Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) is a Detroit, Michigan-based organization that became the City of Detroit’s workforce agency in 2012. It serves as the fiscal and administrative agent for the Mayor’s Workforce Development Board and is the lead agency for Detroit at Work, which provides job placement, job search, training, career advisement, and other supportive services to Detroiters.
Key facts about Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
In short: Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation gave $23.8M across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $882K), mostly in Michigan. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 38-3353746
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $23,811,119
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- Average grant
- $881,893
- Median grant
- $425,939
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (3 of 27, 2025)
- Total assets
- $17,356,468
- Primary geography
- Michigan (75% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Prospective training partners can submit DESC’s training application; the instructions and application are available through DESC. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$17.4M
-26.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$23.8M
-2.1% YoY
Grant Count
27
+8.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$882K
-9.3% YoY
Is Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 27 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $990K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $529K repeat.
- 89% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
DESC’s stated mission is to cultivate local workforce talent to align with business-community needs through partnerships with workforce agencies, faith- and community-based organizations, education and training institutions, and philanthropic, economic development, and government entities.
Its programs include services funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the Jumpstart program, Michigan’s PATH program, Trade Adjustment Assistance, and Grow Detroit’s Young Talent. Services described include job-readiness workshops, occupational training, career planning, job placement, and supportive services. Jumpstart participants may receive stipends to help with barriers such as housing, transportation, or childcare; these are participant supports, not grants to outside applicants.
DESC’s 2025 grants were described as subcontractor payments for employment and training programs. Recipients included organizations with varied missions. For example, ACCESS says it provides human and cultural services and advocacy for the Arab American community and the broader community. Development Centers says its mission is to help children, individuals, families, and communities access healthcare, education, housing, and the resources to build the lives they desire. Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit says it builds pathways to independence through personal development and the power of work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, DESC reported 27 grants totaling $23,811,119. Grant amounts ranged from $12,562 to $3,482,448, with a median of $425,939. The stated purpose for the largest grants was subcontractor payments for employment and training programs.
The largest reported grants included $3,482,448 to SERCO Inc. in Herndon, Virginia; $3,042,481 to Payne-Pulliam School of Trade & Commerce in Detroit; $2,475,218 to Ross Innovative Employment Solutions Corporation in Plymouth, Michigan; $2,343,145 to Arbor E&T LLC dba Equus Workforce Solutions in Louisville, Kentucky; and $2,156,654 to ACCESS in Dearborn, Michigan. Other substantial recipients included Downriver Community Conference ($1,885,495), Development Centers ($1,629,441), Connect Detroit ($1,365,434), and SER Metro Detroit ($1,087,161).
DESC invites qualified organizations to apply to become training partners for programs in high-growth and high-demand industries and occupations. Its training application instructions describe a sector-partnership model led by employer needs and aimed at industry-recognized credentials and employment paying at least $15 per hour after program completion. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations; the instructions also list private for-profit applicants. DESC also procures vendor services through RFQs and RFPs, which are open to qualified bidders when opportunities are active.
How to Apply
Prospective training partners can submit DESC’s training application; the instructions and application are available through DESC. Active procurement opportunities are posted as RFQs or RFPs for qualified bidders.
Ready to take the next step with Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
DESC’s workforce role is centered on Detroit. In 2025, 75% of reported grant dollars went to Michigan recipients, 15% to Virginia, 10% to Kentucky, and 1% to New York; percentages are reported as provided.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $18.0M (2020) to $24.3M (2024). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $23.8M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Serco Inc ($3.5M). Together the top 10 received $20.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
121 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 39 grants of 121 (32%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Serco Inc Herndon, VA | Subcontractor Payments for Employment and Training Programs | $3,482,448 |
| Payne-Pulliam School of Rade & Commerce Detroit, MI | Subcontractor Payments for Employment and Training Programs | $3,042,481 |
| Ross Innovative Employment Solutions Corporation Plymouth, MI | Subcontractor Payments for Employment and Training Programs | $2,475,218 |
| Arbor E&T LLC DBA Equus Workforce Solutions Louisville, KY | Subcontractor Payments for Employment and Training Programs | $2,343,145 |
| Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (Access) Dearborn, MI | Subcontractor Payments for Employment and Training Programs | $2,156,654 |
| Downriver Community Conference Southgate, MI | Subcontractor Payments for Employment and Training Programs | $1,885,495 |
| Development Centers Detroit, MI | Subcontractor Payments for Employment and Training Programs | $1,629,441 |
| Connect Detroit Detroit, MI | Subcontractor Payments for Employment and Training Programs | $1,365,434 |
| Ser Metro Detroit Detroit, MI | Subcontractor Payments for Employment and Training Programs | $1,087,161 |
| Matrix Human Services Detroit, MI | Subcontractor Payments for Employment and Training Programs | $637,652 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17,356,468 | $72,561,677 | $79,055,522 | $23,811,119 |
| 2024 | $23,560,838 | $84,390,253 | $88,235,463 | $24,310,314 |
| 2023 | $26,508,257 | $77,242,425 | $76,646,039 | $20,269,093 |
DESC’s filing type is Form 990 (a public charity).
