For immediate release.
For more information contact: Cydney Camp, cydney@coactdetroit.org ; Hannah Colborn, hcolborn@mi-community.org; W. Kim Heron, Kresge, wkheron@kresge.org.
$1.3 million in grants slated for community organizations through Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus
New funding round is designed for projects ready to be completed within 24 months
KIP:D+ has refreshed its grant offerings in 2024. At least $1.3 million in Implementation grants will be available for resident-led community organizations to launch transformative projects supporting the vision and creativity of residents in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods or activate something new.
Applications for KIP:D+ grants will open on March 4, 2024, for sums of up to $150,000 for organizations that are ready to receive the resources needed to complete a project within the 24-month grant period. By August 2024, the KIP:D+ team estimates awarding approximately 10-20 total Planning & Implementation and Implementation grants at a range of grant sizes. These resources will support two project stages:
- Implementation: Ideal for organizations who have a complete project plan and need funds to launch
- Planning & Implementation: Ideal for organizations who are still finalizing their project plans and will need funds to launch once complete
Previous KIP:D+ grantee Mt. Olivet Neighborhood Watch in the community garden greenhouse, which was renovated with grant funds. (Photo by Lon Horwedel/Kresge Foundation)
Applicants can access Michigan Community Resources (MCR) for 1-on-1 support with any application-related questions.
The decision to focus grant dollars towards Implementation-only projects arose from review by KIP:D+ partners Co.act Detroit and Michigan Community Resources, with a new advisory group made up of residents from all districts of Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park to redesign the program. The goal of the advisory group was to make recommendations on eligibility criteria, award structure, selection and application processes, fund administration and grant timeline.
After reviewing the program structure and analysis of applicant needs provided by Data Driven Detroit, the advisory group decided that this year’s KIP:D+ program would be most beneficial by focusing on organizations that have projects that can be activated during the grant period. Because Planning & Implementation and Implementation grant tracks are traditionally the most applied for, the 2024 KIP:D+ program restructure is an attempt to bring more projects to fruition in Detroit, Hamtramck, and Highland Park neighborhoods.
Hamtramck-based advisory group member Akua Hill had a positive experience shaping the refreshed KIP:D+ program. “The group was made up of a range of thought leaders representing different sectors and identities, including folks who had gone through the KIP:D+ application process in the past and hadn’t been granted. To me, that signaled a commitment to really understanding what could be improved from the mouths of people who had actually gone through the experience.”
When KIP:D+ applications launch in March, the group’s findings will be put to the test. “The advisory group’s recommendations have the potential to ensure that under-resourced organizations, neighborhoods, and projects have the possibility to access funding and capacity building support,” Hill said. “I think there is still more work to be done around assessing the impact of these recommendations, as well as developing accountability measures to maintain the integrity of the whole ecosystem.”
Funded by The Kresge Foundation, KIP:D+ is administered by Co.act Detroit in partnership with Michigan Community Resources (MCR). Michigan Community Resources will continue to provide trusted guidance, technical support, and thought partnership to KIP:D+ applicants and grantees, and to create experiences for grantees to convene in a mutually supportive network.
In 2017, Kresge began a partnership with MCR to support the Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit (KIP:D) ecosystem of applicants, grantees, and the community of grantees as cohorts. In 2021, Kresge transitioned administration of the program to Co.act, during which time the “Plus” was added to highlight the new collaboration and expansion of the program to include both Hamtramck and Highland Park. The 2023 round of KIP:D+ grants brings the total of granted projects and planning efforts to 184 – along with $13.7 million in total grant support dollars – since the effort launched in 2014.
Previous KIP:D grantee 360 Detroit at the ribbon-cutting and opening of new park in Virginia Park. (Photo by Christopher Gene/Kresge Foundation)
Who can apply?
- Nonprofit organizations or community groups located in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park that serve communities of those cities
- Nonprofit organizations or community groups that align with KIP:D+ principles
Who can not apply?
- Individuals
- Funders (foundations, CDFIs, etc.)
- For-profit organizations (corporations, small businesses, LLCs, etc.)
- Public Entities including city departments and quasi-governmental organizations (businesses within or under government entities)
- Academic Institutions – community college, college and university programs that concentrate primarily on degree-granting activities
- Places of Worship – if the project doesn’t serve the community at large
- Schools – Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) schools, charter schools, etc.
- Organizations that have fewer than two years of experience working with and serving residents in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park
- Organizations that received a Planning and Implementation grant or Implementation grant in 2023
- If an organization received a Planning and Implementation or Implementation grant in 2023, it is still eligible to apply as part of a collaborative application (as long as it is not the applicant of record).
- All 501c3 nonprofits that are not eligible to apply may be fiduciaries for eligible organizations or apply as part of a collaborative application if they are not the applicant of record.
Get ready!
Here are a few things you can do before applications open in March:
Create an account on Submittable, our grant application and reporting software.
- Use the email address of your organization’s key contact who will manage all grant applications and related inquiries
- If you experience any technical difficulties with your application, contact support@submittable.com
Start thinking about your project budget. What amount do you need to be successful? Applicants can request up to $150,000.
- Budget template for physical projects
- Budget template for non-physical projects
Get inspired. Learn about past KIP:D grantees and their projects here!
Sign up for Co.act Detroit’s newsletter to be notified when applications open.
Start brainstorming about how to talk about your organization’s history of serving your community, clear goals for your project, and how it will impact those you serve.
KIP:D+ looks for applicants that have a history working within, and are reflective of, the communities they serve. Projects that have clear and distinct goals, collaborative engagement processes that prioritize the vision of residents, and will provide a meaningful impact on the quality of life for Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park residents are the most competitive.
Ask questions. Are you a nonprofit but don’t have 501c3 status? Unsure about how to find the paperwork you need? Connect with Michigan Community Resources to discuss legal registration, fiduciary options or other application related questions you may have! Contact MCR here: askKIPD@mi-community.org.