Detroit Economic Growth Association logo

Detroit Economic Growth Association

Public charity · Grantmaker Detroit, MI EIN: 38-2433720 Website

Detroit Economic Growth Association (DEGA) is a public charity based in Detroit, Michigan. It receives private contributions to support the economic development portfolio of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), a separate 501(c)(4) organization. DEGA’s work supports efforts to promote investment, business growth, jobs, and economic opportunity in Detroit.

Key facts about Detroit Economic Growth Association

In short: Detroit Economic Growth Association gave $2.0M across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $98K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
38-2433720
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$1,952,717
Grants made (2025)
20
Average grant
$97,636
Median grant
$20,449
Total assets
$9,973,409
Primary geography
Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$10.0M

+41.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.0M

+419.9% YoY

Grant Count

20

+81.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$98K

+185.9% YoY

How Detroit Economic Growth Association gives

  • 10% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 246% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

DEGA’s stated mission is to promote activities that spur economic growth and revitalization in the City of Detroit. Its reported 2025 grants included support for equitable economic development, small-business assistance through Detroit Means Business, Detroit legacy businesses, and grocery stores.

Among the organizations supported, Build Institute received a 2025 grant for Detroit Means Business. Build Institute describes its mission as empowering people to launch ideas and grow businesses through education, resources, and a supportive community. Millan Theatre Company, which received a 2025 grant, describes its mission as providing professional theatre programs and training.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, DEGA reported 20 grants totaling $1,952,717. Grant amounts ranged from $6,586 to $947,525, with a median of $20,449. The largest awards included $947,525 to Aria Warren Detroit LLC and $290,606 to Weston Hall LLC, both for supporting equitable economic development; $210,396 to Ultreia LLC for the same purpose; and $188,816 to Build Institute for Detroit Means Business. Other reported grants included $65,000 to Milestone Growth Capital Institute for Detroit Means Business, $33,500 to House of Morrison’s Shoe Repair for Detroit Legacy, and grants for the Grocery Store Fund, including $25,000 to The Town Companies LLC and $24,928 to Klassic Mobile Gardens LLC.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Michigan. The listed recipients were in Detroit, Ann Arbor, or West Bloomfield.

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.

States

Cities

DetroitDearbornPlymouthLivoniaCantonAllen ParkGarden CityGrosse PointeGrosse Pointe WoodsNorthvilleTaylorWestlandWyandotteBirminghamRedfordSouthgateGrosse Pointe ParkSouthfieldWoodhavenDearborn Heights

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10M$20M$30M7 grants2019 240 grants2020 774 grants2021 18 grants2022 1 grant2023 11 grants2024 20 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2023) to $22.3M (2021). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $2.0M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Aria Warren Detroit LLC: $948KAria Warren Detroit LLC$948KWeston Hall LLC: $291KWeston Hall LLC$291KUltreia LLC: $210KUltreia LLC$210KBuild Institute: $189KBuild Institute$189KMilestone Growth Capital Institute: $65KMilestone Growth CapitalInstitute$65KHouse of Morrison's Shoe Repair: $34KHouse of Morrison's ShoeRepair$34KThe Town Companies LLC: $25KThe Town Companies LLC$25KKlassic Mobile Gardens LLC: $25KKlassic Mobile Gardens LLC$25KLinwood Fresh Market: $23KLinwood Fresh Market$23KDistrict 4 Mini Market LLC: $22KDistrict 4 Mini Market LLC$22K

The largest 2025 recipient was Aria Warren Detroit LLC ($948K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.

Grant Size Distribution

824 grants across all recorded years

806<$50K11$50–100K3$100–250K1$250–500K2$500K–1M$1–5M1$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 806 grants of 824 (98%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Aria Warren Detroit LLC Detroit, MISupporting Equitable Economic Development$947,525
Weston Hall LLC Detroit, MISupporting Equitable Economic Development$290,606
Ultreia LLC Ann Arbor, MISupporting Equitable Economic Development$210,396
Build Institute Detroit, MIDetroit Means Business$188,816
Milestone Growth Capital Institute Detroit, MIDetroit Means Business$65,000
House of Morrison's Shoe Repair Detroit, MIDetroit Legacy$33,500
The Town Companies LLC Detroit, MIGrocery Store Fund$25,000
Klassic Mobile Gardens LLC Detroit, MIGrocery Store Fund$24,928
Linwood Fresh Market Detroit, MIGrocery Store Fund$22,640
District 4 Mini Market LLC Detroit, MIGrocery Store Fund$21,898

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $9,973,409 $9,165,300 $7,634,505 $1,952,717 (20)
2024 $7,040,782 $6,597,694 $8,094,902 $375,592 (11)
2023 $6,721,664 $4,308,778 $4,371,037 $6,500 (1)
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M$40M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$9,973,409$7,040,782$6,721,664
Revenue$9,165,300$6,597,694$4,308,778
Expenses$7,634,505$8,094,902$4,371,037
Net Investment Income$11,872$29,730$35,574

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Kevin Johnson as president and CEO; Conrad L. Mallett Jr. as chair; Andra Rush as vice-chair; Michael Tyson as treasurer; and Jacci Woods as secretary. Directors listed include Mikyia Aaron, April Anderson, Marvin Beatty, Michael Bickers, and Neal Bishop.

