efficiency of large buildings. The evaluation found that CEP has provided demonstrable benefits to the field of commercial building energy efficiency by increasing
- [Trust for Public Land “Park Bench Chat" series featuring Jalonne L. White-Newsome  ](https://kresge.org/resource/trust-for-public-land-park-bench-chat-series-featuring-jalonne-l-white-newsome/) - Topic: Reimagining Community Resilience The year 2020 is turning out to be the hottest year on record, as the pandemic is straining our health system and economy to the breaking point. Although the effects of these tandem crises are felt across the country, they are not felt equally: both climate change and COVID-19 have proven to be deadlier for low-income
- [Finding Genius Podcast featuring Jalonne L. White-Newsome](https://kresge.org/resource/finding-genius-podcast-featuring-jalonne-l-white-newsome/) - Environment Senior Program Officer Jalonne L. White-Newsome joined the Finding Genius Podcast on July 24, 2020. During the episode titled “The Public Health Hazard of Urban Flooding,” White-Newsome discusses climate inequity and the health impacts of flooding. She also covers: What is meant by climate resiliency and how it relates to community health and equity
- [‘101 Ways to Save the Planet’ podcast featuring Stacey Barbas](https://kresge.org/resource/101-ways-to-save-the-planet-podcast-featuring-stacey-barbas/) - In an episode of the podcast “101 Ways to Save the Planet” Stacey Barbas, senior program officer for health at The Kresge Foundation, talks about the foundation’s Fresh, Local & Equitable initiative (FreshLo). FreshLo seeks to improve access to healthy food, ignite entrepreneurship, spur economic development and integrate arts, culture and community-engaged design – which we call
- [Lessons from the Healthy Futures Fund](https://kresge.org/resource/lessons-from-the-healthy-futures-fund/) - Launched in 2012, the Healthy Futures Fund (HFF) is a collaboration of The Kresge Foundation, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and Morgan Stanley that invested $180 million to finance projects that embed health-enhancing features and services in real estate development. The fund experimented with combining two existing tax credit programs to finance these projects:
- [ULI report “Firebreak” explores strategies to help communities survive deadly wildfires  ](https://kresge.org/resource/uli-report-firebreak-explores-strategies-to-help-communities-survive-deadly-wildfires/) - In 2020, the U.S. had its worst wildfire season on record with more than 8 million acres engulfed in flames, dozens killed and untold billions in property losses. With support from the Island Press Urban Resilience Project, the Urban Land Institute has released a new report, “Firebreak: Wildfire Resilience Strategies for Real Estate,” exploring best practices in building design and
- [White Paper: A COVID-19 Federal Fiscal Recovery Plan for States and Localities](https://kresge.org/resource/white-paper-a-covid-19-federal-fiscal-recovery-plan-for-us-states-and-localities/) - Co-authored by Kresge's Social Investment Practice Managing Director Aaron Seybert and Boston College Assistant Professor Lourdes Germán, this white paper gives policy recommendations for ways to better orient highly used public finance tools to better assist cities of all sizes as they financially cover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- [Green 2.0 2020 NGO & Foundation Transparency Report Card](https://kresge.org/resource/green-2-0-2020-ngo-foundation-transparency-report-card/) - Green 2.0, an independent advocacy nonprofit created to increase racial and ethnic diversity within the environmental movement, has released its new 2020 NGO & Foundation Transparency Report Card. The report presents data collected from 40 of the largest and most influential nonprofit organizations and foundations, including the number of women and people of color who hold
- [Catalyst Miami's Poverty Solutions Summit encourages philanthropy to invest in Black futures](https://kresge.org/resource/catalyst-miamis-poverty-solutions-summit-encourages-philanthropy-to-invest-in-black-futures/) - Catalyst Miami hosted its first virtual Poverty Solutions Summit, bringing together community, civic and business leaders to develop community-driven solutions for South Florida’s most critical challenges. The Summit provided attendees an opportunity to learn about innovative strategies for community and economic development, and a platform to discuss how to adapt these strategies in communities. Environment
- [River Network launches new toolkit to help cities combat climate change](https://kresge.org/resource/river-network-launches-new-toolkit-to-help-cities-combat-climate-change/) - Communities across the U.S. are increasingly experiencing property damage, health challenges and safety hazards due to flooding and extreme heat. To help combat the effects of climate change, Kresge's partner River Network has developed a new step-by-step guide titled Tools for Equitable Climate Resilience: Fostering Community-Led Research and Knowledge. This report outlines how to effectively engage with
- [Funding Grantee Leadership & Equity: Caroline Altman Smith, The Kresge Foundation](https://kresge.org/resource/funding-grantee-leadership-equity-caroline-altman-smith-the-kresge-foundation/) - Following the COVID-19 pandemic and national unrest for racial justice, more funders are paying attention to the needs and well-being of the people who work in nonprofit organizations. In a new episode of the Fund the People Podcast, Caroline Altman Smith, deputy director of the Education Program, discusses funding professional development for grantee partners with a
- [Community-Informed Heat Relief: Policy Options for Addressing Urban Extreme Heat in High-Risk Communities](https://kresge.org/resource/community-informed-heat-relief-policy-options-for-addressing-urban-extreme-heat-in-high-risk-communities/) - Extreme heat causes more deaths than any other weather-related hazard. As climate change causes temperatures to climb, this public health threat is only expected to worsen – especially in cities as urban areas are exposed to higher temperatures and longer heat waves due to historic redlining practices and lack of investment in green infrastructure. To
- [The Saving Power of Community Creativity](https://kresge.org/resource/the-saving-power-of-community-creativity/) - As communities begin shifting from COVID-19 immediate response efforts to long-term recovery, now is the time to recognize the true value that arts, culture and Creative Placemaking organizations bring to community revitalization. In a report from the Center for Community Progress and Metris Arts Consulting titled The Saving Power of Community Creativity, community leaders who are tackling high rates of
- [Summer In The City: Improving Community Resilience To Extreme Summertime Heat In Northern Manhattan](https://kresge.org/resource/summer-in-the-city-improving-community-resilience-to-extreme-summertime-heat-in-northern-manhattan/) - A new report by WE ACT for Environmental Justice and the Natural Resources Defense Council shows that extreme summertime heat is distributed unevenly throughout New York City and disproportionately impacts Black and Latino communities. Summer In The City: Improving Community Resilience To Extreme Summertime Heat In Northern Manhattan provides an overview of current and projected extreme heat fueled by climate change;
- [Shirley Woodson: 2021 Kresge Eminent Artist monograph, “A Palette for the People”](https://kresge.org/resource/shirley-woodson-2021-kresge-eminent-artist-monograph-a-palette-for-the-people/) - Figurative painter, tireless arts educator and advocate Shirley Woodson is the 2021 Kresge Eminent Artist. She is widely honored for devoting decades to broadening education and exhibition opportunities for generations of African American artists, and for championing art as an essential lens into Detroit’s history and culture. She is the 13th metro Detroit artist to
- [Challenges and Opportunities for Strengthening the U.S. Public Health Infrastructure](https://kresge.org/resource/challenges-and-opportunities-for-strengthening-the-u-s-public-health-infrastructure/) - Public health services in the U.S. depend on basic infrastructure such as up-to-date information systems, health professionals who are competent in crosscutting and technical skills, and public health organizations with the capacity to assess and respond to community health needs. This report from the National Network of Public Health Institutes was completed to better understand
- [Climate Resilience for Health Care and Communities: Strategies and Case Studies](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-resilience-for-health-care-and-communities-strategies-and-case-studies/) - With support from The Kresge Foundation, Climate Change, Health & Equity grantee Health Care Without Harm's paper, Climate Resilience for Health Care and Communities: Strategies and Case Studies, provides a strategic framework for building climate-resilient health systems and communities and explores how health care institutions can leverage investments to support equitable decarbonization and build community
- [EPIC report analyzes federal spending to improve water quality and public health](https://kresge.org/resource/epic-report-analyzes-federal-spending-to-improve-water-quality-and-public-health/) - Communities around the country face environmental and health consequences due to failing water infrastructure. The Clean Water State Revolving Fund — a federal program that finances projects to improve water quality and public health — helps address these challenges. The Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) has released a report on Financing Green Stormwater and Natural
- [Buying In: Opportunities for Increasing Homeownership in Detroit through Mortgage Lending](https://kresge.org/resource/buying-in-opportunities-for-increasing-homeownership-in-detroit-through-mortgage-lending/) - One of the most daunting statistical shifts in Detroit is this: In the wake of the mortgage market meltdown, homeownership began a steep decline. Between 2010 and 2019, a city of majority homeowners became a city of majority renters. A new analysis from Detroit Future City’s Center of Equity, Engagement & Research — a Kresge
- [Webinar: Indigenous, Black and Communities of Color Fighting for Environmental Justice](https://kresge.org/resource/webinar-indigenous-black-and-communities-of-color-fighting-for-environmental-justice/) - Leadership and advocacy from philanthropy have been critical to empowering communities of color as they grapple with climate change and environmental justice. This was the key takeaway during a recent panel discussion featuring Kresge’s Shamar Bibbins, led by the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability (IARA) Project and the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development. The
- [Measuring resident agency and voice in affordable housing: A set of guiding questions](https://kresge.org/resource/measuring-resident-agency-and-voice-in-affordable-housing-a-set-of-guiding-questions/) - Agency is key to economic mobility. And more than two years into a global pandemic that has caused devastating health impacts, upended local economies, social norms and a sense of well-being, the importance of creating genuine opportunities to return agency to affordable housing residents has never been more important. As affordable housing providers around the
- [The American Rescue Plan Act: Promoting Equity Through ARPA Implementation](https://kresge.org/resource/the-american-rescue-plan-act-promoting-equity-through-arpa-implementation/) - The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and its State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) represent an unprecedented response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its negative economic impacts. While this critical landmark legislation has been integral to the country’s COVID-19 response, it has also served as a tremendous opportunity for cities to foster long-term economic
- [Climate, Health and Heat Equity: A Learning Tour of Miami-Dade County](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-health-and-heat-equity/) - Miami-Dade County in Florida is a leader in addressing urban heat island effect and extreme heat, which causes more deaths than any other weather-related hazard. At the 2022 Grantmakers in Health conference, a learning tour through Miami — the Dade County Street Response Clinic, local parks, worksites, and public space — focused on the intersections
- [Disability Inclusion Resource Guide](https://kresge.org/resource/disability-inclusion-resource-guide/) - Introduction In May 2021, The Kresge Foundation signed the Disability Inclusion Pledge signaling to the 61 million people with disabilities in the United States that we are committed to expanding inclusion beyond the minimum legal requirements. In addition, we are committed to deepening our collective understanding of disability justice and inclusion. This guide offers various
- [Funding Narrative Change, An Assessment and Framework](https://kresge.org/resource/funding-narrative-change-an-assessment-and-framework/) - In September 2022, the Convergence Partnership released the first-ever report to focus exclusively on the funding of narrative change, Funding Narrative Change, An Assessment and Framework. The new report was written by two leading experts in the field, Rinku Sen, executive director of Narrative Initiative, and Mik Moore, principal and founder of Moore + Associates. Narrative change
- [Olayami Dabls: 2022 Kresge Eminent Artist monograph, "The Culture Keeper"](https://kresge.org/resource/olayami-dabls-2022-kresge-eminent-artist/) - A monograph on the life and work of Olayami Dabls, a visual storyteller, placemaker, muralist and educator. Dabls has been the subject of widespread acclaim for his transformation of two Detroit city blocks that he once labeled “a complete dumping ground” into a mesmerizing and unapologetically African-centered cultural attraction. He is the founder and curator
- [Disability Justice Webinar: Unlearning Ableism](https://kresge.org/resource/disability-justice-webinar-unlearning-ableism/) - The Kresge Foundation partnered with the Disability & Philanthropy Forum to host Disability Justice: Unlearning Ableism. The virtual webinar featured three panelists with rich lived-experience and professional expertise within the disabled community including Dessa Cosma (she/her) of Detroit Disability Power, Marq Mitchell (he/him) of Chainless Change, and Mordecai Cohen Ettinger (they/them) of Sins Invalid. Throughout
- [The Power of the Commons: Impact and Opportunity in America's Public Spaces](https://kresge.org/resource/the-power-of-the-commons-impact-and-opportunity-in-americas-public-spaces/) - Since 2016, Reimagining the Civic Commons has been transforming civic assets from places of untapped potential to places that bridge differences, create increased and more equitably shared prosperity, and contribute solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our nation. The initiative, a collaboration of national foundations including Kresge and civic leaders, has supported cities
- [The Art of Economic Justice: An Impact Report on Guaranteed Income Pilots for Artists and Creative Workers in Minnesota](https://kresge.org/resource/the-art-of-economic-justice-an-impact-report-on-guaranteed-income-pilots-for-artists-and-creative-workers-in-minnesota/) - Springboard for the Arts launched one of the first Guaranteed Income pilots in the country focused on individual artists and creative workers in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The goal of the pilot is to explore the impact of guaranteed income on artists, culture bearers and creative workers at a neighborhood level and to provide a national
- [Energize Your Impact: How Foundations Can Accelerate Solar for the Benefit of Under-Resourced Communities](https://kresge.org/resource/energize-your-impact-how-foundations-can-accelerate-solar-for-the-benefit-of-under-resourced-communities/) - A new report from the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA), Energize Your Impact: How Foundations Can Accelerate Solar for the Benefit of Under-Resourced Communities, explores how philanthropic foundations have supported the deployment of solar and solar plus battery storage (solar+storage) in low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities in the United States. It provides a menu of
- [Climate Change Preparedness of Great Lakes Communities](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-change-preparedness-of-great-lakes-communities/) - Cities across the country have suffered massive flooding, causing environmental, psychological, health and financial hardship on residents and businesses. The size and frequency of storm events is increasing, and forecasts of future precipitation amounts suggest that the impact and resulting damage will continue to get worse. As a result, much of the infrastructure serving the
- [Rapson: Work at the intersection of climate change, health & equity is needed now more than ever](https://kresge.org/resource/rapson-work-at-the-intersection-of-climate-change-health-equity-is-needed-now-more-than-ever/) - Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson delivered the following comments at the opening of the Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) initiative 2023 convening “Centering Racial Justice and Health Equity: The Power of Communities to Drive Climate Policy and Practice,” on April 17, 2023. Good evening, and welcome. We are enormously grateful that you
- [Community Ownership: Emerging Models and Roles for Philanthropy](https://kresge.org/resource/community-ownership-emerging-models-and-roles-for-philanthropy/) - Community leaders are increasingly looking at community ownership as a strategy to bring more prosperity to communities that have been historically or systematically underserved and disadvantaged. In a report, "Community Ownership: Emerging Models and Roles for Philanthropy," Inclusive Capital Collective and Roanhorse Consulting analyze the strengths and challenges of existing and emerging models of community
- [Creativity is Boundless: An Inclusive Guide for Supporting Immigrant, Migrant and Undocumented Artists with Fellowships, Grants and Residencies](https://kresge.org/resource/creativity-is-boundless-an-inclusive-guide-for-supporting-immigrant-migrant-and-undocumented-artists-with-fellowships-grants-and-residencies/) - Organizations that support the arts — both funders and grantmaking programs — already believe deeply in the impact that artists and storytellers have on culture and society. Yet, all too often, immigrant, migrant and undocumented creatives face systemic barriers accessing the resources and opportunities they need to tell stories through art due to their immigration
- [NeighborWorks offers resources, peer reflections on investing in creative community development](https://kresge.org/resource/neighborworks-offers-resources-peer-reflections-on-investing-in-creative-community-development/) - NeighborWorks America believes art, culture and creative expression are key components of comprehensive community development. In a recent blog, NeighborWorks' Vice President of Community Initiatives Paul Singh affirms, "Many network organizations are undertaking arts and culture-based efforts in order to engage residents, build community, create awareness, forge partnerships, beautify public spaces, honor history and culture,
- [Mental Health and Community College Students of Color: A Steve Fund Landscape Brief](https://kresge.org/resource/mental-health-and-community-college-students-of-color-a-steve-fund-landscape-brief/) - There is an ongoing demographic revolution in higher education in the United States, and the state of mental health in this group is a crucial public health issue. Students of color are more likely than white students to attend community college and more than half of community college students are students of color. In 2020,
- [Engaging the Arts to Build Vaccine Confidence: Impact Report](https://kresge.org/resource/engaging-the-arts-to-build-vaccine-confidence-impact-report/) - In a new report from the CDC Foundation, learn how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partnered with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to explore how arts and culture have been utilized to promote vaccine confidence, dispel myths and misinformation surrounding vaccines, and support vaccination efforts in the United States.
- [Receiving Community: Building Inclusive Places That Mitigate Climate Gentrification-Driven Displacement](https://kresge.org/resource/receiving-community-building-inclusive-places-that-mitigate-climate-gentrification-driven-displacement/) - Climate change impacts are changing conditions in communities worldwide, increasing incentives to live and work in some locations, and decreasing incentives in others. This is causing ripple effects across global, national and local markets. As people of all demographic groups gravitate toward locales with comparatively lower risk to climate impacts (receiving communities), they will drive
- [Kresge Eminent Artists 2023 Melba Joyce Boyd Sound Stories](https://kresge.org/resource/melba-joyce-boyd-sound-stories/) - These stories are featured in the 2023 Kresge Eminent Artist Monograph: The Book of Melba, featuring Melba Joyce Boyd. Sound Story No. 1 Melba reflects on the legacy of daring abolitionist poet Frances Harper. The Kresge Foundation · Melba on Frances Harper Sound Story No. 2 Melba recalls the sounds that enlivened her Detroit upbringing.
- [Kresge's Centennial Year in Review](https://kresge.org/resource/kresges-centennial-year-in-review/) - This summary report captures the objectives and activities undertaken to celebrate, honor and reflect on Kresge’s legacy during its 2024 centennial year.
- [Remarks for Kresge Arts in Detroit award celebration: Three Bass-ic Lessons from Marion Hayden](https://kresge.org/resource/remarks-for-kresge-arts-in-detroit-award-celebration-three-bass-ic-lessons-from-marion-hayden/) - Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson delivered the following comments at the Kresge Arts in Detroit Award Celebration at the College for Creative Studies’ Taubman Center honoring the 2025 Kresge Eminent artist Marion Hayden, the 2025 Kresge Award Fellows and Gilda Snowden Emerging Artist Awards recipients on July 15, 2025. Thank-you Katie (McGowan) …
- [Explainer videos for community facility owners considering solar microgrids](https://kresge.org/resource/explainer-videos-for-community-facility-owners-considering-solar-microgrids/) - Two new videos created in partnership with Collective Energy are available now to help community facility owners better understand the benefits of installing solar microgrids on their facilities. Learn more about Collective Energy here: https://collectiveenergyco.com/ Learn more about the CHARGE Partnership here: https://chargepartnership.org/ Why should community facilities invest in microgrids? When the power goes out,
- [Build the New: Detroit’s Next Path](https://kresge.org/resource/build-the-new-detroits-next-path/) - Detroit & The American City Symposium Remarks by Rip Rapson President, The Kresge Foundation Good morning, everyone. Welcome . . . and deepest thanks for being an integral part of our year-long centennial reflection and celebration. The Kresge Centennial A centennial is typically defined by retrospection. And to be sure, I hope ours will summon
- [Kresge at 100 Photo Gallery](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-at-100-photo-gallery/) - On June 11, 1924, on the retail company’s 25th anniversary, Sebastian S. Kresge established The Kresge Foundation to promote human progress. On June 11, 2024, the foundation hosted the Kresge at the 100 Centennial Celebration at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Photos by Darrel Ellis and Cybelle Codish.
- [The Social Impact of MDI Mortgage Lending](https://kresge.org/resource/the-social-impact-of-mdi-mortgage-lending/) - The Social Impact of MDI Mortgage Lending, a new Kresge-supported paper from the National Bankers Association, BankBlack and the Hip Hop Caucus, explores lending by minority depository institutions (MDIs) from 2019 to 2022, highlighting the social impact of MDI mortgage lending, particularly as compared to lending from other types of financial institutions. In addition, the
- [Detroit & The American City Symposium Photo Gallery](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-the-american-city-symposium-photo-gallery/) - As part of Kresge’s 100th anniversary – celebrated on June 11, the exact day of the foundation’s launch by Sebastian S. Kresge – the Detroit & the American Cities Symposium brought together several hundred people from Detroit, Fresno, Memphis and New Orleans. The discussions looked to the past traumas of Detroit and cities like it,
- [Kresge 2023 Centennial Report: A Century of Impact, A Future of Opportunity](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-2023-centennial-report-a-century-of-impact-a-future-of-opportunity/) - This year marks a momentous milestone for The Kresge Foundation: our Centennial — a century dedicated to fostering opportunities across the United States and the world. In this year's special annual report, readers will find a collection of 100 moments of impact from throughout Kresge's history. The book's physical form symbolizes the foundation's deep-rooted commitment
- [Downtown Detroit Partnership  I-375 Peer Review Report](https://kresge.org/resource/downtown-detroit-partnership-i-375-peer-review-report/) - I-375 is a roughly mile-long, below-grade freeway connecting I-75 to downtown Detroit. The I-375 Peer Review Report created by the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) addresses plans to replace I-375 with an at-grade boulevard. The report includes sections on design evaluation and collaboration, construction mitigation, and opportunity assessments. Through a grant from The Kresge Foundation, DDP
- [Increasing Student Support and Success by Boosting Medicaid Engagement](https://kresge.org/resource/increasing-student-support-and-success-by-boosting-medicaid-engagement/) - There is an ongoing health crisis in the community college sector. Exacerbated by the pandemic, the crisis has resulted in high rates of anxiety, depression, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, food insecurity and more. Colleges often struggle to address these needs. Fewer than half of students experiencing a mental health condition receive mental health services. Community
- [Defending and Advancing Climate Justice Policies](https://kresge.org/resource/defending-and-advancing-climate-justice-policies/) - This report from Just Solutions, "Defending and Advancing Climate Justice Policies," is a collaborative effort by policy experts across sectors such as environmental, climate, racial, public health, and economic justice, designed to address potential challenges to climate and environmental justice in the United States under the current administration in Washington, DC. It also proposes mitigating
- [Evolving the Community Foundation Business Model of the Future: A Path Towards Sustainability and Impact](https://kresge.org/resource/evolving-the-community-foundation-business-model-of-the-future-a-path-towards-sustainability-and-impact/) - Community foundations across the country are answering the call of growing community needs such as affordable housing, support for small businesses and access to quality education. But as the role of community foundations in civic life grows, how can they evolve their business models to maximize their impact? A new report, Evolving the Community Foundation
- [Climate Resilience and Economic Security: How Philanthropy Can Drive Inclusive Solutions](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-resilience-and-economic-security-how-philanthropy-can-drive-inclusive-solutions/) - Climate plays a crucial role, influencing our health, financial stability, quality of life, and overall economy. Indeed, the growing impacts of climate change are increasingly jeopardizing household economic security and racial and gender wealth equity. More frequent disasters and ongoing intense conditions are highlighting the urgent need for grantmakers to join communities, the private sector,
- [One Nation/One Project's No Place Like Home](https://kresge.org/resource/one-nation-one-projects-no-place-like-home/) - One Nation/One Project's No Place Like Home is the story of one of the largest public art campaigns in American History: Arts For EveryBody. On July 27, 2024, 18 communities across the country staged simultaneous performances hoping to answer one big question: can art help heal our divided nation? In this documentary podcast narrated by
- [The 2Gen Investment Case: Making the Most of Capital in All its Forms](https://kresge.org/resource/the-2gen-investment-case-making-the-most-of-capital-in-all-its-forms/) - Since 2010, funders have invested more than $500 million in advancing the two-generation (2Gen) approach to increase economic and social mobility for families with low incomes. This approach intentionally develops services and supports with both children and adults in mind as opposed to isolating needs. The 2Gen approach—introduced by Ascend at the Aspen Institute—is a
- [Marygrove Conservancy Social Investment Case Study ($19M guarantee)](https://kresge.org/resource/marygrove-conservancy-social-investment-case-study-19m-guarantee/) - In this two-page case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a $19 million guarantee in 2020 to the Marygrove Conservancy. Kresge’s guarantee allowed the financing for a state-of-the-art early childhood center using New Market Tax Credits. Without the guarantee, lenders were unwilling to take the full faith and credit of
- [Evolving the Community Foundation Business Model of the Future: A Path Towards Sustainability and Impact](https://kresge.org/resource/evolving-the-community-foundation-business-model-of-the-future-a-path-towards-sustainability-and-impact-2/) - Beginning in 2023, the Aspen Institute Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation (PSI) worked with a cohort of 10 community foundation leaders to learn how they are moving from a traditional community bank model to leverage their full range of assets and relationships to support thriving, inclusive communities. In a new report, Evolving the
- [Innovative Approach to Student Homelessness Reduces Housing Insecurity and Improves Graduation Rates](https://kresge.org/resource/innovative-approach-to-student-homelessness-reduces-housing-insecurity-and-improves-graduation-rates/) - Researchers working with the Center for Equitable Higher Education at Cal State Long Beach have completed a three-year evaluation on the effectiveness of an innovative program designed to help college students experiencing homelessness in California. According to the report, the College Focused Rapid Rehousing program (CFRR) has significant advantages over traditional short-term housing assistance that
- [Space to Grow: A Decade of Transforming Chicago Schoolyards and Communities](https://kresge.org/resource/space-to-grow-a-decade-of-transforming-chicago-schoolyards-and-communities/) - This report from Healthy Schools Campaign, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making schools healthier places where children can learn and thrive, documents 10 years of its Space to Grow program. Space to Grow invests in communities that are at high risk of experiencing the consequences of climate change like flooding and extreme heat. This report,
- [Realizing Resilience: Toward a fairer, greener future](https://kresge.org/resource/realizing-resilience-toward-a-fairer-greener-future/) - Ten years ago, The Kresge Foundation partnered with Island Press to answer a critical question: How do we make communities more resilient to climate change and other major disruptions? The result was the 2015 publication, "Bounce Forward: Urban Resilience in the Era of Climate Change," which defined resilience as our capacity to anticipate threats, plan
- [Kresge Foundation Annual Reports](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-foundation-annual-reports/) - 2024: PathBreakers Our 2024 annual report, PathBreakers, features a digital report and Kresge’s first-ever podcast series that celebrates 12 remarkable PathBreakers who cut through the noise, the red tape and all the other obstacles to progress to forge new solutions for America’s cities. Like the icebreaker that chips through a frozen river, our PathBreakers create channels
- [The Community Power Accelerator solar case study](https://kresge.org/resource/the-community-power-accelerator-solar-case-study/) - Consumers spend over a trillion dollars a year on energy, while people with low-income face a disproportionately high energy burden and greater vulnerability to environmental damage. Community-serving solar developers are working to change that by building projects that lower energy bills, create local installation and maintenance jobs and improve resilience. Yet for many of these developers
- [Thermal Energy Networks in the United States](https://kresge.org/resource/thermal-energy-networks-in-the-united-states/) - A report from Transformative Strategies Consulting and Common Spark Consulting (funded by The Kresge Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and Clif Family Foundation) outlines opportunities for philanthropy to help ensure Thermal Energy Networks become engines of local control and equity, not instruments of exclusion. The recommendations are clear: there is a significant need for philanthropic investment in
- [Free MetroCards and College Retention: Findings from The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs & CUNY](https://kresge.org/resource/free-metrocards-and-college-retention-findings-from-the-hope-center-for-student-basic-needs-cuny/) - For many students at the City University of New York (CUNY), getting to class isn’t simply a matter of time, it’s a matter of affordability. Community colleges overwhelmingly serve students from households earning less than $50,000 a year. While tuition is often covered through grants and subsidies, non-tuition costs like transportation, textbooks and childcare remain
- [CCHE initiative wins: Partners achievements one-pager](https://kresge.org/resource/cche-initiative-wins-partners-achievements-one-pager/) - This document captures examples of what Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) initiative grantees have done to strengthen community leadership, advance climate and health solutions, build networks and partnerships and amplify voices through storytelling and media. Key efforts include training climate ambassadors, developing micro credential training for community health workers, and launching community-led projects such
- [Climate Change, Health & Equity Initiative Final Evaluation Report](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-change-health-equity-initiative-final-evaluation-report/) - The Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) Initiative Final Evaluation Report outlines the progress and impact of Kresge's CCHE initiative. The $30 million effort aims to advance climate policies and solutions that benefit low-wealth communities and communities of color, reducing their climate-related health risks over the long term. The initiative emphasizes cross-sector partnerships, advocacy, community
- [Climate Change, Health & Equity Case Studies](https://kresge.org/resource/cche-case-studies/) - Climate Change, Health, and Equity (CCHE) is a 5-year $30 million initiative that aims to build the capacity of health care and public health to promote equitable climate resilience practices, mobilize health care and public health practitioner engagement in climate advocacy, and strengthen community-based leadership to accelerate implementation of equitable policies that advance climate resilience
- [Nora Chapa Mendoza: 2024 Kresge Eminent Artist monograph, “Su Arte, Su Vida”](https://kresge.org/resource/nora-chapa-mendoza-2024-kresge-eminent-artist-monograph-su-arte-su-vida/) - A monograph on the life and work of Kresge Eminent Artist Nora Chapa Mendoza, a celebrated and groundbreaking painter, cultural activist and gallerist. Chapa Mendoza is the 16th artist to receive the honor in recognition of professional achievements in an art form, contributions to the cultural community and dedication to Detroit and its residents. This
- [CREWS and CCHE Convening photos](https://kresge.org/resource/crews-and-cche-convening-photos/) - Kresge hosted the Climate Change, Health, and Equity (CCHE) and Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) convenings in Detroit in September 2024. In addition to celebrating Kresge’s deep partnership and investment in cities like Detroit, the co-located events offered opportunities for shared learning and thought partnership around issues such as air quality, extreme heat, systemic flooding,
- [Implementing California’s Universal Financial Aid Application Policy](https://kresge.org/resource/implementing-californias-universal-financial-aid-application-policy/) - California’s higher education systems can provide a ladder for economic mobility, yet too many of the state’s high school graduates fail to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or — for those who are undocumented — the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). This results in missed opportunities, decisions made with limited information
- [Webinar: Leveraging Health Institutions for Community Change](https://kresge.org/resource/webinar-leveraging-health-institutions-for-community-change/) - Presented by: The Kresge Foundation’s Health Program & American Cities Program America’s cities are home to committed urban changemakers. Over the next decade, these changemakers must simultaneously address three essential challenges: racial repair and healing, climate adaptation and resilience, and economic mobility and abundance. During this webinar, Kresge will partner with local Louisiana leaders to
- [Green 2.0 2024 Transparency Report](https://kresge.org/resource/green-2-0-2024-transparency-report/) - 2024 marks the eighth consecutive year that Green 2.0 has presented data on demographic data of staff and equity practices at non-profit organizations (“NGOs”) and foundations in the environmental sector. Green 2.0's transparency report serves as a key mechanism to hold organizations, and the environmental movement at large, accountable for commitments made to equity. The
- [Detroit & The American City Recap video](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-the-american-city-recap-video/) - More than 150 Detroit changemakers gathered on June 11, 2024, Kresge’s centennial, at the Detroit & the American City Symposium.
