Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $167 million (2023)
Total Assets: $3.7 billion (2023)
Decision Time: 4+ months (historically)
Grant Range: $15,000 - $250,000 (typical annual grants)
Geographic Focus: Flint area (Michigan), national (U.S.), and selective international
Application Status: NOT accepting unsolicited applications as of January 2025

Contact Details

Address: Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Mott Foundation Building, 503 S. Saginaw St., Suite 1200, Flint, MI 48502

Phone: 810-238-5651

Note: The Foundation does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals as of January 2025. Applicants should not contact trustees directly but follow standard application procedures if and when they become available.

Overview

Founded in 1926 by automotive pioneer Charles Stewart Mott, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a private philanthropy committed to supporting projects that promote a just, equitable, and sustainable society. With $3.7 billion in assets and annual giving of approximately $167 million (2023), the Foundation operates through four main program areas: Civil Society, Education, Environment, and Flint Area. The Foundation has a distinctive approach to grantmaking, emphasizing long-term relationships with grantees and supporting core organizational activities rather than project-based funding. Under the leadership of President and CEO Ridgway H. White since 2015, the Foundation demonstrated its commitment to its hometown through a historic response to the Flint water crisis, committing and exceeding $100 million over five years to help the city recover.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Civil Society

Grant Range: $15,000 - $250,000 annually
Mission: Strengthen philanthropy and the nonprofit sector as vital vehicles for increasing civic engagement
Geographic Focus: United States, Central/Eastern Europe, Russia, and South Africa
Key Priorities:
- Active civic participation and democratic values
- Development of philanthropy and giving culture
- Civic education and research at colleges and universities

Environment

Grant Range: $15,000 - $250,000 annually (typical project grants)
Mission: Support efforts of an engaged citizenry working to create accountable institutions, sound public policies, and appropriate development models that protect ecosystem diversity
Focus Areas:
- Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystems (especially Great Lakes Basin)
- International Finance for Sustainability
- Special Initiatives
Notable Achievement: Over $65 million in Great Lakes grants since 2000

Education

Grant Range: $15,000 - $250,000 annually
Geographic Focus: United States only
Mission: Support educational opportunities and systems improvement

Flint Area

Grant Range: $15,000 to multi-million dollar commitments
Geographic Focus: Flint and Genesee County, Michigan
Recent Examples:
- $25 million to Michigan State University College of Human Medicine for public health initiatives
- $10 million to Beecher High School for facility renovations
- $3.5 million to Communities First Inc. for historic building renovation
Six Priority Areas (post-water crisis):
- Access to safe drinking water
- Health needs of families
- Educational opportunity
- Strengthening nonprofits and local government
- Community engagement
- Economic revitalization

Pathways Out of Poverty

Mission: Identify, test, and help sustain pathways out of poverty for low-income people and communities
Focus: Education, economic participation, and community engagement as critical tools

Exploratory and Special Projects

By invitation only
For unusual or unique opportunities addressing significant national and international problems

Priority Areas

The Foundation actively funds work that:

Promotes civic participation in democratic processes
Strengthens nonprofit sector capacity and leadership
Protects freshwater ecosystems and the Great Lakes
Advances environmental policy and sustainable development
Improves educational access and quality (U.S. only)
Supports community development in Flint and Genesee County
Creates pathways out of poverty through education and economic participation

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

Grants or loans to individuals
Religious activities or programs serving specific religious groups (though faith-based organizations may apply if the project serves a broad population)
Projects that duplicate or significantly overlap with federal, state, or local government work
Capital development, research, project replication, or endowment (except in Flint area or for existing grantees)
Local projects (except in Flint area) unless part of a Foundation-planned national demonstration or network
Film and video projects, books, scholarships, and fellowships (rarely funded)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Chairman: Ridgway H. White (also President and CEO)

Vice Chairman: Frederick S. Kirkpatrick

Trustees (17 total):

