Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $190.6 million (2022)
Total Assets: $3.7 billion (2024)
Grant Range: $15,000 - $300,000+ (typical range; larger grants available)
Geographic Focus: U.S. national and international (with special focus on Flint, MI)
Founded: 1926
Total Giving Since Inception: Over $4.2 billion to organizations in 73 countries

Contact Details

Main Office (Flint, Michigan)

Address: 503 S. Saginaw St., Suite 1200, Flint, MI 48502-1851
Website: https://www.mott.org
Contact Form: https://www.mott.org/contact/

Additional Office (Troy, Michigan)

Address: Columbia Center, 201 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 900, Troy, MI 48084

International Offices

London, UK: Gable House, 18-24 Turnham Green Terrace, London W4 1QP
Johannesburg, South Africa: EISA Building, Ground Floor, 14 Park Rd., Richmond, Johannesburg, 2092

Overview

The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation was established in 1926 by automotive pioneer Charles Stewart Mott, a co-founder of General Motors Corporation, with an initial endowment of $320,000. The foundation has grown to become one of America's largest private foundations with $3.7 billion in assets as of 2024, awarding approximately 385 grants totaling $190.6 million annually. The foundation's mission is to "promote a just, equitable and sustainable society," with a strategic focus on long-term partnerships rather than short-term projects. Initially focused solely on Flint, Michigan, the foundation expanded nationally in the 1970s and internationally beginning in the 1980s, now operating in 73 countries. The foundation pioneered the "community schools" model in 1935, partnering schools with neighborhoods to meet community needs—an innovation that became a national model. As of January 2025, the foundation has transitioned to an invitation-only grantmaking model, reflecting their commitment to sustained, multi-year relationships with existing grantees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through four primary program areas:

Civil Society Program

Focus: Foster engaged, empowered and equitable communities worldwide
Key Areas:
- Strengthening Civic Space: Promoting and protecting space for civic engagement
- Enhancing Community Philanthropy: Supporting development of community foundations
- Increasing Access to Justice: Promoting social equity and legal empowerment
Geographic Scope: U.S. and international

Education Program

Focus: Expand learning opportunities for children from low- and moderate-income communities
Key Areas: Advancing afterschool programs to increase access to quality educational opportunities
Geographic Scope: U.S. national

Environment Program

Focus: Protect communities and the ecosystems upon which they depend
Geographic Scope: Global

Flint Area Program

Focus: Community development and revitalization in Flint, Michigan
Key Areas:
- Supporting local arts and cultural organizations
- Stimulating job growth and downtown revitalization
- Strengthening capacity of programs serving children and families
Recent Large Grants:
- $25 million to Michigan State University College of Human Medicine for public health initiatives
- $10 million for Beecher High School renovations
- $5.3 million to Flint Community Schools for new high school planning
- $3.5 million to Communities First Inc. for historic building renovation
Grant Range: $50,000 - $5+ million

Exploratory and Special Projects

Focus: Addressing significant national and international problems outside regular program areas
Application: By invitation only
Includes: Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) program

Priority Areas

The foundation emphasizes:

Core organizational support rather than project-specific funding
Long-term, multi-year grants to established nonprofits
Capacity building and organizational strengthening
Innovation within established organizations
U.S. national initiatives in Education program
International work in Civil Society and Environment programs
Comprehensive community development in Flint, Michigan

What They Don't Fund

Individuals: No grants or loans to individuals
Capital Projects: Generally no funding for capital development, research, project replication, or endowments (except in Flint area or when growing out of existing Mott-funded work)
Religious Activities: No funding for religious activities or programs serving specific religious groups (faith-based organizations may apply if project serves broad population segment)
Local Projects: No funding for local projects outside Flint unless part of Mott-planned national demonstration or network
Government Duplication: No funding for projects that duplicate work of federal, state, or local government agencies
Media Projects: Film and video projects, books rarely funded
Education Support: Scholarships and fellowships rarely funded
Unsolicited Proposals: As of January 2025, no unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals accepted

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation has 17 trustees led by:

Ridgway H. White - Chairman (also serves as President and CEO)
Frederick S. Kirkpatrick - Vice Chairman

Notable Trustees:

George E. Ross - President of Central Michigan University, trustee elected 2024. Quote: "Being a kid from Flint, it is an extraordinary honor to help lead a foundation that makes a difference locally and around the world."
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala
Charlie Nelms
Jeremy R. M. Piper

Leadership

Ridgway H. White - President and CEO (since 2015 as President, 2017 as CEO)

Great-grandson of founder Charles Stewart Mott
Led foundation's response during Flint water crisis, securing $4 million emergency grant to reconnect city to Detroit water system
Quote: "I'm honored to have the opportunity to continue the foundation's legacy of service to the people and communities we support."

Previous Leadership

William S. White - President (1971-2015), CEO and Chairman (d. October 2019)
Grandson-in-law of Charles Stewart Mott
One of the longest-serving leaders of a major U.S. philanthropy
Quote on leadership transition: "It's the right time and the right approach for the evolution of the organization. The Foundation is in excellent shape. Our people, our programs and our assets are all strong, and we're poised to continue our work to promote an equitable and sustainable society."

Note: Foundation policy states "all applicants need to follow the Foundation's standard application procedures; please do not contact trustees directly."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

As of January 2025, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation no longer accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals. This represents a significant policy change from their previous open application system.

