The Kresge Foundation

The Kresge Foundation is a US private foundation based in Troy, MI.

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Kresge Foundation works nationally and deeply in Detroit, Fresno, Memphis and New Orleans to expand equity and opportunity in America’s cities. Through grantmaking and social investing, it supports arts and culture, education, environment, health, human services and community development. Its programmes promote effective, inclusive community development; position culture and creativity as drivers of more just communities; increase postsecondary attainment while eliminating equity gaps; advance climate resilience and racial and economic justice; build equity-focused health systems; and accelerate social and economic mobility for people with low incomes. Working with partners, it helps create pathways for people with low incomes to improve their circumstances and join the economic mainstream, using flexible grants and social-investment tools such as general operating, project and planning grants.

Themes

• Inclusive community development
• Arts and culture
• Detroit equitable opportunity
• Postsecondary education
• Climate resilience
• Health equity
• Economic mobility

Geographic Focus

America’s cities; South Africa. Priority: Detroit; Fresno; Memphis; New Orleans.

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations that fail to comply with all applicable Federal and State Statutes and local laws relating to nondiscrimination
• Organizations that fail to take affirmative action to ensure that employees are treated during employment and applicants are considered for employment
• Any organization which uses any of the categories outlined in the non-discrimination provision found in the Form Grant Agreement in staffing or hiring decisions or in who receives services
• Organizations that require membership in a certain religion or advance a particular religious faith. (Faith-based organizations may be eligible for funding if they welcome and serve all members of the community regardless of religious belief.)
• Programs operated to benefit for-profit organizations
• Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, sexual orientation or veteran status
• American Cities only: Single-site initiatives outside of Fresno, Memphis and New Orleans; Research, convening or knowledge exchange that is not focused on places or for urban practitioners
• Arts & Culture only: Capital and facility renovation projects; Scholarships, pre-K, K-12 and university campus projects; Artists fellowships, residencies or training; Arts education, access and community outreach activities; Film productions, festivals and public art projects; Playgrounds, parks and community gardens; Activities that are not aligned with the Arts & Culture Program strategy or The Kresge Foundation’s mission in America’s cities
• Detroit only: Projects or programs located outside of the city of Detroit unless the effort provides a compelling circumstance that is mutually beneficial to the city’s progress; Startup enterprises, whether nonprofit or for profit; K-12 scholarships for individuals or families; Capital campaigns
• Education only: Capital projects; Early childhood or K-12 programs; Programs at individual colleges or universities; Projects at organizations with budgets of less than $1 million a year; Projects outside the U.S. or South Africa; Scholarships
• Environment only: Environmental education programs or the development of curricula; The construction or renovation of facilities or individual renewable-energy installations; The acquisition of land, other property or conservation easements for land-conservation purposes; The design and planning of environmentally responsible buildings; Primary scientific research; Research and development of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies; Projects that are local in scope without clear replication potential; Projects outside the U.S
• Health only: Projects that are primarily focused on direct health or social services; Health education, promotion or counseling programs; Research projects; Organizations with annual budgets of less than $250,000, except when invited or when specified during a formal request-for-proposal process; Construction or renovation of facilities, including the acquisition of medical equipment; Projects whose total cost is less than $100,000, except when invited or when specified during a formal request-for-proposal process
• Human Services only: Capital requests; Individuals

After an LOI is reviewed, a programme officer may move the request to the full proposal process; the officer communicates why it does not advance if it is not moving forward.

• Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 82% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
• Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 2,407 grants to organisations were about $145,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

• Applicants are encouraged to review the relevant programme pages and strategies before applying.
• The programme team considers how the opportunity aligns with its strategies.
• Proposals should engage the community in a real and meaningful way.
• Health proposals should adopt an explicit equity lens.
• Program officers determine reporting requirements, often in consultation with the organisation receiving the funding.