The Children's Foundation (Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4.6 million (FY24)
• Total Assets: $160 million (FY24)
• Grant Range: $25,000 - $500,000+
• Geographic Focus: Michigan (primarily Southeast Michigan and Detroit metro)
• Total Granted Since 2011: $80 million to 160+ community partners

Contact Details

Address: 3011 West Grand Blvd, Suite 218, Detroit, Michigan 48202-3042

Phone: (313) 964-6994

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://yourchildrensfoundation.org

Overview

The Children's Foundation (formerly Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation, established in 2003) is a public charity with a history dating back over 130 years at Children's Hospital of Michigan. In 2011, following the sale of Detroit Medical Center to for-profit ownership, the Foundation broadened its mission beyond the hospital to serve children across Michigan. The Foundation operates as a catalyst for change, partnering with communities to advance solutions and discoveries that improve the mental and physical health of children from birth to age 26. With $160 million in total assets as of FY24, the Foundation focuses on strategic grantmaking across three core pillars: Community Benefit, Pediatric Research, and Medical Education. The organization has awarded more than $80 million in grants to over 160 community partners since 2011.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates multiple grant streams aligned with their core pillars:

Community Benefit Grants: Supporting community organizations working on mental health, substance use disorder, physical health, and health equity initiatives. Recent examples include:

• Live Rite Recovery Resource Center – Youth Impact Program: $25,000 for youth substance use support
• Southeast Michigan Health Association – Asthma Home Services: $80,000 for asthma case management
• Black Family Development, Inc – Hope and Healing Clinic: $50,000 for Family Nurse Practitioner
• Community Health Awareness Group: $25,000 for youth overdose prevention

Pediatric Research Grants: Supporting research at institutions including Children's Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University, University of Michigan, and Central Michigan University. Recent examples include:

• Clinical Research Institute infrastructure support
• Studies on neurodevelopment and toxic exposures
• Retinoblastoma research using zebrafish models
• Child health equity investigations

Medical Education Grants: Supporting nursing education, child life programs, and staff development at Children's Hospital of Michigan and partner institutions.

Special Initiatives:

• Michigan Central Station Children's Endowment Initiative: $500,000 endowments to 11 Detroit-area youth-serving organizations, with opportunity for matching funds to reach $1.5 million per organization

Priority Areas

• Mental Health: Programs addressing pediatric mental health needs
• Substance Use Disorder: Youth prevention and recovery programs
• Physical Health: Including nutrition, injury prevention, and chronic disease management
• Health Equity: Initiatives addressing disparities in child health outcomes
• Children's Hospital of Michigan Legacy Initiatives: Supporting hospital-based programs and services
• Food Security: Addressing childhood hunger through community partners

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. Organizations serving children ages birth to 26 in Michigan appear to be the primary focus, with emphasis on health-related initiatives.

Governance and Leadership

Board Leadership

Luanne Thomas Ewald - Chair, Board of Trustees (since 2016). COO at University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital & Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital.

Cynthia N. Ford - Vice Chair. Trustee since the Foundation's inception in 2004.

Fred Minturn - Vice Chairman and Treasurer. Executive Chairman of Bain Capital companies MSX International and Geometric Results Inc.

Board of Trustees (Selected Members)

• John D. (Jack) Baker, M.D. - Pediatric Ophthalmologist
• John Barker - Vice President & Chief Investment Officer, The Kresge Foundation
• Michael S. Ben - Partner, Honigman LLP
• Robert O. Davies - President, Central Michigan University
• Zenna Faraj Elhasan - General Counsel & Board Secretary, The Kresge Foundation
• David Kwon, M.D. - Division Head of Surgical Oncology, Henry Ford Hospital
• Edward C. Levy Jr. - Executive Chairman, Levy Companies
• Sarah (Johnson) McDade, M.D. - Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation physician

Staff Leadership

Andrew Stein - President & Chief Executive Officer (began January 1, 2023). Previously served seven years as Executive Director of City Year Detroit.

Kelly Brittain, PhD, RN - Vice President of Impact

Brian Kilkelly - Vice President of Strategy

Rick DiBartolomeo - Vice President of Finance

Gayle Berner - Grants Director

Therese Quattrociocchi-Longe - Impact Director

Kari Radjewski - Marketing and Communications Director

Leadership Quote

From Kelly Brittain, PhD, RN, Vice President of Impact: "'Speramus Meliora'—'We Hope for Better Things'... Hope, for us, is not passive. It is rooted in our community's aspirations."

