History highlights: Detroit Auto Dealers Association at the Community Foundation
This file photo shows representatives from the first group of Detroit Auto Dealers Association Charitable Foundation Fund grantee organizations, alongside DADA members serving as advisers to the fund.
The Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan have a long and fruitful relationship.
The DADA established the Detroit Auto Dealers Association Charitable Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation in 1998 to support nonprofit organizations that improve the lives of children and youth throughout our region. Since then, the endowed field of interest fund has granted more than $7 million to 170 organizations in southeast Michigan.
An endowed fund is part of a pool of assets that are invested for long-term growth. A portion of the assets is made available for the organization’s charitable purposes each year. An increasing amount of support will be available from the fund as the assets and investment returns grow in perpetuity.
Each year, the DADA fund awards grants — typically ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 — to a broad range of program areas, including health and human services, the arts, recreation, education and healthy living. Any nonprofit organization that supports children in grades pre-K-12 throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, St. Clair, Monroe and Livingston counties may apply.
Here are some highlights from the Detroit Auto Dealers Association’s history at the Community Foundation:
- 1998: The DADA, a trade association representing auto dealerships in southeast Michigan, establishes the Detroit Auto Dealers Association Charitable Foundation Fund with part of the proceeds from its annual North American International Auto Show Charity Preview.
- 1998: The endowed field of interest fund becomes a model for other such associations around the country.
- 1999: The Detroit Auto Dealers Association Charitable Foundation Fund makes its first round of grants. It will continue to make grants on an annual basis in perpetuity.
- 2001: The DADA establishes the DADA 911 Relief Fund at the Community Foundation, with contributions from auto dealers throughout southeast Michigan. The Community Foundation forwards contributions to the New York Community Trust, along with the United Way of New York, to support relief efforts after the 9/11 attacks.
- 2020-2021: The North American International Auto Show Charity Preview, the DADA’s signature annual fundraising event, is canceled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, thanks to its endowment, the Detroit Auto Dealers Association Charitable Foundation Fund continues to make crucial grants to support children throughout the crisis.
- 2022: The North American International Auto Show Charity Preview gala event resumes. Ticket sales benefit the Detroit Auto Dealers Association Charitable Foundation Fund.
The need to support children and youth in southeast Michigan remains great. This year, the Detroit Auto Dealers Association Charitable Foundation Fund received more than 60 applications totaling over $2.5 million in requests. It made nine grants that range from $25,000 to $50,000 and focus on issues including support for youths with disabilities, suicide prevention, conflict resolution and more.
Fortunately, as a permanently endowed fund at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the Detroit Auto Dealers Association Charitable Foundation Fund will be here forever to support each new generation of kids in our region.