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Ruth Mott Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.5M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.2M
Decision Time
3mo

Ruth Mott Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5.5 million (2022)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Varies (three funding cycles per year)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,200,000
  • Geographic Focus: North Flint, Michigan only

Contact Details

Address: 111 E. Court Street Suite 3C, Flint, MI 48502

Phone: (810) 233-0170

Website: ruthmottfoundation.org

Email: rmf@ruthmott.org

Program Staff:

Pre-Application Guidance: The foundation strongly encourages prospective applicants to contact a program officer before submitting a proposal to discuss whether their project aligns with funding priorities.

Overview

The Ruth Mott Foundation was established in 1989 by Ruth Rawlings Mott (1901-1999), philanthropist and fourth wife of automotive pioneer Charles Stewart Mott. While the foundation was legally created in 1989, it didn't begin active grantmaking until January 2001 with four trustees and two staff members. In its first funding cycle, the foundation awarded $1,291,014 to 32 organizations.

In 2016, the foundation made a strategic shift to adopt a place-based approach, focusing exclusively on north Flint, Michigan (defined as everything within city limits north of Flushing Road/5th Avenue/Robert T. Longway Boulevard). With approximately $5.5 million in annual grantmaking, the foundation takes a community-driven approach centered on four priority areas identified by north Flint residents: youth, public safety, economic opportunity, and neighborhoods. Under former President Raquel Thueme's leadership (2011-2025), community engagement, trust-based philanthropy, and racial equity emerged as essential features of the foundation's strategic plan. Sue Peters assumed the presidency in November 2025, bringing over two decades of philanthropic experience in Flint.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Ruth Mott Foundation organizes its grantmaking around five strategic areas:

Youth - $22,000 - $150,000 Educational enrichment, job skills training, mentoring programs, arts education, STEAM programs, out-of-school time activities, summer camps, and performing arts programs.

Economic Opportunity - $50,000 - $1,200,000 Job training, entrepreneurship support, financial literacy programs, employment services, and direct payment initiatives (such as the groundbreaking $1.2M Rx Kids grant providing prenatal allowances to Flint mothers from pregnancy through their child's first year).

Neighborhoods - $10,000 - $200,000 Community development, civic engagement, housing initiatives, neighborhood beautification, small grants programs for citizen-based organizations addressing pressing neighborhood issues.

Public Safety - Variable amounts Park improvements, blight elimination, crime prevention programs, community policing initiatives.

Special Initiatives & Foundation-Initiated Grants - Variable amounts Strategic projects addressing specific community needs, including Flint Water Crisis response initiatives and civic participation programs.

Application Methods: The foundation accepts proposals three times per year through an online application portal. Specific deadlines fall on Wednesdays, with all proposals due by 5 p.m. on the deadline date.

Priority Areas

The foundation requires all grants to address at least one of the four core priority areas (Youth, Public Safety, Economic Opportunity, Neighborhoods) and specifically one of the themes within them that north Flint residents identified as most important. Key evaluation criteria include:

  • Racial Equity: The foundation prioritizes closing racial disparities within the four priority areas
  • Community Engagement: Projects must be done "with" rather than "to" the community
  • Effectiveness: Organizations must demonstrate capacity to execute proposed work with appropriate evaluation measures

As the foundation states: "At the core of this strategic focus is a commitment to support community voiced and driven priorities and plans. Through this approach, the residents of north Flint will shape those solutions intended to strengthen their neighborhoods and help create and sustain opportunities to contribute and thrive."

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals: The foundation does not make grants to individuals
  • Geographic Restrictions: Projects must serve north Flint residents specifically; programs outside this defined geographic area are not eligible
  • Projects Outside Priority Areas: Grants must address at least one of the four priority areas (Youth, Public Safety, Economic Opportunity, Neighborhoods)

The foundation does not publish a comprehensive list of other standard exclusions (such as lobbying, political campaigns, etc.), so applicants should contact program officers for guidance on specific project types.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Ruth Mott Foundation Board has 10 active members, including four family descendants of Ruth Mott:

Officers:

  • Maryanne Mott, Chair (daughter of Ruth Rawlings and Charles Stewart Mott)
  • Kyle McCree, Vice Chair
  • Joseph Robinson, Treasurer
  • Shannon Easter White, Secretary

Trustees:

  • Tiffany Brown (Flint native, joined board recently)
  • Debra Furr-Holden
  • Ja'Nel Jamerson
  • Charles Meynet
  • Vivian Rogers Pickard (philanthropy leader, joined January 2025)
  • Marise M. M. Sheehan

Trustees Emeriti: Gloria Coles, Lawrence E. Moon, Robert Pestronk

Leadership

Sue Peters, President (as of November 2025) - Previously vice president of community impact at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint since 2016, with over two decades of philanthropic and nonprofit experience in Flint. Peters oversees grantmaking and administration functions as well as community programs delivered at and by Applewood.

Raquel Thueme, President 2018-2025 (retired) - Served the foundation for 14 years total, seven as president. Board Chair Maryanne Mott noted that Thueme's "vision, competence, and commitment to building meaningful relationships with the community have left an indelible mark on this organization."

