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The Kresge Foundation

Annual Giving
$162.8M
Grant Range
$5K - $5.0M
Decision Time
3mo
0

The Kresge Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $162.8 million (2022)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (primarily invitation-based)
  • Decision Time: 10-12 weeks
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $5,000,000+ (most grants $100,000 - $350,000)
  • Geographic Focus: National, with focus cities of Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans, and Fresno; Education focus states: California, Florida, Michigan, and Texas

Contact Details

  • Website: www.kresge.org
  • Phone: 248-643-9630
  • Address: 3215 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48084
  • Application Method: Primarily invitation-only; occasional open calls posted on Current Funding Opportunities page
  • Application Platform: Fluxx (online grants management system)

Overview

Founded in 1924 by Sebastian S. Kresge, The Kresge Foundation is a national grantmaking organization dedicated to "expanding equity and opportunity in America's cities." With an endowment of approximately $3.7 billion, the foundation has evolved from its original mission "to promote human progress" to a more focused strategy of building and strengthening pathways to equity and opportunity for low-income people in America's cities, seeking to dismantle structural and systemic barriers to equality and justice. Under the leadership of President and CEO Rip Rapson since 2006, Kresge underwent a significant strategic transformation to focus exclusively on urban communities and expand from traditional capital grants to a full array of grant, loan, and social investment tools. The foundation deploys more than $160 million annually through grants and social investments. In 2022, the Board of Trustees approved 550 grants totaling $162.8 million, while in 2023, the foundation made 799 awards. President Rapson has emphasized that "the work to advance DEI is central to our mission and must be central to our way of working across the organization," reflecting the foundation's deep commitment to racial equity and justice.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Kresge organizes its grantmaking through eight interconnected program areas:

American Cities - Stewards city-focused grantmaking in Fresno, Memphis, and New Orleans, supporting collaborative strategies, comprehensive community development, and ecosystems that advance equitable, resident-informed change. In recent years, committed $9.2 million to 26 place-based frontline organizations across these three cities.

Arts & Culture - Positions culture and creativity as drivers of more just communities through a cross-sectoral approach integrating creative practices into community development. Focuses on three priorities: advancing creative strategies in place, investing in people mobilizing for change, and strengthening cross-sector partnerships. Does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Detroit - The foundation's hometown receives dedicated support through multiple funding streams:

  • Kresge Innovative Projects: Detroit Plus (KIP:D+): Implementation grants up to $150,000 for resident-led community organizations. Since 2014, has awarded 193 grants totaling $15 million.
  • Kresge Arts in Detroit: Annual Kresge Artist Fellowships ($50,000 as of 2025, increased from $40,000), and Gilda Snowden Emerging Artist Awards ($5,000). Since 2008, awarded $9 million to 380 metro Detroit artists.
  • Equitable Community Development: Multi-million dollar investments in neighborhood transformation and community-led development.

Education - Works to increase college access and success while reducing inequitable student outcomes. Three main funding streams:

  • Aligning and Strengthening Urban Higher Education Ecosystems
  • Institutional Capacity Building for Student Success (supporting minority-serving institutions, community colleges, and public universities)
  • Urban Pathways to College Annual education grants exceed $10 million. Focus states: California, Florida, Michigan, and Texas. Supports underrepresented students, students of color, first-generation college students, and the institutions serving them.

Environment - Helps cities combat and adapt to climate change while advancing racial and economic justice. Does not accept unsolicited proposals. Major initiatives include:

  • Climate Change, Health & Equity (CCHE): $18.675 million to 32 organizations (second phase building on initial $30 million commitment)
  • Climate Resilience and Urban Opportunity (CRUO): Five-year, $29 million initiative supporting 15 nonprofits with $660,000 multiyear grants
  • Climate Resilient and Equitable Water Systems (CREWS): Supports organizations at the intersection of water, climate change, and equity

Health - Builds equity-focused systems of health to create healthier communities, recognizing that access to social determinants of health is governed by systems of power like structural racism, sexism, nativism, ableism, and poverty. Three main areas:

  • Community-driven Solutions: Supporting community-determined policy priorities
  • Community Investment for Health Equity: Creating robust ecosystems to close the racial wealth gap
  • Community Health Ecosystems: Strengthening accessible, coordinated health services Recent initiatives include Advancing Health Equity Through Housing ($8 million to 32 organizations since 2018) and PHEARLESS Initiative ($8.5 million).

Human Services - Centers racial equity and racial justice to advance multi-generational family social and economic success. Programs include:

  • Next Generation (NextGen) Initiative: Grants up to $500,000 over two years to up to 10 organizations, with participation in learning and collaboration networks
  • Recent awards totaling $5 million to 10 organizations and $3.7 million to six partnerships between nonprofits and community colleges

Social Investment Practice - Unlocks capital for communities using the full spectrum of financial tools including program-related investments (PRIs), loans, equity investments, strategic deposits, and unfunded guarantees. In 2015, committed $350 million (10% of corpus) to impact investing with a goal to attract $1 billion from other investors. To date, more than $500 million has been committed, generating more than $1.2 billion in leveraged funds.