- [A New Paradigm for the Common Good](https://kresge.org/resource/a-new-paradigm-for-the-common-good/) - The philanthropy sector is at a critical crossroads. Even though we live in an era of unprecedented wealth and technological advancements, the world is confronted with vast racial, social and economic inequities. One could say there has never been a period when there was a greater need for philanthropy. At the same time, the value,
- [Understanding Solar+Storage: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions About Solar PV and Battery Storage](https://kresge.org/resource/understanding-solarstorage-answers-to-commonly-asked-questions-about-solar-pv-and-battery-storage/) - Solar combined with energy storage (solar+storage) can provide cost savings and keep essential services powered during grid outages. With funding support from Kresge’s Environment Program, Clean Energy Group (CEG) has released a series of resources for individuals and organizations who are considering implementing solar+storage projects. In a new guide titled Understanding Solar+Storage, CEG addresses 12
- [The Power of Arts and Culture: The Heart of Community Health, Revitalization, and Inclusion](https://kresge.org/resource/the-power-of-arts-and-culture-the-heart-of-community-health-revitalization-and-inclusion/) - A growing body of public health research demonstrates that arts and culture activities positively impact the drivers of health, health equity and economic development. A new report from the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) highlights case studies from four LISC partners — 11th Street Bridge Park and Anacostia BID in Washington D.C.; Destination Crenshaw in
- [Supporting Minds, Supporting Learners: Addressing Student Mental Health to Advance Academic Success](https://kresge.org/resource/supporting-minds-supporting-learners-addressing-student-mental-health-to-advance-academic-success/) - A report from the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) details mental health challenges community college students face and how they can be better supported. "Supporting Minds, Supporting Learners: Addressing Student Mental Health to Advance Academic Success" explores the data of the 2023 Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) for returning students and
- [PHEARLESS Peer Learning Resources](https://kresge.org/resource/phearlesspeerlearning/) - Below are links and resources from PHEARLESS webinars, peer learning, as well as initiative learning and evaluation. 2024 PHEARLESS Gallery Recording and Audio Transcript Passcode: 8zQWGq%m Presentation ChangeLab Solutions Cohort-based TA supports (CBOs, health systems/hospitals and government): ChangeLab Solutions cohort-based TA partnerships have spanned policy areas, including the Nemours Moving Health Care Upstream and BUILD
- [QLINE Annual Report 2024: M-1 Rail Realizes Vision: Next Stop RTA](https://kresge.org/resource/qline-annual-report-2024-m-1-rail-realizes-vision-next-stop-rta/) - In September 2024, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) of Southeast Michigan approved the takeover of Detroit's QLINE streetcar system, securing the long-term viability of the system. The historic achievement brings the QLINE under a public transit authority, as was envisioned by the M-1 Rail board and team from the inception of this landmark project more
- [QLINE Annual Report (2023)](https://kresge.org/resource/qline-annual-report-2023/) - The QLINE 2023 annual report takes a look at the progress of the streetcar system two years after its reemergence from the COVID-19 pandemic pause. It takes a closer look at the streetcar's riders, their experiences, and why they take the QLINE. It includes facts and figures from a rider intercept and online surveys and
- [QLINE Annual Report (2021-22)](https://kresge.org/resource/qline-annual-report-2021-22/) - Detroit's QLINE resumed passenger service in September 2021 after being closed since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the COVID-19 service pause, M-1 RAIL compiled what they learned over the first few years of service to evaluate every aspect of operations and make the necessary changes to ensure the QLINE is the best-in-class
- [M-1 Rail QLINE Report to Donors (February 2020)](https://kresge.org/resource/m-1-rail-qline-report-to-donors-february-2020/) - The M-1 Rail QLINE Report to Donors includes a message from CEO Matt Cullen and COO Paul Childs, as well as a feature focused on the support staff.
- [M-1 Rail QLINE Report to Donors (August 2019)](https://kresge.org/resource/m-1-rail-qline-report-to-donors-august-2019/) - The M-1 Rail QLINE Report to Donors includes a message from CEO Matt Cullen and COO Paul Childs, as well as a Q&A on safety and security with Lyle Dungy, interim chief safety officer.
- [QLINE On The Move: A One-Year Report on Detroit's Streetcar (May 2018)](https://kresge.org/resource/qline-on-the-move-a-one-year-report-on-detroits-streetcar-may-2018/) - On May 12, 2017, the QLINE officially started moving riders up and down Woodward Avenue and for the first time in 60 years, Detroit set into motion its very own streetcar. This report takes a close look at the QLINE’s first year, highlighting where it’s been and where it’s going — assessing successes and scrutinizing
- [M-1 Rail Development & Construction Inclusion Report (2013-2017)](https://kresge.org/resource/m-1-rail-development-construction-inclusion-report-2013-2017/) - The QLINE began as M-1 Rail, a nonprofit organization formed to lead the design, construction, and operation of a 3.3-mile circulating streetcar along Woodward Avenue in Detroit. This report documents the $7 billion in investments that had been made or planned for 211 development projects on either side of the streetcar's path between 2013-2017, when
- [CDFIs: Crucial Partners in the Public Finance Ecosystem](https://kresge.org/resource/cdfis-crucial-partners-in-the-public-finance-ecosystem/) - This paper, published in Chicago Fed Insights by Lourdes Germán, Robin Newberger and Heidi Reijm, examines how CDFIs can better leverage public funds and utilize subsidized financing mechanisms, such as loan funds and other debt instruments, to invest in low-and-moderate income communities. Could CDFIs make larger and more sustainable investments if they had expanded access
- [Rapson: How philanthropy can help forge effective and equitable civic problem-smashing machinery](https://kresge.org/resource/rapson-how-philanthropy-can-help-forge-effective-and-equitable-civic-problem-smashing-machinery/) - Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson delivered the following comments at the opening of the "Our Urban Future: The Next Era of Making Change in America's Cities" symposium at The Icon in Detroit on Sept. 11, 2024. Good morning, everyone. We could not be more excited to have such an extraordinary group gathered in
- [Our Urban Future Convening](https://kresge.org/resource/our-urban-future-convening/) - Check out the Our Urban Future convening page for more about this event held in Detroit in September 2024. America’s cities are home to committed urban changemakers. Over the next decade, these changemakers will need to simultaneously address three essential challenges: racial repair and healing, climate adaptation and resilience, and economic mobility and abundance. As
- [Percent for Place webinar](https://kresge.org/resource/percent-for-place-webinar/) - Kresge Detroit Program Officer Alexa Bush moderates a Main Street America webinar on the work of Percent for Place, a coalition that advocates for “for a small, ongoing percentage of federal spending to be dedicated to civic infrastructure, to provide a reliable stream of funding for high-quality, shared assets in communities across the country.” Bush joins Erika Poethig
- [Kresge Foundation Fluxx Portal Instructions and Helpful Tips](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-foundation-fluxx-portal-instructions-and-helpful-tips/) - This guide offers information and tips about accessing the Kresge Foundation Fluxx Portal for online grant applications, how to create an account and log in, navigating through the portal, and how to report issues and provide feedback.
- [Revisiting Measuring Agency & Voice](https://kresge.org/resource/revisiting-measuring-agency-voice/) - Bringing about transformational change in resident outcomes and well-being requires that housing providers, policymakers and funders strive for more than ‘good enough’ and address the barriers to giving people real power and choice where they live. A new resource guide, "Revisiting Measuring Agency & Voice" from Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future, focuses on
- [Kresge Human Services Program Brochure](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-human-services-program/) - A summary of the Human Services Program, its approach and focus areas: Fostering the Next Generation of Human Services Organizations Building Place-Based Opportunity Ecosystems Supportive Public Policy and Field Building Updated September 2024
- [Thurgood Marshall College Fund CEO Impact Awards 2024](https://kresge.org/resource/thurgood-marshall-college-fund-ceo-impact-awards-2024/) - Marygrove College Campus, Madame Cadillac Hall Remarks of Rip Rapson, President, The Kresge Foundation It is a profound honor to be a recipient of a Thurgood Marshall College Fund CEO Impact Award. Some 30 years ago, when I was appointed to be Minneapolis’ deputy mayor, the Minneapolis Tribune ran a profile asking me to name
- [A Guide to Fiscal Stewardship: Preventing and Mitigating Financial Mismanagement and Fraud](https://kresge.org/resource/a-guide-to-fiscal-stewardship-preventing-and-mitigating-financial-mismanagement-and-fraud/) - A new resource from the Conference of Michigan Foundations is now available and is intended to explore frequently asked questions involved in preventing and managing through challenging operational and grantmaking situations, primarily around situations of financial mismanagement and fraud. While every situation is unique, the guide contains general guidance that may provide a starting point
- [Rapson: Four roles philanthropy can play in promoting public health](https://kresge.org/resource/rapson-four-roles-philanthropy-can-play-in-promoting-public-health/) - Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson delivered the following comments at the opening of the National Association of County and City Health Officials 2024 NACCHO360 conference on July 23, 2024. Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome, and thank you all for being here. And what a pleasure it is to follow in the considerable wake of
- [U.S. DOT Transportation and Climate Symposium: National Funders Roundtable](https://kresge.org/resource/u-s-dot-transportation-and-climate-symposium-national-funders-roundtable/) - The Department of Transportation (DOT) held a two-day Transportation and Climate Symposium on July 11-12, 2024, to celebrate climate champions, solutions, and innovation towards transportation decarbonization, transformation, accessible communities, and mobility freedom for all. The event brought together decisionmakers from the private and public sectors including state, regional, local and tribal governments from across the
- [Michigan Public Stateside podcast: Kresge President Rip Rapson reflects on the role of philanthropy and lessons learned from Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/michigan-public-stateside-podcast-kresge-president-rip-rapson-reflects-on-the-role-of-philanthropy-and-lessons-learned-from-detroit/) - Michigan Public's Stateside hosted by April Baer recently featured Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson for a conversation on the foundation's centennial and 100 years of charitable giving. The wide-ranging thirty-minute discussion, which begins at the 21:35 minute mark, explores ideas about the role of place-based philanthropy, investing in underserved causes, the foundation's mission, successes
- [Rapson: Marygrove as a model for cradle-to-career educational opportunities for children and families](https://kresge.org/resource/rapson-marygrove-as-a-model-for-cradle-to-career-educational-opportunities-for-children-and-families/) - Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson delivered the following comments at the Strengthening Whole Child Communities: Raising the Bar from Cradle to Career Summit hosted by the U.S. Department of Education at The School at Marygrove in Detroit on August 1, 2024. Thank you, Assistant Secretary Roberto Rodriguez and White House Domestic Policy
- [FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Hub for Mixed-Status Families](https://kresge.org/resource/fafsa-free-application-for-federal-student-aid-hub-for-mixed-status-families/) - Any student who is a citizen or an eligible non-citizen can fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), regardless of their parents’ citizenship status. This comprehensive hub — a collaborative project of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Ed Trust, FWD.us, ImmSchools, Immigrants Rising, National Immigration Law Center, National College
- [Color of Wealth in Chicago](https://kresge.org/resource/color-of-wealth-in-chicago/) - A family’s financial security and peace of mind begin with building wealth – that cushion of money remaining after debts and obligations are paid. Wealth insulates families against financial hardship and allows them to plan for the future. A new study by The New School’s Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy – the first-of-its-kind to
- [Our Urban Future Photo Gallery](https://kresge.org/resource/our-urban-future-photo-gallery/) - America’s cities are home to committed urban changemakers. Over the next decade, these changemakers must simultaneously address three essential challenges: racial repair and healing, climate adaptation and resilience, and economic mobility and abundance. As part of our centennial year, this September, The Kresge Foundation hosted a powerful convening that centered on the people and places
- [Hechinger Report, Soledad O’Brien Productions examine effects of the Supreme Court affirmative action decision](https://kresge.org/resource/hechinger-report-soledad-obrien-productions-examine-effects-of-the-supreme-court-affirmative-action-decision/) - Education Program grantees Soledad O’Brien Productions, in collaboration with The Hechinger Report, an independent nonprofit news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education, recently published a series of articles and a short documentary highlighting the impact of the Supreme Court ruling on race-based affirmative action in college admissions. The first entry of The Hechinger
- [Kresge Detroit Program Brochure](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-detroit-program/) - A summary of the Detroit Program, its premise, approach and five focus areas: Early Childhood Development/Hope Starts Here Nonprofit Capacity Building and Leadership Development Equitable Community Development Coordinated Investments and Technical Assistance Arts & Culture Ecosystem Transformative Marygrove Cradle-to-Career Campus Updated August 2024.
- [Kresge Health Program Brochure](https://kresge.org/resource/health-program/) - A summary of Kresge's Health Program, its approach, and focus areas: Community-Driven Solutions Community Health Ecosystems Community Investment for Health Equity We invest in these initiatives Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) Equitable Food Oriented Development (EFOD) PHEARLESS (Public Health Regenerative Leadership Synergy) Updated September 2024.
- [Kresge Social Investment Practice Brochure](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-sip-brochure/) - The Kresge Foundation's Social Investment Practice works to expand opportunities in America's cities by providing access to capital. In 2023, it made 16 investment commitments totaling $37.9 million. This brochure introduces the work, philosophy and impact of the Kresge Social Investments team and highlights those 2023 commitments. Updated August 2024
- [Video: Why community action agencies should invest in microgrids](https://kresge.org/resource/video-why-community-action-agencies-should-invest-in-microgrids/) - 
- [Kresge Arts & Culture Program Brochure](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-arts-culture-brochure/) - A summary of the Arts & Culture Program, its premise, approach, and focus areas: Advance Creative Strategies in Place Invest in People Mobilizing for Change Strengthen Cross-Sector Partnerships Updated August 2024.
- [McClellan Early Childhood Education Center](https://kresge.org/resource/mcclellan-early-childhood-education-center/) - Located in the Gratiot Woods neighborhood on the East Side of Detroit, where Detroit Public School’s Pingree Elementary once operated, the McClellan Early Childhood Education (ECE) Center is the result of years of work by numerous partners. This case study, produced by IFF (the center developer and interim owner), explores how the project came together
- [A.B. Ford Resilience Hub solar case study](https://kresge.org/resource/a-b-ford-resilience-hub/) - Opened in October 2023, the 8,600 square-foot A.B. Ford Community Center is a hub of activity on an ordinary day. Local kids drop in for help with their homework, while elders take ballroom dancing or play bingo. Powered by solar panels with a battery backup (solar+storage), the center will stay open during a crisis –
- [A Turnkey Model for Leveraging Direct Pay to Advance Solar and Renewable Energy Finance](https://kresge.org/resource/a-turnkey-model-for-leveraging-direct-pay-to-advance-solar-and-renewable-energy-finance/) - The Inflation Reduction Act has unlocked a new era of clean energy. This guide explores how provisions it includes, like Direct Pay, can help democratize clean energy projects like community and residential solar by making it financially viable for low-to-moderate income households and communities. Financing from Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs)
- [Just Infrastructure campaign aims to bring billions of federal water dollars into neighborhoods](https://kresge.org/resource/just-infrastructure-campaign-aims-to-bring-billions-of-federal-water-dollars-into-neighborhoods/) - The water we drink and the nature that nourishes us deserve meaningful investment. The good news is funding is available through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help communities reach their water infrastructure goals. Yet, many organizations are not equipped to access these funds. To help ensure just and climate-smart spending, the Water
- [Tracking Transfer: Community College & 4-Year Institutional Effectiveness in Broadening Bachelor’s Degree Attainment](https://kresge.org/resource/tracking-transfer-community-college-4-year-institutional-effectiveness-in-broadening-bachelors-degree-attainment/) - A bachelor’s degree is increasingly necessary for securing a job that pays a family-supporting wage, yet while most community college students aspire to transfer and complete a bachelor’s degree, too few make it through to this goal: Nearly 80% of community college students want to transfer and earn a bachelor's degree—yet just 16% do so
- [ACEEE 2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard](https://kresge.org/resource/aceee-2024-city-clean-energy-scorecard/) - The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has released its 2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard. With funding support from Kresge’s Environment Program, the new report ranks 75 of the largest U.S. cities on energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and identifies the best-performing cities, the most improved, and those with substantial room for
- [Reshaping WIOA and Building a More Equitable Workforce System](https://kresge.org/resource/reshaping-wioa-and-building-a-more-equitable-workforce-system/) - A new report, "Reshaping WIOA and Building a More Equitable Workforce System," delves into the complexities of workforce development policies, particularly focusing on the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) and its impact on workforce outcomes. The report highlights how workforce policies, including WIOA, have unintentionally perpetuated racial disparities and widened the racial wealth gap in
- [Kresge at 100: CEO Rip Rapson on a Century of Impact & What’s Next](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-at-100-ceo-rip-rapson-on-a-century-of-impact-whats-next/) - The Business of Giving podcast hosted by Denver Frederick, an executive coach who works exclusively with leaders in the social sector, recently featured Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson for a conversation on the foundation’s centennial and the role of philanthropy in the revival of Detroit. The wide-ranging discussion explores ideas about the evolution of
- [Health Equity and Climate Resilience: Advancing Community-Driven Innovations](https://kresge.org/resource/health-equity-and-climate-resilience-advancing-community-driven-innovations/) - Curious about the connections between climate justice, health equity, and the social determinants of health? At a post-conference convening after the June 2024 annual Grantmakers in Health conference in Portland, OR, funders and grantee partners will gather to share and learn about community-driven strategies at the intersection of health and climate, including community development, food
- [Environment Program Overview Video: Helping cities combat and adapt to climate change](https://kresge.org/resource/environment-program-overview-video-helping-cities-combat-and-adapt-to-climate-change/) - Climate change is increasingly harming people, communities, businesses, and natural resources across the U.S. and the world, as evidenced by a seemingly unending series of extreme weather events. Examples include record-shattering heat, chronic drought, wildfires, devastating storms, and coastal and inland flooding. At Kresge, we imagine a future where everyone is protected from the short-
- [American Cities case study: Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission](https://kresge.org/resource/american-cities-case-study-fresno-economic-opportunities-commission/) - In this new case study learn more about the Advancing Fresno County Guaranteed Income Program which offers a monthly supplement of $500 for one year to 150 households with young children in southwest Fresno and Huron, California, addressing concentrated poverty in these areas. Facilitated by the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, the program is being launched
- [Inclusive Prosperity Capital](https://kresge.org/resource/inclusive-prosperity-capital/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in Inclusive Prosperity Capital, a spin-out of the Connecticut Green Bank. This 2018 transaction accelerates investment in clean energy projects with an emphasis on underserved markets such as low- and moderate-income communities.
- [Closing the Resilience Gap Through Transformative Action](https://kresge.org/resource/closing-the-resilience-gap-through-transformative-action/) - This is a summary of a workshop at the 2019 National Adaptation Forum in Madison, WI that aimed to take stock of the progress in the climate adaptation field, surface innovative developments and help participants identify transformative adaptation approaches and practices which – if applied more widely – would help close the resilience gap. It largely
- [CRUO 2019 Evaluation, Full Report](https://kresge.org/resource/cruo-2019-evaluation-full-report/) - In 2014, Kresge launched the CRUO initiative, a five-year, $29 million effort designed to strengthen the capacity of community-based non-profit organizations to influence local and regional climate-resilience planning, policy development, and implementation to better reflect the priorities and needs of low-income urban communities in U.S. cities. The initiative also sought to strengthen the field by supporting new
- [CRUO 2019 Evaluation Executive Summary](https://kresge.org/resource/cruo-2019-evaluation-executive-summary/) - The executive summary is a condensed document that shares the key lessons learned as outlined in the CRUO 2019 Evaluation Report. In 2014, Kresge launched the CRUO initiative, a five-year, $29 million effort designed to strengthen the capacity of community-based non-profit organizations to influence local and regional climate-resilience planning, policy development, and implementation to better reflect
- [CRUO Key Takeaways](https://kresge.org/resource/cruo-key-takeaways/) - This one-page document shares key takeaways of the Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity (CRUO) initiative developed by Kresge’s Environment Program. In 2014, Kresge launched the CRUO initiative, a five-year, $29 million effort designed to strengthen the capacity of community-based non-profit organizations to influence local and regional climate-resilience planning, policy development, and implementation to better reflect
- [Hope & Justice: The latest shifts in the climate solutions media landscape](https://kresge.org/resource/hope-justice-the-latest-shifts-in-the-climate-solutions-media-landscape/) - Media reports on climate change have great implications on the public’s imagination about what’s possible, as well as tangible implications on policy and philanthropic giving. When it comes to solving the climate crisis, solutions-oriented storytelling that centers people and equity is imperative. Instead of sharing doom and gloom narratives, people are looking for stories of
- [The Peaker Problem: An Overview of Peaker Power Plant Facts and Impacts in Boston, Philadelphia, and Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/the-peaker-problem-an-overview-of-peaker-power-plant-facts-and-impacts-in-boston-philadelphia-and-detroit/) - More than 4.4 million people in urban areas in the U.S. live within one mile of a peaker power plant and are directly exposed to air pollutants that cause significant health problems and higher incidences of premature death. A new report by Clean Energy Group and Strategen examines the environmental justice and public health impacts of
- [Investing in America’s Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems for Equity and Sustainability](https://kresge.org/resource/epic-report-investing-in-americas-onsite-wastewater-treatment-systems-for-equity-and-sustainability/) - Nearly twenty percent of America’s households today depend on onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS or onsite systems), but only about two percent of federal wastewater dollars have been invested to support these systems to date. There are enormous disparities across the country, states, and localities in the availability, amount, accessibility, and use of funding for
- [The Power of Arts and Culture: One Water Partnerships for Change](https://kresge.org/resource/the-power-of-arts-and-culture-one-water-partnerships-for-change/) - The water sector faces increasing challenges across the nation — from aging infrastructure and emerging contaminants to water equity and climate change. However, sector leaders have an opportunity to step into the realm of possibility and stretch their boundaries. Creatives and artists have processes and practices for doing just that. The US Water Alliance’s Water,
- [Green 2.0 releases national poll on voters of color and climate change](https://kresge.org/resource/green-2-0-releases-national-poll-on-voters-of-color-and-climate-change/) - Green 2.0, a grantee partner of Kresge's Environment Program, has released its Nationwide Voters of Color Polling Results on Climate Change. This first-of-its-kind poll captures how voters are moved by issues such as diversity in environmental groups, candidates addressing climate change, how voters see climate change impacting their communities and more. The poll found 62% of
- [ACEEE Energy Equity for Renters Toolkit](https://kresge.org/resource/aceee-energy-equity-for-renters-toolkit/) - Energy efficiency is a proven strategy for tackling climate change and lowering consumers’ utility bills, but cities need to enact policies that ensure renters benefit from energy efficiency and do not face higher rents as a result of upgrades. A new toolkit developed by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) provides guidance to
- [Equitable Climate Resilience for U.S. Local Governments](https://kresge.org/resource/equitable-climate-resilience-for-u-s-local-governments/) - The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) has released findings from a two-year study on how cities can better address social inequities in their climate resilience planning. Throughout the U.S., historically vulnerable communities are at much higher risk of adverse outcomes from extreme weather and changing climate conditions compared with other populations. The IBTS
- [ULI Global Sustainability Report 2023](https://kresge.org/resource/uli-global-sustainability-report/) - What sustainability topics are on the rise and why do they matter? From energy efficiency to urban flooding, the Urban Land Institute’s 2023 Global Sustainability Outlook report outlines five areas that will shape real estate decision-making and the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. ULI is a grantee partner of
- [The Benefits of Community-Driven Green Infrastructure (Updated)](https://kresge.org/resource/community-driven-green-infrastructure-projects-in-new-orleans-generate-19-million-in-annual-benefits/) - From rain barrels outside of homes to planter boxes on sidewalks, community-led green infrastructure projects in New Orleans are helping the city to cut flood risks and improve water management as climate change fuels more extreme weather. These resident-driven efforts are not just practically useful during and after extreme weather events. Green infrastructure projects in
- [Cap Solar case study](https://kresge.org/resource/cap-solar-case-study/) - Cap Solar identifies potential clients, puts together a pipeline of investment-ready solar projects, and arranges financing and installation. Cap Solar ensures that its fellow nonprofit clients get the maximum savings from their solar installations. Those savings are significant: Cap Solar’s 36 clients – which include churches, a food bank, and a health center – have
- [Planned Parenthood of California Central Coast solar case study](https://kresge.org/resource/planned-parenthood-of-california-central-coast-solar-case-study/) - Learn how solar power with battery backup helps Planned Parenthood of California Central Coast (PPCCC) keep its doors open during increasingly frequent climate disasters. With two rooftop-mounted systems of about 24 kilowatts each, PTC expects to save $350,000 over the solar panels' 25-30-year lifespan.
- [San Fernando Community Health Center solar case study](https://kresge.org/resource/san-fernando-community-health-center-solar-case-study/) - Learn how solar power + battery storage helps the San Fernando Community Health Center stabilize its energy costs and bring its community added health and environmental benefits. With a 106 kilowatt rooftop-mounted system, and a battery that will be installed this month, the center expects to save $200,000 in energy costs in the next 15
- [CCHE network partner wins to advance climate resilience and health equity](https://kresge.org/resource/cche-network-partner-wins-to-advance-climate-resilience-and-health-equity/) - Through the Climate Change, Health & Equity initiative (CCHE), The Kresge Foundation aims to build capacity in the health care and public health sectors to promote health equity and climate resilience in their operations and practices, mobilize health care and public health practitioner engagement in climate advocacy and strengthen community-based leadership to advance local and
- [Reflections on CBO partnerships with researchers and local government to advance climate resilience and health equity](https://kresge.org/resource/reflections-on-cbo-partnerships-with-researchers-and-local-government-to-advance-climate-resilience-and-health-equity/) - Through the Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) initiative, The Kresge Foundation aims to build the capacity of health care and public health to promote equitable climate-resilience in their operations and practices, mobilize health care and public health practitioner engagement in climate advocacy, and strengthen community-based leadership to accelerate implementation of equitable policies and practices
- [Petersburg Resiliency Hub solar case study](https://kresge.org/resource/petersburg-resiliency-hub-solar-case-study/) - Learn how the United Parents Against Lead (UPAL), a nonprofit, created the Petersburg Resiliency Hub. Its 1940s-era headquarters now includes solar panels and battery backups, so it can keep the doors open even if the grid comes down. It managed to finance the project thanks to the support of Clean Energy Group, which helped it
- [Detroit Future City: Economic Equity Indicators Update 2023](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-future-city-economic-equity-indicators-update-2023/) - In 2021, Detroit Future City released the ‘State of Economic Equity in Detroit,’ which identified 22 indicators across six focus areas to illustrate inequities throughout the city and the broader metro Detroit region. The report serves as a compass toward a shared vision for economic equity, with the accompanying dashboard and data as tools to
- [Download Kresge Foundation Logos](https://kresge.org/resource/download-kresge-foundation-logos/) - Our logo is available for use by Kresge partners to complement news and promote work supported by the foundation. Please do not alter our logos. If the options provided do not fit your needs, please contact media@kresge.org Stacked Logos (JPEG/PNG Format) Download .zip File Horizontal Logos (JPEG/PNG Format) Download .zip File Stacked Logo (EPS Format)
- [Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson discusses new values-centered grantmaking](https://kresge.org/resource/the-new-values-centered-grantmaking/) - TROY, Mich. – For more than 83 years, the Detroit-based Kresge Foundation has helped build the country’s nonprofit infrastructure, from libraries and schools to food banks and community centers. This $3.9 billion private foundation recently unveiled a new values-centered approach to its grantmaking as its way of responding to the pressing needs of our society.
- [Guide to Racial Healing: The REPAIR Framework for Community-Institution Solidarity in Racial Healing](https://kresge.org/resource/guide-to-racial-healing-the-repair-framework-for-community-institution-solidarity-in-racial-healing/) - A new framework from the Build Healthy Places Network lifts up racial healing as an actionable approach to shift power and center a community vision for health and equity. The REPAIR Framework for Community-Institution Solidarity in Racial Healing can be used by leaders in the health care, community development and philanthropic sectors to work with
- [Melba Joyce Boyd: 2023 Kresge Eminent Artist monograph, "The Book of Melba"](https://kresge.org/resource/melba-joyce-boyd-2023-kresge-eminent-artist-monograph-the-book-of-melba/) - “The Book of Melba” is a Kresge-produced monograph on the life and works of 2023 Kresge Eminent Artist Melba Joyce Boyd. An award-winning poet, essayist, biographer, editor, distinguished professor and filmmaker, Boyd is the 15th metro Detroit artist to receive the annual award in recognition of lifelong professional achievements in an art form, contributions to
- [Just Solutions Podcast: Climate justice stories from BIPOC environmental justice leaders](https://kresge.org/resource/just-solutions-podcast-climate-justice-stories-from-bipoc-environmental-justice-leaders/) - The Just Solutions Collective, a grantee of Kresge’s Environment Program, has launched a podcast focused on community-created solutions and climate policies that strengthen the health, economic security, and resiliency of frontline environmental justice communities. Through the Just Solutions Podcast, Executive Director Aiko Schaeffer interviews BIPOC leaders who are working to better understand and implement climate
- [Grantmakers in Health 2023 Survey Summary: Climate Change Strategies](https://kresge.org/resource/grantmakers-in-health-2023-survey-summary-climate-change-strategies/) - Our opportunity and ability to thrive — as individuals, families, communities and as a country — is in danger because of the increasing instability of our climate. This infographic summarizes the responses to a Grantmakers In Health funder survey, conducted in May and June 2023 with support from The Kresge Foundation, on how philanthropy is
- [Community Colleges & Human Services Nonprofits BOOSTing Family Economic Success Through Organizational Policy and Practice](https://kresge.org/resource/community-colleges-human-services-nonprofits-boosting-family-economic-success-through-organizational-policy-and-practice/) - Forging connections between community colleges and human services providers makes it possible to build stronger pathways that include both learning opportunities and social supports. In a new brief, Jobs for the Future explores how community colleges and human services nonprofits can partner to advance multigenerational family economic success. The paper highlights insights and recommendations from six
- [Infographic: College advising after the Supreme Court decision to ban race-conscious admissions](https://kresge.org/resource/infographic-college-advising-after-the-supreme-court-decision-to-ban-race-conscious-admissions/) - As part of continuing work to support diversity and anti-racism in college admissions, Education Reform Now (ERN), a Kresge Education Program grantee, recently hosted a series of webinars on advising students on applying to college after the end of race-conscious admissions. The webinars featured school counselors, college admissions officers, college access organizations and other higher education
- [Strengthening Child- and Family-Centered Neighborhoods in Detroit: A Primer](https://kresge.org/resource/strengthening-child-and-family-centered-neighborhoods-in-detroit-a-primer/) - The Kresge Foundation’s neighborhood-focused grants in Detroit prioritize the economic mobility, quality of life and resiliency of the community members and residents that live and work in them. Since 2016, Kresge has invested deeply in Detroit’s early childhood, community development and health systems. “Strengthening Child- and Family-Centered Neighborhoods in Detroit: A Primer” examines how the intersection
- [2023 Inyathelo Annual Report: A Year in Review](https://kresge.org/resource/2023-inyathelo-annual-report-a-year-in-review/) - For more than a decade, The Kresge Foundation has partnered with Inyathelo, the South African Institute of Advancement, to help develop and bolster the private fundraising efforts of South African universities. Over the duration of this partnership a number of higher education institutions have successfully forged relationships with major donors, attracted resources to build state-of-the-art
- [Case study highlights El Departamento de la Comida's work to reshape food systems](https://kresge.org/resource/case-study-highlights-el-departamento-de-la-comidas-work-to-reshape-food-systems/) - Through innovative, community-responsive, market-focused strategies, El Departamento de la Comida (El Depa) works to build food sovereignty, local resilience, and to improve nutrition and food access in Puerto Rico. El Depa: Connects communities with smallholder farmers to strengthen local food systems Creatively supports farmers and communities after natural disasters by organizing work teams, providing tools
- [Puerto Rico Solar + Renewable Energy Landscape](https://kresge.org/resource/puerto-rico-solar-renewable-energy-landscape/) - This landscape analysis from Kresge partner Filantropia is a step toward creating a better understanding of the landscape of solar renewable energy in Puerto Rico. The findings can spur conversations about the ecosystem, its current direction, investments, recommendations for capacity development, gaps and the best role for philanthropy to play moving forward. It includes a
- [Learnings and Reflections from the CoPro2.0 Second Annual Grantee Convening](https://kresge.org/resource/learnings-and-reflections-from-the-copro2-0-second-annual-grantee-convening/) - Members of the CoPro 2.0 cohort, a $2.6 million grantmaking initiative launched by The Kresge Foundation in 2021 to support the next generation of free college programs, gathered at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, California, to develop strategies that would contribute to the expansion and sustainability of the movement. Throughout the convening, the grantees
- [Potential Economic Impact of Increasing Income for Black New Orleanians](https://kresge.org/resource/potential-economic-impact-of-increasing-income-for-black-new-orleanians/) - A new report from The Data Center, an independent, neutral nonprofit dedicated to providing rigorous, research informed, and data-based analysis, quantifies the economic impact of increasing Black incomes in Metro New Orleans to the level of Black households in comparable Southern metros, and highlights actions that civic leaders can take to both expand the share of
- [Finding Common Ground: Messaging at the Intersection of Climate Change, Health Equity and Racial Justice](https://kresge.org/resource/finding-common-ground-messaging-at-the-intersection-of-climate-change-health-equity-and-racial-justice/) - The Kresge Foundation—in partnership with Metropolitan Group—developed a message framework in response to a request from Kresge's Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) initiative grantees for help in communicating about climate change policies and practices in ways that advance racial and social justice and promote health equity, regardless of someone’s political ideology. A new graphic
- [Better FAFSA Awareness Toolkit](https://kresge.org/resource/better-fafsa-awareness-toolkit/) - A toolkit produced by the National College Access Network that includes sample tools and resources organizations or college access professionals can use to inform their partners, stakeholders, and communities about the Better FAFSA. The 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), branded as the "Better FAFSA," includes the biggest changes to the form and
- [Ebiara Fund Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/ebiara-fund-case-study/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a $10 million program-related investment loan to Invest Detroit. This loan supported the Ebiara Fund, which makes equity-like investments in minority-led, Detroit-based real estate developers, allowing them to scale and receive needed technical assistance.
