Funding will support mental health response, public space stewardship, small business growth, and equitable development.
DETROIT –The Hudson-Webber Foundation Board of Trustees has approved more than $1.5 million in grants to support initiatives that strengthen Detroit’s built environment, foster inclusive economic growth, and support safe communities. These grants will fund key projects that enhance public spaces, stabilize neighborhoods, and expand access to capital for historically underrepresented communities. Through these strategic investments, the foundation reaffirms its commitment to fostering a more equitable and prosperous Detroit.
Organizations receiving funding are the New Economy Initiative, a program of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Detroit Parks Coalition, Detroit Public Safety Foundation, Downtown Detroit Partnership, Inc. and Local Initiative Support Corporation Detroit.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.
“These investments reflect Hudson-Webber Foundation’s deep commitment to Detroit’s people and its clean, safe, and livable neighborhoods,” said Donald Rencher, President & CEO of the Hudson-Webber Foundation. “By investing in critical areas such as neighborhood stabilization, economic inclusion, public safety and civic engagement, we are supporting the organizations and leaders who are making a tangible impact in our communities. Whether it’s strengthening the riverfront as a world-class public space, expanding access to capital for small businesses and Black entrepreneurs, or ensuring Detroiters are informed and engaged in the electoral process, these initiatives help build a stronger, more inclusive city for all.”
Built Environment
The Detroit Parks Coalition (DPC) has been awarded a $125,000 operating grant to support its work advancing healthy, equitable, and vibrant parks throughout the city. DPC is an alliance of community members and park leaders dedicated to connecting Detroiters with beautiful and accessible natural areas, parks, and public spaces.
This grant will support a wide range of activities, including ongoing collaboration with the City of Detroit and key partners such as the Detroit Public Library and Detroit Police Department. It will also fund community programming and partnerships that promote shared goals across the city’s parks. DPC will continue to serve as a hub for coordinated park events and initiatives, such as Yoga in the Parks, Walking Groups, the Freedom Arts Festival, and the Pistons Neighbors Program.
In addition, the grant will enable DPC to provide regranting funds for capital improvements, expand the Park Wi-Fi program, and work closely with the City of Detroit to pursue state and federal funding opportunities. DPC will also continue to advocate for the city’s parks by producing parks guides, hosting tours for elected officials and policymakers, and engaging communities through trusted local outreach channels. Finally, the coalition will deepen its development efforts by cultivating relationships with new funders, including individuals, private foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) has been awarded $410,000 in general operating support for its continued stewardship of the downtown, which includes the advancement of its Business Improvement Zone (BIZ), a $4.8 million special assessment district administered by the DDP and comprised of 580 commercial parcels. The funding also allows the DDP to continue to develop a comprehensive strategy around space and long-term funding for its high-quality parks and public spaces, including Campus Martius Park, Cadillac Square, Capitol Park, Grand Circus Park, Beacon Park, the Woodward Esplanade and the Spirit of Detroit Plaza. It also will support DDP and its planning partners to advance urban design, traffic management and infrastructure planning in Downtown Detroit. The Hudson-Webber Foundation has provided more than $7.6 million in funding to the DDP and its predecessor organizations since 1995.
Community & Economic Development
The HWF Board of Trustees has awarded a $300,000 grant to the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to advance a comprehensive community development strategy focused on increasing housing stability, expanding economic opportunity, and strengthening neighborhood vitality in Detroit. This operating grant will allow LISC to scale housing production and preservation through the Detroit Housing for the Future Fund (DHFF), support the city’s small business ecosystem through the Neighborhood Business Initiative and provide technical assistance and grants to build the capacity of neighborhood-based development organizations. The grant will also support the advancement of three community-centered economic inclusion strategies, such as shared equity, mobility, and green infrastructure, as well as one place-based economic development strategy and up to five high-impact partnerships. Additionally, LISC will collaborate with partners to implement a storytelling framework and strategic messaging to elevate the visibility and impact of community development efforts.
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) has been awarded $300,000 to support the New Economy Initiative’s ongoing efforts to serve Detroit’s diverse small business community. Through expanded networking, capacity building, funding and communications, the initiative aims to strengthen the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Incubated by HWF and launched in 2007, the New Economy Initiative (NEI) is dedicated to fostering an inclusive culture of entrepreneurship that benefits all residents and contributes to the broader economic vitality of Detroit and the surrounding region.
This grant will help prepare entrepreneurs to access a wide range of funding opportunities across the full capital continuum. It will also support business growth through hands-on assistance in areas such as hiring, market expansion, and operational improvement. In addition, the funding will help position small businesses for success in both public and private supply chains, with a focus on high-impact sectors. The Hudson-Webber Foundation has provided more than $10 million in funding to NEI since helping found the initiative more than a decade ago.
Safe & Just Communities
The HWF Board of Trustees has awarded a $400,000 grant to the Detroit Public Safety Foundation (DPSF) to strengthen and expand Detroit’s Mental Health Co-Response (MHCR) program, a collaborative initiative aimed at reducing reliance on emergency systems by proactively connecting individuals in crisis to appropriate care. MHCR reduces repeat emergency system use and improves long-term outcomes for individuals with behavioral health needs. The goal of this grant is to move MHCR from a pilot to a fully integrated component of Detroit’s crisis response infrastructure—improving outcomes for residents while reducing strain on emergency systems. The Detroit Public Safety Foundation (DPSF) works in partnership with citizens, businesses, and philanthropies to help the Detroit Police Department (DPD) and the Detroit Fire Department (DFD) initiate innovated programs that make Detroit a safer place to live, work and visit.