DETROIT – The Hudson-Webber Foundation’s (HWF) Board of Trustees has approved a total of $3,605,000 in new grants to 11 nonprofit, civic and public-sector partners advancing arts and culture, neighborhood development, economic opportunity, public policy and community safety in Detroit and across Michigan. The grants support both new and ongoing initiatives designed to strengthen neighborhoods, expand opportunity, preserve Detroit’s cultural assets and help residents shape the future of their communities.
Organizations receiving funding are Belle Isle Conservancy, Business Leaders For Michigan (BLM), City of Detroit, Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD), Detroit Sound Conservancy (DSC), Joe Louis Greenway Partnership, Michigan Future, Inc., Michigan Justice Fund, Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA), Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) and Signal-Return. The funding enables new and ongoing projects to address the evolving needs of Detroit communities, while also enhancing the impact of the Foundation’s traditional funding strategies.
“Detroit’s future will be shaped by the strength of its neighborhoods, the vitality of its institutions and the ability of partners across the city to work toward shared goals,” said Donald Rencher, president and CEO of the Hudson-Webber Foundation. “These grants invest in organizations that are creating opportunity, preserving culture, strengthening communities, advancing safety and helping build the systems necessary for inclusive growth. Together, they represent a coordinated investment in Detroit’s people, places, and long-term prosperity.”
The approved grants include:
Arts & Culture
- The Joe Louis Greenway Partnership has been awarded a $600,000 project grant to support neighborhood-based arts and cultural programming along the Joe Louis Greenway. The funding will launch the JLG Regional Multicultural Arts & Capacity Initiative, a three-year effort to establish the JLG as a vibrant cultural corridor rooted in arts, culture and community engagement. The initiative will feature rotating public art installations and murals that reflect the unique identities of the 23 neighborhoods connected by the JLG, as well as live music, performances and cultural programming through a series of “Trailside Sessions.” The grant also will support community-led festivals and events designed to drive consistent participation and foot traffic, while multilingual outreach and programming will help ensure accessibility and inclusion across the region’s diverse communities.
- The HWF Board of Trustees has approved a $200,000 operating grant to the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) to support core operations, expanded programming and community engagement as the institution celebrates its reopening and 20th anniversary. This investment will help MOCAD build sustained public engagement through a robust calendar of exhibitions and related programs designed to create multiple entry points to contemporary art. Planned activities include artist talks, curator-led tours, exhibition openings, performances, community conversations and informal activations that connect audiences with the work on view.
- Signal-Return, a Detroit nonprofit dedicated to preserving and teaching the art of traditional letterpress printing, has been awarded a $50,000 program grant to support the return of its On Press initiative. The collaborative printmaking program will pair eight Michigan artists with eight social-service nonprofit organizations to create limited-edition posters that highlight the mission and impact of each participating organization. The posters will be unveiled at a public exhibition and launch event, with proceeds from print sales benefiting both the artists and nonprofit partners. The initiative not only supports local artists and community organizations but also introduces new audiences to the historic craft of letterpress printing.
- The HWF Board of Trustees has approved a $100,000 grant to the Detroit Sound Conservancy (DSC) to support the redevelopment of the Blue Bird Inn as a neighborhood music venue and cultural institution honoring Detroit’s rich musical legacy. The funding will support DSC’s efforts to transform the historic jazz club into a safe, accessible and active community destination. Once it is redeveloped, the Blue Bird Inn will serve as a neighborhood music venue, community gathering space and cultural archive, preserving its historic significance while creating new opportunities for education, performance and community engagement. DSC is a community-based archive dedicated to enhancing Detroiters’ quality of life through preservation, education, performance and placekeeping.
Built Environment
- The Belle Isle Conservancy has been awarded a $500,000 grant to support its day-to-day operations and ongoing efforts to improve Belle Isle. The organization is leading a community-driven plan to make the island easier to access and navigate while enhancing the overall visitor experience. A major part of this work is the Belle Isle Commons Initiative, which will improve connections between key destinations, make walking around the island easier and add new uses for underutilized spaces. These improvements are designed to help visitors spend more time on the island and enjoy a more welcoming and accessible experience.
- The HWF Board of Trustees has approved a $105,000 grant to the City of Detroit to support its Neighborhood Beautification Program (NBP). The Neighborhood Beautification Program provides grants to Detroit-based block clubs, neighborhood associations and nonprofit organizations to help transform blighted or vacant land into vibrant community spaces. This investment will expand opportunities for community organizations to improve vacant lots in the McDougall-Hunt, North End, Northwest Goldberg, Poletown East and Virginia Park neighborhoods, supporting local efforts to create safer, more welcoming and engaging public spaces.
Community & Economic Development
- The HWF Board of Trustees has approved a $100,000 general operating grant to the Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD). The funding will help strengthen the capacity of community development organizations, block clubs, neighborhood associations and other member partners to influence policies related to affordable housing, land use, zoning, public investment, planning and community engagement. This work is designed to ensure that Detroit’s neighborhood development policies are informed by the organizations and residents closest to these issues, while also supporting more equitable outcomes as the city continues to grow and thrive.
- Business Leaders For Michigan (BLM) has been awarded a $200,000 grant to support its Build & Grow Michigan initiative. The effort is focused on turning recommendations from the state’s Growing Michigan Together Council into policies that make it easier for communities to grow and attract investment. The initiative will identify ways to reduce unnecessary costs, delays and red tape that can make development difficult, especially in Detroit and emerging regional centers. Particular attention will be given to small-scale developers and entrepreneurs who often face the greatest challenges navigating complex public systems. Building on previous research supported by the Hudson-Webber Foundation, the work aims to create a more predictable environment for development and economic growth across Michigan. These changes are intended to help communities attract residents, businesses and investment.
Policy & Research
- The HWF Board of Trustees has approved a $200,000 operating grant to Michigan Future, Inc. (MFI) to support its work to improve economic opportunity across Michigan. The funding will help advance the organization’s Rising Income for All initiative, which brings together business, nonprofit and civic leaders to promote policies that help more households afford basic necessities. The grant also will support research, advocacy and coalition-building efforts focused on improving quality of life and expanding economic opportunity. In addition, funding will help grow the Michigan Talent Partnership, which invests in public space projects in urban neighborhoods. These improvements are intended to make communities more attractive, walkable and vibrant while supporting local businesses and attracting new residents.
- The Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) has been awarded a $50,000 grant to support the Neighborhood Vitality Index during its 2026-27 program year. The initiative helps Detroit residents and community organizations collect and use data to better understand neighborhood needs, track progress and guide local investments. The program provides data, tools and technical support while creating opportunities for residents, nonprofits and policymakers to work together. By combining community input with public data, the Neighborhood Vitality Index offers a more complete picture of Detroit neighborhoods. The effort is designed to ensure residents have a stronger voice in the decisions that shape their communities.
Safe & Just Communities
- The HWF Board of Trustees has approved a $1.5 million program grant to the Michigan Justice Fund (MJF) to support its ongoing efforts to reduce incarceration, improve public safety and advance systemic reform across Michigan. A key focus of this investment will support the furhter implementation of major legislative reforms, including Clean Slate, jail and pretrial reforms, and juvenile justice policies, with the goal of reducing system involvement for at least 100,000 people statewide. MJF will also expand workforce development, re-entry and entrepreneurship initiatives designed to increase economic opportunity and reduce employment barriers for returning citizens. In addition, the organization will strengthen collaboration across the criminal justice reform field through technical assistance, leadership development and new partnership-driven “impact tables,” particularly for organizations led by directly impacted individuals.