- [Collective Energy Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/collective-energy-case-study/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a $2 million program-related investment loan to Collective Energy. The purpose of this loan is to enable Collective Energy to finance predevelopment and construction activities for solar+storage projects at vital community health centers.
- [Pathway Lending Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/pathway-lending-case-study/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a $2.5 million program-related investment loan to Pathway Lending. This loan aims to allow Pathway to offer a patient small business financing product to Black-owned businesses in Memphis, a product mostly unavailable to these businesses.
- [Michigan Saves Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/michigan-saves-case-study/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a $2.5 million program-related investment loan to Michigan Saves. This loan will enable Michigan Saves to lend directly to underserved communities of color in Detroit for green energy projects and demonstrate that the credit risk of doing so is similar
- [Comment letter on Puerto Rico and the Grid Deployment Office grant program](https://kresge.org/resource/comment-letter-on-puerto-rico-and-the-grid-deployment-office-grant-program/) - This public comment letter, penned jointly by Kresge and the Schmidt Family Foundation, emphasizes the need for community scaffolding and infrastructure investments to realize an equitable distributed solar system at scale. Investments are needed quickly in local organizations, pre-existing and de novo, to ensure that Puerto Rican entities and people continue leading the way toward
- [Working Power Impact Fund Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/working-power-impact-fund-case-study/) - In this two-page case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a $1.125 million program-related investment loan in Working Power Impact Fund. This investment provides capital for redevelopment and construction loans to community solar projects co-owned or managed by Urban Ingenuity and other community group sponsors, to facilitate community ownership of
- [New resources help public health and other care providers expand access to reproductive health care](https://kresge.org/resource/new-resources-help-public-health-and-other-care-providers-expand-access-to-reproductive-health-care/) - For more than a decade, the Network for Public Health Law has worked with key stakeholders across the United States to advance law and policy that supports safer, healthier, stronger and more equitable communities. The Network provides technical assistance, trainings, evidence-based tools and resources, and connects public health policymakers, officials, lawyers, and practitioners as well as
- [Out of Gas, In With Justice: Studying the Impacts of Induction Stoves on Indoor Quality in Affordable Housing](https://kresge.org/resource/out-of-gas-in-with-justice-studying-the-impacts-of-induction-stoves-on-indoor-quality-in-affordable-housing/) - Burning fossil fuels in residential buildings for cooking and heating is a significant source of pollution that contributes to climate change and negatively affects human health. Environmental justice communities, which are low-income communities and communities of color that are already overburdened by the compounding effects of air pollution, rising energy costs, poor housing conditions, and
- [Detroit Child Tax Credit Campaign Final Evaluation Report](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-child-tax-credit-campaign-final-evaluation-report/) - The Detroit Child Tax Credit Campaign launched in 2020 to ensure eligible Detroit families were able to access the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC), a provision of the American Rescue Plan that provided up to $3,600 per year, per child to low-income families. The Detroit Child Tax Credit Campaign was co-led by Kresge, the United
- [Climate Change, Health & Equity Message Framework](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-change-health-equity-message-framework/) - The Kresge Foundation—in partnership with Metropolitan Group—developed a message framework to respond to needs expressed by its Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) initiative grantees for suggested messaging to advance racial justice, social justice and health equity in climate change policies and practices. This framework is grounded in four core values drivers: health, equity, prosperity
- [Mission Critical: The Role of Community Colleges' in Meeting Students Basic Needs](https://kresge.org/resource/mission-critical-the-role-of-community-colleges-in-meeting-students-basic-needs/) - The pandemic led to lower enrollment across all higher education sectors with community colleges experiencing the steepest decline. The 2022 Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) takes a deeper look at students who experience food insecurity, housing insecurity, and difficulty meeting other critical needs by exploring housing and food insecurity among community college students.
- [Remaking Federalism: How States Can Realign and Rebuild a Stronger and Healthier Union](https://kresge.org/resource/remaking-federalism-how-states-can-realign-and-rebuild-a-stronger-and-healthier-union/) - Written by Neil Kleiman, with New York University's Wagner School of Public Service and the Center for Urban Science + Progress, this research paper outlines - in light of COVID-19 - how a growing network of foundations, universities and advocacy groups can advance new inter-governmental arrangements that can better support cities and local government. In Remaking Federalism:
- [Marie Woo: 2020 Kresge Eminent Artist monograph, "Wonder and Flow"](https://kresge.org/resource/marie-woo-2020-kresge-eminent-artist-monograph-wonder-and-flow/) - A monograph on the life and work of Kresge Eminent Artist Marie Woo, ceramicist, scholar and educator. Marie is the 12th artist to receive the honor in recognition of professional achievements in an art form, contributions to the cultural community and dedication to Detroit and its residents. This monograph is prepared and published by The
- [A New Standard for Arts and Culture Organizations Advancing Community Revitalization](https://kresge.org/resource/a-new-standard-for-arts-and-culture-organizations-advancing-community-revitalization/) - This research article published by Grantmakers in the Arts is co-authored by Seth Beattie, Kresge Arts & Culture senior program officer, and Kim Zeuli, senior fellow at ICIC (Initiative for a Competitive Inner City). In the article, Beattie and Zeuli explore the anchor practices that could support cultural institutions grappling with how they account publicly
- [Integrating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) into communications work](https://kresge.org/resource/integrating-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-dei-into-communications-work/) - How can nonprofit or social sector communications professionals incorporate their organization’s values around diversity, equity and inclusion into their work? That’s the question The Communications Network explored when it shared a DEI toolkit for the field in 2020. Kresge’s External Affairs and Communications team used the toolkit to assess its work and identify places to
- [Next City’s "22 Best Solutions of 2022"](https://kresge.org/resource/next-citys-22-best-solutions-of-2022/) - The change we want to see is already happening in many cities around the world. In Next City’s “22 Best Solutions of 2022,” learn how community leaders are implementing creative solutions to liberate cities from systems and cultures of oppression. The annual magazine is supported by Kresge’s Arts & Culture Program to elevate strategies that
- ['Detroit’s First Word: Equitable Property Tax Reform for Detroiters'](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-policy-conference-panel-detroits-first-word-equitable-property-tax-reform-for-detroiters/) - On Jan. 10, the Detroit Regional Chamber held the 2023 Detroit Policy Conference with a focus on the next phase of downtown Detroit’s resurgence and the actions needed to continue its momentum. The Kresge-sponsored panel 'Detroit’s First Word: Equitable Property Tax Reform for Detroiters' examined a split-rate property tax proposal that taxes land at a
- [Lessons in Collaboration: A Case Study by Detroit’s Early Childhood Education Support Cohort](https://kresge.org/resource/lessons-in-collaboration-a-case-study-by-detroits-early-childhood-education-support-cohort/) - For four years ending in 2022, the nine nonprofits in the Detroit Early Childhood Education Support Initiative worked with and on behalf of over 100 early childhood centers through whole child and the whole family programs ranging from healthy living and nutrition to parent and caregiver engagement and advocacy. The case study details how their
- [PolicyLink: Housing Justice Toolkit Outlines the Power of Narrative](https://kresge.org/resource/policylink-housing-justice-narrative-toolkit-outlines-the-power-of-narrative/) - “In order to shift the current culture and achieve housing for all, we must bring a narrative of housing justice to life. And each of us, through our unique lived experience, are storytellers with the ability to wield the power of narrative.” ~ PolicyLink Housing is a basic need for people to thrive, and we
- [Transit Stop Proximity to Michigan's Community & Technical College Campuses](https://kresge.org/resource/transit-stop-proximity-to-michigans-community-technical-college-campuses/) - New research from the Civic Mapping Initiative highlights transit accessibility to Michigan’s community colleges. According to the mapping data, only 44% of the 87 Michigan community and technical college campuses have a transit stop within walking distance. An additional 11 campuses are less than five miles from an existing transit line but are not yet
- [Public Comments related to EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund](https://kresge.org/resource/public-comments-related-to-epas-greenhouse-gas-reduction-fund/) - The Kresge Foundation and the Schmidt Foundation co-authored and submitted this public comment letter regarding the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund in December 2022. The comments are informed by the direct experience of the two foundations, which together have years of experience working to support the uptake of solar and other greenhouse gas reduction strategies in
- [Supporting Adult Learners Through the SUCCESS Program: Exploring the Experiences of Students Ages 25 and Older](https://kresge.org/resource/supporting-adult-learners-through-the-success-program-exploring-the-experiences-of-students-ages-25-and-older/) - In 2019, MDRC launched the Scaling Up College Completion Efforts for Student Success (SUCCESS) project to improve college completion rates for traditionally underserved students — such as students from low-income backgrounds and students of color — at community and broad-access colleges. The SUCCESS program integrates multiple evidence-based components to help students stay enrolled and graduate,
- [In Pursuit of Alpha by Investing in Diverse Fund Managers](https://kresge.org/resource/in-pursuit-of-alpha-by-investing-in-diverse-fund-managers/) - The U.S. asset management industry has historically wrestled with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As of September 2021, 1.4% of U.S. based assets were managed by women and minority-owned firms, despite women and ethnic minorities representing 70% of the U.S. population. Capital allocation to diverse-owned firms has long paled in comparison to that of other
- [Creating Healthier Places with Art and Artists](https://kresge.org/resource/creating-healthier-places-with-art-and-artists/) - Leaders value equitable policies for improved well-being in communities. With new funding available at all levels of government, now is the time to build on the proven practice of creative placemaking — community planning and development initiatives with art and artists playing an integral role that can lead to systems change. When meeting with decision-makers,
- [Advancing Climate Resilience and Mitigation at Essential Hospitals](https://kresge.org/resource/advancing-climate-resilience-and-mitigation-at-essential-hospitals/) - In a new report, Essential Hospitals Institute shares findings from the second phase of its climate resiliency research funded by The Kresge Foundation. The institute is the research, education, dissemination and leadership development arm of America’s Essential Hospitals. The report, Advancing Climate Resilience and Mitigation at Essential Hospitals, features projects from St. Luke’s Health System in
- [Increasing the Enrollment, Retention, and Success of Men of Color in Community Colleges](https://kresge.org/resource/increasing-the-enrollment-retention-and-success-of-men-of-color-in-community-colleges/) - Over the last decade, two-year institutions have seen a steep decline in student enrollment rates, which has been exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline in enrollment is especially significant among men of color. In response to the issues that complicate the enrollment, retention, and success of men of color, the Association of Community
- [Request for Proposals: Community Development Landscape Analysis of Fresno, California](https://kresge.org/resource/request-for-proposals-community-development-landscape-analysis-of-fresno-california/) - The Kresge Foundation, through this Request for Proposals (RFP), seeks a consultant to provide its American Cities Program with a landscape analysis of the community and economic development ecosystem of Fresno, California. Fresno is one of four cities across the country where Kresge deeply invests in community development. The American Cities Program seeks to holistically
- [Health Program shares insights on strategy, focus in new webinar](https://kresge.org/resource/health-program-shares-insights-on-strategy-focus-in-new-webinar/) - The Health Program at The Kresge Foundation helps build equity-focused systems of health that create opportunities for all people to achieve well-being. In a new 30-minute webinar, the team shares more about its strategy, approach to grantmaking and three focus areas of investment: Community-Driven Solutions, Community Health Ecosystems and Community Investment for Health Equity. Health
- [Marygrove P-20 Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/marygrove-p-20-case-study/) - Marygrove Campus Transformation: Implementing a Bold P-20, Cradle to Career Campus Vision — This case study by U3 Advisors charts the reimagining of the former Marygrove College campus in Detroit as groundbreaking, neighborhood-oriented cradle-to-career educational continuum spanning early childhood and K-12 to higher education and beyond. In the P-20 Partnership — pre-natal to “20th grade”
- [Request for Proposals: Community Health Ecosystem landscape scan](https://kresge.org/resource/request-for-proposals-community-health-ecosystem-landscape-scan/) - The Kresge Foundation seeks a consultant to provide its American Cities and Health programs with a landscape scan of the current state of the community health ecosystem of Memphis, TN. The foundation is interested in how local health ecosystems can contribute to safe, engaged and healthy communities, including ways for: Shifting community power and ensuring
- [Changing the Odds: Lessons Learned from the Kresge HBCU Initiative](https://kresge.org/resource/changing-the-odds-lessons-learned-from-the-kresge-historically-black-colleges-and-universities-initiative/) - By Schulze, B. S. (2005). Troy, Mich.: The Kresge Foundation. The Kresge HBCU Initiative was a five-year, $18 million program created and funded by The Kresge Foundation. The goal of the initiative was to help five historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) develop comprehensive advancement programs. The Initiative provided each institution with specialized funding, along
- [Public Service Loan Forgiveness Webinar](https://kresge.org/resource/public-service-loan-forgiveness-webinar/) - This webinar featured Ashley Harrington, the senior advisor, in the Office of the Chief Operating Officer at the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid. She outlined what the limited public service loan forgiveness (PSLF) waiver is, who qualifies, how to apply, and how the process of loan forgiveness works. In addition to
- [Rip Rapson's Drawings: Visual roadmaps to change](https://kresge.org/resource/rips-drawings/) - Kresge Foundation President & CEO Rip Rapson uses pencils and paper to make sense of and communicate his vision of structural change efforts in America’s cities. Rapson has created hundreds of drawings during his years at Kresge’s helm. After listening deeply to input from colleagues, partners, and the community, he develops each illustration with the
- [CCHE: Reflections on cross-strategy activities and progress](https://kresge.org/resource/cche-reflections-on-cross-strategy-activities-and-progress/) - Learning Cycle memos periodically bring forward learning and insights for consideration and use by Kresge’s Climate Change, Health & Equity initiative team. This Learning Cycle memo, “Reflections on Cross-Strategy Activities and Progress Notes for Strategy 3 Grantee Partners,” includes baseline information for all CCHE community-based grant-funded partners and reflections on their progress based on meeting
- [Detroit Food Commons Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-food-commons-case-study/) - In this two-page case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a $2 million program-related investment to Detroit Food Commons. The investment supports a $19.5 million mixed-use development anchored by a Black-led and community-owned cooperative grocery store, a 25,000-square complex that includes a fully-licensed commercial kitchen to incubate food entrepreneurs, a
- [“Lighting the Path” to Promote Equity in Postsecondary Attainment by Identifying Barriers to Completion and Reengaging Stopped-Out Students](https://kresge.org/resource/lighting-the-path-to-promote-equity-in-postsecondary-attainment-by-identifying-barriers-to-completion-and-reengaging-stopped-out-students/) - Higher education is the surest pathway to a better living and a better life. Yet, the goal of a valuable college credential goes unrealized for too many students, especially students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. Today, more than 36 million Americans have some college credit, but no awarded degree and, the COVID-19 pandemic
- [Housing, equity and health in U.S. news 2020-2021: Findings and recommendations](https://kresge.org/resource/housing-equity-and-health-in-u-s-news-2020-2021-findings-and-recommendations/) - Understanding how journalists currently frame housing, and how those choices shape long-term narratives, can help housing and health advocates be strategic about their communication strategies. To understand the specific nuances of how news coverage frames the complex intersections of housing and health equity, Berkeley Media Studies Group conducted an ethnographic content analysis of news about
- [Smart Growth America Equity Forum: Upending Cultural Displacement](https://kresge.org/resource/smart-growth-america-equity-forum-upending-cultural-displacement/) - The loss of place and belonging for longtime residents is affecting communities across the country. To help combat this growing trend, Smart Growth America hosted the Equity Forum: Upending Cultural Displacement, with a keynote address from Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. For more than 25 years, Jackson’s work
- [Inside Out & Outside In: 2019 Annual Report](https://kresge.org/resource/inside-out-outside-in-2019-annual-report/) - Kresge’s 2019 annual report Inside Out & Outside In traces the foundation’s journey to center equity—especially racial equity—in all the foundation does. In 2019, Kresge adopted equity as its sixth organizational value, alongside creativity, opportunity, respect, partnership and stewardship. Throughout 2019, Kresge staff dug deep, acknowledging that any meaningful advancement of equity outside foundation walls begins with internal transformation and a
- [Philanthropy’s role in Detroit’s emergence from bankruptcy](https://kresge.org/resource/philanthropys-role-in-detroits-emergence-from-bankruptcy/) - Slides prepared for a fall 2014 presentation on philanthropy’s role in Detroit’s bankruptcy by Rip Rapson, president and CEO of The Kresge Foundation, at Duke University’s Center for Strategic Philanthropy and Civil Society. 
- [Using the Right Tools for Social Change: Kresge's 2015 annual report](https://kresge.org/resource/2015-kresge-foundation-annual-report/) - The 2015 report highlights the foundation’s strategy of using a wide array of funding tools to expand opportunity in America’s cities. View the interactive annual report
- [Interchange: Kresge's 2016 annual report](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-foundation-2016-annual-report/) - The 2016 report outlines the variety of methods the foundation uses with its grantees and partners to expand opportunity in America’s cities. View the interactive annual report
- [Perspectives: Kresge's 2017 Annual Report](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-foundation-2017-annual-report/) - The 2017 report examines how the foundation puts its values into practice, deploying its resources in flexible mixes to yield the most effective outcomes. View the interactive annual report
- [Fresno Housing Authority Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/fresno-housing-authority-case-study/) - In this two-page case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a $2 million program-related investment to the Fresno Housing Authority. Kresge’s investment came alongside and in partnership with an investment from The California Endowment. Together, the two foundations provided $5 million to the Fresno Housing Authority to allow it to
- [Marygrove College Social Investment Case Study ($500,000 PRI)](https://kresge.org/resource/marygrove-college-social-investment-case-study-3m-pri/) - In this two-page case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a $500,000 program-related investment loan in 2016 to Marygrove College. Kresge’s loan refinanced a debt the College owed to Wayne County, giving the College more time to assess its financial position and begin to plan for a new future.
- [Marygrove Conservancy Social Investment Case Study ($22M guarantee)](https://kresge.org/resource/marygrove-conservancy-social-investment-case-study-22m-guarantee/) - In this two-page case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a guarantee of up to $22 million in 2021 to the Marygrove Conservancy. By issuing this guarantee, PNC Bank stepped in to issue a $22-million line of credit for the build-out of a birth-to-career campus on the former site of
- [Marygrove Conservancy Social Investment Case Study ($14M guarantee)](https://kresge.org/resource/marygrove-conservancy-social-investment-case-study-14m-guarantee/) - In this two-page case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a guarantee of up to $14 million in 2021 to Marygrove Conservancy. This guarantee facilitated the historic renovation of the Liberal Arts Building, which houses the School at Marygrove, to help it meet its goals for learning, family and community
- [Marygrove College Social Investment Case Study ($6.2M guarantee)](https://kresge.org/resource/marygrove-college-social-investment-case-study-2016/) - In this two-page case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a combined two guarantees of up to $6.2 million in 2016 to Marygrove College. The guarantees provided risk protection so the College could borrow and pay off multiple debts and still make payroll, all while a more orderly plan could
- [Marygrove Conservancy Social Investment Case Study ($3M guarantee)](https://kresge.org/resource/marygrove-conservancy-social-investment-case-study-3m-guarantee/) - In this two-page case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a guarantee of up to $3 million in 2019 to the Marygrove Conservancy. This guarantee provided 100% risk protection for the Conservancy to secure a $3 million line of credit from IFF to begin the construction of the early childhood
- [Bridgeway Capital Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/social-investment-case-study-bridgeway-capital/) - In this short two-page case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made a $1.5 million program-related investment loan in 2020 to Bridgeway Capital. The fund’s design brings large health systems into the affordable housing investment space in a unique way, allowing them to directly address a major upstream health factor— access
- [CCHE Convening: Communities Driving Health & Climate](https://kresge.org/resource/cche-convening-communities-driving-health-climate/) - The Kresge Foundation hosted its third annual Climate Change Health & Equity convening, "Communities Driving Health & Climate: From Surviving to Thriving," November 3-4, 2021. This two-day event brought together all CCHE grantees and partners to explore and share successes, challenges, and best practices around accelerating work at the intersection of climate change, health, and
- [Betting Big: Kresge's $350 Million Commitment to Social Investing](https://kresge.org/resource/betting-big-kresges-350-million-commitment-to-social-investing/) - This 20-page booklet includes a summary of the Kresge Foundation's $350 million social investing work from 2015-2020. It includes an introduction from President & CEO Rip Rapson, key lessons learned, an overview of the initiative, a timeline of key moments, and a table of all program-related investments and guarantees made.
- [The (Mis)Education of US on Climate and Health](https://kresge.org/resource/the-miseducation-of-us-on-climate-and-health/) - View the live speech: MLK Health Sciences Lecture 2020 Watch: Student Perspectives on Health Equity Good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to be here and for that very kind introduction. I want to first acknowledge the original inhabitants of this land, the Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi and Wyandot tribes who were here before Ann Arbor was
- [Addressing Basic Needs Security in Higher Education](https://kresge.org/resource/addressing-basic-needs-security-in-higher-education/) - This research brief outlines three studies led by Dr. Sara Goldrick-Rab at Temple University designed to help identify effective approaches to secure and address postsecondary students’ basic needs, so more students can stay on track to graduate. Bunker Hill Community College near Boston will provide first-year students with access to needed food through vouchers. In Houston, the
- [Public Health Messaging Across the Political Divide in the Time of COVID](https://kresge.org/resource/public-health-messaging-across-the-political-divide-in-the-time-of-covid/) - In a politically polarized environment, effectively communicating about public health challenges and interventions is essential to public health practice and implementing public health policies that keep the community safe. In “Public Health Messaging Across the Political Divide in the Time of COVID,” presenters discuss the Moral Foundations Theory of Dr. Jonathan Haidt and introduce the
- [The Kresge Foundation's Talent and Leadership Development Efforts](https://kresge.org/resource/the-kresge-foundations-talent-and-leadership-development-efforts/) - This case study from Grantcraft examines key aspects of Kresge's Fostering Urban Equitable Leadership program (FUEL), including reasons for creating the program, services offered, a recap of the program's first year and goals for its second year.
- [Our commitment to student success is more important than ever](https://kresge.org/resource/our-commitment-to-student-success-is-more-important-than-ever/) - Introduction and Welcome Welcome to all of you. It’s exciting to be part of a gathering that has expanded from being focused solely on Michigan-based practitioners and institutions to embracing all of you who are working on postsecondary success in the Great Lakes region. Thanks to Oakland University and to the conference planning committee for
- [Request for Proposals: Community Based Climate Change, Health & Equity strategy](https://kresge.org/resource/request-for-proposals-community-based-climate-change-health-equity-strategy/) - To download the application packet please click the "download" button below. The community-based strategy of The Kresge Foundation's Climate Change, Health & Equity initiative is anchored by a multi-year effort that seeks to strengthen the leadership and effectiveness of community organizations working to implement policies and practices that improve climate resilience and reduce health risks equitably. Projects funded through
- [Centering community voices is essential in addressing climate change, health disparities in cities](https://kresge.org/resource/centering-community-voices-is-essential-in-addressing-climate-change-health-disparities-in-cities/) - Good evening, and welcome. We are absolutely delighted to host the inaugural convening of the Climate Change, Health and Equity initiative in the presence of such extraordinary leaders of passion, knowledge, integrity, and creativity. And we are honored to be here at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. There could be no more
- [2020 Climate Change Health & Equity Initiative grantee convening resources](https://kresge.org/resource/2020-climate-change-health-equity-initiative-grantee-convening-resources/) - The Kresge Foundation hosted the inaugural peer-learning event for its Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE) Initiative, “The Urgency of Climate & Health: Building Power to Promote Equitable Change," on February 10-12, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. At this convening, participants – many of them representatives and project partners of the 26 nonprofit organizations funded through the CCHE initiative
- [The Next Chapter of Kresge Support for University Access and Success in South Africa](https://kresge.org/resource/the-next-chapter-of-kresge-support-for-university-access-and-success-in-south-africa/) - Thank you for welcoming me and the Kresge Foundation over these last two days. I have been visiting South Africa for some thirteen years, and with each visit, I have the honor and privilege of watching this great country evolve what it means to be a young democracy – with all of the successes and
- [Kresge support for higher education in South Africa rests on shared qualities, challenges](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-support-for-higher-education-in-south-africa-rests-on-shared-qualities-challenges/) - Welcome to the third annual Siyaphumelela Student Success Conference. Thank you for coming from across the country, and in some cases, from overseas, to be with us. I also want to thank SAIDE and the Siyaphumelela national advisory committee for the enormous thought and preparation they’ve put into this conference and for their support of
- [CoPro2.0 Strategy Memo](https://kresge.org/resource/copro2-0-stategy-memo/) - This informational primer, prepared by Laura Perna, helped Kresge prepare to launch its College Promise funding opportunity, CoPro2.0. Drawing from a review of recent research and news articles, interviews with 12 thought leaders in higher education, and other data, the goals were to: illuminate the nexus of college promise programs, educational equity, and financial sustainability;
- [LISC/Detroit Affordable Housing Leverage Fund Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/lisc-detroit-affordable-housing-leverage-fund-case-study/) - In this short case study, learn about the Kresge Social Investment Practice’s investment of up to $10 million in a guarantee committee to the Detroit Affordable Housing Leverage Fund via LISC in 2020. This investment aimed to help Detroit close the financial gap in affordable housing development projects while encouraging the preservation of both naturally
- [Creative Placemaking Research from ArtPlace America](https://kresge.org/resource/creative-placemaking-research-from-artplace-america/) - Based on a decade of cross-sector research, ArtPlace America developed an interactive tool that highlights 13 ways arts and culture can support equitable community development. Visit creativeplacemakingresearch.org to learn more about the "Translating Outcomes" research initiative.
- [Executive Summary: An Evaluation of Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit ROUNDS 1-3: 2015–2017](https://kresge.org/resource/executive-summary-an-evaluation-of-kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-rounds-1-3-2015-2017/) - Launched in 2014, Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit (KIP:D) has made six rounds of grants to date, 127 grants in all, across the city to plan and implement transformative neighborhood projects that reflect residents’ priorities. The initiative has distributed $11.1 million to organizations, complemented by $1.5 million in technical assistance. An evaluation of the first three
- [An Evaluation of Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit ROUNDS 1-3: 2015–2017](https://kresge.org/resource/kipd-evaluation/) - Launched in 2014, Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit (KIP:D) has made six rounds of grants to date, 127 grants in all, across the city to plan and implement transformative neighborhood projects that reflect residents’ priorities. The initiative has distributed $11.1 million to organizations, complemented by $1.5 million in technical assistance. This evaluation of the first three
- [An Evaluation of Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit, Brief for Organizational Partners](https://kresge.org/resource/kipd-evaluation-brief-partners/) - Launched in 2014, Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit (KIP:D) has made six rounds of grants to date, 127 grants in all, across the city to plan and implement transformative neighborhood projects that reflect residents’ priorities. The initiative has distributed $11.1 million to organizations, complemented by $1.5 million in technical assistance. An evaluation of the first three
- [An Evaluation of Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit, Brief for the Community Development Sector](https://kresge.org/resource/kipd-evaluation-brief-community/) - Launched in 2014, Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit (KIP:D) has made six rounds of grants to date, 127 grants in all, across the city to plan and implement transformative neighborhood projects that reflect residents’ priorities. The initiative has distributed $11.1 million to organizations, complemented by $1.5 million in technical assistance. An evaluation of the first three
- [Reckoning with a Reckoning: How Cultural Institutions Can Advance Equity](https://kresge.org/resource/reckoning-with-a-reckoning-how-cultural-institutions-can-advance-equity/) - Museums, theaters and other cultural institutions face growing criticism from the communities they aim to serve and calls to be more active, visible players in community life. To advance justice, they must learn to align mission and operations to meet community needs. In a recent Nonprofit Quarterly article, Dr. Kim Zeuli of the Feeding Cities Group and Kresge’s Maria Rosario Jackson and Seth
- [An Evaluation of Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit, Brief for the Philanthropic Sector](https://kresge.org/resource/kipd-evaluation-brief-philanthropy/) - Launched in 2014, Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit (KIP:D) has made six rounds of grants to date, 127 grants in all, across the city to plan and implement transformative neighborhood projects that reflect residents’ priorities. The initiative has distributed $11.1 million to organizations, complemented by $1.5 million in technical assistance. An evaluation of the first three
- [Community Reinvestment Fund Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/community-reinvestment-fund-case-study/) - In this short case study, learn about the Kresge Social Investment Practice’s 2020 investment in Community Reinvestment Fund. This investment aimed to help Detroit-area nonprofits apply for and secure Paycheck Protection Program loans in response to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kresge’s $2 million program-related investment loan allowed more than three dozen nonprofits
- [Kresge Health Program](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-health-program/) - A summary of the Health Program and its work to build equity-focused systems of health that create opportunities for all people to achieve well-being. The health program includes three program focus areas: Community-driven solutions Institutional investments for community health Integration of health and human services Updated April 2019.
- [PosiGen Social Investment Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/posigen/) - In this short case study, learn about the Kresge Social Investment Practice’s investment in PosiGen. This investment aims to create better access to the rooftop solar market in communities of color and communities with low-incomes. Kresge's $5 million program-related investment loan in 2020 helped PosiGen expand its services in Louisiana, New Jersey and Connecticut.
- [Community Investment Guarantee Pool Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/community-investment-guarantee-pool-case-study/) - In this short case study, learn about the Kresge Social Investment Practice’s investment in the Community Investment Guarantee Pool. This investment, a $10 million guarantee made to Locus Impact Investing in 2019, aimed to create a pooled home for guarantee commitments, so a variety of philanthropies and other mission-mind investors could prorate their risk, find
- [Diego Rivera, Public Pensions and Detroit’s Bankruptcy: What’s Philanthropy Doing in the Middle?](https://kresge.org/resource/diego-rivera-public-pensions-and-detroits-bankruptcy-whats-philanthropy-doing-in-the-middle/) - This is a seven-slide presentation by Rip Rapson, president and CEO of The Kresge Foundation, to audiences at Wayne State University in Detroit and the University of Pittsburgh. With it he discusses three aspects of Detroit’s municipal bankruptcy: adjusting the long-term debt restructuring public services rebuilding the quality of life in the city
- [To combat the pervasive inequity of urban flooding, we must tackle climate change & disrupt racism](https://kresge.org/resource/tackling-climate-change-and-disrupting-racism-within-the-water-sector-is-critical/) - Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson delivered the following comments at the CREWS 2020 virtual convening “Changing Climate, Changing the Tide: Racial Equity, Resilience & Revitalization,” held Nov. 12 and Nov. 19, 2020. Welcome to the 4th annual CREWS Convening, celebrating the work of our Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) initiative. I
- [2020 CREWS Convening grantee resources](https://kresge.org/resource/2020-crews-convening-grantee-resources/) - The Kresge Foundation hosted the 4th Annual CREWS (Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems) Convening November 12 and November 19, 2020. The two-day virtual event brought together nearly 100 grantees and partners who represent the 33 nonprofit organizations funded through the CREWS initiative. Attendees engaged in a series of panel discussions and brainstorming sessions to
- [To achieve racial equity in the water sector, the work of CREWS is more important than ever](https://kresge.org/resource/to-achieve-racial-equity-in-the-water-sector-the-work-of-crews-is-more-important-than-ever/) - Environment Senior Program Officer Jalonne L. White-Newsome delivered the following comments at the CREWS 2020 virtual convening “Changing Climate, Changing the Tide: Racial Equity, Resilience & Revitalization,” held Nov. 12 and Nov. 19, 2020. Good afternoon. Thank you all for joining us during the CREWS (Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems) 2020 virtual convening. It
- [Investing in resident-driven collective action and cultural solutions can help strengthen communities](https://kresge.org/resource/investing-in-resident-driven-collective-action-and-cultural-solutions-can-help-strengthen-communities/) - Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson delivered the following comments at the 2020 FreshLo virtual convening on November 17, 2020. Good afternoon. I am absolutely delighted to be here with you at this year’s FreshLo convening. While I know we wish we could all be together in person, it is wonderful to be in
- [Leadership and Infrastructure Funding Team (LIFT) Overview](https://kresge.org/resource/leadership-and-infrastructure-funding-team-overview/) - Overview of the foundation's Leadership and Infrastructure Funding Team (LIFT).