Under Thueme's leadership, the foundation emphasized: "We ask the community what they want and we actually listen."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Initial Contact: The foundation strongly encourages prospective applicants to talk to a program officer before submitting. You can call (810) 233-0170 or fill out the contact form on their website to discuss whether your project aligns with their geographic focus and funding priorities.

  2. Online Application: The foundation accepts proposals three times per year through their online application portal. After initial contact with program staff, you'll receive login information for the portal.

  3. Required Documentation: Forms and templates are available on the foundation's website to simplify the submission process.

  4. Board Approval: Final approval of all grants rests with the Ruth Mott Foundation Board of Trustees.

Eligibility: Grants are awarded to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and other qualifying tax-exempt institutions such as schools, units of government, hospitals, and religious institutions.

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates on a three-cycle-per-year schedule with proposals due on Wednesdays by 5 p.m. Specific decision timelines vary, but the foundation processes applications through their Board of Trustees for final approval. Applicants can expect communication regarding decisions after board meetings.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose application success rates or the total number of applications received. Based on announced grant rounds, the foundation typically awards between 14-25 grants per cycle, with individual funding rounds ranging from approximately $1.2 million to $3 million.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations interested in reapplying after an unsuccessful application should contact program officers to discuss their project and receive guidance on next steps.

Application Success Factors

Community Engagement Approach

The foundation explicitly values applicants who demonstrate collaborative approaches. As stated in their guidelines: "Successful applicants will demonstrate how they are doing projects 'with' rather than 'to' the north Flint community." This is not merely rhetorical - the foundation's entire strategic approach centers on community-voiced and community-driven priorities.

Talk to Program Officers First

The foundation repeatedly emphasizes the importance of pre-application conversations. Their website states: "We encourage you to talk to us about your idea." Program officers can help determine whether your grant request is a good match with funding priorities, potentially saving time and increasing success rates.

Demonstrate Racial Equity Focus

The foundation explicitly states: "The Foundation sees a need within these four priority areas to close racial disparities." Successful applications should clearly articulate how their work addresses racial inequities in north Flint.

Show Evaluation Capacity

The foundation has a dedicated Learning & Evaluation section and requires organizations to demonstrate "success in contributing to positive outcomes, with appropriate evaluation measures in place to demonstrate effectiveness." Applications should include clear plans for measuring impact.

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

Understanding what the foundation has recently funded provides insight into their priorities:

  • STEMNETICS Program (Project SYNCERE): STEAM education with critical thinking for youth
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters: $130,000 for out-of-school time mentoring matching north Flint youth with adult mentors
  • Bethel United Methodist Church: $150,000 for Flint Freedom School Collaborative providing two-generation family support and six-week summer camp
  • Floyd J. McCree Theatre: $55,000 for performing arts programs (theatre, dance, music) for children ages 5-12
  • Rx Kids: $1.2 million for prenatal allowances providing direct payments to Flint mothers
  • Active Boys in Christ: Vocational job skills training (electrical, plumbing, construction, cooking), mentoring, and academic enrichment for youth ages 7-17
  • Tap Dance Youth Program: $135,000 to provide youth development and employment through tap dance to more than 200 north Flint youth

Foundation Values Should Inform Your Proposal

The foundation's four core values should be reflected in applications:

  1. Cultivate Trust - Emphasize relationship-building through kindness, respect, empathy, inclusivity, accountability, and mutual learning
  2. Pursue Justice - Acknowledge systemic harms and address social, economic, and racial inequities while centering voices of community members with lived experience
  3. Promote Civic Engagement - Show how your project engages community participation
  4. Commit to the Long Term - Demonstrate sustainability and long-term impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic focus is absolute: Your project must serve north Flint residents specifically (north of Flushing Road/5th Avenue/Robert T. Longway Boulevard). Projects outside this area will not be considered.

  • Pre-application conversation is essential: The foundation explicitly encourages talking to program officers before applying. This is not optional guidance - it's a strategic advantage that can help you understand whether your project aligns with current priorities.

  • "With" not "to" is the mantra: Every aspect of your proposal should demonstrate how you're working collaboratively with north Flint residents, not imposing solutions from outside. Community engagement is not a checkbox but a core evaluation criterion.

  • Racial equity must be explicit: Don't assume the foundation will infer how your work addresses racial disparities. Clearly articulate your racial equity approach and how you measure progress toward closing racial gaps.

  • Trust-based philanthropy shapes their approach: The foundation embraces trust-based philanthropy principles, valuing long-term relationships over transactional grantmaking. Emphasize partnership and mutual learning rather than a vendor-client dynamic.

  • Evaluation matters: Include clear, appropriate evaluation measures that demonstrate effectiveness. The foundation has dedicated resources on Learning & Evaluation - review these before applying.

  • Grant sizes vary dramatically: Awards range from small $1,000 neighborhood grants to a $1.2 million multi-year initiative. Don't self-limit your request if it aligns with their priorities and you can demonstrate capacity and community support.

References

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