Priority Areas

  • Postsecondary education access and success for underrepresented students
  • Climate resilience and environmental justice in urban communities
  • Health equity and social determinants of health
  • Arts and culture as drivers of community development
  • Community-led development in Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans, and Fresno
  • Social and economic mobility for low-income families
  • Resident-informed comprehensive community development
  • Cross-sector collaboration and systems change
  • Racial equity and dismantling structural barriers to justice
  • Innovative financing and capital access for underserved communities

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations that discriminate based on categories in their non-discrimination provision
  • Organizations that require membership in a certain religion or advance a particular religious faith (though faith-based organizations welcoming all may be eligible)
  • Programs operated to benefit for-profit organizations
  • Capital and facility renovation projects (Arts & Culture)
  • Scholarships (Arts & Culture)
  • Pre-K, K-12, and university campus projects (Arts & Culture)
  • Individual artist fellowships, residencies, or training (except through Kresge Arts in Detroit)
  • Arts education, access and community outreach activities as standalone projects (Arts & Culture)
  • Film productions, festivals, and public art projects (Arts & Culture)
  • Playgrounds, parks, and community gardens (Arts & Culture)
  • Activities not aligned with program strategies or foundation mission in America's cities

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Rip Rapson has served as president and CEO since 2006, leading the foundation through a multiyear strategic transformation to expand and recalibrate its grantmaking toward urban equity and opportunity. Rapson has been a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion within philanthropy, stating: "The work to advance DEI is central to our mission and must be central to our way of working across the organization. It is an extension of our commitment to social justice, civil rights and economic opportunity." He has also reflected on the foundation's work: "To confront inequity is an exercise in tempering the urgency of the call with a recognition of the long-term & often incremental nature of dismantling systems that impede progress."

Board of Trustees: Led by Board Chair Cecilia Muñoz (elected March 2022), the 12-member board provides governance and strategic oversight. Recent trustee appointments (2024) include:

  • Anna Blanding: Seasoned investment professional with experience in finance, philanthropy, endowment management, and community development
  • Dr. Linda Hill: Co-founder of Paradox Strategies with expertise in leadership, organizational management, and innovation
  • Janis Bowdler: Former Counselor for Racial Equity at the U.S. Department of the Treasury

Strategic Direction: Under Rapson's leadership, Kresge has embraced a mission to dismantle structural and systemic barriers to equality and justice in American cities. The foundation's work is guided by a commitment to racial equity as central to all programming decisions, with emphasis on supporting low-income, disadvantaged, and marginalized communities. All programs seek to expand opportunities so that vulnerable people can lead self-determined lives and access the economic mainstream.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Kresge Foundation operates primarily through an invitation-based system. Foundation program staff proactively identify and invite organizations whose work aligns with current strategies. Prospective grantees should:

  1. Review program area pages in the "Our Work" section to explore current strategies and ensure alignment
  2. Monitor the Current Funding Opportunities page for occasional open calls for proposals
  3. Sign up for foundation updates to stay informed of new opportunities
  4. If invited or when an open call is announced, register and apply through the Fluxx online portal

Fluxx Portal Registration:

  • Click "Create an account now" in the Fluxx portal
  • Registration approval takes 5-7 days for login information
  • Use Google Chrome as your web browser
  • Consult "Fluxx Portal Instructions" for helpful navigation tips

Geographic Alignment: Priority consideration for organizations working in Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans, or Fresno, or in Education Program focus states (California, Florida, Michigan, Texas).

Open Calls: When available, grant opportunities with specific deadlines and application guidelines are announced on the website and through foundation communications.

Decision Timeline

The foundation aims to make decisions on all invited applications within 10 to 12 weeks from submission. The timeline includes:

  1. Initial review by program staff
  2. Possible request for additional information or clarification
  3. Recommendation for approval by Trustees or Officers
  4. Notification to applicants

Applicants invited to submit proposals should discuss specific timelines with program staff. Multi-year grants and larger investments may require additional review time.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose overall success rates or application statistics. The invitation-based model means traditional competitive success rates are not applicable for most grants. With approximately 799 awards in 2023 and 550 grants totaling $162.8 million in 2022, the foundation maintains selective but substantial grantmaking operations. The emphasis on proactive identification and invitation of aligned organizations suggests that invited applicants have strong prospects if their proposals meet program requirements.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for declined applications is not publicly detailed. Given the invitation-based system, organizations are encouraged to:

  • Maintain relationships with relevant program officers
  • Continue working in alignment with foundation priorities
  • Watch for future opportunities in their program area
  • Reach out to program staff if circumstances or project design change significantly

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Critical

Urban Focus: Every grant must serve low-income people in America's cities. Projects should explicitly address urban challenges and opportunities. The foundation defines its mission narrowly around expanding equity and opportunity in cities.