- [Cultivating Community Across the Country](https://kresge.org/resource/cultivating-community-across-the-country/) - Findings from a Multi-year Evaluation of the National Fresh, Local, and Equitable Initiative In the report “Cultivating Community Across the Country,” social sector consulting group Learning for Action shares the findings from its independent evaluation of The Kresge Foundation's Fresh, Local & Equitable (FreshLo) Initiative. FreshLo is a grantmaking initiative that seeks to improve access to healthy food, ignite entrepreneurship,
- [CARES Act: New opportunities to incentivize charitable giving](https://kresge.org/resource/cares-act-new-opportunities-to-incentivize-charitable-giving/) - The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed on March 27, 2020 made several changes to tax law. One important change relates to increasing an individual's eligibility to deduct charitable contributions to encourage giving to nonprofits during the pandemic. This report gives a summary of the changes to charitable contribution deduction rules for non-itemizers (taxpayers using
- [So you want to become a more intentional learning organization?](https://kresge.org/resource/so-you-want-to-become-a-more-intentional-learning-organization/) - So you want to become a more intentional learning organization? For those who are building out a new learning and evaluation function at their foundation, Benchmarking Foundation Evaluation Practices, the new research report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy and Center for Evaluation Innovation, is a welcome resource. I’m one year into leading The Kresge Foundation’s build
- [Money Doesn't Grow on Trees](https://kresge.org/resource/money-doesnt-grow-on-trees/) - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the primary mechanism through which postsecondary students gain access to federal, state, and institutional financial aid. In order to encourage cities to take advantage of recent changes in the FAFSA, The Kresge Foundation partnered with the National College Access Network (NCAN) to launch the FAFSA Completion
- [Elevating the Artist: Assessing Impacts of The Kresge Foundation's Support for Individual Artists in Detroit on Lives, Careers and the Detroit Community / 2008-2016](https://kresge.org/resource/elevating-the-artist-assessing-impacts-of-the-kresge-foundations-support-for-individual-artists-in-detroit-on-lives-careers-and-the-detroit-community-2008-2016/) - The Kresge Foundation annually awards roughly $500,000 to 21 metro Detroit artists: $50,000 to an Eminent Artist, $25,000 to 18 Artist Fellows and $5,000 to 2 Gilda Awardees, totaling more than $4.5 million into the arts community to date. The foundation also funds the administration of the program, professional practice development for the Artist Fellows
- [Creative Placemaking and Expansion of Opportunity](https://kresge.org/resource/creative-placemaking-and-expansion-of-opportunity/) - This paper examines critical needs or opportunities to help the Creative Placemaking field continue taking root in community planning, and to better contribute to expanded opportunity and equity in low-income communities. Several years into the advancement of Creative Placemaking, the language and general premise are taking hold. The term is now widespread in the arts and
- [Engaging Boards and Trustees in Strategic Learning: A Toolkit](https://kresge.org/resource/engaging-boards-and-trustees-in-strategic-learning-a-toolkit/) - This toolkit provides resources for leaders and evaluation staff at grantmaking organizations to use to engage boards and trustees in conversations about why it's important to incorporate strategic learning into their decision-making, and the best methods for doing so. It was produced with grant support from several funders including Kresge.
- [NYCEEC Social Investment Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/nyceec-social-investment-case-study/) - In this short case study, learn about the Kresge Social Investment Practice's investment in NYCEEC. This investment aims to accelerate the establishment of the solar+storage market in communities of color and communities with low-incomes. NYCEEC will demonstrate the financial feasibility and resiliency benefits of these systems by offering financing, with credit support from Kresge’s guarantee, for solar+storage
- [New initiative will invest in early childhood system improvements across Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/new-initiative-will-invest-in-early-childhood-system-improvements-across-detroit/) - I hope that these early days of 2016 have filled you with renewed purpose and energy. Here at The Kresge Foundation, that has certainly been the case. On Jan. 7, we shared some big news: the launch of the Kresge Early Years for Success (KEYS): Detroit initiative. This is the next phase of our long-standing
- [Kresge Community Finance Nonprofit CDFI Financial Covenants](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-community-finance-nonprofit-cdfi-financial-covenants/) - These are the financial covenants we will use for nonprofit CDFIs who recieve financing through Kresge Community Finance. Covenants for for-profit CDFIs or DFAs will be similarily structured. One of the key goals for Kresge Community Finance is to demonstrate a demand for a longer-term standardized loan product. For that reason, loans offered through this initiative will include standardized documentation,
- [South Carolina Community Loan Fund Case Study](https://kresge.org/resource/south-carolina-community-loan-fund-case-study/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in the South Carolina Community Loan Fund (SCCLIF) in 2014. Kresge’s investment helped to grow SCCLF’s efforts to increase healthy food options in South Carolina food deserts and low supermarket access areas.
- [Disinfectants for COVID-19: An Information Review](https://kresge.org/resource/disinfectants-for-covid-19-an-information-review/) - To provide a list of alternatives to cleaning products with chlorine bleach, the Center for Community Health and Evaluation, with support from The Kresge Foundation, has compiled information on lower cost, more accessible disinfectant options that are equally effective against COVID-19.
- [Grantmakers in Health, "Guide to impact investing"](https://kresge.org/resource/grantmakers-in-health-guide-to-impact-investing/) - Grantmakers In Health (2017): This guide provides a framework to help funders think strategically about the potential of impact investing, part of a growing practice that incorporates environmental, social, and governance criteria into investment decision making. Kresge helped fund the study.
- ['101 Ways to Save the Planet' podcast featuring Shamar Bibbins](https://kresge.org/resource/101-ways-to-save-the-planet-podcast-featuring-shamar-bibbins/) - In an episode of the new podcast "101 Ways to Save the Planet" released on July 29, 2020, Shamar Bibbins, senior program officer for environment at The Kresge Foundation, talks about the foundation's efforts to work together with hospitals, health care systems, public health departments, health practitioners, climate advocates and others to build climate resilience and advance policies and practices that also
- [2019 Audited Financial Statements](https://kresge.org/resource/2019-audited-financial-statements/) - The full set of audited financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2019. The Kresge Foundation.
- [Hyper-Local Investment Essential for Community Survival Through Crisis](https://kresge.org/resource/hyper-local-investment-essential-for-community-survival-through-crisis/) - In the midst of a national pandemic that is reshaping the world, The Kresge Foundation’s Fresh, Local & Equitable Initiative has found an important path forward for philanthropy: hyper-local neighborhood investment. Lessons learned from the FreshLo Initiative shared in this report point to how philanthropy can invest in groups with participatory governance where local, inclusive
- [Grantee Non-Discrimination Statement and Screening Policy](https://kresge.org/resource/grantee-non-discrimination-statement-and-screening-policy/) - The Kresge Foundation strives to working alongside and support partner organizations that reflect and promote diversity, equity and inclusion into their work, governance boards and staff. This document outlines the Foundation’s non-discrimination and screening policies for grantee organizations with which we partner. It also details requirements for grantees to comply with applicable non-discrimination laws and
- [Kresge Form Grant Agreement](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-form-grant-agreement/) - This document serves as a sample Form Grant Agreement between The Kresge Foundation and a grantee organization that will be receiving grant funding. This Form Grant Agreement is illustrative of what such an agreement could look like. It provides a general structure of such an agreement grantees are expected to enter into prior to receiving
- [The Kresge Foundation Office Complex](https://kresge.org/resource/the-kresge-foundation-office-complex/) - An analysis of The Kresge Foundation headquarters' performance in areas such as water and energy use, air quality and thermal comfort, conducted by the Center for the Built Environment at the University of California Berkeley.
- [The Kresge Foundation History](https://kresge.org/resource/the-kresge-foundation-history/) - With a simple but profound directive, "To promote the well-being of mankind," The Kresge Foundation was created in 1924 with a $1.6 million gift from Detroit businessman Sebastian Spering Kresge. This brochure gives an overview of the Foundation's journey since then.
- ["Professional Societies and Climate Change"](https://kresge.org/resource/professional-societies-and-climate-change/) - Most urban-focused professional societies in the United States are working to educate their members on climate change issues, but few have adopted a holistic approach that includes adaptation, mitigation and the explicit consideration of social justice, according to this report, “Professional Societies and Climate Change." The report, commissioned by The Kresge Foundation, was authored by independent climate
- [A Resilient Power Capital Scan](https://kresge.org/resource/a-resilient-power-capital-scan/) - This report, “A Resilient Power Capital Scan: How Foundations Could Use Grants and Investments to Advance Solar and Storage in Low-Income Communities,” was compiled by the Clean Energy Group and commissioned by The Kresge Foundation, the Surdna Foundation and the JPB Foundation. It concludes that solar+storage is reaching a robust market acceleration phase as costs decline
- [Making Sense of the Federal Policy Landscape](https://kresge.org/resource/making-sense-of-the-federal-policy-landscape/) - Presentation from breakout session -- Making Sense of the Federal Policy Landscape -- by Movement Strategy Center and WE ACT for Environmental Justice at the Kresge Foundation's Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity convening in Detroit, June 14-16, 2017.
- [Driving Resilience through Deep Democracy](https://kresge.org/resource/driving-resilience-through-deep-democracy/) - Presentation from breakout session, Driving Resilience through Deep Democracy, facilitated by Movement Strategy Center at The Kresge Foundation Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity (CRUO) convening June 14-16, 2017 in Detroit.
- [Community-Driven Resilience Planning](https://kresge.org/resource/community-driven-resilience-planning/) - This report, Community-Driven Resilience Planning, a Framework, was authored by the National Association of Climate Resilience Planners.
- [Detroit Home Mortgage](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-home-mortgage/) - In 2016, Kresge partnered with nearly a dozen other funders, banks and nonprofits to launch Detroit Home Mortgage, a financing product to help address and close the appraisal gap in Detroit's neighborhoods. The innovative product offers a first mortgage from regional banks and a second mortgage of up to $75,000 for home renovations. Download this
- [California Community Foundation](https://kresge.org/resource/california-community-foundation/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in the California Community Foundation. This 2016 transaction supported efforts to expand permanent supporting housing in Los Angeles to deal with the nation's worst homeless epidemic.
- [Colorado Coalition for the Homeless](https://kresge.org/resource/colorado-coalition-for-the-homeless/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. This 2013 transaction helped the Coalition expand its service and add capacity to handle an influx of patients needing care due to the passing of the Affordable Care Act.
- [National Housing Trust](https://kresge.org/resource/national-housing-trust/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in National Housing Trust. This 2016 program-related investment loan will allow NHT to purchase market rate apartment buildings in high opportunity communities and open 20 percent of them up for Section 8 voucher holders.
- [Greenprint Partners](https://kresge.org/resource/greenprint-partners/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in Greenprint Partners. This 2017 program-related investment convertible loan helped Greenprint accelerate development of its team, lines of business and customer base.
- [Kresge Learning and Evaluation](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-learning-and-evaluation/) - A summary of the foundation's Learning and Evaluation strategy, its premise and approach to collecting and sharing knowledge gained and lessons learned by Kresge's programs and practices in their work. Updated June 2018.
- [Our Green Headquarters](https://kresge.org/resource/our-green-headquarters/) - Since 1984, The Kresge Foundation has operated from a three-acre campus in suburban Detroit anchored by an 1850s-era farmhouse and barn. Nestled incongruously in the shadow of towering commercial office buildings and ringed by wetlands and native plants, the headquarters features an array of energy-efficient, water-conserving and health-promoting systems designed for sustainability and productivity.
- [Detroit: The sharp edge of innovation](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-the-sharp-edge-of-innovation-2/) - Detroit is in the midst of profound change – working at the sharp edge of innovation because its very survival depends on it. And The Kresge Foundation, whose deep roots in the city go back 90 years, is using a very different kind of thinking to help the city re-imagine its future. (Remarks at Detroit
- [Our shared responsibility for getting the climate question right](https://kresge.org/resource/our-shared-responsibility-for-getting-the-climate-question-right/) - Climate change has set in motion forces that will forever change the nature of life in America’s cities. In exactly what form, to what degree and over what period of time is not entirely clear – but what is clear is that none of us can ignore that dynamic. (Remarks at the Sustainable Endowments Institute’s Billion Dollar Green Challenge summit.)
- [Hidden hazards: A call to action for healthy, livable communities](https://kresge.org/resource/hidden-hazards-a-call-to-action-for-healthy-livable-communities/) - By Los Angeles Collaborative for Environmental Health and Justice. (2010). Santa Monica, CA: Liberty Hill Foundation.
- [Re-Imagining Land-Use in Detroit: Is it Really Possible?](https://kresge.org/resource/re-imagining-land-use-in-detroit-is-it-really-possible/) - Address to the American Assembly in Detroit, Michigan.
- [What’s next: Philanthropy in an age of government retrenchment](https://kresge.org/resource/whats-next-philanthropy-in-an-age-of-government-retrenchment/) - Despite The Kresge Foundation’s efforts to provide emergency relief to community-based organizations caught in the grip of economic crisis, the realization that much of the rest of the philanthropic ecosystem is better suited to rise to that immediate challenge has led us to assess how we might identify philanthropic acupuncture points that can expand opportunities for people who have been excluded from the economic, educational and cultural mainstream. (From remarks to the Memphis Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.)
- [The Kresge Foundation headquarters: A case study in green building (2006)](https://kresge.org/resource/the-kresge-foundation-headquarters-a-case-study-in-green-building-2006/) - The story of the decisions made when The Kresge Foundation outgrew its long-time headquarters in suburban Detroit. (Learn more about our green headquarters.) (Learn about a 2012 assessment of the building's performance.)
- [Healthy Beverage Initiative Toolkit](https://kresge.org/resource/healthy-beverage-initiative-toolkit/) - This toolkit was prepared by the Health Promotion Policy department staff of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, with collaboration from the National Association of County and City Health Officials and input from health advocates around the country. The work was undertaken with support from Kresge's Health Program and the California Endowment. (Published
- [Natural Allies: Philanthropy and civil legal aid](https://kresge.org/resource/natural-allies-philanthropy-and-civil-legal-aid/) - A brochure making the case for philanthropic funding for civil legal aid. Published by the Public Welfare Foundation and The Kresge Foundation (2013).
- [Climate Adaptation as an Evolutionary Process: A White Paper](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-adaptation-as-an-evolutionary-process-a-white-paper/) - A synthesis of information and ideas exchanged at a February, 2012, Kresge workshop focusing on different approaches to problems as well as other lessons in the field of climate-change adaptation. By Ron Brunner and John Nordgren
- [How philanthropy can help communities advance climate change adaptation](https://kresge.org/resource/how-philanthropy-can-help-communities-advance-climate-change-adaptation/) - The Bridgespan Group report examines pioneering climate-change adaptation efforts and five investment models philanthropic funders can follow. Numerous Kresge Environment Program grantees are referenced. By Robert Searle and Karim Al‑Khafaji, May 2013
- [At What Cost? How Student Debt Reduces Lifetime Wealth](https://kresge.org/resource/at-what-cost-how-student-debt-reduces-lifetime-wealth/) - Although the emergence of higher education’s debt-for-diploma system is well documented, the impact of that debt on individuals, households and society has not been adequately explored. This Kresge-supported study finds that over a lifetime of employment and saving, $53,000 in education debt leads to a household wealth loss of nearly $208,000. Extrapolating, the $1 trillion
- [The Great Cost Shift Continues: State Higher Education Funding After the Recession](https://kresge.org/resource/the-great-cost-shift-continues-state-higher-education-funding-after-the-recession/) - In a little more than two decades, the United States has developed a debt-for-college-diploma system. States disinvested in higher education during economic downturns without restoring funding during times of economic expansion. Low- and middle-income households, at the same time, have experienced stagnant or declining income. Students increasingly use loans to fill the gap between what
- [Student Access and Success: Issues and Interventions in South African Universities](https://kresge.org/resource/student-access-and-success-issues-and-interventions-in-south-african-universities/) - Low rates of access and success in post-secondary education are arguably the single biggest challenge facing South Africa’s public education system. The system is failing to meet the educational needs of young people, a growing economy and a rapidly changing society. Black students, particularly those from poor backgrounds are deeply affected. Senior managers, 30 in
- [Public Health 2030: A Scenario Exploration](https://kresge.org/resource/public-health-2030-a-scenario-exploration/) - Public health officials and organizations across the country have joined with the Institute for Alternative Futures to consider likely public health challenges and opportunities arising over the next 15 years.The Public Health 2030 project includes recommendations for ensuring public health agencies are able to fulfill their missions despite projected increases in chronic disease and obesity,
- [What Can Foundations Do to Foster Community Investment? 10 Roles for Philanthropy](https://kresge.org/resource/what-can-foundations-do-to-foster-community-investment-10-roles-for-philanthropy/) - The Kresge Foundation and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation are sponsoring a project designed to improve the ability of cities to attract and deploy socially motivated investment capital at scale. This paper is part of a series of publications on that subject. It is the work of Robin Hacke, a senior fellow at
- [Executive Summary Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Facing the Future](https://kresge.org/resource/executive-summary-historically-black-colleges-and-universities-facing-the-future/) - Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are a set of 105 institutions that have positively transformed the educational opportunities and outcomes for black Americans, and by extension the nation’s professional class. Even though the vast majority of blacks now attend predominately white institutions, the need for HBCUs continues, and while their contributions are significant, HBCUs
- [Not Yet Sold: What Employers and Community College Students Think About Online Education](https://kresge.org/resource/not-yet-sold-what-employers-and-community-college-students-think-about-online-education/) - Online education holds the promise to increase access and decrease cost of higher education. Yet many community college students and employers remain skeptical about the value of online learning, according to this Kresge-supported research. The report by the New York-based, nonpartisan Public Agenda raises questions for the future of online education, that’s fast becoming part
- [Detroit Future City: a strategic framework](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-future-city-a-strategic-framework/) - A long-term planning framework for the city of Detroit, Detroit Future City provides a comprehensive assessment of the city’s assets and opportunities. It includes recommendations and action steps and anticipates revitalization unfolding over several decades. Kresge provided funding for the two-year effort. (Read a news story about the January 2013 release of the framework.) Because
- [Food as a Platform for Neighborhood Revitalization](https://kresge.org/resource/food-as-a-platform-for-neighborhood-revitalization/) - Food plays a central role in economic development, health and culture. The growing movement toward healthy regional food systems produces benefits for local producers and consumers, but largely overlooks low-income communities of color. This are the slides from the session at SXSW that highlighted examples of how diverse communities are using food as a platform for
- [Integrating arts and culture into community: Lessons from Kresge's Journey](https://kresge.org/resource/integrating-arts-and-culture-into-community-lessons-from-kresges-journey/) - Press release issued on February 16, 2018 announcing the launch of The Kresge Foundation Arts & Culture Program white paper series on Creative Placemaking learnings and observations from the field.
- [Kresge releases white paper "Rethinking Neighborhood Change and Tracking Progress"](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-releases-white-paper-rethinking-neighborhood-change-and-tracking-progress/) - This advisory summarizes and links to The Kresge Foundation Arts & Culture Program's Creative Placemaking white paper, "Rethinking Neighborhood Change and Tracking Progress."
- [Breaking Down Creative Placemaking](https://kresge.org/resource/breaking-down-creative-placemaking/) - This report looks at two examples of creative placemaking, both supported by The Kresge Foundation: the North Collinwood Waterloo Arts District in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Westside neighborhood in Covington, Kentucky.
- [Creative Placemaking](https://kresge.org/resource/creative-placemaking/) - A white paper for The Mayors' Institute on City Design, a leadership initiative on the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the United States Conference of Mayors and American Architectural Foundation. Ann Markusen, Markusen Economic Research Services, and Anne Gadwa, Metris Arts Consulting. NEA 2010.
- [Creative Vitality in Detroit: The Detroit Cultural Mapping Project](https://kresge.org/resource/creative-vitality-in-detroit-the-detroit-cultural-mapping-project/) - A report commissioned by The Kresge Foundation's Arts and Culture Program to create a baseline of data about metropolitan Detroit’s creative economy and cultural assets. The report catalogs a broad range of creative industries and occupations, as well as resources like festivals and events, cultural organizations and facilities.
- [Everybody's movement: Environmental justice and climate change](https://kresge.org/resource/everybodys-movement-environmental-justice-and-climate-change/) - A report by Angela Park features the perspectives of 23 activists and funders engaged in or supporting work to connect environmental justice and climate change. Topics include better integrating climate issues into the content of environmental justice. Environmental Support Center, Washington, 2009
- [Crisis and Opportunity: Aligning the Community College Presidency with Student Success](https://kresge.org/resource/crisis-and-opportunity-aligning-the-community-college-presidency-with-student-success/) - By the end of this decade, nearly half of the current community college presidents will likely be retired. The Aspen Institute and Achieving the Dream have researched the qualities of community college presidents who have led institutions to high levels of student success. This Kresge-funded report calls for an overhaul of recruitment and hiring to
- [Detroit Reimagined: A place where people thrive](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-reimagined-a-place-where-people-thrive/) - A white paper prepared for the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America. By Laura J. Trudeau, senior program director for Kresge's Community Development and Detroit programs (2013)
- [Water-Smart Power Strengthening the U.S. Electricity System in a Warming World](https://kresge.org/resource/water-smart-power-strengthening-the-u-s-electricity-system-in-a-warming-world/) - A study led by the Union of Concerned Scientists makes the case for replacing aging power plants with facilities designed for renewable energy and improved efficiency. Decisions about new power plants have major implications for the nation’s water supplies and the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. Kresge was among the study's funders. (Download
- [Clearing the path to a brighter future: Addressing barriers to community college access and success](https://kresge.org/resource/clearing-the-path-to-a-brighter-future-addressing-barriers-to-community-college-access-and-success/) - A Kresge-funded white paper by Association of Community College Trustees and Single Stop USA details the impact the Single Stop model has had on community college students, as well as federal policy recommendations to support student success. (June 2013)
- [Detroit Files for Bankruptcy: Harvard Business School Faculty Weigh In | The Long View](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-files-for-bankruptcy-harvard-business-school-faculty-weigh-in-the-long-view/) - Originally written for the Harvard Business School’s Working Knowledge website (and republished at Forbes.com), "The Long View" is one of three pieces asking what’s ahead for the city of Detroit in the wake of its July 18 filing for bankruptcy. Harvard Associate Professor Eric Werker and Kresge Foundation Senior Program Officer Benjy Kennedy discuss the
- [Primary care 2025: A scenario exploration](https://kresge.org/resource/primary-care-2025-a-scenario-exploration/) - A project developed by the Institute for Alternative Futures (IAF) with support from The Kresge Foundation to explore how Americans could select, pay for and receive primary care, and how patient-doctor relationships may change in the near future. The scenarios are meant to enable leaders in health care to make strategic decisions that take the
- [Community health centers: Leveraging the social determinants of health](https://kresge.org/resource/community-health-centers-leveraging-the-social-determinants-of-health/) - A first-ever examination of community health centers’ role in addressing the social, economic, and physical conditions that contribute to poor health among the patients they serve. The work included the development of a database of 176 initiatives launched by 52 community health centers as well as 10 case studies. By the Institute for Alternative Futures
- [Practicing what we preach: Measuring the performance of our green building](https://kresge.org/resource/practicing-what-we-preach-measuring-the-performance-of-our-green-building/) - Given The Kresge Foundation’s commitment to conservation and renewable energy, we commissioned an assessment of the environmental performance of our headquarters to explore to what extent it conserves resources and how might we improve its functioning. We learned a few things that we can share with others. When we chose to renovate our headquarters some
- [Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Facing the Future](https://kresge.org/resource/historically-black-colleges-and-universities-facing-the-future/) - A study of the changing roles and uncertain future of colleges and universities established to school freed slaves and African-Americans in era of segregation. By Phillip L. Clay. Prepared while the former Massachusetts Institute of Technology chancellor was a senior fellow for the Ford Foundation. Clay is a member of The Kresge Foundation’s Board of
- [A profile of nonprofit organizations in the greater New Orleans metropolitan area](https://kresge.org/resource/a-profile-of-nonprofit-organizations-in-the-greater-new-orleans-metropolitan-area/) - The New Orleans nonprofit sector has coped with several critical challenges. Hurricane Katrina and envionmental disaster to the financial crisis that began in 2008. The Kresge Foundation commissioned the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy to conduct an in-depth study of the region’s health and human services nonprofit organizations Nov. 1, 2012, Carol J.
- [Case for Change Capital in the Arts: Building Vibrant and Viable Cultural Organizations](https://kresge.org/resource/case-for-change-capital-in-the-arts-building-vibrant-and-viable-cultural-organizations/) - By Rebecca Thomas and Rodney Christopher with Holly Sidford, Helicon Collaborative. (2011). Nonprofit Finance Fund: New York, Boston, Newark, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles.
- [Farmworkers at the border: A bilingual initiative for occupational health and safety](https://kresge.org/resource/farmworkers-at-the-border-a-bilingual-initiative-for-occupational-health-and-safety/) - By Soledad Vela Acosta, M., Sechrest, L., & Chen, M-K. (2009). Public Health Reports, 124 (Supplement 1), 143–151.
- [Measuring Collaboration: The Benefits and Impacts of Nonprofit Centers](https://kresge.org/resource/measuring-collaboration-the-benefits-and-impacts-of-nonprofit-centers/) - A first-ever assessment of organizations sharing facilities in the U.S. and Canada by The Nonprofit Centers Network reports on the benefits of organizations co-locating and sharing resources. The Nonprofit Centers Network is a program of Tides. Kresge is one of the foundations that funded the study.
- [Healthy and safe housing: A foundation for healthy futures](https://kresge.org/resource/healthy-and-safe-housing-a-foundation-for-healthy-futures/) - By Fukuzawa, D., & Morley, R. (2010, September). Views from the Field. Washington: Grantmakers in Health.
- [The last drop: Climate change and the Southwest water crisis](https://kresge.org/resource/the-last-drop-climate-change-and-the-southwest-water-crisis/) - A Kresge-supported study by the Stockholm Environmental Institute quantifying the impact of climate change on water supplies in the Southwest.
- [Smart money: Informing higher education philanthropy](https://kresge.org/resource/smart-money-informing-higher-education-philanthropy/) - The Kresge-funded research by the Institute for Higher Education Policy focuses on metropolitan areas and identifies distinct postsecondary education funding strategies based on data about degree completion and other factors. (October 2011)
- [Freshwater Use by U.S. Power Plants: Electricity’s Thirst for a Precious Resource](https://kresge.org/resource/freshwater-use-by-u-s-power-plants-electricitys-thirst-for-a-precious-resource/) - The Kresge-funded research by the Energy and Water in a Warming World initiative represents the first systematic assessment of both the effects of power plant cooling on water resources in the U.S. and the information available to help guide public- and private-sector decision-makers. By Averyt, K., J. Fisher, A. Huber-Lee, A. Lewis, J. Macknick, N.
- [Catalyst, A Publication of the American Architectural Foundation](https://kresge.org/resource/catalyst-a-publication-of-the-american-architectural-foundation/) - A special issue on rebuilding industrial cities looks at a resurgence of hope and pride in America’s cities. Kresge President and CEO Ripson is featured in an article that discusses design as a revitalization strategy. That story, by Ronald Bogle, president and CEO of the American Architectural Foundation, begins on page 33 of this PDF
- [Accomplishments of the partnership for higher education in Africa, 2000–2010: Report on a decade of collaborative foundation investment](https://kresge.org/resource/accomplishments-of-the-partnership-for-higher-education-in-africa-2000-2010-report-on-a-decade-of-collaborative-foundation-investment/) - By Grant Lewis, S., Friedman, J., & Schoneboom, J. (2010). New York, NY: Partnership for Higher Education in Africa.
- [City Energy Project gives cities tools to establish vital, self-sustaining markets for energy efficiency](https://kresge.org/resource/city-energy-project-gives-cities-tools-to-establish-vital-self-sustaining-markets-for-energy-efficiency/) - The Kresge Foundation is proud to join with our colleagues at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies in support of a landmark initiative designed to create healthier, more prosperous American cities by targeting their largest source of energy use and pollution: buildings. We at The Kresge Foundation are proud to join with our
- [Time to return to the business of rebuilding Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/time-to-return-to-the-business-of-rebuilding-detroit/) - Kresge Foundation President Rip Rapson discusses the resolution of Detroit’s municipal bankruptcy case and looks ahead to the work of philanthopy and other sectors in revitalizing the city and its neighborhoods.
- [Detroit is on track for a positive future](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-is-on-track-for-a-positive-future/) - With U.S. Judge Steven Rhodes’ acceptance of the stakeholder-approved plan of adjustment, the Detroit community will be the subject of every manner of intellectual, legal, political and social discussion over the coming weeks. And we should welcome that. We have spent a year in profound struggle. About the legitimacy of nonelected decision-making. About the relative rights
- [What Detroit can teach us all](https://kresge.org/resource/what-detroit-can-teach-us-all/) - Retired public employees and artwork: two civic assets rarely thought of in the same breath. But in Detroit – and, indeed, in countless cities across the country – the duo constitute an essential part of the city soul. Take Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry Murals, a work as iconic as any on display in the [Detroit Institute
- [Center for Effective Philanthropy surveys Kresge grantees to assess the foundation’s overall effectiveness, identify areas for improvement](https://kresge.org/resource/center-for-effective-philanthropy-surveys-kresge-grantees-to-assess-the-foundations-overall-effectiveness-identify-areas-for-improvement/) - A Grantee Perception Report produced for The Kresge Foundation by the Center for Effective Philanthropy told us much of what we knew about our performance – and a good deal of what we didn’t. The first time we enlisted the Center for Effective Philanthropy to produce a Grantee Perception Report was in 2007. It was a tricky
- [How philanthropy can respond to a new set of economic ground rules](https://kresge.org/resource/how-philanthropy-can-respond-to-a-new-set-of-economic-ground-rules/) - The Kresge Foundation’s strategies for grantmaking increasingly seek to protect against the kind of harm wrought by economic contractions and policy reconfiguration. Double-dip recession. European bank meltdown. Erosion of consumer confidence and consumption. Washington gridlock. The state of things is precarious and perilous. And that doesn’t begin to reach the effects of spending cuts on
- [‘A different view of Detroit’](https://kresge.org/resource/a-different-view-of-detroit/) - Focusing too intensively or too long on Detroit’s grittier challenges obscures a very different perspective – one that projects forward the assets and opportunities available for the city to capitalize on. (Closing plenary at the Independent Sector/ Council of Michigan Foundation annual conference.) Good afternoon, everyone. It has been an enormous pleasure to have had
- [Philanthropy in times of economic turmoil: One foundation’s response](https://kresge.org/resource/philanthropy-in-times-of-economic-turmoil-one-foundations-response/) - In the face of profound structural shifts brought by the economic crisis, philanthropy must respond, most crucially, with multiple serious-minded, creative efforts to recalibrate and reboot different dimensions of the nonprofit environment. (Address to YMCA officials, in Dallas.) DALLAS – Thank you for that kind introduction. It is a pleasure to be here. All of
- [The new values-centered grantmaking](https://kresge.org/resource/the-new-values-centered-grantmaking-2/) - Kristina Moore, communications director for the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy, interviews Rip Rapson about The Kresge Foundation’s new approach to grantmaking, the challenges it faced in implementing the changes and lessons learned.