According to the foundation: "Because we focus on grantmaking that aligns with the goals and objectives of our program teams, and because we stick with issues and organizations for the long haul, there are limited funds to support new work in any given year."

Current Grantmaking Approach:

Proposals for Exploratory and Special Projects grants are by invitation only
Foundation works primarily with existing grantees through long-term partnerships
Grants support core organizational activities rather than requiring organizations to shape projects around shifting priorities
Foundation emphasizes multi-year funding relationships that provide stability

Who Receives Grants: The foundation mainly works with well-established nonprofits and NGOs in its areas of interest. Their funding philosophy emphasizes "long-term funding that offers grantees stability, which allows them to focus on important work and pursue innovation."

Decision Timeline

When the foundation did accept applications (prior to January 2025):

Review and decision processes typically took several months
Specific timelines varied by program area

Current process for invited proposals: Timeline not publicly disclosed

Success Rates

In 2022, the foundation made 385 grants totaling $190.6 million. Specific acceptance rates for applications are not publicly available. The shift to invitation-only proposals indicates highly competitive grantmaking with limited opportunities for new applicants.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Invited to Apply:

Foundation's Stated Priorities: The foundation values organizations that align with their program goals and demonstrate capacity for long-term impact. They fund "core activities of our grantees, rather than requiring them to shape projects around shifting priorities," indicating preference for organizations with strong core missions aligned with foundation interests.

Recent Grant Examples Showing Funding Patterns:

Flint Area Program:

Genesee County Habitat for Humanity: $500,000 for "Restoring Community Vitality" (2025-2026)
University of Michigan-Flint: $227,000 for "Economic and Entrepreneurial Outreach" (2025-2026)
Mott Community College: $300,000 for "Adult Career Pathway Program" (2026)
Food Bank of Eastern Michigan: $50,000 for "Increasing Food Distribution" (2025-2026)
United Way of Genesee County: $300,000 for "Flint National Service Accelerator" (2026)

Education Program:

Indiana University: $200,000 for Global Philanthropy Environment Index (2025-2026)
Flint Freedom Schools Collaborative: $30,000 (2024-2026)

Key Success Factors:

Long-term vision: Foundation seeks partners committed to sustained work, not one-off projects
Core mission alignment: Organizations should have core missions naturally aligned with foundation priorities
Organizational capacity: Well-established nonprofits with proven track records
Innovation within stability: Ability to innovate while maintaining organizational core
Community engagement: Particularly for Flint Area grants, demonstrable community ties and impact
Geographic relevance: Either based in/serving Flint, working nationally in Education, or internationally in Civil Society/Environment

Leadership Insights: Ridgway White's leadership during the Flint water crisis demonstrates the foundation's commitment to responsive, significant grantmaking during community emergencies. The foundation's willingness to quickly mobilize $4 million for immediate crisis response indicates they value agility and community responsiveness in their grantmaking.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only since January 2025: The foundation no longer accepts unsolicited proposals, making relationship-building prior to this policy change critical for future opportunities
Long-term partnership model: Foundation emphasizes multi-year relationships over project-based funding; they "stick with issues and organizations for the long haul"
Core support philosophy: Mott funds core organizational activities rather than requiring project-specific proposals, seeking organizations whose missions naturally align with their program goals
Four distinct program areas: Civil Society, Education, Environment, and Flint Area each have specific geographic scopes—understand which program area fits your work
Flint remains central: Despite global reach, the foundation maintains deep commitment to its hometown with substantial grants ranging from $50,000 to $25 million
Established organizations preferred: Foundation works "mainly with well-established nonprofits and NGOs," indicating preference for organizations with proven track records
Limited new grantee opportunities: Foundation explicitly states "there are limited funds to support new work in any given year," making new partnerships rare

References

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. (n.d.). Home. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.mott.org/
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. (n.d.). What We Fund. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.mott.org/what-we-fund/
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. (n.d.). History and Founder. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.mott.org/about/history/
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. (n.d.). Trustees and Staff. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.mott.org/about/staff/
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. (n.d.). Financial Information. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.mott.org/about/financials/
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. (n.d.). Grants Database. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.mott.org/grants/
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. (n.d.). Contact Us. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.mott.org/contact/
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Leadership transition at the Mott Foundation. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.mott.org/news/articles/leadership-transition-at-the-mott-foundation/
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Ridgway H. White named president of Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.mott.org/news/releases/ridgway-h-white-named-president-charles-stewart-mott-foundation/
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. George E. Ross elected to Mott Foundation Board. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.mott.org/news/releases/cmu-president-george-e-ross-elected-to-mott-foundation-board/
GuideStar. CHARLES STEWART MOTT FOUNDATION - GuideStar Profile. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.guidestar.org/profile/38-1211227
Candid. CHARLES STEWART MOTT FOUNDATION | Foundation Directory. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=MOTT001
ProPublica. Charles Stewart Mott Foundation - Nonprofit Explorer. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/381211227
Mizzen. How do I apply for a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation? Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.mizzen.org/knowledge/how-do-i-apply-for-a-grant-from-the-charles-stewart-mott-foundation
Inside Philanthropy. Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-m/charles-stewart-mott-foundation
Groundworks. Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.groundworksnm.org/grantmakers-directory/charles-stewart-mott-foundation
Wikipedia. Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stewart_Mott_Foundation
WNEM. Mott Foundation provides grant for new Flint high school. Retrieved December 16, 2024, from https://www.wnem.com/2025/12/04/mott-foundation-provides-grant-new-flint-high-school/