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 or activate something new through refreshed offerings of Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus.

Applications for KIP:D+ grants are open through March 27 for sums of up to $150,000 for organizations ready to receive the funds to complete a project within the 24-month grant period. By August 2024, the KIP:D+ team anticipates awarding approximately 10-20 total grants of varying amounts in two grant categories:

• Implementation: Ideal for organizations with a complete project plan
• Planning & Implementation: Ideal for organizations still finalizing plans and will be able to use funds to launch once complete

Applications for planning-only and pre-planning grants will not be considered in this round of applications.

Applicants can contact Michigan Community Resources (MCR) for one-on-one support for any application-related questions.

The decision to focus grant dollars on these project categories followed a review by Co.act Detroit and Michigan Community Resources (partners in KIP:D+) in conjunction with a new advisory group made up of residents from all districts of Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. The goal of the advisory group was to make recommendations on eligibility criteria, award structure, selection and application processes, fund administration and grant timeline.

Hamtramck-based advisory group member Akua Hill had a positive experience shaping the refreshed KIP:D+ program. “The group was made up of a range of thought leaders representing different sectors and identities, including folks who had gone through the KIP:D+ application process in the past and hadn’t been granted. To me, that signaled a commitment to really understanding what could be improved from the mouths of people who had actually gone through the experience.”

Added Hill: “The advisory group’s recommendations have the potential to ensure that under-resourced organizations, neighborhoods, and projects have the possibility to access funding and capacity building support. … I think there is still more work to be done around assessing the impact of these recommendations, as well as developing accountability measures to maintain the integrity of the whole ecosystem.”

Funded by The Kresge Foundation, KIP:D+ is administered by Co.act Detroit in partnership with Michigan Community Resources (MCR). Michigan Community Resources will continue to provide trusted guidance, technical support, and thought partnership to KIP:D+ applicants and grantees, and to create experiences for grantees to convene in a mutually supportive network.

In 2017, Kresge began a partnership with MCR to support the Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit (KIP:D) ecosystem of applicants, grantees, and the community of grantees as cohorts. In 2021, Kresge transitioned administration of the program to Co.act, during which time the “Plus” was added to highlight the new collaboration and expansion of the program to include both Hamtramck and Highland Park. The 2023 round of KIP:D+ grants brings the total of granted projects and planning efforts to 184 – along with $13.7 million in total grant support dollars – since the effort launched in 2014.

Who can apply?

• Nonprofit organizations or community groups located in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park that serve communities of those cities
• Nonprofit organizations or community groups that align with KIP:D+ principles

Who can not apply?

• Individuals
• Funders (foundations, CDFIs, etc.)
• For-profit organizations (corporations, small businesses, LLCs, etc.)
• Public Entities including city departments and quasi-governmental organizations (businesses within or under government entities)
• Academic Institutions – community college, college and university programs that concentrate primarily on degree-granting activities
• Places of Worship – if the project doesn’t serve the community at large
• Schools – Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) schools, charter schools, etc.
• Organizations that have fewer than two years of experience working with and serving residents in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park
• Organizations that received a Planning and Implementation grant or Implementation grant in 2023 and are seeking funds for the same project in 2024
• If an organization received a Planning and Implementation or Implementation grant in 2023, it is still eligible to apply as part of a collaborative application (as long as it is are not the applicant of record).
• All 501c3 nonprofits that are not eligible to apply may be fiduciaries for eligible organizations or apply as part of a collaborative application if they are not the applicant of record.

Get ready!

Here are a few things you can do before filing an application:

1. Create an account on Submittable, our grant application and reporting software.

• Use the email address of your organization’s key contact who will manage all grant applications and related inquiries
• If you experience any technical difficulties with your application, contact [email protected]

2. Start thinking about your project budget. What amount do you need to be successful? Applicants can request up to $150,000.

• budget template for physical projects
• budget template for non-physical projects

3. Get inspired: Learn about past KIP:D grantees and their projects here.

4. Sign up for Co.act Detroit’s newsletter to be notified when applications open.

5. Start brainstorming about how to talk about your organization’s history of serving your community, clear goals for your project, and how it will impact those you serve.

• KIP:D+ looks for applicants that have a history working within, and are reflective of, the communities they serve. Projects that have clear and distinct goals, collaborative engagement processes that prioritize the vision of residents, and will provide a meaningful impact on the quality of life for Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park residents are the most competitive.

6. Ask questions: Are you a nonprofit but don’t have 501c3 status? Unsure about how to find the paperwork you need? Connect with MCR to discuss legal registration, fiduciary options or other application-related questions you may have. Contact MCR here: [email protected].