- [Grantees can count on Kresge to stand with them during this time of economic crisis](https://kresge.org/resource/grantees-can-count-on-kresge-to-stand-with-them-during-this-time-of-economic-crisis/) - Two important messages to The Kresge Foundation’s grantees: We understand how difficult your work has suddenly become – and will continue to be – during this time of unprecedented economic contraction, and you can count on us to stand with you as you continue to work to alleviate need in your communities. Even though the
- [Kresge is honoring all its grant commitments, promises creativity and flexibility in assisting grantees](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-is-honoring-all-its-grant-commitments-promises-creativity-and-flexibility-in-assisting-grantees/) - With the economic crisis dealing devastating – and, in some tragic circumstances, fatal – blows to many of private foundations and nonprofit organizations, The Kresge Foundation’s commitment to grantees remains unwavering. My unequivocal message is this: The Kresge Foundation is honoring all its commitments to its current grantees. And as we look ahead to 2009,
- [Grantee perceptions essential to the philosophical and programmatic expansion of our grantmaking](https://kresge.org/resource/grantee-perceptions-essential-to-the-philosophical-and-programmatic-expansion-of-our-grantmaking/) - To embark on an expansion of our grantmaking with a well-rounded understanding of where we stand within the grantmaking community, The Kresge Foundation commissioned the Center for Effective Philanthropy to survey recent grantees, along with applicants who have been declined, about their perceptions of the foundation. In speeches, President’s Corner letters such as this and
- [This is a whole new ballgame](https://kresge.org/resource/this-is-a-whole-new-ballgame/) - The basic contours and values of The Kresge Foundation’s grantmaking tradition have remained remarkably constant. It has been challenging and energizing to revisit that tradition, exploring how we can carry forward those qualities of greatest value while relinquishing practices that serve less well in a world that is changing so rapidly and profoundly. When I
- [Healthy Futures Fund](https://kresge.org/resource/healthy-futures-fund/) - Established by Kresge, Morgan Stanley and the Local Initiatives Support Corp., the $100 million Healthy Futures Fund uses Low Income Housing Tax Credits and New Market Tax Credits to expand access to health care and affordable housing for low-income residents. It supports: New community health centers in disadvantaged neighborhoods New low-income housing with incorporated health
- [Kresge Special Initiative in South Africa 2006-2010: Bolstering private giving for higher education](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-special-initiative-in-south-africa-2006-2010-bolstering-private-giving-for-higher-education/) - This is the first in a series highlighting a five-year effort to build the capacity of higher education in South Africa. In a partnership with Inyathelo, the South African Institute for Advancement, the Kresge Special Initiative in South Africa 2006-2010 helped institutions boost private giving threefold. Other narrated slideshows in the series focus on participating
- [Slideshow: an exhibition of light and art in Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/slideshow-an-exhibition-of-light-and-art-in-detroit/) - A slideshow of photos of Dlectricty, a Kresge-supported exhibition of light and art in Detroit's Midtown district Oct. 5 and 6, 2012. Kresge Foundation photos by Steve Kuzma. A related Kresge news story includes links to photos available for download.
- [2008 Kresge Eminent Charles McGee](https://kresge.org/resource/2008-kresge-eminent-charles-mcgee/) - 2008 Kresge Eminent Artist Charles McGee talks his visual art and working in Detroit. The Eminent Artist recognizes an exceptional artist for professional achievements and contributions to the cultural community. The award also encourages that individual’s pursuit of a chosen art form and an ongoing commitment to metropolitan Detroit. (Videographer: Stephen McGee) ALSO SEE: Charles
- [Lessons from a 10-year funder collaborative: A case study of the partnership for higher education in Africa](https://kresge.org/resource/lessons-from-a-10-year-funder-collaborative-a-case-study-of-the-partnership-for-higher-education-in-africa/) - By Parker, S. (2010). New York, New York: Partnership for Higher Education in Africa.
- [Kresge weekly newsletter: 2016-2019](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-weekly-newsletter-2016-2019/) - Issues of the weekly newsletter News From The Kresge Foundation, containing information about funding initiatives, events, research and our work to expand opportunity in America's cities. See the most recent 2020 newsletters
- [2009 Kresge Eminent Artist Marcus Belgrave](https://kresge.org/resource/2009-kresge-eminent-artist-marcus-belgrave/) - 2009 Kresge Eminent Artist Marcus Belgrave talks about his lifelong love of the trumpet and the burgeoning music scene he found when he moved to Detroit in the early 1960s. The Eminent Artist recognizes an exceptional artist for professional achievements and contributions to the cultural community. The award also encourages that individual’s pursuit of a
- [2011 Kresge Eminent Artist Bill Harris](https://kresge.org/resource/2011-kresge-eminent-artist-bill-harris/) - 2011 Kresge Eminent Artist Bill Harris talks about writing and teaching "the Detroit way." The Eminent Artist recognizes an exceptional artist for professional achievements and contributions to the cultural community. The award also encourages that individual's pursuit of a chosen art form and an ongoing commitment to metropolitan Detroit. (Videographer: Stephen McGee) ALSO SEE: Bill
- [2012 Kresge Eminent Artist Naomi Long Madgett](https://kresge.org/resource/2012-kresge-eminent-artist-naomi-long-madgett/) - 2012 Kresge Eminent Artist Naomi Long Madgett talks about poetry, publishing and helping others up the ladder. The Eminent Artist recognizes an exceptional artist for professional achievements and contributions to the cultural community. The award also encourages that individual's pursuit of a chosen art form and an ongoing commitment to metropolitan Detroit. (Videographer: Stephen McGee)
- [2013 Kresge Foundation annual report](https://kresge.org/resource/2013-kresge-foundation-annual-report/) - The report details the foundation’s grantmaking in 2013, covering 316 awards totaling $122 million, with $128 million paid out over the course of the year. It also reports on the activities of the foundation’s Social Investment Practice, which made commitments totaling $17.7 million in 2013. The report illustrates the combination of tools and approaches that,
- [2012 Kresge Foundation annual report](https://kresge.org/resource/2012-kresge-foundation-annual-report/) - By The Kresge Foundation, annual report on the foundation, its grantmaking and investing.
- [2010-2011 Kresge Annual Report](https://kresge.org/resource/2010-2011-kresge-annual-report/) - By The Kresge Foundation, annual report on the foundation and its grantmaking.
- [2009 Kresge Annual Report](https://kresge.org/resource/2009-kresge-annual-report/) - By The Kresge Foundation, annual report on the foundation and its grantmaking.
- [2008 Kresge Annual Report](https://kresge.org/resource/2008-kresge-annual-report/) - By The Kresge Foundation, annual report on the foundation and its grantmaking.
- [2007 Kresge Annual Report](https://kresge.org/resource/2007-kresge-annual-report/) - By The Kresge Foundation, annual report on the foundation and its grantmaking.
- [2006 Kresge Annual Report](https://kresge.org/resource/2006-kresge-annual-report/) - By The Kresge Foundation, annual report on the foundation and its grantmaking.
- [Momentum: Kresge's 2018 Annual Report](https://kresge.org/resource/momentum-kresges-2018-annual-report/) - The Kresge Foundation's work of identifying pathways to opportunity requires deep, sustainable investment in leaders — the people who bring the passion, innovation and long-term commitment needed to find solutions for the most intractable challenges today. Momentum explores the stories of eight standout leaders — working in climate adaptation, higher education, public heath, community investment and more
- [2005 Kresge Annual Report](https://kresge.org/resource/2005-kresge-annual-report/) - By The Kresge Foundation, annual report on the foundation and its grantmaking.
- [2004 Kresge Annual Report](https://kresge.org/resource/2004-kresge-annual-report/) - By The Kresge Foundation, annual report on the foundation and its grantmaking.
- [2019 Grantee Perception Report Resolutions](https://kresge.org/resource/2019-grantee-perception-report-resolutions/) - In 2019, the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) conducted a Grantee Perception Report (GPR) among Kresge’s grantees that were active in 2018. Many foundations commission CEP to gather actionable feedback from grantees and declined applicants to promote transparency within their organizations and throughout the philanthropic sector. In response to the results, we established 10 foundation-wide resolutions
- [LIFT Talent Funder Convening Report](https://kresge.org/resource/lift-talent-funder-convening-report/) - In December 2019, the Kresge Foundation’s Leadership and Infrastructure Funding Team (LIFT) hosted a Talent Funder Convening. A total of 21 funders met to share peer learnings in their efforts to support nonprofit leaders’ diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) capacity building. Community Wealth Partners developed an evaluation report to summarize the key takeaways from the convening.
- [Amy Robinson gives Walsh College commencement speech](https://kresge.org/resource/amy-robinson-gives-walsh-college-commencement-speech/) - Thank you Susan, President Kelliher, the Board of Trustees and all of you for allowing me to share in your special day. Your story is my story. I remember hearing a crash in the kitchen one day when I was probably 5 or 6 and vividly recall walking into the kitchen and seeing my mom
- [Equity Statement](https://kresge.org/resource/equity-statement/) - The Kresge Foundation centers equity as one of its organizational values. Equity to us means that all people — regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, zip code, health and ability status, or any other consideration — have equal and inviolable dignity, value, and opportunity to participate justly, fairly, and fully in all
- [Leveraging business, economic development and policy to drive local change](https://kresge.org/resource/leveraging-business-economic-development-and-policy-to-drive-local-change/) - Introduction What a pleasure to join you this morning. Thank you, Charles, for the kind introduction and for highlighting the work we have done in partnership with the Casey Foundation. I had the enormous privilege twenty years ago of working with Casey President Doug Nelson and Vice President Ralph Smith to re-orient Casey’s work toward
- [Shared Prosperity Partnership One-Pager](https://kresge.org/resource/shared-prosperity-partnership-one-pager/) - The strength of American cities—and the nation as a whole—depends on generating inclusive growth for people of all races, ethnicities, and incomes. Yet even in our most economically vibrant cities, not all residents are benefiting from or contributing to that growth, resulting in stark racial and economic disparities that are even more extreme in distressed
- [Cook Inlet Housing Authority](https://kresge.org/resource/cook-inlet-housing-authority/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in Cook Inlet Housing Authority. This 2019 $3 million program-related investment loan supported local entrepreneurship in the Spenard neighborhood of Anchorage and catalyzed continued investment around The Church of Hub community center, all while preserving affordability and neighborhood character.
- [Aaron Seybert testimony on small businesses and Opportunity Zones](https://kresge.org/resource/aaron-seybert-testimony-on-small-businesses-and-opportunity-zones/) - On Oct. 17, 2019, Kresge's Social Investment Practice Managing Director Aaron Seybert testified in front of the House Small Business Subcommittee on the effect Opportunity Zones investments could have on small businesses. This written testimony provides an overview of his comments and makes the case that three factors will limit the likelihood of investors finding
- [BlueHub Capital/SUN](https://kresge.org/resource/bluehub-capital-sun/) - In 2017, Kresge’s Social Investment team made a $3 million guarantee to BlueHub Capital to back a program called SUN, or Stabilizing Urban Neighborhoods, which helps homeowners facing foreclosure stay in their homes. The Kresge guarantee helped SUN apply for and receive a $100 million loan from the federal CDFI Bond Guarantee Program. In a
- [Omada Health](https://kresge.org/resource/omada-health/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in Omada Health, which creates digital programs for disease prevention based on clinical evidence and human-centered design. This $500,000 investment incentivized and accelerated the entry of a leading-edge digital care provider to address a critical need of low-income
- [Michigan Good Food Fund](https://kresge.org/resource/michigan-good-food-fund/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in Capital Impact to support the Michigan Good Food Fund, a public private partnership loan and grant fund created to finance healthy food production, distribution, processing, and retail projects that benefit underserved communities throughout Michigan. Kresge’s investment backed the “Small
- [Remarks for Kresge Arts in Detroit Fellows award celebration: Welcome to the scene](https://kresge.org/resource/remarks-for-kresge-arts-in-detroit-fellows-award-celebration-welcome-to-the-scene/) - Thank you, Christina. And thanks to our Kresge Artist Fellow Michelle May and her bandmate Rydell Smith for their performance and to the members of the Kresge Detroit Program, other Kresge staff here and to our philanthropy and nonprofit colleagues who are here. And thanks to our friends here at Wasserman Projects for opening up for us today
- [The Overlooked Anchors: Advancing a New Standard of Practice for Arts and Culture Organizations to Create Equitable Opportunity in America’s Cities](https://kresge.org/resource/the-overlooked-anchors-advancing-a-new-standard-of-practice-for-arts-and-culture-organizations-to-create-equitable-opportunity-in-americas-cities/) - Based on a rigorous assessment of anchor strategies and 125 arts and culture organizations in 57 U.S. cities, The Overlooked Anchors: Advancing a New Standard of Practice for Arts and Culture Organizations to Create Equitable Opportunity in America’s Cities offers recommendations on how arts organizations, anchor collaboratives and funders can work together to increase social
- [Annual Survey of Philanthropy in Higher Education: 2018 South Africa Report](https://kresge.org/resource/annual-survey-of-philanthropy-in-higher-education-2018-south-africa-report/) - This report outlines findings from the 2018 Annual Survey of Philanthropy in Higher Education. The survey reveals that many South Africans and South African organizations are giving significantly more philanthropic support to local universities. The Kresge-funded report was prepared for Inyathelo, the South African Institute for Advancement.
- [2018 Audited Financial Statements](https://kresge.org/resource/2018-audited-financial-statements/) - The full set of audited financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2018. The Kresge Foundation.
- [NewCorp Inc.](https://kresge.org/resource/newcorp-inc/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in NewCorp Inc. to support the BuildNOLA Mobilization Fund. The fund will strengthen disadvantaged businesses’ ability to bid on and secure city contracts on public infrastructure projects in New Orleans.
- [BlueHub Capital](https://kresge.org/resource/bluehub-capital/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in BlueHub Capital. This 2016 investment helped BlueHub Capital to raise capital for a revolving loan fund to provide financing to mixed-use commercial projects in up to 10 targeted cities. MassDevelopment (MDFA), the commonwealth’s economic development and finance authority,
- [East Jefferson Development Corporation](https://kresge.org/resource/east-jefferson-development-corporation/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in East Jefferson Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Jefferson East Inc., which is undertaking an ambitious plan to revitalize the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood with a focus on mixed-income, mixed-use, equitable development. With Kresge’s equity investment in 2018, EJDevCo
- [Commencement Address to the University of Detroit Mercy 2019 Graduating Class](https://kresge.org/resource/commencement-address-to-the-university-of-detroit-mercy-2019-graduating-class/) - Good afternoon, President Garibaldi, Board Chair McNamara, Trustee Susick, Provost Zarkowski, President’s Council Members, distinguished academic deans, Jesuit and Mercy sponsors, other university leadership, and Valedictorian Mary Payne. And to the remarkable graduating class of 2019. To all of you, your families and your supporters, congratulations! Just a word about The Kresge Foundation. In 1899, Sebastian
- [Powered by Collaboration: Remarks from Neighborhood HomeBase opening](https://kresge.org/resource/powered-by-collaboration-remarks-from-neighborhood-homebase-opening/) - Good morning everyone. And thank you Stephanie. What brings us together today is collaboration. Among organizations, to be sure. But powered by the collaborative energies and commitments of several individuals. I want to recognize a few of those. First, Stephanie. This is my first time meeting Stephanie, but you can see immediately why we asked
- [Opportunity Zones guarantee term sheet](https://kresge.org/resource/opportunity-zones-guarantee-term-sheet/) - In March, Kresge committed $22 million to two firms working to raise more than $800-million for impact-certified Opportunity Zones. In exchange for Kresge's risk reduction via the guarantees, these firms, Arctaris Impact and Community Capital Management, each agreed to terms centered on transparency, reporting, community involvement and impact. This sample term sheet provides an example
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Memphis FAQs in Spanish](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-memphis-faqs-in-spanish/) - This document provides information about what makes an organization eligible, financial documents that must be submitted with a grant application, how grant funding may be used, requirements for the required concept proposal, details about the application process and other information.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Memphis FAQs](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-memphis-faqs/) - This document provides information about what makes an organization eligible, financial documents that must be submitted with a grant application, how grant funding may be used, requirements for the required concept proposal, details about the application process and other information.
- [Community Engagement Meeting Presentation](https://kresge.org/resource/community-engagement-meeting-presentation/) - Presentation deck from the March 11, 2019 P-20 Cradle-to-Career Community Meeting
- [Detroit Arts Support 2019 Guidelines](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-arts-support-2019-guidelines/) - For over 10 years, the Detroit Arts Support (DAS) initiative has provided unrestricted operating funding to arts and cultural organizations in the metro Detroit region. The program aims to strengthen the sector broadly through consistent support for a large and diverse set of organizations that contribute to the quality of life and cultural vitality of
- [Overview of Kresge's Fostering Urban Equitable Leadership program](https://kresge.org/resource/overview-of-kresges-fostering-urban-equitable-leadership-program/) - This brochure describes goals and service providers for The Kresge Foundation's talent and leadership development program for grantee, launched in 2016 to support development of stronger senior teams, stronger mid-level talent and more diverse talent.
- [Inclusiv](https://kresge.org/resource/inclusiv/) - Inclusiv, formally known as the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, has worked to improve access to appropriate products through partnerships between community development credit unions and human-serving organizations. With this investment, Inclusiv will make secondary capital investments of approximately $250,000 each into city-focused credit union that switches to CU Impact. Secondary capital is
- [Detroit Development Fund](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-development-fund/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in Detroit Development Fund. This 2018 program-related investment loan supported the Detroit Entrepreneurs of Color 2.0 Fund, which addresses a key barrier to racial equity by improving access to capital in Detroit through small business loans to minority-owned businesses in
- [Request for Proposals: Program Manager for Community Investment Guarantee Facility](https://kresge.org/resource/request-for-proposals-program-manager-for-community-investment-guarantee-facility/) - Four philanthropic institutions including The Kresge Foundation have committed resources to launch the Community Investment Guarantee Facility (CIGF) to accelerate community investment in the United States. Kresge's Social Investment Practice is requesting proposals for a Program Manager that will also serve as a Servicer for the Facility. Click the "Download" link below to view/download the full
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 5 Guide to Using Fluxx](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-5-guide-to-using-fluxx/) - A guide to using The Kresge Foundation's Fluxx portal to apply for grants in the fifth round of the Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit initiative.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 5 application guidelines in Spanish](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-5-application-guidelines-in-spanish/) - This document explains the goals of the KIPD grant initiative, who can apply, what types of projects are eligible, how to apply, how to submit a concept proposal and other information.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 5 application guidelines in Bangla](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-5-application-guidelines-in-bangla/) - This document explains the goals of the KIPD grant initiative, who can apply, what types of projects are eligible, how to apply, how to submit a concept proposal and other information.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 5 application guidelines in Arabic](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-5-application-guidelines-in-arabic/) - This document explains the goals of the KIPD grant initiative, who can apply, what types of projects are eligible, how to apply, how to submit a concept proposal and other information.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 5 FAQs in Spanish](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-5-faqs-in-spanish/) - This document provides information about what makes an organization eligible, financial documents that must be submitted with a grant application, how grant funding may be used, requirements for the required concept proposal, details about the application process and other information.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 5 FAQs in Arabic](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-5-faqs-in-arabic/) - This document provides information about what makes an organization eligible, financial documents that must be submitted with a grant application, how grant funding may be used, requirements for the required concept proposal, details about the application process and other information.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 5 FAQs](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-5-faqs/) - This document provides information about what makes an organization eligible, financial documents that must be submitted with a grant application, how grant funding may be used, requirements for the required concept proposal, details about the application process and other information.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 5 application guidelines](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-5-application-guidelines/) - This document explains the goals of the KIPD grant initiative, who can apply, what types of projects are eligible, how to apply, how to submit a concept proposal and other information.
- [Rethinking Neighborhood Change and Tracking Progress](https://kresge.org/resource/rethinking-neighborhood-change-and-tracking-progress/) - This paper discusses developments in the conception and assessment of Creative Placemaking initiatives and the assessment of comprehensive community development strategies. The observations and insights stem from a small but growing body of research on the roles of arts and culture in communities, as well as from well-established literature on urban poverty and inequality.
- [The Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund Awards more than $1.7M for Climate Change Projects in Six Southeastern Communities](https://kresge.org/resource/the-southeast-sustainable-communities-fund-awards-more-than-1-7m-for-climate-change-projects-in-six-southeastern-communities/) - This press release from the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network announces six sustainability projects it has awarded grants in partnership with Kresge and the Kendeda Fund.
- [Human Services Ecosystem Readiness Assessment Investment Tool](https://kresge.org/resource/human-services-ecosystem-readiness-assessment-investment-tool/) - This series of charts lists criteria for assessing objectives, governance, leadership, partnerships, financing, communication and other aspects of human services systems and providers.
- [Kresge Human Services Program Next Generation Initiative FAQ](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-human-services-program-next-generation-initiative-faq/) - How does the Kresge Human Services program define next generation? The Kresge Next Generation Initiative (NextGen) is focused on partnering with public agencies and non-profit organizations that are setting the pace of improving social and economic mobility (SEM) for children and families. These agencies and organizations are characterized as high-performing and are a) person-centered, b)
- [College Forward](https://kresge.org/resource/college-forward/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in College Forward. This 2018 program-related investment loan will allow College Forward to invest deeply in a comprehensive student database product, CoPilot, supporting its long-term development, marketing, and sales strategy.
- [Kresge letter to DHS opposing proposed public charge rule for immigration](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-letter-to-dhs-opposing-proposed-public-charge-rule-for-immigration/) - November 5, 2018 The Honorable Kirstjen M. Nielsen U.S. Department of Homeland Security 20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20529 Re: DHS Docket No. USCIS-2010-0012-0001, Comments in Response to Proposed Rulemaking: Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds Madam Secretary: On behalf of The Kresge Foundation, I am writing to express the Foundation’s strong opposition to the
- [FAQ: Human Services Program strategic direction](https://kresge.org/resource/faq-human-services-program-strategic-direction/) - Answers to frequently asked questions about The Kresge Foundation Human Services Program's revised strategic direction adopted in 2018.
- [Supporting those on the front lines of civil justice is both a moral imperative and a pragmatic necessity for Kresge](https://kresge.org/resource/supporting-those-on-the-front-lines-of-civil-justice-is-both-a-moral-imperative-and-a-pragmatic-necessity-for-kresge/) - Thank you, Jo-Ann (Wallace, president and CEO), and thank you to the entire board and staff of NLADA. I want to express the gratitude of my colleagues and the trustees of The Kresge Foundation. We're moved by this recognition – but are also sufficiently self-aware to know that we're not the ones here who deserve
- [Climate Resilience And Urban Opportunity Initiative](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-resilience-and-urban-opportunity-initiative/) - The Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative is focused on improving the resilience of low-income, urban communities in the face of climate change. This document explains the initiative's purpose, its grantmaking process and expected outcomes.
- [2018 Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative grantee convening](https://kresge.org/resource/2018-climate-resilience-and-urban-opportunity-initiative-grantee-convening/) - The 2018 Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative Grantee Convening took place September 25-27 in San Diego, California. This fourth and final peer-learning event of the CRUO Initiative brought together Kresge grantees from 15 nonprofit organizations awarded multiyear implementation grants to support the implementation of work plans aimed at driving large-scale shifts in how their
- [2017 Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity convening](https://kresge.org/resource/2017-climate-resilience-and-urban-opportunity-convening/) - Materials from the 2017 Kresge Foundation convening of Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity grantees, partners and guests that took place June 14-16 in Detroit. Convening Agenda Partipant Bios Presentation: Making Sense of Federal Policy Presentation: Driving Resilience Presentation: Building the Case for Climate Resilience Investments Remarks delivered by Kresge CEO Rip Rapson Newsletter story: Climate Resilience Work Accelerates Convening
- [FreshLo Project Success Metrics](https://kresge.org/resource/freshlo-project-success-metrics/) - This Powerpoint deck was presented by evaluators Learning for Action at the Fall, 2018 convening of Fresh, Local and Equitable (FreshLo) initiative partners. It highlights metrics of success from the FreshLo project's 23 grantees.
- [A growing movement centered in climate resilience and urban opportunity](https://kresge.org/resource/a-growing-movement-centered-in-climate-resilience-and-urban-opportunity/) - Good evening everyone and thank you so much for joining us this week for the final gathering of such a remarkable group of people and organizations doing groundbreaking work in cities across the country When we began this journey in 2014, Lois (DeBacker, managing director of Kresge's Environment Program) sought to find a way to
- [Detroit Next Generation Initiative FAQ](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-next-generation-initiative-faq/) - How does the Kresge Human Services Program define Next Generation? The Kresge Detroit Next Generation (NextGen) Initiative is focused on partnering with nonprofit organizations that seek to improve social and economic mobility (SEM) for children and families in Detroit. These high-performing organizations are characterized as: person-centered; outcomes-based; data-driven; applying a racial equity lens; and focused
- [Why Kresge Supports the Working Cities Challenge: Reach, Impact and Strengthened Capacity](https://kresge.org/resource/why-kresge-supports-the-working-cities-challenge-reach-impact-and-strengthened-capacity/) - It’s a privilege to be here with you, Dr. (Gary) Gottlieb (CEO of Partners in Health), Gov. (Charles) Baker and President (Eric) Rosengren (of the Boston Fed) – alongside so many mayors and civic and community leaders who have driven the transformational achievements of Round 1 of the Working Cities Challenge. And let’s be clear
- [The Marygrove Partnership: An unprecedented model of neighborhood revitalization](https://kresge.org/resource/the-marygrove-partnership-an-unprecedented-model-of-neighborhood-revitalization/) - Thank-you, Sister Jane. Let me begin by expressing our profound gratitude to you and the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for your principled, courageous, and steadfast leadership during the trying path Marygrove College has traveled over the last two years. You have embodied the century-long commitment of the Sister to expanding the
- [ADP Workforce Now® Frequently Asked Questions for Job Seekers](https://kresge.org/resource/adp-workforce-now-frequently-asked-questions-for-job-seekers/) - Answers to frequently asked questions about applying for vacant positions at Kresge via ADP WorkForce Now®.
- [Enterprise Community Loan Fund](https://kresge.org/resource/enterprise-community-loan-fund/) - In this short case study, learn how and why the Kresge Social Investment Practice made an investment in Enterprise Community Loan Fund. ECLF will use the PRI to leverage additional impact capital from private individuals and/or entities to create a long-term pool of funds dedicated specifically to the inclusive and equitable revitalization of the Jefferson-Chalmers corridor
- [Human Progress and Human Services 2035: A Scenario Exploration](https://kresge.org/resource/human-progress-and-human-services-2035-a-scenario-exploration/) - What will human progress, human need and human services be in the United States in 2035? What implications does this have for today’s strategies for public and private human service providers and community partners? The Human Progress and Human Services 2035 Scenarios offer a tool to explore these questions and to better inform future oriented,
- [The Lessons of Wendell Harrison](https://kresge.org/resource/the-lessons-of-wendell-harrison/) - Thank you, Rick (Rodgers). Rick, as all of you probably know, is now a short-timer as president of the College for Creative Studies. Rick’s retirement becomes effective next June, so this will be the last time Rick and I share a stage for one of these Eminent Artist monograph presentations. Rick and Rip will no
- [Kresge Education Program Webinar](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-education-program-webinar/) - On Aug. 10, 2018, Kresge's Education Program held an informational webinar to cover its strategic focus and three funding areas. The one-hour long webinar, including a question and answer period, was recorded and is available here.
- [Press Release: New report - Building a Community of Practice at the Intersection of Water, Climate Resilience and Equity](https://kresge.org/resource/press-release-new-report-building-a-community-of-practice-at-the-intersection-of-water-climate-resilience-and-equity/) - This press release highlights a new report analyzing challenges and opportunities for those working to address the interplay of water systems, climate resilience and equity. It includes an examination of the work of organizations that are part of The Kresge Foundation's Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) initiative. The report was funded by Kresge and written by
- [Building a Community of Practice at the Intersection of Water, Climate Resilience and Equity](https://kresge.org/resource/building-a-community-of-practice-at-the-intersection-of-water-climate-resilience-and-equity/) - This report describes the challenges, needs and opportunities facing leaders working at the intersection of water, climate and equity; assesses how Kresge's CREWS grantees are addressing equity issues; outlines practical next steps for a developing community of practice and is a repository of knowledge generated to date from Kresge water grantees. It was prepared by Meridian
- [FAQ: Advancing Health Equity Through Housing Fund Opportunity](https://kresge.org/resource/faq-advancing-health-equity-through-housing-fund-opportunity/) - This document answers frequently asked questions about this new funding opportunity from Kresge's Health Program, such as eligibility, funding criteria and the application process.
- [Advancing Health Equity Through Housing Funding Opportunity](https://kresge.org/resource/advancing-health-equity-through-housing-funding-opportunity/) - Purpose To support innovative, multi-sector solutions to housing instability, generated by community residents, that improve housing affordability and quality through policy and practice changes. Funding Availability Planning grants (up to one year $100,000) General operating support and programmatic grants (up to two years, $200,000 per year). It is anticipated that there will be additional funding
- [Detroit Early Childhood Education Support](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-early-childhood-education-support/) - The Detroit Early Childhood Program Support initiative is part of the Kresge Foundation’s 5-year, $25 million commitment to support implementation of the Hope Starts Here framework. This initiative provides three-year program support for Detroit-based, high-quality early childhood programs that take a whole-child approach to serving young children ages 0-5. This grant-application guide outlines criteria for
- [2017 Audited Financial Statements](https://kresge.org/resource/2017-audited-financial-statements/) - The full set of audited financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2017. The Kresge Foundation.
- [Investing in Opportunity Act – Request for Letters of Inquiry](https://kresge.org/resource/investing-in-opportunity-act-request-for-letters-of-inquiry/) - The Kresge Foundation and The Rockefeller Foundation have partnered to request letters of inquiry from prospective fund managers around investments and investment strategies that create wealth, assets and opportunity in low-income communities, based on the federal Investing in Opportunity Act. The foundations are requesting initial Letters of Inquiry around investment strategies that: Relate to one or more of the programmatic goals
- [Investing in Opportunity Act – LOI Qualifications Form](https://kresge.org/resource/investing-in-opportunity-act-loi-qualifications-form/) - Applicants who are submitting a Letter of Inquiry to The Kresge and Rockefeller Foundations for the Investing in Opportunity Act must fill out this qualification form and include it as a cover sheet.
- [Human Services Organizations: Partnering for Better Community Health](https://kresge.org/resource/human-services-organizations-partnering-for-better-community-health/) - This report from the Healthy Outcomes Initiative explores how collaboration between human services organizations and health systems can help people and communities achieve better health outcomes. The Kresge-funded, multi-year project focused on social determinants of health such as economic stability, education, housing, safe neighborhoods and food access.
- [Patients to Policy Story Series](https://kresge.org/resource/patients-to-policy-story-series/) - More than 300 hospitals and health centers across the country have developed medical-legal partnerships, in which lawyers work with health-care teams to address social determinants of health, in order to treat structural problems at the root of an issue rather than just treat symptoms. This collection of five articles from the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership highlights
- [Community Foundations at a Crossroads](https://kresge.org/resource/community-foundations-at-a-crossroads/) - Thank you Brad (Hurlbert, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties). What a pleasure it is to be here. And it is a profound honor to participate in the celebration of the generosity and leadership of Lore and John Dodge. Yogi Berra famously remarked: “When you come to a
- [Oakland University Student-Managed Investment Fund Winter 2018 Report](https://kresge.org/resource/oakland-university-student-managed-investment-fund-winter-2018-report/) - An end-of-semester report on the structure, goals and performance of the Student-Managed Investment Fund at Oakland University, which launched in the fall of 2015. The Kresge foundation carved out $2 million of its $3.5 billion investment portfolio for the establishment of the fund, whose primary purpose is to provide a learning experience for students in the mechanics
- [QLINE on the Move: A One-Year Report on Detroit's Streetcar](https://kresge.org/resource/qline-on-the-move-a-one-year-report-on-detroits-streetcar/) - Detroit's QLINE officially began service in May 2017. This report looks at the QLINE’s first year, documenting successes and problems in what may be the first step in a comprehensive regional transit system.
- [Lifetimes of Achievement](https://kresge.org/resource/lifetimes-of-achievement/) - What a pleasure it is to have all of you join in this celebration. The Kresge Eminent Artist is one of the things that we at Kresge feel very strongly about, and we’re just delighted that you would share in this celebratory recognition this evening. This is actually more about elevating the role of arts
- [A tribute to Angela Blackwell, founder and president of PolicyLink](https://kresge.org/resource/a-tribute-to-angela-blackwell-founder-and-president-of-policylink/) - In the immediate hours after the 2016 election, so many of us hoped that the vulgarity, bombastic certitude, and mean-spiritedness – indeed cruelty – of the campaign season would yield to the imperatives of shared problem-solving and mutual respect across party lines, across systems of belief, across all sectors of society. Well, things didn’t quite
- [Emerging Leaders in Public Health Cohort III Informational Webinar](https://kresge.org/resource/emerging-leaders-in-public-health-cohort-iii-informational-webinar/) - The National Program Office hosted an informational webinar to share more information about the third cohort of Emerging Leaders in Public Health. The Emerging Leaders in Public Health initiative equips local public health officers with knowledge and skills to transform the role of public health in their community. The cohort III application period opens on April
- [Forward-Leaning Regionalism](https://kresge.org/resource/forward-leaning-regionalism/) - Address to the annual meeting of the Centralina Council on Governments in Charlotte, North Carolina.