Detroit Economic Growth Association is led by Kevin Johnson, President & C.e.o. on every filing since 2019; none of the 39 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Kevin Johnson

    President & C.e.o.

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Conrad L. Mallett Jr.

    Chair

    Director → Chair, 2020

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Darrell Middleton

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • David E. Meador

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eric Larson

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eva Garza Dewaelsche

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gary Torgow

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • George W. Jackson Jr.

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • James Vella

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kenneth L. Harris

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marshal S. Kleven

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marvin Beatty

    Director

    Director → Vice Chair, 2021

    Vice Chair → Director, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mike Duggan

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mike McLauchlan

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ronald Stallworth

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Terence A. Thomas Sr.

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tony Stovall

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • April Anderson

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kofi Bonner

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mikyia Aaron

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ned Staebler

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dimitrius Hutcherson

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Sheffield

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mohamad Hammoud

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Hassan Beydoun

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alexa Turnage

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Dewey

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jerry Darby

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Khalil Rahal

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kimberly Andrews Espy

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Bickers

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michelle Reaves

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Natalie King

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Neal Bishop

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Yvette Johnson

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andra Rush

    Vice Chair

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Glen W. Long Jr.

    Executive V-P of Administrator & C.f.o.

    Int. President, Executive V-P & C.f.o. → Executive V-P of Administrator & C.f.o., 2020

    On filings since 2019

    7 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jacci Woods

    Secretary

    Director → Secretary, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Tyson

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2021

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (25)
  • Former: John Blanchard (2019–2024) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Adelaide Pascaris (2022–2024) — Director
  • Former: Tony Tomczak (2022–2024) — Director
  • Former: Cynthia Pasky (2019–2023) — Director
  • Former: Nicole Sherard Freeman (2021–2022) — Director
  • Former: Charity Dean (2022) — Director
  • Former: Brenda Jones (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Rachel Lutz (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Thomas Lewand Jr. (2019–2021) — Director
  • Former: Lalit Verma (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Linzie Vengas (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: David Blaszkiewicz (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Donna Zalewski (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Jerry Norcia (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Lydia Gutierrez (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Matt Cullen (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Michael Aaron (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Nicole Sherard-Freeman (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Reuben Munday (2019–2020) — Secretary
  • Former: Roy Wilson (2019–2020) — Director
  • Former: Steven White (2019–2020) — Treasurer
  • Former: Nick Khouri (2020) — Director
  • Former: Juliette Okotie-Eboh (2019) — Director
  • Former: Patrick Cadariu (2019) — Director
  • Former: Thomas Lewand Sr. (2019) — Director

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 500 Griswold 2200, Detroit, MI 48226-3480
Phone: (313) 963-2940
Website: https://degc.org

Frequently asked questions about Detroit Economic Growth Association

How much does Detroit Economic Growth Association give each year?

Detroit Economic Growth Association gave $2.0M across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $376K across 11 grants.

What is Detroit Economic Growth Association's typical grant size?

Detroit Economic Growth Association's median grant in 2025 was $20,449, and its average grant was $97,636, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Detroit Economic Growth Association give grants?

Detroit Economic Growth Association gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (18 grants).

Does Detroit Economic Growth Association give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Detroit Economic Growth Association's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grocery Store Fund" (7 grants), "Detroit Legacy" (6 grants) and "Supporting Equitable Economic Development" (3 grants).

Who are Detroit Economic Growth Association's largest grantees?

Detroit Economic Growth Association's largest 2025 grantees include Aria Warren Detroit LLC ($947,525), Weston Hall LLC ($290,606) and Ultreia LLC ($210,396), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Detroit Economic Growth Association?

Detroit Economic Growth Association reported $10.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.2M.

What does Detroit Economic Growth Association fund?

DEGA’s stated mission is to promote activities that spur economic growth and revitalization in the City of Detroit. Its reported 2025 grants included support for equitable economic development, small-business assistance through Detroit Means Business, Detroit legacy businesses, and grocery stores. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Detroit Economic Growth Association?

Detroit Economic Growth Association has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check degc.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Detroit Economic Growth Association's EIN?

Detroit Economic Growth Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2433720. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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