A. Marshall Acuff, Jr.
Karen Aldridge-Eason
Lizabeth Ardisana
John K. Butler
Webb F. Martin
Maryanne Mott (daughter of Charles Stewart Mott)
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala
Charlie Nelms
Jeremy R. M. Piper
William H. Piper
Olivia P. Maynard
George E. Ross
Marise M. M. Stewart
Helen Taylor
Tiffany W. Lovett (great-granddaughter of Charles Stewart Mott, President of the Isabel Foundation)

Leadership

Ridgway H. White, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board, is the great-grandson of Charles Stewart Mott. He began his career at the Foundation as an intern in 2002, worked through the program ranks, served as Vice President for Special Projects, and became President in January 2015 as the Flint water crisis was unfolding.

Key Quote from Ridgway White: "The mission of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is to support efforts that promote a just, equitable and sustainable society. Nowhere is this more important than in our hometown."

On the Flint water crisis response: "When Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha shared research showing that a change in Flint's drinking water had caused children's blood lead levels to spike, we immediately called the city and state to offer our support. Our first concern was helping Flint residents get access to safe drinking water. Within three days, we announced a $4 million grant to help the city and state reconnect Flint to the Detroit water system."

Founding Philosophy

The Foundation's philosophy is summed up in one word: "people." The Foundation trusts grantees as experts in their fields and believes long-term funding offers stability that allows organizations to focus on important work and pursue innovation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

CRITICAL UPDATE: As of January 2025, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation does not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals. This represents a significant policy change from their previous open application process.

Reason for Change: The Foundation cites limited available funds for new work annually and their commitment to long-term relationships with existing grantees as reasons for this restriction.

Historical Process (for reference):

Previously, applicants submitted a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) of approximately 6,500 characters (2 pages)
If favorably reviewed, applicants were invited to submit a full proposal
Proposals were submitted at least 60-90 days before the intended project start date
Applications were accepted year-round on a rolling basis

Decision Timeline

Historical Timeline (when accepting applications):

Proposals should have been submitted at least 4 months before the start of the proposed grant period
Review and decision processes typically took several months
Program staff would assess relevance and provide guidance on whether to submit a full proposal

Success Rates

Specific success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, the Foundation's shift to invitation-only proposals indicates highly competitive grantmaking with limited opportunities for new applicants. The Foundation emphasizes that they "stick with issues and organizations for the long haul," suggesting they prioritize long-term relationships with existing grantees over new partnerships.

Reapplication Policy

Given the current policy of not accepting unsolicited applications, there is no formal reapplication process for new applicants. Organizations should monitor the Foundation's website at www.mott.org for any future changes to this policy.

Application Success Factors

Important Note: The following guidance reflects the Foundation's historical approach and may be relevant if the application policy changes in the future.

Foundation's Direct Advice

Long-term Commitment: "We believe long-term funding offers grantees stability, which allows them to focus on important work and pursue innovation."

Trust in Expertise: "We believe our grantees are experts in their fields and well-equipped to make the critical decisions that guide their work."

Core vs. Project Funding: The Foundation funds core organizational activities rather than requiring organizations to shape projects around shifting priorities.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects

Environment Program:

$200,000 to Ecology Center (Ann Arbor, MI) for the PFAS Action Network
Multiple grants to support Great Lakes conservation and freshwater protection
$7.7 million total to Great Lakes Revolving Fund (preserving 125,000 acres valued at $150 million)

Civil Society Program:

$100,000 to African Philanthropy Forum (Lagos, Nigeria)
$300,000 to CivSource Africa (Uganda) for Community Foundation Development
$225,000 to Connecticut Network for Children and Youth

Flint Area Program:

$25 million to Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
$10 million to Beecher High School
$3.5 million to Communities First Inc.
$1 million in neighborhood grants for Flint

Key Language and Terminology

The Foundation uses language focused on:

"Just, equitable, and sustainable society"
"Engaged citizenry" and "civic participation"
"Pathways out of poverty"
"Core organizational support"
"Long-term relationships"
"Capacity building" and "organizational development"