- [Which Future for Human Needs and Human Services in Cities?](https://kresge.org/resource/which-future-for-human-needs-and-human-services-in-cities/) - The human services sector supports human progress and needs, including child and family stability, aging issues, behavioral health, and housing. What will these supports look like in 2030 if there’s another Great Recession? What will be the impact of the rise of the gig economy, AI, automation of jobs and “abundance advances” that lower the
- [Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Feasibility Study](https://kresge.org/resource/southeast-michigan-regional-transit-feasibility-study/) - This paper, prepared by the HNTB Corp., considers the future of transit in the metropolitan Detroit region. The paper collects and analyzes feedback on the results of the 2016 referendum on the Regional Master Transit Plan (RTMP), on the RTMP itself and on the Southeast Michigan Regional Transit Authority (RTA). The paper then identifies additional
- [Change isn’t easy, but the payoff can be great](https://kresge.org/resource/change-isnt-easy-but-the-payoff-can-be-great/) - Thank you, Karen for that very kind welcome and introduction. And thank you to all of you, who value your institutions’ and students’ success so highly that you have dedicated your valuable time this week to join Achieving the Dream’s “Dream Conference.” I am in awe of the tremendous participation here in Nashville, that demonstrates
- [Agenda from 2017 CRUO Convening](https://kresge.org/resource/agenda-from-2017-cruo-convening/) - This is the agenda for the 2017 convening of The Kresge Foundation's Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity grantee cohort and partners held June 14-16 2017 in Detroit.
- [Emerging Leaders in Public Health 2018 Application Packet](https://kresge.org/resource/emerging-leaders-in-public-health-2018-application-packet/) - The Kresge Foundation is seeking applicants for the third cohort of Emerging Leaders in Public Health – an 18-month, leadership development initiative aimed at providing local, governmental public health leaders with the knowledge and skills to lead in today’s changing health care environment. The health officer and a second leader from the same agency team
- [Capital Scan: Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems](https://kresge.org/resource/capital-scan-climate-resilient-equitable-water-systems/) - This Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems Capital Scan was commissioned by The Kresge Foundation and authored by MissionPoint Partners and California Environmental Associates. It is designed to illuminate integrated strategies with pathways for using a full suite of capital tools -- including program related investments (PRIs) and mission related investments (MRIs) – to accelerate the implementation of
- [Kresge not wavering from its commitment to climate resilience and social justice](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-not-wavering-from-its-commitment-to-climate-resilience-and-social-justice/) - It’s such a thrill to see you all in Detroit. Thank you for carving out time to come. I’m pleased that you had the opportunity to visit some of the work taking place across the city. There’s always a temptation to place Detroit in its own self-contained box, concluding that it bears no relationship to
- [2016 Audited Financial Statements](https://kresge.org/resource/2016-audited-financial-statements/) - The full set of audited financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2016. The Kresge Foundation.
- [An Equitable Water Future](https://kresge.org/resource/an-equitable-water-future/) - The US Water Alliance has released the most comprehensive briefing paper to date on the connections between water management and vulnerable communities living in America. The report, co-funded by The Kresge Foundation, demonstrates how water challenges affect affordability, environmental and social justice, economic development, health, safety and more. These challenges are often felt more acutely
- [Health Program 2018 Strategy Update Webinar](https://kresge.org/resource/health-program-2018-strategy-update-webinar/) - The Kresge Foundation’s Health team recently its program strategy and introduced new focus areas in 2018. In this presentation, Kresge Health program staff share insight into the development of three new focus areas and take questions from webinar participants on their strategy.
- [Audio recordings of plenary sessions, 2016 CRUO convening](https://kresge.org/resource/audio-recordings-of-plenary-sessions-2016-cruo-convening/) - Audio recordings of the opening and closing plenary sessions during the 2016 Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity convening in Chicago are available here.
- [Resources from the field](https://kresge.org/resource/resources-from-the-field/) - You will find various resources and materials produced by CRUO grantees and partners and other Kresge grantees from across the Environment Program working to strengthen climate-resilience in low-income communities at this link.
- [Building Cities by Degrees](https://kresge.org/resource/building-cities-by-degrees/) - While completion of a college credential is a critical step toward increasing one’s viability in today’s labor market, only about 40 percent of Americans earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree by age 27. In 2011, the Kresge Foundation launched the National Talent Dividend $1 Million Prize Competition. Leaders of the initiative posited that a city’s
- [A Grand Salute to David DiChiera](https://kresge.org/resource/a-grand-salute-to-david-dichiera/) - A letter from Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson in honor of retiring Michigan Opera Theatre founder David DiChiera, as part of a tribute program held May 19 at the Detroit Opera House.
- [Reinvestment index shows business leaders and local entrepreneurs are optimistic about Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/reinvestment-index-shows-business-leaders-and-local-entrepreneurs-are-optimistic-about-detroit/) - Although Kresge is a national foundation that focuses on expanding opportunities in cities across the United States, our core identity has been deeply tied to Detroit since our founding in 1924. Nowhere is our philanthropic imprint more indelible than in our hometown. This is in part why Detroit's renaissance is particularly meaningful to us. To better understand
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 4 FAQs in Spanish](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-4-faqs-in-spanish/) - This document provides information about what makes an organization eligible, financial documents that must be submitted with a grant application, how grant funding may be used, requirements for the required concept proposal, details about the application process and other information.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 4 FAQs in Bangla](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-4-faqs-in-bangla/) - This document provides information about what makes an organization eligible, financial documents that must be submitted with a grant application, how grant funding may be used, requirements for the required concept proposal, details about the application process and other information.
- [Creative Placemaking Case Study Summary: Brookland-Edgewood](https://kresge.org/resource/creative-placemaking-case-study-summary-brookland-edgewood/) - This is a one-page summary of a Creative Placemaking case study on the Brookland-Edgewood neighborhood of Washington DC. It was authored by Point Forward and commissioned by The Kresge Foundation.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 4 FAQs in Arabic](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-4-faqs-in-arabic/) - This document provides information about what makes an organization eligible, financial documents that must be submitted with a grant application, how grant funding may be used, requirements for the required concept proposal, details about the application process and other information.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 4 FAQs](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-4-faqs/) - This document provides information about what makes an organization eligible, financial documents that must be submitted with a grant application, how grant funding may be used, requirements for the required concept proposal, details about the application process and other information.
- [Creative Placemaking Case Study Summary: North Collinwood](https://kresge.org/resource/creative-placemaking-case-study-summary-north-collinwood/) - This is a one-page summary of a Creative Placemaking case study on the North Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. It was authored by Point Forward and commissioned by The Kresge Foundation.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 4 application guidelines in Spanish](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-4-application-guidelines-in-spanish/) - This document explains the goals of the KIPD grant initiative, who can apply, what types of projects are eligible, how to apply, how to submit a concept proposal and other information.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 4 application guidelines](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-4-application-guidelines/) - This document explains the goals of the KIPD grant initiative, who can apply, what types of projects are eligible, how to apply, how to submit a concept proposal and other information.
- [Creative Placemaking Case Study: North Collinwood](https://kresge.org/resource/creative-placemaking-case-study-north-collinwood/) - This case study on the North Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, illustrates how Creative Placemaking, the deliberate integration of arts and culture into comprehensive community development, can serve as a critical catalyst in forming equitable living and working solutions for all the social, economic, and racial constituencies of a neighborhood. In this post-industrial neighborhood, Creative Placemaking helped
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 4 application guidelines in Bangla](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-4-application-guidelines-in-bangla/) - This document explains the goals of the KIPD grant initiative, who can apply, what types of projects are eligible, how to apply, how to submit a concept proposal and other information.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects Detroit Round 4 application guidelines in Arabic](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-round-4-application-guidelines-in-arabic/) - This document explains the goals of the KIPD grant initiative, who can apply, what types of projects are eligible, how to apply, how to submit a concept proposal and other information.
- [Creative Placemaking Case Study: Brookland-Edgewood](https://kresge.org/resource/creative-placemaking-case-study-brookland-edgewood/) - This case study on the Brookland-Edgewood neighborhood of Washington DC, illustrates how Creative Placemaking, the deliberate integration of arts and culture into comprehensive community development, can serve as a critical catalyst in forming equitable living and working solutions for all the social, economic, and racial constituencies of a neighborhood. When Brookland-Edgewood intentionally embedded arts and
- [Kresge Arts & Culture Program – The First Decade](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-arts-culture-program-the-first-decade/) - This paper explores The Kresge Foundation Arts & Culture Program's evolution over the last decade from capital challenge grants, capitalization and community arts, to Creative Placemaking. Designed primarily but not exclusively for peer funders, it tells the high-level story of the complexities involved in navigating change; and articulates Kresge's distintictive brand of Creative Placemaking to assist, inform
- [As the South Grows: On Fertile Soil](https://kresge.org/resource/as-the-south-grows-on-fertile-soil/) - The first in a series of four research papers highlighting local social-change voices across the South. The series, As the South Goes, is a project of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy in partnership with Grantmakers for Southern Progress, two Kresge grantees. This first report emphasizes the strength of local organizations and the legacy civil rights
- [Appendices for Rising to the Challenge, Together](https://kresge.org/resource/appendices-for-rising-to-the-challenge-together/) - This document is the full appendices for the report Rising to the Challenge, Together. This report assesses the current state of the climate adaptation field; provides a vision of what a mature, effective field would look like; and recommends steps that should be taken to realize that vision.
- [The Path to Partnership: Lessons Learned in the Pursuit of Joint Initiatives between Affordable Housing Providers and Medicaid Managed Care Programs](https://kresge.org/resource/the-path-to-partnership-lessons-learned-in-the-pursuit-of-joint-initiatives-between-affordable-housing-providers-and-medicaid-managed-care-programs/) - This report by Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future, produced with support from The Kresge Foundation, documents lessons learned from research and demonstration projects across the nation that combine health services and affordable housing.
- [Issue brief: Exploring the Green Infrastructure Workforce](https://kresge.org/resource/issue-brief-exploring-the-green-infrastructure-workforce/) - This report is an isssue brief, "Exploring the Green Infrastructure Workforce," prepared by Jobs for the Future as part of NatureWORKS, a national initiative to understand the jobs, careers, skills, credentials, and potential of the U.S. green workforce. Funding was provided by The Kresge Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service's National Urban and Community Forestry Grant
- [Hungry and Homeless in College](https://kresge.org/resource/hungry-and-homeless-in-college/) - This report presents findings from the largest survey ever conducted of basic needs insecurity among college students. Completed by Wisconsin HOPE Lab in partnership with Association of Community College Trustees, the study surveyed approximately 33,000 students at 70 community colleges in 24 states. The study found substantially higher rates of food insecurity among community college
- [Constancy in an Environment of Change: The Continuing Case for Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/constancy-in-an-environment-of-change-the-continuing-case-for-detroit/) - Address delivered at Christ Church Cranbrook in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
- [Drawing on Detroit: The Next Era of Urban Policy and Practice](https://kresge.org/resource/drawing-on-detroit-the-next-era-of-urban-policy-and-practice/) - Address delivered at the College of Environmental Design, University of California Berkeley.
- [Predictive Analytics in Higher Education](https://kresge.org/resource/predictive-analytics-in-higher-education/) - Without ethical practices, student data could be used to curtail academic success rather than help ensure it. For example, without a clear plan in place, an institution could use predictive analytics to justify using fewer resources to recruit low-income students because their chances of enrolling are less sure than for more affluent prospective students. In
- [Equity: Operationalizing A Philanthropic Imperative](https://kresge.org/resource/equity-operationalizing-a-philanthropic-imperative/) - Address given at the Achieving Equity Convening sponsored by the Weingart Foundation and held at the University of Southern California on March 2, 2017.
- [Executive Summary for Rising to the Challenge, Together](https://kresge.org/resource/executive-summary-for-rising-to-the-challenge-together/) - This the the Executive Summary from the report Rising to the Challenge, Together. The report assesses the current state of the climate adaptation field; provides a vision of what a mature, effective field would look like; and recommends steps that should be taken to realize that vision.
- [Success is What Counts](https://kresge.org/resource/success-is-what-counts/) - Most often, large-scale institutional change work is viewed as an expert-driven process. Authentic community engagement, by contrast, involves substantive give and take with those outside the college who have an interest in the decisions that are made, or who potentially have a role to play in strengthening the college’s work. This guide by Public Agenda is designed to
- [Rising to the Challenge, Together](https://kresge.org/resource/rising-to-the-challenge-together/) - This report assesses the current state of the climate adaptation field; provides a vision of what a mature, effective field would look like; and recommends steps that should be taken to realize that vision. It was commissioned by The Kresge Foundation and prepared by Climate Resilience Consulting, Susanne Moser Research and Consulting, and Four Twenty Seven, Inc.
- [Advancing Equity Through Access to Quality, Affordable Housing](https://kresge.org/resource/advancing-equity-through-access-to-quality-affordable-housing/) - Alliance for Strong Families and Communities produced this member profile of the Rockford Housing Authority, to showcases the power of authentic engagement—approaches that support families and communities in developing and applying their strengths and gifts to achieve their goals.
- [What it Takes to Build or Bend a Field of Practice](https://kresge.org/resource/what-it-takes-to-build-or-bend-a-field-of-practice/) - This Spark Policy Institute primer explains what it takes to build or bend a professional field of practice.
- [Reciprocity through Engagement in Intergenerational Housing](https://kresge.org/resource/reciprocity-through-engagement-in-intergenerational-housing/) - Alliance for Strong Families and Communities produced this member profile of Bridge Meadows in Portland, Oregon, to showcases the power of authentic engagement—approaches that support families and communities in developing and applying their strengths and gifts to achieve their goals.
- [Spanish Language Hope Starts Here Community Framework Overview](https://kresge.org/resource/spanish-language-hope-starts-here-community-framework-overview/) - The Hope Starts Here Community Framework shares the six imperatives and 15 strategies that community members and leaders identified as the path forward to make Detroit a world class city for young children by 2027. This one-page overview offers the Spanish translation of the imperatives and strategies.
- [Recalibration in the Face of Uncertainty](https://kresge.org/resource/recalibration-in-the-face-of-uncertainty/) - Thank you for such a gracious introduction Jeff (Bryson). What a surreal, unsettling time to be gathered in this city. We sit just a mile from a conference committee that is, as we speak, stripping from our tax code tools that undergird the capital flows and deal structures on which virtually everyone in this room
- [Milwaukee’s Moment: Community Progress through Planning and Process](https://kresge.org/resource/milwaukees-moment-community-progress-through-planning-and-process/) - Thank you, Mayor Barrett, for such a gracious introduction. It is inspiring to witness – even if from afar – your extraordinary efforts on behalf of the citizens of this great city.[1] Your administration’s ambitions for Milwaukee are exciting and inspiring. There is a sense of the boundless possible here. I also want to thank
- [Philanthropy’s Role in a New Era](https://kresge.org/resource/philanthropys-role-in-a-new-era/) - Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson delivered the plenary address, "Philanthropy's Role in a New Era," at the Florida Philanthropic Network Summit on Feb. 3, 2017 in St. Petersburg, Florida. In this speech, Rapson shared 10 principles for how the foundation does its work, all informed through the foundation's experience in supporting Detroit's revitalization and its transformation from a capital challenge grantmaker to a strategic philanthropy.
- [Request for Proposals — Coordinating Office for KEYS: Detroit Fellowship](https://kresge.org/resource/request-for-proposals-coordinating-office-for-keys-detroit-fellowship/) - We seek a coordinating office to help manage and implement the Kresge Early Years for Success (KEYS): Detroit Fellowship, a professional and leadership development opportunity for current early childhood educators in Detroit. Kresge intends to run this initial pilot for three years, with plans to evaluate and continue the fellowship after this three-year period. We
- [Making Communities Investable: Attracting and Leveraging Private Investment for Public Good](https://kresge.org/resource/making-communities-investable-attracting-and-leveraging-private-investment-for-public-good/) - As part of the “Lincoln Lecture” series, hosted by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Robin Hacke, along with colleagues David Wood and Christopher Goett, recently discussed the Capital Absorption Framework and how it has been applied in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Denver to assess and improve community investment systems.
- [KEYS: Detroit Fellowship Coordinating Office RFP Frequently Asked Questions](https://kresge.org/resource/keys-detroit-fellowship-coordinating-office-rfp-frequently-asked-questions/) - The Kresge Early Years for Success (KEYS): Detroit Initiative is seeking through a request-for-proposals process a coordinating organization for the KEYS: Detroit Fellowship, which is launching in 2018. Find the full RFP document here. This download includes frequently asked questions about the RFP process and who is eligible to apply. Questions include those involving 501(c)3
- [Great Public Spaces – Creating Paths to Long-Term Stability](https://kresge.org/resource/great-public-spaces-creating-paths-to-long-term-stability/) - This report compiles examples of work in Detroit and around the country to revitalize public spaces such as parks and create ways of sustaining them in the future. Author Laura Trudeau, former managing director of Kresge's Detroit Program, collects the latest thinking, methods and strategies from interviews with people leading those efforts, presentations, research and site visits.
- [Helping Cities Absorb Capital](https://kresge.org/resource/helping-cities-absorb-capital/) - In an installment of the "Talking About Cities" podcast hosted by Carol Coletta of Kresge's American Cities Practice, former Senior Fellow Robin Hacke discusses the market principles and social goals that underpin the foundation’s Capital Absorption Practice, offers examples of successful social investing around the U.S., and how cities can lay the groundwork for deploying
- [Executive Summary: Detroit's Community Framework for Brighter Futures](https://kresge.org/resource/executive-summary-detroits-community-framework-for-brighter-futures/) - The executive summary from the report produced by Hope Starts Here after a year of conducting listening sessions with thousands of parents, child care providers and others to develop a vision for early childhood services in Detroit that provide every child a strong start in life.
- [Graphic: Continuum of climate resilience action in organizations](https://kresge.org/resource/graphic-continuum-of-climate-resilience-action-in-organizations/) - Continuum of Climate Resilience Action. This heuristic demonstrates a progression of climate resilience activities at an organizational level.
- [Detroit's Community Framework for Brighter Futures](https://kresge.org/resource/detroits-community-framework-for-brighter-futures/) - The full report produced by Hope Starts Here after a year of conducting listening sessions with thousands of parents, child care providers and others to develop a vision for early childhood services in Detroit that provide every child a strong start in life.
- [Arts and Culture in Dangerous Times](https://kresge.org/resource/arts-and-culture-in-dangerous-times/) - What a pleasure it is to have you all in Detroit. I hope your time here has made clear how vitally central arts and culture have been to the resetting of Detroit’s trajectory. I wanted to expand the aperture just a bit to say a word about their importance in helping us navigate our current
- [Pay for Success Early Childhood Education Toolkit](https://kresge.org/resource/pay-for-success-early-childhood-education-toolkit/) - Pay for success (PFS) offers an alternative approach to investing in the future, including early childhood education (ECE). An innovative mechanism for public-private partnership, PFS scales an evidence-based social program through up-front capital provided by a private or philanthropic funder. If a rigorous evaluation shows that the program achieved agreed-upon outcomes, the government repays the funder. If not, the
- [Our Common Future](https://kresge.org/resource/our-common-future/) - Thank you, Donna (Murray Brown) for such a gracious introduction. What an extraordinary, uplifting, sobering conversation. We honor Rosanne (Haggerty) and Sarah (Eagle Heart) today, but they honor us every day through their strength, compassion, clarity of vision and profound commitment. It is leadership of the highest order. And permit me to underscore the leadership
- [Building and Restoring Civic Capacity: The Obama Administrations Federal-Local Partnership with Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/building-and-restoring-civic-capacity-the-obama-administrations-federal-local-partnership-with-detroit/) - In 2011, President Barack Obama assigned a team of federal officials to work with Detroit city government, state of Michigan agencies, business, philanthropy and community residents to study Detroit’s problems, engage with residents and deliver assistance tailored to the city’s needs. This report focuses on what the federal partnership contributed to the city’s revitalization efforts and
- [The Imperative of Acting on Our Values](https://kresge.org/resource/the-imperative-of-acting-on-our-values/) - Good evening. Thank you, Shirley (Stancato), for such an extraordinarily gracious introduction. I must tell you how overwhelming it is for me to accept an award in Dan Krichbaum’s name. I got to know Dan during his service both to the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion and to Gov. Granholm. He defined what it
- [Climate Adaptation – The State of Practice in U.S. Communities - Summary](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-adaptation-the-state-of-practice-in-u-s-communities-summary/) - This is the summary of the report that examines efforts to develop and implement climate-adaptation projects in 17 cities across the U.S. The study analyzed efforts underway, motivations for action and how communities went from planning to implementation. It was produced by Abt Associates, with funding and support from The Kresge Foundation.
- [Why Comprehensive Community Development is Essential Now, and Why the Arts Must be at the Table](https://kresge.org/resource/why-comprehensive-community-development-is-essential-now-and-why-the-arts-must-be-at-the-table/) - The New Reality Since the time this event was conceived so many months ago, one thing has remained remarkably constant, while another has become a bit topsy-turvy. The remarkable constant has been Jane Chu. Her grace, her thoughtfulness, her unwavering advocacy for the centrality of arts and culture in our nation’s daily life. In her
- [President's Letter: Hope Starts Here](https://kresge.org/resource/presidents-letter-hope-starts-here/) - Thursday was a watershed moment for Detroit. More than 100 community representatives – from healthcare institutions to government agencies … early childhood providers to community organizations … parents of young children to business leaders – gathered at the Michigan Science Center with The Kresge Foundation and The W.K. Kellogg Foundation to introduce Hope Starts Here:
- [Fact Sheet: Launching the Resilience Dialogues](https://kresge.org/resource/fact-sheet-launching-the-resilience-dialogues/) - This fact sheet accompanies the launch of an initiative by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to connect community leaders with scientists and climate experts to help decision-makers understand local climate risks and resources they can use in planning climate-resilience projects. The fact sheet lists The Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program as one
- [Opportunities and Incentives for the Water Sector in Building Resilience to Climate Change](https://kresge.org/resource/opportunities-and-incentives-for-the-water-sector-in-building-resilience-to-climate-change/) - Opportunities and Incentives for the Water Sector in Building Resilience to Climate Change. Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to be here today and thank you for the introduction. I joined the Kresge Foundation earlier this year as a senior program officer in the Environment Program. For those of you who have never
- [What Detroit Can Teach Us About Implementing the New Urban Agenda](https://kresge.org/resource/what-detroit-can-teach-us-about-implementing-the-new-urban-agenda/) - For government leaders and urban practitioners, the New Urban Agenda offers a compelling vision for the future of cities – resilient, sustainable, equitable and inclusive. The agenda rightly argues cities should be people-centered – providing access to critical amenities that enable residents to live fulfilling, self-determined lives. In many ways, the New Urban Agenda is
- [Blueprint for a Healthier America](https://kresge.org/resource/blueprint-for-a-healthier-america/) - This report, produced by the Trust for America’s Health with support from several foundations including Kresge, calls for a new approach to health which prioritizes improving health and addressing major epidemics in the United States. The report highlights pressing crises and how investments could yield positive returns on investment by adopting proven health strategies, such
- [The Gift of Leni Sinclair](https://kresge.org/resource/the-gift-of-leni-sinclair/) - Delivered on October 18 at a community celebration of 2016 Kresge Eminent Artist Leni Sinclair. The celebration at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit coincided with the release of the Kresge Eminent Artist monograph on Sinclair's life and work, and the opening of an exhibition of her work at the museum. Rapson
- [Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Guía de Aplicación para la Tercera Ronda](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-guia-de-aplicacion-para-la-tercera-ronda/) - Una guía para la tercera ronda de una oportunidad de subvención apodado Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit, una Iniciativa de $5 millones de tres años lanzado en 2014. Esta ronda de la iniciativa ofrece subvenciones de implementación de entre $50,000 y $ 150,000 para proyectos "pala lista" que se pueden completar en 18 meses. Kresge espera
- [Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Preguntas Frecuentes](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-preguntas-frecuentes/) - Las preguntas más frecuentes de la iniciativa de Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit están cubiertas. Esta es una iniciativa de tres años y $5 millones para financiar las organizaciones no lucrativas con sede en Detroit, en sus esfuerzos para fortalecer los vecindarios de la ciudad. El Programa de Detroit Kresge busca aspirantes a la tercera ronda
- [Ideas 42 Report: Nudging for Student Success](https://kresge.org/resource/ideas-42-report-nudging-for-student-success/) - Ideas 42 issued a report in June 2016, sponsored in part by Kresge, that presented 16 case studies based on behavior science that show how stuble, sometimes hidden barriers can, over time, result in a student not completing a postsecondary degree. Download the report here.
- [From Detroit to Memphis: The Imperative of Bold Leadership for the Future of American Cities](https://kresge.org/resource/from-detroit-to-memphis-the-imperative-of-bold-leadership-for-the-future-of-american-cities/) - Thank you Mayor Strickland for such a gracious introduction. It is exciting and inspiring to witness – even if from afar – the clarity and ambition of your administration. Every sign indicates that it will be a time of renaissance in this great city. Thanks as well to Dean (Peter) Letsou and The University of Memphis
- [The Kresge Foundation Implements New Procedures to Further Boost Responsiveness to Grantees](https://kresge.org/resource/the-kresge-foundation-implements-new-procedures-to-further-boost-responsiveness-to-grantees/) - The Kresge Foundation recently implemented 13 new procedures and protocols to enhance our responsiveness and effectiveness with grantees and applicants. These newly established practices were put in place after a foundation-wide response to feedback from grantees and declined applicants collected in a 2014 Grantee Perception Report (GPR) independently administered through the Center for Effective Philanthropy
- [Kresge, partners will work with more urgency than ever for an inclusive society](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-partners-will-work-with-more-urgency-than-ever-for-an-inclusive-society/) - I want to share a brief reflection about the horrific acts of violence that have shocked our nation over the past few weeks. The indescribably tragic events in Orlando, St. Paul, Baton Rouge and Dallas have angered, saddened and otherwise moved each and every one of us at The Kresge Foundation. These events have stirred emotions,
- [Early Childhood Development: From Building Blocks to Action](https://kresge.org/resource/early-childhood-development-from-building-blocks-to-action/) - Introduction Welcome. A deep thanks to all the folks from CGI America who have worked tirelessly to pull this event together, while attending to the mind-numbing complexity of all of the other component pieces of the conference. Special thanks are due to President Clinton and Donna Shalala for making this stage and space so compelling,
- [2015 Audited Financial Statements](https://kresge.org/resource/2015-audited-financial-statements/) - The full set of audited financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2015. In addition: 2015 Annual Tax Return, Form 990-PF Readers Guide to the 2015 Form 990-PF
- [Remarks by Lois DeBacker, River Rally 2016](https://kresge.org/resource/remarks-by-lois-debacker-river-rally-2016/) - Text of remarks by The Kresge Foundation Environment Program Managing Director Lois DeBacker at the River Network's River Rally 2016 in Mobile, Alabama, May 23, 2016.
- ["Marathon session" led to birth of Detroit Home Mortgage program](https://kresge.org/resource/marathon-session-led-to-birth-of-detroit-home-mortgage-program/) - Thank you to President Clinton and the entire CGI family for this opportunity. I would like to invite Cliff Kellogg – the head of the White House Detroit Task Force - Frank Altman, the president of the Community Reinvestment Fund – and Arthur Jemison – the City of Detroit’s Director of Housing and Redevelopment –
- [Webinar about Human Services Program's revised strategy](https://kresge.org/resource/webinar-about-human-services-programs-revised-strategy/)
- [Kresge Headquarters Visitors Map](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-headquarters-visitors-map/) - Map with driving directions, parking, access and local hotel information for visitors of The Kresge Foundation headquarters.
- [Kresge Midtown Detroit Visitors Map](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-midtown-detroit-visitors-map/) - Map with driving directions, parking and accessibility information for visitors of Kresge’s Midtown Detroit office.
- [CRUO Convening Participant Quotes](https://kresge.org/resource/cruo-convening-participant-quotes/) - Quotes collected from participants in the May, 2016 convening of Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity grantees and partners in Chicago.
- [FreshLo grantee map](https://kresge.org/resource/freshlo-grantee-map/)
- [MAP CRUO 2016 cohort](https://kresge.org/resource/map-cruo-2016-cohort/) - Map of the locations of grantee organizations in the 2016 Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity initiative cohort.
- [CRUO Convening Participant Bios](https://kresge.org/resource/cruo-convening-participant-bios/) - Biographies of participants in 2016 CRUO convening in Chicago.
- [CRUO Convening 2016 Agenda](https://kresge.org/resource/cruo-convening-2016-agenda/) - Agenda from 2016 CRUO Convening in Chicago.
- [2016 Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity convening](https://kresge.org/resource/2016-climate-resilience-and-urban-opportunity-convening/) - Kresge’s Environment Program hosted more than 100 local and national leaders for its second annual Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative grantee convening, May 2-4, 2016 in Chicago. The gathering included delegations from a cohort of 15 nonprofit organizations working at the intersection of climate change and social equity funded through the Initiative, as well
- [Kresge Foundation proudly supports Pay for Success initiatives](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-foundation-proudly-supports-pay-for-success-initiatives/) - The Kresge Foundation has long recognized the potential of Pay for Success funding methods as an important tool in the change maker’s toolbox. To date, The Kresge Foundation is a proud supporter of several Pay for Success initiatives that have enabled housing stability, family well-being, individual development and other social benefits. Pay for Success brings
- [Big Bets, Big Investments and Big Change](https://kresge.org/resource/big-bets-big-investments-and-big-change/) - Introduction I’m delighted to be here and excited to join Darren (Walker, president of the Ford Foundation), Julie (Stasch, president of the MacArthur Foundation), and Jean (Case, CEO of the Case Foundation) momentarily for what will be an informative and – knowing my colleagues – provocative discussion about the case for, and state of, impact
- [“Healthy Communities of Opportunity: An Equity Blueprint to Address America’s Housing Challenges](https://kresge.org/resource/healthy-communities-of-opportunity-an-equity-blueprint-to-address-americas-housing-challenges/) - This research paper by PolicyLink, with Kresge support, examines how housing and development policies affect economic opportunity and community health, reviews recent trends that have increased housing insecurity, surveys practices that link health and housing opportunity, and suggests a reform agenda for policy changes.
- [Twenty Years of Leadership: A Journey Toward Expanded Opportunity](https://kresge.org/resource/twenty-years-of-leadership-a-journey-toward-expanded-opportunity/) - Thank you Daniella [Levine Cava] for such a lovely introduction. More on you in a moment. And thank you Gretchen and Catalyst Miami for inviting me to this historic celebration. The Kresge Foundation is honored and humbled to support and partner closely with an organization whose mission is grounded in improving the lives of –
- [Kresge Community Finance FAQ](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-community-finance-faq/) - Kresge Community Finance is an open-request for proposals that will provide $30 million in program-related investments to quasi-public or private Development Finance Agencies and certified Community Development Finance Agencies that are doing work that aligns with the foundation's six program areas. This FAQ answers common questions about eligibility, process and funding guidelines.
- [Kresge Community Finance RFP Portal Guidelines](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-community-finance-rfp-portal-guidelines/) - The Kresge Community Finance RFP launched on March 31. To submit an letter of inquiry, interested parties must use the online-platform Fluxx. This document provides step-by-step guidance for navigating through FLUXX to start a letter of inquiry for this program-related investment funding opportuntiy. LOIs are due on April 29, 2016.
- [In honor of Leni Sinclair, Kresge Eminent Artist for 2016](https://kresge.org/resource/in-honor-of-leni-sinclair-kresge-eminent-artist-for-2016/) - (Adapted from remarks delivered at a reception honoring Leni Sinclair's selection as the 2016 Kresge Eminent Artist, held March 22, 2016 at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.) My thanks to all of you for being here this evening. In our Eminent Artists we honor exceptional lifelong achievements and contributions to the cultural vitality of
- [Kresge Community Finance RFP](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-community-finance-rfp/) - Kresge Community Finance is a $30 million program-related investment (PRI) finance offering to certified Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFI) and quasi-public or private Development Finance Agencies (DFA) expanding opportunities for low-income people in America’s cities. The foundation will select applications through a competitive Request-for-Proposals (RFP). Successful nonprofit applicants also will receive an equity grant, equivalent to
- [The System We Need: A Neighborhood Snapshot of Early Childhood Education in Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/the-system-we-need-a-neighborhood-snapshot-of-early-childhood-education-in-detroit/) - This study about access to quality early childhood care and education programs in Detroit identifies neighborhoods where the greatest numbers of young children need better access to providers of early childhood care and education. It also makes recommendations for improving access to quality early childhood care and education services.
