September 2020 Grants

September 2020 Grants

The Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation announced $5.644 million in new and ongoing grants during its September grant cycle. Fred and Barbara Erb valued the contribution the arts make to the area’s economic, social, and creative well-being which is why $4.13 million of these grants was awarded to arts and culture organizations.

The economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have hit arts organizations especially hard due to their reliance on earned revenue from in-person programming. The $4.13 million includes $735,000 in one-time special grants to nine Erb Foundation legacy arts and culture organizations that Fred and Barbara were particularly fond of. These grants cover lost revenue, new or existing projects, or operations.

The remaining $3.395 million in arts grant money went to 60 arts and culture organizations that received a two-year unrestricted general operating support grant. These grants are part of the Detroit Arts Support partnership. As a result of our recently completed strategic planning process, we expanded the boundaries of our program beyond the city of Detroit to the southeast Michigan tri-county area, increasing from 42 to 60 organizations.

In the September grants cycle, the Erb Family Foundation is also supporting the following organizations, among others:
  • The Carr Center, which received matching funds to expand its programs and organizational infrastructure
  • The Residents First Fund, which awards small grants to Detroit residents for sustainable programs in their neighborhoods
  • A new program at Inforum to train and match business professionals to nonprofit board service with an emphasis on sustainability
  • Environmental Law & Policy Center to create a binational network of academic and legal professionals on Great Lakes issues

Pictured artwork by Sheefy McFly. Translation: “Your fight is my fight.” Photo courtesy of Garage Cultural.