The 2021
Community Foundation
Yearbook

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan promotes positive change in the region. The Yearbook is our annual report on grants, donors, volunteers and the work being done to improve the lives of everyone who lives, works and plays in southeast Michigan.

Listening and Responding to the Community’s Needs

This was a year like no other. We saw businesses close and nonprofits struggle to figure out how they were going to continue their important work. At the same time, many in our region confronted injustice, illness, economic hardship, and the loss of friends, neighbors, and family members. Through our toughest days, however, we saw inspiring examples of our community coming together to support those in need. Just as the Community Foundation has done for the last four decades, we listened, reached out, and responded with thoughtful, strong, effective action.

Read the Full Message from the Chair and President

Download the Yearbook

Stories of Impact

Keeping the arts alive during a pandemic

March 28, 2020, was going to be a big night for the Michigan Opera Theatre. It was scheduled as opening night for “Champion” – Grammy Award-winner Terence Blanchard’s much-anticipated opera based on the life of welterweight world champion Emile Griffith. But when COVID-19 forced southeast Michigan’s stages and exhibition spaces to go dark earlier that month, the debut of “Champion” was postponed – as was the rest of Michigan Opera Theatre’s 2020 schedule.

Read About Our Support for the Arts

Nurturing small businesses through good times – and bad times

For southeast Michigan entrepreneurs like Danielle North, resilience and flexibility are necessary traits – even during the best of times. But when COVID-19 forced her Grandmont Rosedale business, Kidz Kingdom Child Care and Party Center, to shut down for several months in 2020, North needed some extra help to keep her small business afloat.

Read About Our Support For Small Businesses

A better chance at a fresh start

Nearly 100,000 people in Michigan are currently in prison, on parole, or on probation. Among those, roughly 40,000 individuals are incarcerated in state prisons, including the elderly and many who are living with a mental illness. Another 15,000 people are in Michigan jails, with most awaiting trial. Significant racial disparities exist at every stage of justice-system contact, with African Americans comprising over half of the state’s prison population.

Read About Our Work Addressing Justice Issues

Delivering support to older adults

The average human lifespan has doubled over the past century – which means that we have more adults living longer lives in our community than ever before. That’s why the Community Foundation has been increasingly investing in programs that support older adults in our community.

Read About Our Support for Older Adults

Working together to reduce opioid misuse

The Michigan Opioid Partnership – an ambitious public-private collaborative that includes the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, funders, and health-care providers – is working to reduce the growing number of opioid overdoses and deaths in Michigan.

Read About Our Work Addressing Opioids

Becoming a donor

When you want to make an impact in the world, it helps to have a good guide.

The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan specializes in making it easy for donors to turn their philanthropic vision into a reality. When you work with us, you’ll partner with a passionate and knowledgeable team of experts who can help you refine your vision and develop a personalized strategy for turning that vision into action

Learn about how we can help

Grants, Donors, Funds and Financials

Programs and Grants Donors Funds of the Foundation Financials