Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

09/28/2026

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan was proud to sponsor students from Renaissance High School who attended "The Exit Interview” with Senator Gary Peters, a Detroit Economic Club (DEC) event held on Sept. 22 at the Masonic Temple.

The students didn't just watch from the audience — they met Peters personally during a private reception beforehand, asking questions about leadership, resilience and the work of building consensus in divided times. Peters will depart from the U.S. Senate in 2027 after more than 30 years in public service.

The Renaissance High School students, and others from throughout our region who attended the DEC event, are not future leaders. They are leaders now — curious, prepared and ready to engage with the people shaping national policy on cybersecurity, infrastructure and American competitiveness.

During the program, DEC President and CEO Steve Grigorian asked for a round of applause for the students and thanked their sponsors, including Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan President and CEO Nicole Sherard-Freeman and Board of Trustees member Jenice Mitchell Ford.

Sponsoring the Renaissance students reflects the Community Foundation’s commitment to our focus area of Youth and Education, supporting literacy, youth development and lifelong learning, from early childhood to adulthood.

When we invest in a student's seat at the table today, we're investing in who leads southeast Michigan tomorrow.

09/22/2026

Fall sports are back — but access to them isn’t guaranteed for every kid in Southeast Michigan. Project Play: Southeast Michigan, a Community Foundation initiative, is working to change that.

The Children's Bill of Rights in Sports lays out what every child deserves when they play. Swipe through to see and learn more about the 8 rights that make up the Children's Bill of Rights in Sports.

Everyone has a role in making sure every kid has the freedom to play this fall. Join us and add your endorsement to the Children's Bill of Rights in Sports: https://bit.ly/4y6bOo5

09/21/2026

During Detroit Month of Design, we’re thinking about the ways creativity can shape how we understand ourselves, our neighbors, and the places we call home. Across Detroit, young people are using art to tell stories, explore identity, and make their voices heard.

Swipe through to see how one Detroit Public Theatre performance created that kind of space, and why we think about arts funding as an investment in civic life, not just cultural life.

When young people are given the tools, space, and support to create, they build connections, assert identity, and participate in the civic life of their community.

09/10/2026

When the Michigan Justice Fund launched at the Community Foundation in 2020, Michigan ranked 10th in the country for incarceration per capita.

Six years, $30 million, and 373 grants later — supporting 110 organizations from Detroit to Grand Rapids — the state has redirected $200 million away from incarceration and reached its lowest imprisonment rate in 30 years.

MJF is entering its next chapter with NEO Philanthropy, a national fiscal sponsor, and taking Michigan's story to a bigger stage.

Read more:

After six years and more than $30 million in grants, the Michigan Justice Fund has transitioned from the Community Foundation to a national fiscal sponsor. Here's what it accomplished — and what comes next.

09/02/2026

Lindsey Rossow-Rood, who serves as associate vice president of Donor Services at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, recently appeared on the Opening Doors with Annette Compo podcast to talk about nonprofit funding and how listeners can help our region thrive.

Rossow-Rood shares how her career began in social work and that losing her first job when a critical grant fell through changed the course of her life. That experience led her into fundraising and ultimately to more than 25 years of working with donors, families, corporations and nonprofit organizations.

The wide-ranging podcast conversation also covers giving back, supporting nonprofits and connecting donors who want to make a difference with the organizations doing important work throughout southeast Michigan.

Lindsey Rossow-Rood on Giving Back, Nonprofit Funding & Making an I...

08/26/2026

The end of summer is a good reminder to make time for the places that bring neighbors together. Across southeast Michigan, public spaces supported by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan give families room to play, walk, bike, gather, and connect with nature.

From Stoudamire Park and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park to the Southwest Greenway and The Great Lakes Way, these investments shape how we experience our region and contribute to healthier, more connected communities.

Take a look at a few places worth visiting before summer winds down, and learn why long-term support for public spaces matters: https://bit.ly/45G40gu

08/24/2026

Back-to-school season is a chance to think about what children need to succeed long before and after the first day of class. That work begins early, with healthy beginnings and quality early childhood education, and continues through opportunities to learn, play, build confidence, and pursue higher education.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan supports partners including Rx Kids, PEDALS, and Project Play: Southeast Michigan, along with scholarship programs that help students pursue their educational goals.

See how our Youth and Education investments connect across a child’s journey at https://bit.ly/45OSijF

08/01/2026

Looking for a way to give that keeps making an impact long after your initial gift? An Endowed Field of Interest Fund lets you direct your support to the causes closest to your heart, invested for the long term.

Learn more about how to give to a Field of Interest Fund here: https://bit.ly/4wD21pa

07/31/2026

In a new op-ed for Detroit News, NEI Executive Director Wafa Dinaro breaks down what's actually holding entrepreneurs back. It’s not just a lack of support. It's the maze of finding the right support at the right moment.

She shares Detroit entrepreneur Jordan Smith's experience building Just Elevate Fitness Club through NEI's partner ecosystem — support that helped him grow, but still left him searching for the right connection at the right moment. Stories like his are exactly what shaped MI Small Business Helper, a free platform now connecting founders to 100+ partner organizations across southeast Michigan.

Check out the full piece to see why NEI is working to make that support easier to find and easier to use. Link in the comments.

07/27/2026

This summer, take time to explore what makes southeast Michigan special.

Visit a local park, hit the trails, cheer on young athletes, support a neighborhood business, or attend a community event. The people, places, and experiences that bring us together help make our region stronger.

Swipe through for a few ways to enjoy the season and discover the organizations, spaces, and opportunities helping southeast Michigan thrive.