- [Infographic map: Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity grantees December 2015](https://kresge.org/resource/infographic-map-climate-resilience-and-urban-opportunity-grantees-december-2015/) - Infographic map showing the one dozen communities that will share almost $8 million in Kresge Foundation support to develop more effective climate resilience frameworks in urban low-income communities.
- [A Difficult Balance: Trustees Speak About the Challenges Facing Comprehensive Universities](https://kresge.org/resource/a-difficult-balance-trustees-speak-about-the-challenges-facing-comprehensive-universities/) - A Kresge-funded report finds that trustees at public comprehensive universities often lack the support and knowledge they need to make tough decisions in today's complex world of higher education, where falling graduation rates, rising prices, changing student populations, and decling public funding. Uploaded: December 11, 2015 Published: 2015 Categories: Education - See more
- [Promoting Airport Walking: A Guide](https://kresge.org/resource/promoting-airport-walking-a-guide/) - This guide, intended primarily for airport managers, was produced as part of a study which found that signs placed in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to promote passengers walking to airport gates rather than taking shuttles resulted in several hundred more passengers a day choosing to walk. The project was supported by Kresge and the Centers for Disease Control
- [Increasing Walking in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: The Walk to Fly Study](https://kresge.org/resource/increasing-walking-in-the-hartsfield-jackson-atlanta-international-airport-the-walk-to-fly-study/) - A study found that signs placed in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to promote passengers walking to airport gates rather than taking shuttles resulted in several hundred more passengers a day choosing to walk (ceiling-mounted infrared sensors were used to count travelers entering and exiting the study location). The project was supported by Kresge and the
- [Kresge Arts Fellows reflect Detroit's cultural and artistic wealth](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-arts-fellows-reflect-detroits-cultural-and-artistic-wealth/) - An avalanche of thanks: Michelle (Perron, founding director of Kresge Arts in Detroit) – it is always such a pleasure to follow in the wake of such grace and elegance. Christina (DeRoos, director of Kresge Arts in Detroit) – we appreciate so deeply the incredible skill you bring to choreographing the entire process, including this evening’s
- [Keys to Collaboration](https://kresge.org/resource/keys-to-collaboration/) - This report, the first in a learning series from the BUILD Health Challenge, highlights best practices for cross-sector collaborations aimed at improving population health. “Keys to Collaboration” contains lessons learned and recommendations for fostering similar cross-sector partnerships from BUILD’s inaugural cohort of awardees.
- [Second Annual Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative grantee convening](https://kresge.org/resource/second-annual-climate-resilience-and-urban-opportunity-initiative-grantee-convening/) - Information and materials from the 2016 convening of Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative grantee convening in Chicago. The gathering included delegations from a cohort of 15 nonprofit organizations working at the intersection of climate change and social equity funded through the Initiative, as well as additional grantees funded across Kresge’s Environment Program involved in activities
- [The 2017 Justice Gap Report](https://kresge.org/resource/the-2017-justice-gap-report/) - The "justice gap" is the difference between the civil legal needs of Americans with low-income and the resources available to meet them. The study was done by the Legal Services Corporation, the largest single funder of civil legal aid programs in the United States.
- [Building the Case for Climate Resilience Investments](https://kresge.org/resource/building-the-case-for-climate-resilience-investments/) - Presentation from breakout session Building the Case for Climate Resilience Investments, presented by Earth Economics at The Kresge Foundation's Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity convening in Detroit, June 14-16, 2017.
- [Participant biographies, CRUO Convening 2017](https://kresge.org/resource/participant-biographies-cruo-convening-2017/) - Biographies and photographs of participants in the 2017 Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity (CRUO) convening in Detroit, June 14-16, 2017.
- [Resilience lessons from unexpected places](https://kresge.org/resource/resilience-lessons-from-unexpected-places/) - Building resilience requires that we view the present and future concurrently, that we reinvent municipal governance models and see local residents as assets, not victims – and that we understand that resilience is not an end state, but an approach whose gains will be fleeting and ephemeral if they’re not grounded in an ethic of
- [Supporting South African higher education through student access and success](https://kresge.org/resource/supporting-south-african-higher-education-through-student-access-and-success/) - Thank you, Shelagh, for that very kind introduction, and good evening to all of you. As always, we at Kresge cannot thank enough Shelagh Gastrow and all of her team at Inyathelo for all of their hard work putting this event together this evening, and for the years of extraordinary work they have done as one of
- [Creative placemaking: Rethinking the role of arts and culture in strengthening communities](https://kresge.org/resource/creative-placemaking-rethinking-the-role-of-arts-and-culture-in-strengthening-communities/) - The Kresge Foundation’s particular conception of creative placemaking is fueled by our belief that a powerful synergy emerges when you marry it to a focus on urban opportunity – that arts and cultural activities belong front and center in efforts to revitalize and re-imagine some of America’s most disinvested places. (Address to the League of Historic American Theatres conference, in Minneapolis.)
- [How higher education can work with foundations to meet the needs of America in the 21st century](https://kresge.org/resource/how-higher-education-can-work-with-foundations-to-meet-the-needs-of-america-in-the-21st-century/) - Higher education and foundations can respond with innovative partnerships to transformations in the broader higher education environment and the opportunities those create for education reform. (Address to the Council of Independent Colleges, in New York.)
- [Expanding opportunities in America’s cities](https://kresge.org/resource/expanding-opportunities-in-americas-cities/) - The Kresge Foundation’s experience in Detroit helps to illustrate how philanthropic collaboration, cross-sector cooperation, unlocking nontraditional sources of capital and many other approaches by the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors can contribute to effective social change. (Keynote address to the annual conference of the Social Impact Exchange.)
- [Connecting Detroit’s assets through strategic placemaking](https://kresge.org/resource/connecting-detroits-assets-through-strategic-placemaking/) - Good morning. I would like to extend a warm welcome to the guests who have arrived in Detroit for this inaugural Project for Public Spaces Leadership Council meeting. I’m told that we have representation from 25 states and 10 countries. Leave it to the Project for Public Spaces to assemble such an impressive and committed
- [Detroit: The sharp edge of innovation](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-the-sharp-edge-of-innovation/) - Good morning. Thank you for participating in such an historic event – one that will fortify and help accelerate the trajectory of renewal so in evidence over the last three days. For my part in this welcome-back, I want to endorse the notion of a community in the midst of profound positive change – a
- [The ‘fierce urgency of now’: Getting the climate question right](https://kresge.org/resource/the-fierce-urgency-of-now-getting-the-climate-question-right/) - Climate change and our response to it is one of the great social issues of our day – one that will be part of almost every profession as well as the heart of political and civic activity. (University of Michigan Law School Environmental Law and Policy Program Lecture Series address.)
- [Art X Detroit: Why art matters](https://kresge.org/resource/art-x-detroit-why-art-matters/) - Art X Detroit demonstrates why the arts are so powerful in this time and place; makes connections across the past, the present and the future; and views our community through a lens that substitutes for a tired and incomplete view of a city in decline a fresh, unexpected view of a city in the process
- [A decade of change: Where does it leave the smart-growth movement? Where does it leave Detroit?](https://kresge.org/resource/a-decade-of-change-where-does-it-leave-the-smart-growth-movement-where-does-it-leave-detroit/) - Fundamental shifts in our social, political and economic systems carry momentous implications for philanthropy's role in promoting the institutions, values and practices of smart growth and livable communities. (Address to the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities.)
- [South Texas College wins Leah Meyer Austin Award for increasing student success](https://kresge.org/resource/south-texas-college-wins-leah-meyer-austin-award-for-increasing-student-success/) - It’s an honor for Kresge to sponsor the Leah Meyer Austin Award this year. None of us would be here tonight if it weren’t for Leah’s creativity, passion and determination that led to the creation of Achieving the Dream. There are almost 1,600 of us in the room tonight – a record number of participants.
- [Re-visioning the student-success ecosystem in South African higher education](https://kresge.org/resource/re-visioning-the-student-success-ecosystem-in-south-african-higher-education/) - What can South African universities, higher education leaders, the business community, ordinary citizens and government do to help create an environment where all students succeed? And what role can donors like The Kresge Foundation play in supporting that effort? (Address at the University of Pretoria.) I’m deeply grateful for the leadership that Bill Moses provides to
- [The present and future case for light rail in Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/the-present-and-future-case-for-light-rail-in-detroit/) - The M-1 Rail line is part of an arc of new civic aspiration that signals to residents, suburban neighbors, the federal government and investors that Detroit is committed to 21st-century transportation and to a revitalized, re-imagined city. (Remarks at event marking an award of $25 million for light-rail funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation.)
- [New thinking is transforming Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/new-thinking-is-transforming-detroit/) - In public transit, in entrepreneurialism and in land use, The Kresge Foundation and its partners are using a different kind of thinking to help Detroit re-imagine its future. (Remarks at the Clinton Global Initiative America 2014 conference’s “Local Laboratories: Equitable Transformation in America’s Communities” session.) Detroit. It’s a word that summons vivid images. Automobiles. Motown
- [Rapson lauds 25 years of work at ‘razor’s edge of change in the arts and cultural community’](https://kresge.org/resource/rapson-lauds-25-years-of-work-at-razors-edge-of-change-in-the-arts-and-cultural-community/) - Over the last 25 years, Kelley Lindquist and Artspace have been at the razor’s edge of change in the arts and cultural community. (Remarks at a celebration of Artspace’s founder, in Minneapolis.) I’ve observed and participated in Kelley’s career from the time he began at Artspace, when I was in private law practice providing pro bono
- [How did Detroit and light-rail transit appear in the same sentence? A case study and some implications](https://kresge.org/resource/how-did-detroit-and-light-rail-transit-appear-in-the-same-sentence-a-case-study-and-some-implications/) - Detroit’s grand adventure in creating a light-rail system gives rise to a set of principles that speaks to the kind of transit our country will need to accommodate changing demographics, growing economic uncertainties and shifting forms of urbanization. (Address to the Rail~Volution annual conference, in Minneapolis.)
- [Cross-sector collaboration is vital to economic development](https://kresge.org/resource/cross-sector-collaboration-is-vital-to-economic-development/) - Community and economic development presents a constellation of challenges so intertwined and complex that it will be the increasingly rare circumstance in which these challenges can be resolved through neat and tidy technical interventions instead of multifaceted adaptive solutions requiring changes in beliefs, priorities and behaviors of multiple parties. (Address to the Boston Federal Reserve
- [A big pivot: Shifting climate-resilience work to include urban, low-income opportunity](https://kresge.org/resource/a-big-pivot-shifting-climate-resilience-work-to-include-urban-low-income-opportunity/) - Editor’s note: The Kresge Foundation’s Environment Program hosted a peer-learning event Jan. 26-28 in Berkeley, Calif., with grantees from its Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative. As part of the event, Kresge’s president and chief executive officer took part in a conversation with Marian Urquilla, a consultant to the Environment Program. This conversation has been condensed and
- [Kresge announces recipients of grants for neighborhood projects in Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-announces-recipients-of-grants-for-neighborhood-projects-in-detroit/) - Good morning. I’m Rip Rapson and on behalf of the entire Kresge organization, I’d like to thank you for being with us this morning. We want to move directly into the details of this very special announcement. I’d also like to extend a special welcome to Mayor Duggan, our Detroit City Council and mayor’s Cabinet
- [The arc of community progress in post-bankruptcy Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/the-arc-of-community-progress-in-post-bankruptcy-detroit/) - On behalf of The Kresge Foundation, let me add my welcome to the many you’ve already received. I know there have been a number of those, but they reflect our city’s deep gratitude for the extraordinarily important work you do in cities throughout the country, including Detroit. I understand that this is the largest Reclaiming
- [Mackinac Michigan moment: A city poised for bold renewal](https://kresge.org/resource/mackinac-michigan-moment-a-city-poised-for-bold-renewal/) - A train is leaving the station. That train is the new Detroit. You’ll hear in just a moment the familiar, but no less extraordinary, story of how we overhauled that train’s engine – how Detroit’s bankruptcy was concluded consensually and in warp speed. Philanthropy played a relatively small, but centrally important, role in all of
- [Detroit’s Bold Urban Future: Connecting downtown and the neighborhoods](https://kresge.org/resource/detroits-bold-urban-future-connecting-downtown-and-the-neighborhoods/) - Welcome. You come to Detroit at a fascinating time, as an iconic American city is being reimagined and recalibrated. This has profound implications for other cities seeking to establish their own pathways to confront the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. The Bankruptcy Who knew that Machiavelli had Detroit in mind when he wrote some
- [Creative placemaking: The next phase for ArtPlace](https://kresge.org/resource/creative-placemaking-the-next-phase-for-artplace/) - When you’re dealing with the wickedly difficult problems of our time, the potential of arts and culture to drive economic development, sensitive placemaking and the kind of long-term visioning that a community needs in order to remain vital must be at the center of the conversation. (Address to the ArtPlace Summit, in Los Angeles.) I.
- [‘Looking back, turning inward and moving forward’ in South Africa](https://kresge.org/resource/looking-back-turning-inward-and-moving-forward-in-south-africa/) - Thank you, Shelagh, for your very kind introduction. Let me add my welcome to the annual Leadership Retreat of the Kresge Special Initiative in South Africa. And let me add my thank you to all of you for taking such a significant amount of time out of your unimaginably busy schedules. I want to also
- [Rapson describes key role of mass transit in area revitalization efforts](https://kresge.org/resource/rapson-describes-key-role-of-mass-transit-in-area-revitalization-efforts/) - An official announcement of federal support for the M-1 Rail project offers an opportunity to detail the importance of light rail in stimulating development in the heart of Detroit and introducing residents to a new level of mobility. Thank you, Secretary Raymond LaHood and Administrator Peter Rogoff, for coming to Detroit today to make this
- [Kresge acts to alleviate pressures of economic downturn](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-acts-to-alleviate-pressures-of-economic-downturn/) - My last post in February about the foundation's response to the economic downturn described our plan to review requests from our capital-challenge grantees to help them complete their capital campaigns. We have since extended additional assistance in a number of forms – from providing more time to complete the campaign to pursuing a different mix
- [Philanthropy’s opportunities and responsibilities in times of civic redirection](https://kresge.org/resource/philanthropys-opportunities-and-responsibilities-in-times-of-civic-redirection/) - For philanthropy to be relevant amid the economic maelstrom we are experiencing, it must move beyond its charitable impulses and toward a more strategic orientation. (Address to civic leaders in Columbus, Ohio.) COLUMBUS, Ohio – What a pleasure it is to be here. In my previous life, our law firm represented one of this city’s
- [Katrina anniversary allows a moment to remember, look ahead](https://kresge.org/resource/katrina-anniversary-allows-a-moment-to-remember-look-ahead/) - We all recall the fear and devastation that followed when Hurricane Katrina landed in New Orleans 10 years ago. The milestone anniversary on Aug. 29 led the nation to remember the lives lost and those changed forever, examine how recovery has helped and where it has fallen short and explore what work is left to
- [In honor of Ruth Adler Schnee, Kresge Eminent Artist for 2015](https://kresge.org/resource/in-honor-of-ruth-adler-schnee-kresge-eminent-artist-for-2015/) - Delivered on Sept. 2 at a community celebration of 2015 Kresge Eminent Artist Ruth Adler Schnee. The celebration at the Carr Center in Detroit coincided with the release of the Kresge Eminent Artist monograph on Schnee’s life and work, and the opening of an exhibition of her work at the center. Rapson followed Ronit Eisenbach,
- [Student-managed investment fund a way to nurture local talent, connect to local opportunity](https://kresge.org/resource/student-managed-investment-fund-a-way-to-nurture-local-talent-connect-to-local-opportunity/) - Delivered Sept. 30, 2015, at a press conference at Oakland University announcing the formation of a $2 million student-managed investment fund carved out of The Kresge Foundation’s $3.5 billion investment portfolio and intended to provide real-world investment experience to OU undergraduates while exposing them to local career opportunities in investment management. Foundation President and CEO Rip
- [Announcing Live6, a new revitalization organization in Northwest Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/announcing-live6-a-new-revitalization-organization-in-northwest-detroit/) - Delivered Sept. 1, 2015, at a press conference on the campus of University of Detroit Mercy announcing the formation of the Live6 Alliance. Live6 will coordinate and promote the revitalization efforts in the Livernois Avenue and McNichols Road (6 Mile Road) commercial corridor in Northwest Detroit. The organization is anchored by University of Detroit Mercy
- [Empowering Prosperity: Strengthening Human Services Impacts Through Asset Integration](https://kresge.org/resource/empowering-prosperity-strengthening-human-services-impacts-through-asset-integration/) - Billed as a “Guidebook to Stimulate Discussion and Action,” this publication of the Institute on Assets and Social Policy and the National Human Services Assembly outlines key approaches to asset development and work in that field by U.S. human services agencies. Among other topics, the publication is intended to familiarize readers with key terms, programs,
- [Returns on Resilience: The Business Case](https://kresge.org/resource/returns-on-resilience-the-business-case/) - The Urban Land Institute has released Returns on Resilience: The Business Case. The Kresge Foundation-funded report identifies real estate projects designed to perform well in the face of climate-related threats and illuminates ways in which investments in resilience strategies provide financial and other returns.
- [Funding the Extraordinary: An Evaluation of The Kresge Foundation Arts and Culture Program’s Institutional Capitalization Grantmaking](https://kresge.org/resource/funding-the-extraordinary-an-evaluation-of-the-kresge-foundation-arts-and-culture-programs-institutional-capitalization-grantmaking/) - A series of Kresge Foundation grants desiged to help arts-related nonprofits better undersand their financial situation and improve their balance sheets resulted in positive changes within organizatonal practices, according to an analysis by the Nonprofit Finance Fund.
- [Building Public Housing Authority Capacity for Better Resident Services](https://kresge.org/resource/building-public-housing-authority-capacity-for-better-resident-services/) - A review by the Urban Institute concludes that public housing facilities are ideal locations for on-site services that help low-income and vulnerable families achieve stability and independence. Partnerships between public housing agencies and human services providers that offer relevant and accessible counseling, parenting skills, health and other supportive services is a sound model for helping
- [Remarks by Chairwoman Elaine Rosen at the new-facility dedication](https://kresge.org/resource/remarks-by-chairwoman-elaine-rosen-at-the-new-facility-dedication/) - Kresge Foundation Board of Trusteees Chairwoman Elaine Rosen was among the speakers at the dedication of an addition to the foundation's headquarters, held Sept. 16, 2015.
- [2014 Kresge Foundation annual report](https://kresge.org/resource/2014-kresge-foundation-annual-report/) - The Kresge Foundation works to make measurable, positive change for those living in urban settings by expanding opportunities in America’s cities. We want people to have the tools they need to lead self-determined lives and to have the opportunity to join the economic mainstream. I staunchly believe that we must deploy our resources responsibly and
- [A year of change](https://kresge.org/resource/a-year-of-change/) - For the January 2007 installment of the President’s Corner, I am pleased to share a letter from the outgoing and incoming chairs of our Board of Trustees, Irene Y. Hirano (2003-06) and Elaine D. Rosen (2007): The Kresge Foundation is changing. We realize that is something that can – indeed, should – be said of
- [Qualities that guide our future work](https://kresge.org/resource/qualities-that-guide-our-future-work/) - Welcome to the April version of the President's Corner. In trying to build on, and out from, the well-established Kresge tradition of capital-challenge grants, we have found it helpful to articulate some basic qualities we hope will guide our foundation’s future work. There is nothing particularly original or surprising about this articulation – indeed, it
- [Working beyond the fence line: The changing roles of philanthropy](https://kresge.org/resource/working-beyond-the-fence-line-the-changing-roles-of-philanthropy/) - As the effects of globalism, immigration, economic restructuring, terrorism and climate change ricochet with unprecedented complexity throughout our society, the need for new organizational linkages becomes increasingly acute. The challenges are simply too complex for one sector to take on by itself. (Remarks at the Nonprofit Awards Luncheon of the Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations
- [New directions, venerable traditions: A case study of change at The Kresge Foundation](https://kresge.org/resource/new-directions-venerable-traditions-a-case-study-of-change-at-the-kresge-foundation/) - UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – What a pleasure it is to talk with you. The institutions in this room have been front-line innovators in so many dimensions. By creating bridges between higher education and the broader community through efforts such as Campus Compact, Alternative Spring Break or any number of other service learning prototypes. By
- [New directions, new tools: A study of change at The Kresge Foundation](https://kresge.org/resource/new-directions-new-tools-a-study-of-change-at-the-kresge-foundation/) - The seriousness of the challenges facing contemporary society and the dizzying pace of change embedded in those challenges demand that any institution with the capacity to do so – particularly large, privately endowed foundations such as The Kresge Foundation – deploy their resources in ways that promise the greatest possible return for the greatest possible number. (Address to the United Negro College Fund's Institute for Capacity Building.)
- [Philanthropy's role in urban revitalization](https://kresge.org/resource/philanthropys-role-in-urban-revitalization/) - The future of philanthropy rides on our willingness to overcome obstacles to strategic action and aspire to a bolder role in our communities. (Address to the CEOs for Cities national meeting, in Chicago.)
- [Fact Sheet: Post-Katrina Philanthropic Support in New Orleans](https://kresge.org/resource/fact-sheet-post-katrina-philanthropic-support-in-new-orleans/) - A summary of Kresge’s support for nonprofits in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, which will inform Kresge's future investments as the city continues its recovery.
- [Too Good to be True? The Opportunity and Cost of the $1 Building](https://kresge.org/resource/too-good-to-be-true-the-opportunity-and-cost-of-the-1-building/) - A study commissioned by The Kresge Foundation’s Arts & Culture Program finds that arts organizations have experienced a wide range of outcomes when acquiring low-cost or free buildings, also known as “$1 buildings.” In many cases, the actual costs of acquiring such buildings were much higher than organizations anticipated, according to the study, conducted by
- [Instructions for Installing Google Chrome](https://kresge.org/resource/instructions-for-installing-google-chrome/) - The Kresge Fondation Fluxx portal for grant applications is configured to work optimally in Google Chrome Browser, which should be installed before you access the portal.
- [Bounce Forward: Urban Resilience in the Era of Climate Change](https://kresge.org/resource/bounce-forward-urban-resilience-in-the-era-of-climate-change/) - This Island Press and The Kresge Foundation strategy paper assesses the concept of urban resilience in the face of climate change, examining what’s already known and what remains to be explored. The paper is based on a survey of existing literature and the thinking of organizers, researchers, planners and other urban change agents. We share the
- [A Call for Action: Strengthening the Human Services Sector](https://kresge.org/resource/a-call-for-action-strengthening-the-human-services-sector/) - This report is the product of a 2014 symposium held by The Kresge Foundation with leaders of national networks and human services nonprofits to identify major challenges and issues affecing the capacity of organizations and networks to deliver services, share knowledge and expertise, and develop recommendations to transform the human-services sector
- [Pathways to Resilience](https://kresge.org/resource/pathways-to-resilience/) - Pathways to Resilience – or P2R – is a Movement Strategy Center Initiative launched in 2013 in partnership with The Kresge Foundation, the Emerald Cities Collaborative and the Praxis Project. This report captures the thinking from an effort called the P2R Dialogues that led to a vision of climate resilience grounded in the realities of
- [Preserving, Protecting and Expanding Affordable Housing | A Policy Toolkit for Public Health](https://kresge.org/resource/preserving-protecting-and-expanding-affordable-housing-a-policy-toolkit-for-public-health/) - Renewed interest in urban living is helping revive neighborhoods in numerous American cities. New demand and investment are also driving up housing costs, particularly in areas that have historically been affordable to low- and moderate-income individuals and families. With Kresge support, the nonprofit ChangeLab Solutions developed a guide to help practitioners and community advocates working
- [A Primer on Qualified Allocation Plans: Linking Public Health and Affordable Housing](https://kresge.org/resource/a-primer-on-qualified-allocation-plans-linking-public-health-and-affordable-housing/) - This paper describes the rationale for including a range of public health-related criteria in awarding low-income housing tax credits. The authors argue that such criteria would create incentives for the development of healthier homes and neighborhoods for low-income families. The federal tax credit program is largely administered by states, which would have to adopt such
- [Positioning your university for investment: The university and urban renewal](https://kresge.org/resource/positioning-your-university-for-investment-the-university-and-urban-renewal/) - I. The Challenge We Face Over the next two days, we will explore the issue of how universities can strengthen their long-term mission and financial sustainability by creating more varied and robust relationships with their communities. When I first came to South Africa in 2006, I was impressed by the power of what South Africa
- [Kresge invests $8.8M in local arts and arts organizations](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-invests-8-8m-in-local-arts-and-arts-organizations-2/) - Kresge Artist Fellowships, an annual Eminent Artist Award and multiyear operating support to small, medium and large arts and cultural organizations are highlights of The Kresge Foundation’s $8.8 million investment in arts in Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties. (Announcement at Detroit Institute of Arts reception.)
- [Kresge invests $8.8M in local arts and arts organizations](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-invests-8-8m-in-local-arts-and-arts-organizations/) - Welcome everyone. I am Rip Rapson, president of The Kresge Foundation. I am delighted by the turnout tonight. Press conferences and receptions such as this are new for Kresge. We are, as most of you know, a national, private foundation located in metropolitan Detroit. Sebastian Kresge, a longtime Detroiter who built our nation’s first chain
- [The fifth sector: Philanthropy’s role in community change](https://kresge.org/resource/the-fifth-sector-philanthropys-role-in-community-change/) - The private and public sectors, nonprofits and the academic world: structural limits hobble the ability of each to lead efforts for community change. So it falls to philanthropy to step forward. (Guest lecture, Mertie W. Buckman Fellowship for Leadership in Philanthropy at the University of Minnesota College of Design.)
- [Philanthropy at a crossroads](https://kresge.org/resource/philanthropy-at-a-crossroads/) - Philanthropy cannot substitute for the public sector. But we can, by deeply committing to a place over a long period of time, help identify an aspirational horizon line and invest selectively in those activities that keep a community’s collective vision and voice focused on that horizon. (Address to the Maine Philanthropy Center conference, in Portland.)
- [FAQs: Fresh, Local & Equitable funding opportunity](https://kresge.org/resource/faqs-fresh-local-equitable-funding-opportunity/) - Frequently asked questions about the "Fresh, Local & Equitable" funding opportunity designed to support food-oriented initiatives that contribute to economic revitalization, cultural expression and health in low-income communities. Updated January 8, 2016. requently asked questions about the "Fresh, Local & Equitable" funding opportunity designed to support food-oriented initiatives that contribute to economic revitalization, cultural expression
- [Request for Proposals: "Fresh, Local & Equitable: Food as a Creative Platform for Neighborhood Revitalization"](https://kresge.org/resource/request-for-proposals-fresh-local-equitable-food-as-a-creative-platform-for-neighborhood-revitalization/) - This Kresge Foundation funding opportunity is designed to support food-oriented initiatives that contribute to economic revitalization, cultural expression and health in low-income communities. Kresge will award up to 20 planning grants of up to $75,000 each in the first quarter of 2016 as part of the initiative “Fresh, Local & Equitable: Food as a Creative
- [FAQ: Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit](https://kresge.org/resource/faq-kresge-innovative-projects-detroit/) - Frequently asked questions about the Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit initiative are covered. This is a three-year, $5 million initiative to fund Detroit-based nonprofits in their efforts to strengthen neighborhoods across the city. Kresge’s Detroit Program is seeking applicants to the program’s second round. The application deadline is Nov. 24, and awards totaling $1.5 million are
- [Detroit and the Future of Development Finance](https://kresge.org/resource/detroit-and-the-future-of-development-finance/) - I. An Introduction to Detroit Detroit is The Kresge Foundation’s hometown, where we were founded a little more than 90 years ago and have maintained an unwavering commitment ever since. It is a city whose storied history of innovation and invention, arts and industry has for too long been overshadowed by anguishing accounts of political
- [2014 CEP Grantee Perception Survey](https://kresge.org/resource/2014-cep-grantee-perception-survey/) - A report by The Center for Effective Philanthropy commissioned by The Kresge Foundation.
- [Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit – Information Session (PPT)](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-innovative-projects-detroit-information-session-ppt/) - Slides presented at an information session for Round 2 of Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit at TechTown in Detroit on November, 13, 2015. This is a three-year, $5 million initiative to fund Detroit-based nonprofits in transformative projects across the city.
- [From listening to action: The Kresge Foundation Responds to Grantees’ Assessment of the Foundation’s Responsiveness, Transparency and Effectiveness](https://kresge.org/resource/from-listening-to-action-the-kresge-foundation-responds-to-grantees-assessment-of-the-foundations-responsiveness-transparency-and-effectiveness/) - The Kresge Foundation enlisted the Center for Effective Philanthropy in the spring of 2014 to conduct a Grantee Perception Report (GPR). The report, which is compiled from a comprehensive "customer satisfaction" survey, is widely commissioned by foundations to gather actionable feedback from grantees and declined applicants and to promote transparency both inside a particular foundation
- [2011 Audited Financial Statements](https://kresge.org/resource/2011-audited-financial-statements/) - The full set of audited financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2011. (2012). The Kresge Foundation. In addition: 2011 Annual Tax Return, Form 990-PF Readers Guide to the 2011 Form 990-PF
- [2012 Audited Financial Statements](https://kresge.org/resource/2012-audited-financial-statements/) - The full set of audited financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2012. (2013). The Kresge Foundation. In addition: 2012 Annual Tax Return, Form 990-PF Readers Guide to the 2012 Form 990-PF
- [2013 Audited Financial Statements](https://kresge.org/resource/2013-audited-financial-statements/) - The full set of audited financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2013. (2014). The Kresge Foundation. In addition: 2013 Annual Tax Return, Form 990-PF Readers Guide to the 2013 Form 990-PF
- [2014 Audited Financial Statements](https://kresge.org/resource/2014-audited-financial-statements/) - The full set of audited financial statements for the year ended Dec. 31, 2014. (2015). The Kresge Foundation. In addition: 2014 Annual Tax Return, Form 990-PF Readers Guide to the 2014 Form 990-PF
- [“Fresh, Local & Equitable” webinar](https://kresge.org/resource/fresh-local-equitable-webinar/) - PowerPoint presentation given on Dec. 7, 2015 explaining the grant opportunity, “Fresh, Local & Equitable: Food as a Creative Platform for Neighborhood Revitalization." Kresge is awarding up to 20 planning grants of up to $75,000 each in the first quarter of 2016 as part of the initiative. View webinar
- [Make your community a healthy place](https://kresge.org/resource/make-your-community-a-healthy-place/) - Our Health Program provided funding for the 2012 public television miniseries “Designing Healthy Communities,” hosted by Dr. Richard Jackson, a public health advocate who in recent years has focused on the man-made environment. The series highlights the ways the built environment – the spaces where we live, work and play – contributes to obesity, chronic
- [Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative learning event](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-resilience-and-urban-opportunity-initiative-learning-event/) - Kresge’s Environment Program hosts a peer-learning event in Berkeley, Calif. with grantees from its Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative Jan. 26-28. Participants include representatives from 17 nonprofit organizations awarded nine-month planning grants in late 2014. The grants support the development of multiyear work plans aimed at driving large-scale shifts in how their communities approach
- [Community Investment – Focusing on the System Worksheets](https://kresge.org/resource/community-investment-focusing-on-the-system-worksheets/) - The Kresge Foundation and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation are sponsoring a project designed to improve the ability of cities to attract and deploy socially motivated investment capital at scale. These worksheets, from "Community Investment: Focusing on a Solution," are part of an ongoing series of publications on capital absorption, resulting from the
- [Community Investment – Focusing on the System](https://kresge.org/resource/community-investment-focusing-on-the-system/) - The Kresge Foundation and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation are sponsoring a project designed to improve the ability of cities to attract and deploy socially motivated investment capital at scale. This paper is part of an ongoing series of publications on capital absorption, resulting from the work of Robin Hacke, a senior fellow
- [Insights and Lessons | Community Arts and College Arts](https://kresge.org/resource/insights-and-lessons-community-arts-and-college-arts/) - In a report for The Kresge Foundation, Ann McQueen and Julia Gittleman examine two pilot initiatives launched at the time of the Great Recession in the U.S. The foundation's Arts and Culture Program undertook a pair of initiatives – Community Arts and College Arts – as a way to challenge communities to use art and
- [Kresge Foundation peer-learning event | Conversation with Rip Rapson](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-foundation-peer-learning-event-conversation-with-rip-rapson/) - Representatives of nonprofit organizations awarded grants through Kresge’s Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity Initiative, and other foundation partners, gathered to discuss ways to strengthen climate-resilience in low-income communities. This conversation was part of a two-day convening. Rip Rapson, Kresge's president and CEO, spoke with Marian Urquilla as part of the convening.
