$12.2 Million Granted Across Alzheimer’s Research, Democracy, Arts, and Great Lakes Stewardship

As we move through our spenddown, we are investing with the present and future firmly in mind — ensuring the organizations we support have the stability and sufficient time needed so their vital work can continue on its own terms.

We are excited to announce $12.2 million in new and ongoing grants across Southeast Michigan and the Great Lakes region. These investments reflect our belief in the leaders and organizations that will continue shaping our communities long after our grantmaking ends.

“Every priority in this grants cycle — from accelerating Alzheimer’s research to protecting the Great Lakes, strengthening our democracy and sustaining the arts — reflects Fred and Barbara’s holistic vision for our region,” said Melissa Damaschke, president of the Fred & Barbara Erb Family Foundation. “As we move through our spenddown, we are dedicated to supporting these trusted organizations so that their impact continues for generations to come.”

 

Accelerating Alzheimer’s Research

For the Erb family, supporting Alzheimer’s research is deeply personal. Fred Erb lived with Alzheimer’s for the last 12 years of his life, a journey that gave the family firsthand experience with the devastating impact of the disease.

The Erb Family Foundation has prioritized funding research to find a cure. We awarded a $3.5 million grant to the Alzheimer’s Association to support the Part the Cloud research program.

Roughly 90% of developing Alzheimer’s therapies stall in what researchers call the “valley of death” — the tricky early development phase between laboratory discoveries and initial clinical trials where traditional funding is scarce. Part the Cloud was created specifically to bridge this gap. Since its inception, it has raised more than $100 million and funded 88 research projects across 12 countries, advancing dozens of promising studies toward viable treatments.

Our investment in this research program carries Fred and Barbara’s vision forward by helping to bring potential treatments out of the lab and closer to the families who need them.

 

Jazz Plays on in Detroit

Fred Erb had a lifelong love of jazz music, often listening for hours every day. In high school, he frequented jazz shows at Detroit’s Paradise Theater. Later, when he was in the army, he’d take the train to New York City and spend his evenings on 52nd Street where there were over 20 jazz clubs in a two-block area.

Back home, Detroit’s jazz scene was thriving. Ed Love began hosting local jazz shows in 1960 before joining WDET 101.9 FM in 1983 as the host of “Destination Jazz: The Ed Love Program.” Fred was an avid listener of the show for 43 years and a sponsor for over two decades. After many years of tuning in, Fred finally met Ed in person after recognizing his “magnificent voice” at Baker’s Keyboard Lounge, establishing a connection rooted in their shared love of jazz.

In honor of Ed Love and his contributions to jazz and Detroit, we are awarding a $200,000 legacy grant to Wayne State University to support WDET 101.9 FM and its jazz programming.

 

Investing in Fair, Accessible, and Secure Elections

A healthy democracy is foundational to all of the issues we care deeply about. Fred and Barbara believed a better future for Southeast Michigan required civic participation open to everyone. With Michigan’s midterm elections just around the corner, we’re proud to support organizations working to ensure that elections remain fair, secure, and accessible to every eligible voter:

• Detroit Disability Power: A $200,000 grant helps to train election officials and poll workers on accessibility, prepare residents with disabilities to serve as civic leaders, and host nonpartisan voter education and listening sessions.
• States United Democracy Center: A $400,000 grant supports the legal, research, and communications expertise that state officials need to administer elections with integrity and uphold the rule of law.

 

Sustaining Southeast Michigan’s Creative Sector

When arts organizations are well-supported, they can focus on what they do best: making, teaching, and sharing art with their communities.

As part of our ongoing partnership with The Kresge Foundation and the Hudson-Webber Foundation through the Detroit Arts Support program, we are investing $1,955,000 in second-year general operating grants to 71 cultural institutions across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.

We’re also investing in historical preservation and regional arts infrastructure to ensure they’re around for years to come:

• Detroit Sound Conservancy: The Blue Bird Inn has been celebrated as the epicenter for Detroit jazz and bebop. A $250,000 grant supports the Detroit Sound Conservancy’s efforts in restoring, reopening, and operating the building.
• Anton Art Center: An $81,000 grant helps the Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens strengthen facility stewardship, accessibility, and long-term organizational resilience.

 

Stewarding Our Shared Waters

Protecting the Great Lakes requires a collective commitment, bringing together scientific research, community advocacy, and the enduring leadership of Indigenous nations who have stewarded these waters for generations. Our latest investments support partners working across the basin, helping ensure our shared waters are protected for all who depend on them:

• Friends of the Detroit River: A three-year, $318,000 grant helps Friends of the Detroit River and Eastside Community Network work together to advance a community-driven vision for improving water quality, managing stormwater runoff, and building resiliency by implementing Detroit’s first watershed management plan.
• Great Lakes Fishery Commission: A three-year, $882,000 grant incorporates Indigenous expertise to strengthen Great Lakes science and policy.
• River Network: A three-year, $635,000 grant to provide technical assistance, cohort-based trainings, and network-building that increases the organizational, community, and advocacy capacity of Great Lakes organizations.
• The Nature Conservancy: A $175,000 grant supports the Michigan chapter through an important leadership transition and as they deepen their relationships with nonprofit partners across the state so that they can continue to meet the state’s long-term conservation needs.

We also remain committed to supporting our multi-year partners working across the Great Lakes region. Ongoing investments in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, the International Association for Great Lakes Research, The Greening of Detroit, the University of Michigan Water Center, the Ecology Center, and the Environmental Working Group continue to strengthen municipal freshwater leadership, foster inclusive research and policy, and tackle urgent challenges — from toxic PFAS pollution to agricultural runoff and urban forestry.

See Grants List