Tips for Standing Out (Historical)

Demonstrate Alignment: Show clear connection to one of the four program areas and geographic priorities
Think Long-term: Emphasize sustainable impact and organizational capacity rather than short-term projects
Show Community Engagement: Demonstrate how your work involves and empowers communities
Research Recent Grants: Review the Foundation's grants database to understand current funding patterns
Build Relationships: Given the focus on long-term partnerships, consider connecting through existing networks and grantees
Focus on Core Work: Emphasize core organizational activities rather than one-off projects

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Application Status: As of January 2025, the Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Monitor www.mott.org for policy changes before investing time in proposal development.
Long-term Focus: The Foundation prioritizes sustained relationships with existing grantees over new partnerships, making it challenging for first-time applicants even when applications reopen.
Geographic Alignment Critical: Unless you work in Flint/Genesee County (where local projects are welcomed), your work must have national or international scope aligned with their program areas.
Grant Size Consistency: Most grants fall in the $15,000-$250,000 annual range, though Flint Area grants can be significantly larger ($3-25 million for major initiatives).
Core vs. Project Funding: The Foundation prefers funding core organizational operations that allow grantees to innovate and focus on their mission rather than shaping work around funder priorities.
Four Program Silos: Ensure clear alignment with Civil Society, Education, Environment, or Flint Area programs, as these teams operate with distinct priorities and geographic focuses.
Multi-year Commitments: The Foundation's approach emphasizes stability through long-term funding relationships, so successful applicants (when applications reopen) should expect potential multi-year support rather than one-time grants.

References

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation official website - What We Fund. https://www.mott.org/what-we-fund/ (Accessed November 2024)
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation - Financial Information. https://www.mott.org/about/financials/ (Accessed November 2024)
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation - Trustees and Staff. https://www.mott.org/about/staff/ (Accessed November 2024)
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation - Letter of Inquiry. https://www.mott.org/letter-of-inquiry/ (Accessed November 2024)
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation - Grants Database. https://www.mott.org/grants/ (Accessed November 2024)
"Leadership transition at the Mott Foundation." Mott Foundation News. https://www.mott.org/news/articles/leadership-transition-at-the-mott-foundation/
"Ridgway H. White named president of Charles Stewart Mott Foundation." Mott Foundation Press Release. https://www.mott.org/news/releases/ridgway-h-white-named-president-charles-stewart-mott-foundation/
"Lessons from the Flint Water Crisis: An Interview with Mott Foundation's Ridgway White." Center for Disaster Philanthropy. https://disasterphilanthropy.org/blog/lessons-from-the-flint-water-crisis-an-interview-with-mott-foundations-ridgway-white/
"Addressing the Freshwater Challenge." Mott Foundation - Environment Program. https://www.mott.org/work/environment/water/
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stewart_Mott_Foundation (Accessed November 2024)
NGO Portal - Navigating the Grant Application Process with the Mott Foundation. https://ngoportal.org/navigating-the-grant-application-process-with-the-mott-foundation/ (Accessed November 2024)
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation - Instrumentl 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/charles-stewart-mott-foundation (Accessed November 2024)
"How to submit a Letter of Inquiry to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation for Seeking Grant." FundsforNGOs. https://www.fundsforngos.org/letter-of-inquiry-for-grants/submit-letter-inquiry-charles-stewart-mott-foundation-seeking-grant/
"Charles Stewart Mott Foundation announces $1 million in grants for Flint neighborhoods." Mott Foundation Press Release. https://www.mott.org/news/releases/charles-stewart-mott-foundation-announces-1-million-in-grants-for-flint-neighborhoods/
"Mott Foundation boosts funding for Great Lakes, energy issues." Mott Foundation News. https://www.mott.org/news/articles/mott-foundation-focuses-more-funding-on-great-lakes-energy-access-in-africa/