- [American Public Health Association panel on Kresge Foundation initiative](https://kresge.org/resource/american-public-health-association-panel-on-kresge-foundation-initiative/) - A panel discussion at the American Public Health Association’s national conference, November 2014, in New Orleans. The subject was The Kresge Foundation’s Safety-Net Enhancement Initiative, a multiyear effort undertaken in eight communities across the U.S. Also: See a photo slideshow from the event
- [Reducing Environmental Exposures in Child Care Facilities | A Review of State Policy](https://kresge.org/resource/reducing-environmental-exposures-in-child-care-facilities-a-review-of-state-policy/) - The child care environment is central to the healthy development of millions of young children who receive care outside their homes. Along with creating a safe, nurturing and stimulating child care program, protecting children from exposure to indoor environmental contaminants is critical to advancing the core goals of early care and education. Released in January,
- [Arts and Culture in Detroit: Central to Our Past and Our Future](https://kresge.org/resource/arts-and-culture-in-detroit-central-to-our-past-and-our-future/) - Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson wrote this article on the role of arts and culture in Detroit's revitalization for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's journal Community Development Investment Review. See the complete issue of the Community Development Investment Review, volume 10, issue 2.
- [Primary Protection: Enhancing Health Care Resilience for a Changing Climate](https://kresge.org/resource/primary-protection-enhancing-health-care-resilience-for-a-changing-climate/) - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services includes case studies from hospitals, nursing homes and other residential health facilities that have experienced or sustained damage from extreme weather events, and gathers together their collective responses into a set of emerging best practices. It is coauthored by John Balbus of the National Institute of Environmental
- [Kresge letter to HUD opposes proposed changes to Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-letter-to-hud-opposes-proposed-changes-to-affirmatively-furthering-fair-housing-rule/) - Kresge President and CEO Rip Rapson sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development opposing the Trump administration’s proposed changes to the 2015 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule. This letter was sent as part of a public comment period that closed on March 16, 2020.
- [Guide to using FLUXX to apply for Detroit Arts Support 2019](https://kresge.org/resource/guide-to-using-fluxx-to-apply-for-detroit-arts-support-2019/) - A guide to using The Kresge Foundation's FLUXX portal to apply for grants in the 2019 round of Detroit Arts Support, a joint application for The Kresge Foundation, Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation, Hudson-Webber Foundation, and DeRoy Testamentary Foundation.
- [Climate Commitment Press Release](https://kresge.org/resource/climate-commitment-press-release/) - Twenty-nine philanthropic funders including The Kresge Foundation committed $4 billion in funding to combat climate change mitigation during the next five years. The annoucement was made Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco. This joint press release announces the pledge, and explains the critical need to aggressively address climate change.
- [Kresge at Global Climate Action Summit](https://kresge.org/resource/kresge-at-global-climate-action-summit/) - The Kresge Environment Program, as well as grantees and partners, are well represented at the Global Climate Action Summit Sept. 12-14, 2018. This primer explains where to find them!
- [Photo gallery from 2016 CRUO Convening](https://kresge.org/resource/photo-gallery-from-2016-cruo-convening/) - We've assembled a gallery of photographs from The Kresge Foundation's 2016 convening of grantees under the Climate Resilienc and Urban Opportunity convening in Chicago. Most photos are from our dinner gathering at the Stony Island Arts Bank.

## Convenings

- [Reclaiming the Moment: Using Cultural Power and Policy to Advance Climate & Health Justice](https://kresge.org/convening/reclaiming-the-moment-using-cultural-power-and-policy-to-advance-climate-health-justice/) - Overview Resources CCHE 2026 Convening The CCHE 2026 Convening, “Reclaiming the Moment: Using Cultural Power and Policy to Advance Climate & Health Justice,” will bring together grantees and partners from across the initiative to connect with one another and share more about the powerful work taking place at the intersection of climate change, health, and
- [2026 Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) Convening](https://kresge.org/convening/2026-climate-resilient-equitable-water-systems-crews-convening/) - Overview Resources What to Expect We are excited to invite The Kresge Foundation Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) Community to gather with us in New Orleans, Louisiana from March 23-25, 2026. We are honored that you would consider attending, especially as we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the CREWS initiative! We look forward
- [Our Urban Future: The Next Era of Making Change in America’s Cities](https://kresge.org/convening/our-urban-future/) - America’s cities are home to committed urban changemakers. Over the next decade, these changemakers will need to simultaneously address three essential challenges: racial repair and healing, climate adaptation and resilience, and economic mobility and abundance. As part of our centennial year, The Kresge Foundation hosted a powerful conference that centered the people and places seeking
- [2024 Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) Convening](https://kresge.org/convening/2024-climate-resilient-equitable-water-systems-crews-convening/) - Overview Agenda Speakers Resources What to Expect We are excited to invite The Kresge Foundation Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) Community to gather with us in Detroit, Michigan for our 6th annual CREWS Convening! We’re delighted to be hosting this year’s CREWS Convening in partnership with the Kresge Climate Change & Health Equity
- [Elders, Yelders & Young Leaders: Intergenerational Care & Movement Building for Climate and Health](https://kresge.org/convening/elders-yelders-young-leaders-intergenerational-care-movement-building-for-climate-and-health/) - Overview Agenda Speakers Resources CCHE Fall 2024 Convening The Climate Change, Health & Equity Initiative’s 2024 Convening, “Elders, Yelders & Young Leaders: Intergenerational Care and Movement Building for Climate and Health,” will be held September 17-20 in Detroit, Michigan. At this final in-person gathering for the current initiative, grantees and partners from across the initiative
- [Detroit & The American City Symposium](https://kresge.org/convening/detroit-the-american-city-symposium/) - Overview Agenda Speakers June 11, 2024 — The Garden Theatre 9.a.m. to 3 p.m. Join us at the Detroit & the American City Symposium to discuss the future we are building together in Detroit. Local and national experts will tell a story of Detroit as a place of deep history with immense possibilities. The Symposium
- [The Kresge Foundation’s Creative Practice Site Visit: Oakland 2024](https://kresge.org/convening/the-kresge-foundations-creative-practice-site-visit-oakland-2024/) - Overview Agenda Participants Travel Guidance Monday, April 22 – Tuesday, April 23, 2024 The Kresge Foundation’s Arts & Culture Program welcomes you to a Creative Practice Site Visit in Oakland, CA. This visit aims to provide an immersive engagement with our small network of leading practitioners to explore promising practices for cultural preservation, affordable housing
- [PHEARLESS 2023](https://kresge.org/convening/phearless-2023/) - Overview Agenda Speakers Resources For Module 2 of the PHEARLESS initiative, we headed to Albuquerque, New Mexico to network, share best practices, and learn strategies to continue facilitating the emergence and sustainability of leaders who serve the well-being of all. We opened with a discussion on inclusive negotiation to learn about the context, channels, and
- [CREWS 2023 Convening](https://kresge.org/convening/crews-2023-convening/) - Overview Agenda Speakers Resources What to Expect We are excited to invite our CREWS Community of Learning Partners to gather with us in Tucson, Arizona, from November 12-14 for our 5th annual Climate Resilient & Equitable Water Systems (CREWS) Convening. We will host the CREWS Convening again in concert with the US Water Alliance’s One
- [Helping Communities Make the Most of Historic Public Investment](https://kresge.org/convening/helping-communities-make-the-most-of-historic-public-investment/) - Overview Agenda Speakers Resources A joint summit of Brookings Metro and The Kresge Foundation In the two years since the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), leaders in cities and states spearheaded efforts to achieve an inclusive U.S. recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. These historic
- [Centering Racial Justice and Health Equity: The Power of Communities to Drive Climate Policy and Practice](https://kresge.org/convening/centering-racial-justice-and-health-equity-the-power-of-communities-to-drive-climate-policy-and-practice/) - Overview Agenda Speakers Resources CCHE Spring 2023 Convening The Climate Change, Health & Equity Initiative 2023 Spring Convening, “Centering Racial Justice and Health Equity: The Power of Communities to Shift Climate Policy and Practice,” held April 17-19, 2023 in San Diego, California, brought together grantees and partners from across the initiative to reconnect with one
- [BASED 2023 Convening](https://kresge.org/convening/based-2023-convening/) - Overview Agenda Speakers Resources What to Expect We are excited to welcome our grantee partners to the 2023 BASED Convening, “The Celebration: A Convening of Possibilities.” The Kresge BASED Convening will be a virtual event held May 2-3, 2023, bringing together community development practitioners inspired by creative practice to form dialogues around activism and rest,
- [CREWS 2022 Convening](https://kresge.org/convening/crews-2022-convening/) - Overview Agenda Speakers Resources What to Expect We are so excited and thankful you can join us for the 4th Annual CREWS Convening in Milwaukee on September 12-13, 2022. Considering this is our first in-person convening since 2019, we want to make the best use of your time. With that in mind, the objectives of

## Thrive Leaders

- [Raj Rajan](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/raj-rajan/) - Founder of CoverPoint Partners, focused on providing support from capital to operations expertise in education-fintech. Experience includes 18 years as the Founder & CEO of Ceannate Corp and several companies in education loan servicing and collections, mental health, and other SaaS platforms including government improper payment error reduction. Portfolio companies include www.Meta.app, IonTuition.com and CoverCloud.com.
- [John Branam](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/john-branam/) - John Branam is the executive director of Get Schooled, a national nonprofit whose mission is to help young people – especially underserved and those from low-income families – get to college, find first jobs, and succeed in both through a unique blend of compelling digital content and personalized support. Founded in 2010, Get Schooled engaged 280K
- [Stephanie Bell-Rose](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/stephanie-bell-rose/) - Stephanie Bell-Rose is a philanthropy, governance, and corporate professional who serves as president of The Steve Fund. She is a co-founder of The Fund and has served on its board since its inception to promote the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color as they transition from adolescence into higher education, throughout
- [Raylynn Henry](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/raylynn-henry/) - Dr. Henry is an experienced Student-Centered Educational Leader with a demonstrated history of working in K-12 schools, non-profit organizations, out-of-school time sectors, and various colleges. She has been in the Educational Field for 15+ years and has worked for well-known organizations such as Focus: HOPE, Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program (DAPCEP), Wayne County Community College,
- [Diana Maldonado](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/diana-maldonado/) - Best-selling author, speaker, and business strategist, Diana Maldonado shares stories from her journey in politics and impact in the public sector through the lens of a Latina in Central Texas. Diana has an established record for accomplishing the “impossible” while building lasting relationships. As CEO of Maldonado Strategies, her sharp insight for pinpointing incongruencies, combined
- [Carlos Ayala](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/carlos-cuauhtemoc-ayala/) - Dr. Carlos Ayala is a longtime educator, administrator, and former Dean of California State University, Sonoma’s College of Education. He began his academic work as a chemist, science and math teacher, small business owner, and school principal in Calexico, California. Dr. Ayala brings deep knowledge of the education landscape, strong leadership, and a passion for
- [David McGee](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/david-mcgee/) - David R. McGhee is an experienced change agent and servant leader in the nonprofit, government, higher education, and philanthropic sectors. He is dedicated to empowering marginalized communities and strongly advocates for the well-being of children, youth, families, and communities. McGhee has held leadership roles in prominent organizations such as The Schultz Family Foundation and The
- [Danielle D. North](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/danielle-d-north/) - North is a wife, mother of three, long-distance runner, author and serial entrepreneur. North is a first-generation college graduate and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Sociology from Central Michigan University. North is a cradle to career education and strategic consultant that specializes in public speaking, strategic planning, diversity, equity and inclusion professional development
- [Charles Imohiosen](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/charles-imohiosen/) - Charles Imohiosen is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Andrew Goodman Foundation. A long-time AGF Board Member, Charles is an entrepreneurial executive with an extensive multidisciplinary strategy and operations background that bridges the private and public sectors. Charles’ public sector career has spanned federal, state and local, government, including serving as Chief Operating Officer
- [Anita I. Martinez](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/anita-i-martinez/) - Anita I. Martinez is the Executive Director of the Michigan Hispanic Collaborative (MiHC) and leads the organization’s strategic way forward. In this role, Anita focuses on economic equity to provide first-generation ambitious and underserved Hispanic students with support to and through college. Foundational to all strategies, Anita ensures programming implemented has a culturally relevant, 2-generation
- [Michele Siqueiros](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/michele-siqueiros/) - Since its founding in 2004, Michele Siqueiros has been the driving force behind the Campaign for College Opportunity, a California based nonprofit policy advocacy and research organization committed to ensuring more students can go to college and succeed. The daughter of a seamstress who then became the first in her family to go to college,
- [Anne Vasquez](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/anne-vasquez/) - Anne Vasquez took the helm as EdSource’s chief executive in May 2021. Previously, she served as Director of Content and Strategic Initiatives at EdSource. In that role, she helped shape editorial strategy, grow partnerships and expand the organization’s footprint throughout California. Prior to joining EdSource, Anne was an executive at Tribune Publishing, where she most
- [Erin Wheeler](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/erin-wheeler/) - Thrive Leaders Alumni Erin Wheeler, Ph.D., is Executive Director of College Beyond, a New Orleans-based nonprofit whose mission is to help students get to and through college. A native of Amite, LA, and a first-generation college graduate, Erin earned a B.S. in biology from Southeastern Louisiana University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in STEM Education
- [Harry L. Williams, Ph.D.](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/harry-l-williams-ph-d/) - Dr. Harry L. Williams serves as President & CEO of Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), the nation’s foremost organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. Leading TMCF, Dr. Williams oversees its 53 member schools, comprising America’s publicly supported Historically Black Colleges (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs), collectively educating 80% of students attending HBCUs. Under
- [Kyle Westbrook](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/kyle-westbrook/) - Kyle Westbrook is an experienced education, non-profit, and policy executive with close to 30 years of experience serving students and communities in Chicago and Illinois. His experiences have cut across K-12, higher education, and city government. Kyle is the Executive Director of EdSystems Center at Northern Illinois University, a policy development and program implementation center
- [Soilo Felix](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/soilo-felix/) - Soilo Felix assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer at the Be A Leader Foundation (BALF) in Phoenix, AZ in April 2022. With over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management and leadership, as well as youth development, Soilo brings a wealth of expertise to his position. As a first-generation college graduate, he
- [Alexandra Bernadotte](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/alexandra-bernadotte/) - Alexandra (Alex) Bernadotte is the founder and chief executive officer of Beyond 12, a technology-enabled nonprofit that integrates personalized coaching with mobile technology to increase the number of traditionally underserved students who graduate from college and translate their degrees into meaningful employment and choice-filled lives. She has over 18 years of executive management and strategic
- [Jermaine Myrie](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/jermaine-myrie/) - Jermaine Myrie joined MENTOR in April 2023 as the organization’s CEO. Jermaine is an innovative and mission-driven leader with 20+ years of leadership experience across the nonprofit, for-profit and education sectors. Prior to joining MENTOR, Jermaine served as the chief external affairs officer for uAspire, a national nonprofit focused on college access and affordability, where he
- [Lisette Nieves](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/lisette-nieves/) - Lisette Nieves is currently the President of the Fund for the City of New York (FCNY), an institution charged with developing and helping to implement innovations in policy, programs, practices, and technology in order to advance the functioning of government and nonprofit organizations in New York City and beyond. Key FCNY programs include the Cash
- [Eddie Lincoln](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/eddie-lincoln/) - Eddie Lincoln, the CEO of Rainier Scholars, is a passionate champion for students who have historically been denied access and support to reach their full academic potential. For over 13 years, Eddie has dismantled systemic barriers and eliminated opportunity gaps, enabling thousands of students to pursue their dreams. Eddie took on the CEO role at
- [Donald Kamentz](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/donald-kamentz/) - Donald Kamentz is a skilled facilitator and education consultant utilizing his diverse experiences in both non-profit management and K-12 education to help organizations best serve all student populations. As the Founder & CEO of Contigo Ed, he brings his over 30+ years of diverse experiences and passion of working in the postsecondary access and success
- [Ekaterina Struett](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/ekaterina-struett/) - Ekaterina Struett was appointed as Chief Executive Officer by College Advising Corps’ Board of Directors on August 1, 2022. She served as Interim CEO from May 2021 through July 2022. Ekaterina serves as a liaison with strategic partners and is responsible for creating and maintaining collaborative relationships with CAC staff members, the CAC Board of
- [Michael Lomax, Ph.D.](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/michael-lomax-ph-d/) - Since 2004, Dr. Michael L. Lomax has served as president and CEO of UNCF, the nation’s largest private provider of scholarships and other educational support to African American students and a leading advocate of college readiness: students’ need for an education, from pre-school through high school, that prepares them for college success. Under his leadership,
- [Amanda Said Canto ](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/amanda-said-canto/) - Amanda Said Canto is the Chief of Staff and Acting Executive Director of Michigan Hispanic Collaborative (MiHC), where she oversees the organization’s strategic direction and manages several program initiatives. Since its inception in 2018, Amanda has been an integral part of the organization, contributing in various capacities and witnessing its growth firsthand. In her previous
- [Afi Y. Wiggins, Ph.D](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/afi-y-wiggins-ph-d/) - Afi Wiggins, a veteran in P20 education research and practice, serves as the managing director of the Charles A. Dana Center. With decades of experience, she leads the development and implementation of evidence-based strategies for systemic educational reform. Afi drives initiatives that empower learners to enhance their social and economic mobility, promoting nationwide improvements in
- [Robert Espinoza](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/robert-espinoza/) - A national expert in workforce, aging, and caregiving issues for more than 25 years, Robert Espinoza is currently the Chief Executive Officer at National Skills Coalition, which fights for state and federal policies that promote inclusive, high-quality skills training so that workers across industries access a better life and local businesses see sustained growth. Prior
- [Cheryl Watson-Harris, Ph.D.](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/cheryl-watson-harris-ph-d/) - Dr. Cheryl Watson-Harris stands as an exemplar of educational leadership and a tireless advocate for equity, with more than three decades of transformative experience within and beyond the classroom. Presently, Dr. Watson-Harris serves as the President/Executive Director of Achieve Atlanta, a nonprofit organization helping Atlanta Public Schools students access, afford, and earn postsecondary credentials and
- [Sheila Sarem](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/53424/) - Sheila is the founder of Basta - an organization bridging the employment gap for first-generation college students of color. She launched the organization in 2016 and they have since become a trailblazer in transforming the education to career landscape for first-gen college students. Prior to Basta, Sheila served as Director of the National Leadership Recruitment
- [Kathy Chow](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/kathy-chow/) - Kathy has more than 15 years in nonprofit leadership with various nonprofits and membership associations. Her professional career has demonstrated a commitment to and passion for journalism and the importance of elevating underrepresented voices. For eight years, Kathy served as executive director of the Asian American Journalists Association, where she closed a budget deficit, expanded
- [Brandon Nicholson](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/david-johnson/) - An Oakland native, Brandon Nicholson is Chief Executive Officer of The Hidden Genius Project. He has dedicated his life to promoting equity in the public realm, particularly in the education space. In his previous stint as a senior evaluator and consultant, Brandon conducted research, evaluation, and consulted on a range of projects related to intersections
- [Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/tani-g-cantil-sakauye/) - Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye President and CEO, Public Policy Institute of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye is president and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that works to improve public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research. She assumed this role in January 2023. Prior to joining PPIC,
- [Dr. Siva Kumari](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/dr-siva-kumari/) - Dr. Siva Kumari started as CEO of College Possible in May of 2023. College Possible is among the largest college access and success organizations in the U.S. It has grown from a single regional office in St. Paul, MN to eight regional sites nationwide, and a growing suite of programs designed to enable students from
- [Rashawn Davis](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/rashawn-davis/) - Rashawn Davis is the Executive Director at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. Rashawn is an experienced leader, practitioner, and advisor, with a passion for social justice and a deep commitment to closing societal gaps that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. As the former Director of the Racial Justice Labs at Change.org, Rashawn spearheaded the investment of millions
- [Nicole Lynn Lewis](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/nicole-lynn-lewis/) - Nicole Lynn Lewis serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Generation Hope, an organization which she founded in March 2010. As CEO, Nicole oversees all aspects of Generation Hope’s operations. To ensure all student parents have the opportunities to succeed and experience economic mobility, Generation Hope engages education and policy partners to drive systemic change
- [Mary-Pat Hector](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/mary-pat-hector/) - Mary-Pat Hector, born in Atlanta, graduated from Spelman College and Georgia State University. She began community organizing at the age of 12 years old. At the age of 18, she was one of the youngest community leaders to advise President Barack Obama on criminal justice reform in the oval office. By the age of 19,
- [Jorge Elorza](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/jorge-elorza/) - Jorge Elorza is Chief Executive Officer of Democrats for Education Reform. He served two terms as mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, where he undertook bold actions to advance a social and racial justice agenda. This included taking the unprecedented step to engage the state Department of Education to turn around the city’s chronically underperforming school
- [Cyekeia Lee](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/cyekeia-lee/) - Cyekeia Lee is the Executive Director of the Detroit College Access Network (DCAN), overseeing college access support for over 50 high schools in Detroit. In this role, she brings together school districts, community-based organizations, and workforce partners to make postsecondary pathways a reality for all students. In her most recent position, she was the director
- [Clara Baron-Hyppolite](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/clara-baron-hyppolite/) - Clara Baron-Hyppolite is an accomplished, mission-driven leader who serves as the executive director of College Beyond. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Neural Computation from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine from the Boston University School of Medicine. With a specialization in
- [Braulio Colón](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/braulio-colon/) - Braulio Colón is an experienced non-profit executive and education system-change strategist. His over 20 years of leadership experience has focused on Florida state-based programmatic and policy development work at the state agency, university, community-based, and philanthropic levels. Colón is co-founder and Executive Director at Florida College Access Network, an independent statewide organization hosted by the
- [Dr. Angel B. Pérez](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/dr-angel-b-perez/) - Dr. Angel B. Pérez is CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). In this role, he represents over 27,000 admission and counseling professionals worldwide committed to postsecondary access and success. He is the primary voice of the association to government, media, and global partners. Pérez is recognized as a national thought leader
- [Aditi Goel](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/aditi-goel/) - Aditi Goel brings over 20 years of nonprofit and education expertise to the work of solving critical problems around equity and opportunity. The unique multi-sector experience Aditi has from her leadership at Google where she designed + launched CodeNext, leading the education policy and program portfolio at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, WestEd, and as
- [Aneesh Sohoni](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/aneesh-sohoni/) - Aneesh is the child of immigrants and was compelled to begin his career in education because of the meaningful role access to educational opportunities played in his family’s life. He started as a high school English teacher. It was his experience working with his students that brought to life for Aneesh the limitless potential of
- [Carrie L. Billy](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/carrie-l-billy/) - Carrie Billy, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and attorney from Arizona, was appointed President & CEO of AIHEC June 2008. Carrie is a graduate of the University of Arizona and the Georgetown University Law Center. Her career reflects a commitment to public service, as seen through her work on behalf of the 37
- [Celina Moreno](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/celina-moreno/) - Celina Moreno, J.D., is president and CEO of the Intercultural Development Research Association in San Antonio, Texas, an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to equity and excellence in education. IDRA works with school systems, institutions of higher education and communities across the country to create education that works for all children, particularly those who are students
- [Cheryl Crazy Bull](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/cheryl-crazy-bull/) - Cheryl Crazy Bull, Wacinyanpi Win (They Depend on Her), a citizen of the Sicangu Lakota nation, is President and CEO of the American Indian College Fund, a role she has held since 2012. A lifelong educator and community activist, Cheryl advocates for self-determination focused on Native voice, philosophy, and traditions as the heart of the
- [Christopher Whitmore](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/christopher-whitmore/) - Born in Alameda County and raised in Richmond, Christopher is a proud product of the City of Richmond and the East Bay. Equally driven by the racial, educational, health, and economic disparities he experienced around him and the dedication he saw throughout the community to secure a more equitable future for the city, Christopher aspired
- [David J. Johns](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/david-j-johns/) - David Johns is the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black LGBTQ+/SGL people, including people living with HIV/AIDS. Johns was appointed the first executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans by President Barack Obama and served from 2013-2017. Johns
- [Deborah Santiago](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/deborah-santiago/) - Deborah A. Santiago is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Excelencia in Education, America's premier authority on efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education. As an innovator, thought leader, and educational visionary, she has led research and advanced evidence-based practices and strategies for more than 20 years at national levels to improve educational
- [Denise Forte](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/denise-forte/) - Denise Forte is the CEO at The Education Trust, a national advocacy organization often described as “the most important truth teller” in American public education. As one of the country’s leading voices on education equity, Denise is a fierce advocate for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. She is on the forefront of
- [Heather Wathington](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/heather-wathington/) - Dr. Heather Deneen Wathington’s background is a unique blend of education, research, and philanthropy that has focused on students in underserved communities. She has served as the past president at Girard College, a historic boarding school in Philadelphia, and the chief executive officer at See Forever Foundation and the Maya Angelou Schools in Washington, DC.
- [Jaclyn Piñero](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/jaclyn-pinero/) - As uAspire's chief executive officer, Jaclyn’s core responsibilities are strategic leadership and governance, organizational and people management, external relations, and fundraising. Jaclyn has been a key member of uAspire’s executive leadership team since 2017. Previously, as chief regional officer, Jaclyn strengthened uAspire’s influence and coordinated our impact in Massachusetts, New York City, and the San
- [Javaid Siddiqi](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/javaid-siddiqi/) - Former Virginia Secretary of Education Dr. Javaid Siddiqi is the President and CEO of The Hunt Institute. During his tenure The Institute has more than tripled its staff and has expanded its scope of work beyond K-12 to include the entire education continuum from early childhood to postsecondary and the workforce. Javaid works with the
- [John C. Jones](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/john-jones/) - In fall 2020, Rev. John C. Jones was named HOPE Toledo president by the HOPE Toledo board, which is chaired by Wendi Huntley, Esq. As a Toledo native, Jones knows first-hand the impact quality education can make on an individual, a family and the broader community. Prior to taking the position with HOPE Toledo, Jones
- [John Simpkins](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/john-simpkins/) - John works with the entire MDC team to set strategy, shape our portfolio of work, and engage with partners and the public around the urgent challenge of eliminating disparities to build a South where all people can thrive. Before coming to MDC in 2020, John held various leadership roles in efforts to promote equity, access,
- [C. Nicole Mason](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/c-nicole-mason/) - As one of the nation’s foremost intersectional researchers and scholars, Dr. C. Nicole Mason brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of experience to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. For the past two decades, Dr. Mason has spearheaded research on issues relating to economic security, poverty, women’s issues, and entitlement reforms; policy formation and
- [Gary Linnen](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/gary-linnen/) - Gary Z. Linnen is the CEO of PeerForward, following its original co-founders. Mr. Linnen has steered PeerForward’s programs for more than a decade, cultivating deep experience in youth development, program innovation, and organizational leadership. He has contributed to virtually every function of the organization, from designing and facilitating workshops for educators and students to fostering
- [Kristin McGuire](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/kristin-mcguire/) - As Executive Director of Young Invincibles, the nation’s largest young adult policy and advocacy organization, Kristin McGure leads the charge to amplify the voices of young adults in the political process and expand their economic opportunity. Kristin McGuire is a bold changemaker who has dedicated her life to ensuring that the most disadvantaged populations have
- [Larry Irvin](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/larry-irvin/) - Larry, a 2021 TED Fellow, is the chief executive officer and co-founder of Brothers Empowered to Teach (BE2T). He is the chief fundraiser and ensures that the vision and culture match the mission. Larry is the creator and mastermind of ‘The Cipher’, which is BE2T’s in-house personal and professional development space. Before this role, Larry
- [Linda Garcia](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/linda-garcia/) - Linda García is the Executive Director of the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) at The University of Texas at Austin (UT). Prior to this role, she served as the Assistant Director of College Relations at CCCSE. Previously, Linda was Vice President of Community College Relations at the Roueche Graduate Center at National American
- [Melissa Connelly](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/melissa-connelly/) - Melissa Connelly is the CEO of OneGoal, a national postsecondary access and success organization. Prior to becoming CEO, Melissa served as the organization’s first Chief Program Officer. In this role, she was responsible for executing the programmatic vision to ensure all students have an equitable opportunity to earn a postsecondary degree or credential. As a
- [Sarita Brown](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/sarita-brown/) - Sarita E. Brown is Co-founder & President of Excelencia in Education, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to accelerating Latino success in higher education by linking research, policy, and practice to serve Latino students. A recognized leader and advocate for equity in higher education, she began her career at the University of Texas at Austin, where
- [Stephanie McGencey](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/stephanie-mcgencey/) - Dr. Stephanie McGencey is a staunch advocate for children, youth, families, and communities. She is the Executive Director of the American Youth Policy Forum, a national, nonprofit organization that works to educate, engage, and inform policymakers and practitioners about education, youth, and workforce policies to improve the lives and outcomes of traditionally underserved youth. She
- [Steven Colón](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/steven-colon/) - Steve guides the overall direction and strategic priorities of the organization, with the goal of educational equity for all students and opening doors for the many whose potential and drive exceed their opportunity. Before joining Bottom Line, Steve was the Senior Vice President of Organization-Wide Learning and Strategy for Teach For America (TFA). His work
- [Su Jin Jez](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/su-jin-jez/) - As Executive Director, Su Jin leads California Competes's work to develop nonpartisan and financially pragmatic recommendations for improved higher education and workforce policies and practices across California. Prior to joining California Competes, she served as a professor of public policy and administration at California State University, Sacramento. She also served as the Director of the
- [Tyrone Bledsoe](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/tyrone-bledsoe/) - Dr. Bledsoe is the founder of Student African American Brotherhood (SAAB), a national organization established to enhance the experiences of and instill a “spirit of care” in African American males in high schools, colleges and universities around the country. Dr. Bledsoe served as Vice President for Student Life and Special Assistant to the President at
- [Yolanda Watson Spiva](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/yolanda-watson-spiva/) - Dr. Watson Spiva’s more than 30-year career in postsecondary education spans a range of executive leadership, general management, the federal government, public affairs, operations and academic officer positions. Dr. Spiva serves as the President of Complete College America (CCA). Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, CCA is a bold national advocate for dramatically increasing college completion rates
- [Yoon S. Choi](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/yoon-s-choi/) - Dr. Yoon Choi drives her vision to improve outcomes for underrepresented youth with more than a decade of leadership in education non-profits. Her career demonstrates a track record of creating organizational scalability by building partnerships with funders, community organizations, and schools. As CEO of CollegeSpring, she has led the organization to triple the number of
- [Niamani Mutima](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/niamani-mutima/) - Throughout her career, Niamani has developed a reputation for her skill in connecting people and ideas. She joined AGAG in 2001 and has guided its evolution from an idea to a vibrant network, working in partnership with the Steering Committee, members, and other colleagues working at the intersection of philanthropy and Africa. Before joining AGAG
- [Noel Harmon](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/noel-harmon/) - Noël Harmon is President and Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American Scholars, formerly, the Asian Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund. She joined the organization in June 2018. Harmon comes to APIA Scholars from Say Yes to Education, where she was Senior Vice President for Strategic Partnerships. Harmon has also held positions at the Brookings
- [Sameer Gadkaree](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/sameer-gadkaree/) - Sameer has been a leader in college access and success for over a decade. Most recently, Sameer was a Senior Program Officer at the Joyce Foundation, where he led the philanthropy’s efforts on higher education. His portfolio focused on addressing racial and economic disparities in college access, including improving the longstanding racial disparities in access
- [Shareea Woods](https://kresge.org/thrive-leader/shareea-woods/) - Shareea is the director of the Texas College Access Network (TxCAN). TxCAN convenes Local College Access Networks to facilitate the rapid adoption of promising practices. It also serves as a data hub for college access programs by providing interactive FAFSA dashboards and other benchmarking tools. Prior to joining the Educate Texas team in 2018, Shareea

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## Cohorts

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## Decades

- [1920s](https://kresge.org/news-views/decade/1920s/)
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