$6.5M Awarded to Democracy, Great Lakes, and Arts Partners

Today, we announced over $6.5 million in new and ongoing grants that address critical current challenges facing our Democracy and Great Lakes grant partners and embrace new opportunities for collaboration in the arts.

“We recognize that a functioning democracy underpins all of our program areas – from clean water to thriving arts and culture programs,” said Melissa Damaschke, president of the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation. “As we prepare to sunset the Foundation, we are committed to helping ensure that the organizations and people we support are positioned to lead in a future where every voice is heard and every vote counts.”   

To advance our commitment to upholding democracy in Southeast Michigan, our Board approved four new grants totaling $700,000 to Michigan Voices, Promote the Vote, Mothering Justice, and American Civil Liberties Union Fund of Michigan. This marks an important step in elevating democracy as a key area of focus in our final decade. 

In tandem with this funding, we have added a new priority: upholding the foundations of American democracy and the Constitution. Through this priority we will support work that protects the rule of law and ensures the proper functioning of government. The Board made this decision in recognition that a strong, stable democracy is critical to achieving our broader mission and sustaining progress across all program areas. 

Just as a strong democracy is essential to community wellbeing, so too is a healthy environment. But the progress we’ve supported toward a resilient Great Lakes ecosystem is now under threat–from climate change, pollution, and the erosion of environmental protections and programs. In response, we have significantly expanded our support for the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition (via National Wildlife Federation), approving a $3 million grant over three years. This funding will bolster a coalition of more than 180 organizations working to ensure that safeguarding the Great Lakes–and the communities that depend on them–remains at the forefront of national conservation priorities. 

In times of division and uncertainty, arts and culture organizations play a powerful role in helping us make sense of the world. They challenge us to see the world through others’ eyes, spark difficult conversations, and offer new perspectives that build empathy and understanding. We’re continuing our long-standing support of this sector with a $100,000 grant to the Detroit Cultural Center. This funding will increase programming and increase organizational capacity to strengthen collaboration across 12 institutions, including the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Carr Center, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Public Library, Michigan Science Center, and others, ensuring these vital anchors remain vibrant, accessible, and connected.

See Grants List