The Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) Charitable Foundation Fund supports grants to charitable organizations that make a lasting impact on the lives of youth in southeast Michigan.
The DADA Charitable Foundation Fund provides support to nonprofit organizations in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, St. Clair, Monroe and Livingston counties, with a primary focus on charitable organizations and activities that assist youth.
The fund is supported by proceeds from the North American International Auto Show Charity Preview.
Since its inception in 1998, the DADA Charitable Foundation Fund has provided more than $9 million to support nonprofit organizations that are improving the lives of youth in southeast Michigan.
This partnership is unique among auto trade associations nationally — a permanent legacy to benefit our region for generations to come.
Key Details
- Grant Amount: $25,000 (award amounts may be adjusted at the Community Foundation’s discretion based on review)
- Grant Term: Typically, 12 months; grant periods of up to 24 months may be considered
- Type of Support: Program/project support or general operating support
- Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (or organizations with a fiscal sponsor) supporting youth
- Geographic Focus: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston and St. Clair counties
2026 Timeline
- Application Opens: July 13, 2026
- Registration Deadline (MyCF online portal): July 27, 2026
- Application Deadline: August 3, 2026
- Award Notifications: October 2026
- Organizations may submit one application per grant cycle; the fund does not prioritize organizations that received funding in the prior grant cycle.
Fund Priorities
The fund is intentionally broad, supporting charitable organizations and activities that assist youth across a wide range of program types and interest areas. Over the years, the fund has supported work such as:
- Youth development and youth leadership
- Education, including tutoring, mentoring and STEM programming
- Early childhood development
- Health and wellness
- Human services and family support
- Arts, culture and humanities programming
- Employment and career readiness
- Public safety and violence prevention
- General operating support for organizations serving youth
This list reflects the breadth of the fund’s grantmaking history and is not exhaustive. The DADA Charitable Foundation Fund Committee welcomes new and innovative approaches to improving the lives of youth in southeast Michigan.
Before You Apply
Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the full program guidelines before beginning an application. The guidelines include eligibility requirements, funding parameters and additional application details.
Ready to Apply?
Applications are submitted through MyCF, the Community Foundation’s online grant portal. The application opens July 13, 2026 and closes August 3, 2026.
The DADA Charitable Foundation Fund Committee
The DADA Charitable Foundation Fund Committee is a dedicated group of community leaders and advocates who serve as advisors for the grant applications that are submitted:
Rob Alberts
Katie Coleman
Ed Joliffe
Lincoln Phillip
Ryan Roscia
Todd Scott
Bob Weller
Karl Zimmermann