Racial Equity Lens: All programs are evaluated through a racial equity and justice framework. Applications should clearly articulate how projects advance racial equity, address structural racism, or dismantle systemic barriers. Use language that demonstrates understanding of how power systems affect communities.

Program-Specific Strategies: Each program area has refined strategies with specific priorities. Generic proposals will not succeed—demonstrate deep knowledge of the specific program's current focus areas and how your work advances those particular strategies.

Geographic Targeting Matters

Focus Cities Priority: Organizations working in Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans, or Fresno receive priority consideration for American Cities and Detroit programs. For Education Program, location in California, Florida, Michigan, or Texas is advantageous.

Place-Based Approach: Even national organizations should demonstrate how their work connects to specific communities and creates tangible impact in identifiable places.

Community-Centered Design

Resident Leadership: The foundation strongly favors projects led by or deeply accountable to communities experiencing the challenges being addressed. Of KIP:D+ 2024 grantees, 78% had BIPOC leaders and 67% were led by women, with 56% operating on budgets under $500,000.

Community-Determined Priorities: Projects should reflect community-identified needs and priorities rather than externally imposed solutions. The foundation values "resident-informed change" and "community-driven models."

Cross-Sector Collaboration

The foundation emphasizes that complex urban challenges require coordinated responses across sectors. Successful proposals often demonstrate partnerships between:

  • Nonprofits and government agencies
  • Educational institutions and service providers
  • Community organizations and anchor institutions
  • Advocacy groups and direct service organizations

Evidence of Systems Change

While direct services are funded, the foundation prioritizes work with potential for:

  • Broad scalability or replicability
  • Systemic changes
  • Long-term sustainability
  • Policy influence or institutional transformation

Financial Tools Flexibility

Consider whether loans, guarantees, or equity investments might be appropriate alongside or instead of grants. The Social Investment Practice provides access to diverse capital forms. Organizations with the capacity to use and repay mission-aligned loans may find additional opportunities.

Recent Funded Projects

  • A Girl Like Me, Inc. (Detroit): $150,000 KIP:D+ grant to acquire and transform property in Brightmoor into a central resource hub
  • Black Bottom Archives (Detroit): KIP:D+ grant to launch Preserving Black Legacy Fellowship supporting cohort of Black Detroiters conducting community archiving
  • Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability: CCHE 2.0 implementation funding for place-based community-driven climate interventions
  • Build Healthy Places Network: $1.1 million for health equity work (2024)
  • Siyaphumelela (South Africa): Multi-year commitment to expand student success program to up to 20 universities
  • Southwest Detroit Business Association: Grant to strengthen economic and cultural vitality of Vernor corridor through community placemaking
  • Urban Land Institute's Center for Sustainability and Economic Performance: $3.375 million in multi-year grants

Language and Terminology

Applications should use language reflecting foundation values: racial equity, racial justice, structural racism, systemic barriers, low-income communities, urban opportunity, community-led development, resident-informed, social and economic mobility, cross-sector collaboration, place-based strategies, inclusive development, community-determined priorities, and equitable outcomes.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Relationship Building Through Invitation: Kresge operates primarily by invitation, so the path to funding begins with visibility. Ensure program officers know your work by attending foundation-sponsored convenings, being active in relevant networks, demonstrating strong results in your field, and positioning your organization as a thought leader in areas aligned with foundation priorities.

  • Urban + Racial Equity = Non-Negotiable: Every proposal must clearly serve low-income people in American cities and advance racial equity. These aren't optional frameworks—they're the evaluative lens for all decisions. Generic language about equity won't suffice; demonstrate sophisticated understanding of structural racism and systemic change.

  • Small Organizations Welcome: Unlike many large foundations, Kresge explicitly supports grassroots, community-led organizations. More than half of recent KIP:D+ grantees operated on budgets under $500,000. Don't self-select out because you're small—if you're community-rooted and aligned with priorities, you're competitive.

  • Know Your Program's Strategy Deeply: Each program area has specific, refined strategies that evolve over time. Generic "we do education" or "we work on environment" proposals fail. Study the specific program's recent grants, read their blog posts and reports, and demonstrate how your work advances their particular current focus areas.

  • Think Beyond Grants: Kresge has committed over $500 million to social investments including loans, guarantees, and equity. If your organization can handle and repay debt, explore whether the Social Investment Practice might provide larger capital access than grants alone. This tool may be underutilized by nonprofits focused solely on grants.

  • Community Leadership Matters: The foundation prioritizes organizations led by people from the communities served. BIPOC leadership, women leadership, and deep community accountability are valued. Highlight who leads your organization and how decision-making incorporates community voice.

  • Be Geographically Strategic: If you work in Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans, Fresno, or the Education focus states (California, Florida, Michigan, Texas), emphasize this alignment. If not in these geographies, you'll need exceptional alignment with program strategies or participation in national initiatives to be competitive.

  • Plan for Long-Term Partnership: Kresge makes single-year and multi-year grants. The foundation values sustained relationships with high-performing grantees. Position your project within a broader organizational strategy that could warrant ongoing support, not just as a one-off initiative.

References

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