From Andrew Stein on the Michigan Central Station initiative: "Today, we take the next step toward implementing a different approach to philanthropy, creating a more equitable landscape for ten youth-serving organizations... We want to make sure we're supporting the organizations on how they become really more durable and built to continue to serve this community for generations to come."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Children's Foundation does not appear to have a public application process for their standard Community Benefit, Pediatric Research, and Medical Education grants. No grant application portal, guidelines, or submission procedures are publicly available on their website or in other sources.

The Foundation appears to operate through proactive grantmaking, where staff and trustees identify and select organizations aligned with their funding priorities. Organizations seeking funding should contact the Foundation directly to inquire about potential funding opportunities.

Contact for Grant Inquiries:

• Gayle Berner, Grants Director
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (313) 964-6994

Special Initiatives: The Foundation occasionally runs special initiatives with open application processes, such as the Michigan Central Station Children's Endowment Initiative, which had structured application phases with specific eligibility criteria and deadlines.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly documented. Based on annual grant announcements (typically made in January for the previous year's grants), the Foundation likely operates on an annual grant cycle, but specific timeframes for consideration and notification are not available.

Success Rates

Success rates and application numbers are not publicly available, as the Foundation does not appear to operate a traditional open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given that The Children's Foundation does not have a public application process, the following factors appear important based on their funded projects and stated priorities:

Alignment with Focus Areas: Organizations working in mental health, substance use disorder, physical health, health equity, or supporting Children's Hospital of Michigan have the strongest alignment.

Geographic Focus: The Foundation prioritizes Southeast Michigan and the Detroit metro area. The Michigan Central Station Children's Endowment Initiative specifically targeted organizations within a 15-mile radius of Michigan Central Station.

Evidence of Impact: The Foundation emphasizes "collaborative solutions and systems that create more opportunities for kids" and supports "evidence-based practices" according to their impact statements.

Organizational Capacity: For special initiatives like the Michigan Central Station program, they selected organizations with philanthropic revenue between $400,000 and $5.5 million, suggesting they seek established organizations with track records.

Service to Ages Birth to 26: All programs should serve children and young adults in this age range.

Equity Focus: The Foundation emphasizes equity-driven processes and health equity as a core priority area. Organizations addressing health disparities or serving underserved populations appear to be prioritized.

Building Organizational Durability: As stated by CEO Andrew Stein, the Foundation seeks to support organizations to "become really more durable and built to continue to serve this community for generations to come."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: The Children's Foundation operates through proactive grantmaking. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited proposals through a standard application portal.

• Relationship-building is essential: Contact Grants Director Gayle Berner directly to introduce your organization and explore potential alignment with Foundation priorities.

• Focus on the Foundation's three pillars: Ensure your work aligns with Community Benefit, Pediatric Research, or Medical Education, with clear health outcomes for Michigan children.

• Geographic targeting matters: Southeast Michigan and Detroit metro organizations receive priority. Being based in and serving communities near Detroit significantly increases relevance.

• Watch for special initiatives: The Foundation occasionally launches special programs with open applications (like the Michigan Central Station Children's Endowment Initiative). Monitor their website and communications.

• Emphasize equity and sustainability: The Foundation values equity-driven approaches and organizational durability. Demonstrate how your work addresses health disparities and your organization's long-term sustainability.

• Think beyond direct services: The Foundation funds research, education, and systems-level change in addition to direct community programs.

References

• The Children's Foundation official website: https://yourchildrensfoundation.org (accessed January 2025)
• Grantmakers In Health profile: https://www.gih.org/grantmaker-focus/the-childrens-foundation/ (accessed January 2025)
• "2023 grants announced, totalling more than $3.8 million," The Children's Foundation, January 12, 2023: https://yourchildrensfoundation.org/2023/01/12/2023-grants-announced-totalling-more-than-3-8-million/
• "Foundation announces Andrew Stein as next President & Chief Executive Officer," The Children's Foundation, October 25, 2022: https://yourchildrensfoundation.org/2022/10/25/foundation-announces-andrew-stein-as-next-president-chief-executive-officer/
• "The Children's Foundation Announces Recipients of Michigan Central Station Children's Endowment Initiative," January 16, 2025: https://yourchildrensfoundation.org/2025/01/16/michigan-central-station-childrens-endowment-initiative-selected-organizations/
• "Michigan Central Station Children's Endowment Initiative Nearly Doubles Initial Goal, Raises Over $19M," July 1, 2024: https://yourchildrensfoundation.org/2024/07/01/michigan-central-station-initiative-raises-19m-opens-application/
• Cause IQ profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/childrens-hospital-of-michigan-foundation,320087353/ (accessed January 2025)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/320087353 (accessed January 2025)