Mott Foundation

• Check first that your work matches its stated themes, which include civil society, environmental sustainability, Flint education, affordable housing, economic development, afterschool learning and children's savings accounts, and note that it favours long-term relationships and funding grantees' core activities.
• Its website says it does not accept unsolicited requests and that Exploratory and Special Projects grants are by invitation only, so a cold proposal is unlikely to get a hearing, and an existing connection or introduction is the realistic way in.
• Most of its grants are small: half of its grants to organisations are $35,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $525 and $250,000, so a modest request sized along those lines fits better than an ambitious one.
• In its filing, 95% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in an earlier filing, which suggests it is relationship-led and sticks with grantees it knows.
• Do not apply for grants to individuals, for religious activities or for programmes serving specific religious groups, and do not apply for capital, research, project replication or endowment work outside the Flint area unless it grows from work Mott already funds.

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

• Community Foundation of Greater Flint · To support organizations that have a positive impact on Flint residents.
  $15,541,7922024 tax year
• University of Michigan · To support the expansion of critical care programs at a hospital with expertise in innovative and patient-centered pediatric care.
  $10,000,0002024 tax year
• Kettering University · To support the ongoing operations of a higher education university that prepares students for in-demand fields and contributes to the economic stability of its hometown.
  $8,000,0002024 tax year
• Beecher Community School District · To support the renovation of a career academy high school in Beecher.
  $7,000,0002024 tax year
• Foundation for the Uptown Reinvestment Corporation · To support revitalization efforts and community vitality in downtown Flint.
  $6,000,0002024 tax year
• Friends of Berston · To support the renovation and construction of new facilities at a community center to enhance the health, recreational and educational programming for Flint residents.
  $5,000,0002024 tax year
• Genesee Intermediate School District · To support renovations and upgrades for an early childhood education center to improve the learning experiences of young children and their families.
  $5,000,0002024 tax year
• University of Michigan · To strengthen the capacity of a children's hospital.
  $3,652,5442024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.