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,356,468 | $23,560,838 | $26,508,257 |
| Revenue | $72,561,677 | $84,390,253 | $77,242,425 |
| Expenses | $79,055,522 | $88,235,463 | $76,646,039 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,160 | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 2, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mark Redman and Paul Trulik as members-at-large; Matt Cross, Rian Barnhill, John Perkins, Ric Preuss, Gail Taylor, and Terri Weems as directors; Chris Uhl as treasurer; and Lena Barkley as secretary.
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation is led by Dana Williams, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2021); 8 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dana Williams
President & CEO
Chief Strategy Officer → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$162K (2021) → $166K (2025)
Alice Thompson
Chair
Board Secretary → Board Chair, 2023
Board Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terri A. Weems
Director
President → Director & Group Executive Detroit at Work, 2024
Director & Group Executive Detroit at Work → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$185K (2020) → $19K (2025)
Nneka Carter
Supportive Services Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$145K (2025)
Todd Drysdale
Director of Finance & Accounting
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$141K (2025)
Ric Preuss
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rian Barnhill
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gail Taylor
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Perkins
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Cross
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Diana M. Prosi
Detroit at Work Brand Manager
Detroit @ Work Brand Strategist → Detroit @ Work Borand Strategist, 2022
Detroit @ Work Borand Strategist → Detroit at Work Brand Manager, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$152K (2020) → $167K (2025)
Stephanie Nixon
Chief Program Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$110K (2020) → $143K (2025)
Sara Azu
Chief Administrative Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$95K (2021) → $137K (2025)
Traci Sassak
CFO
Chief Financial Officer → CFO, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$83K (2022) → $160K (2025)
Chris Uhl
Treasurer
Director → Board Treasurer, 2022
Board Treasurer → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dannis Mitchell
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chairperson, 2023
Vice Chairperson → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lena Barkley
Secretary
Director → Board Secretary, 2023
Board Secretary → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Redman
Member-At-Large
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Trulik
Member-At-Large
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (24)
- Former: Maria Woodruff-Wright (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Calethia Binion (2022–2024) — Human Resources Director
- Former: Madelyne Bernard-Diab (2022–2024) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Reatta Straud (2024) — Director
- Former: Calvin Sharp (2020–2023) — Board Chair
- Former: Michael Aaron (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Toney Stewart (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Gregory Anderson (2021–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Christian Phillips (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Nichole Sherard-Freeman (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Robert Shimkoski (2022–2023) — Director of Planning & Resource
- Former: Carmen Bender (2023) — Director & Strategic Initiatives
- Former: Herman Parry (2023) — Director of It
- Former: Chanelle Manus (2022) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Lean Barkley (2022) — Director
- Former: Don O'Connel (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Michelle Rafferty (2020–2021) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Nicole Sherard Freeman (2020–2021) — Executive Director
- Former: Alessia Baker-Giles (2021) — Senior Director Finance
- Former: Chioke Borgelt (2020) — Deputy Director Mwdb
- Former: Jeffrey Donofrio (2020) — Director-
- Former: Marie Hocker (2020) — Executive Director - Gdyt
- Former: Nicole Stallings-Bates (2020) — Deputy Director Mwdb
- Former: Sheilah Clay (2020) — Director of Community Health Corps.
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $167K, to Diana Prosi (Detroit at Work Brand Manager). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 115 Erskine St 2Nd Floor, Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: (313) 867-0674
Frequently asked questions about Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
How much does Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation give each year?
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation gave $23.8M across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $24.3M across 25 grants.
What is Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation's typical grant size?
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation's median grant in 2025 was $425,939, and its average grant was $881,893, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation that year got $21K on average.
Where does Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation give grants?
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation gives mostly in Michigan: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (15%) and Kentucky (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (18 grants) and Southfield, MI (2 grants).
Does Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Subcontractor Payments for Employment and Training Programs" (27 grants).
Who are Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation's largest grantees?
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation's largest 2025 grantees include Serco Inc ($3,482,448), Payne-Pulliam School of Rade & Commerce ($3,042,481) and Ross Innovative Employment Solutions Corporation ($2,475,218), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation?
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation reported $17.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $72.6M.
What does Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation fund?
DESC’s stated mission is to cultivate local workforce talent to align with business-community needs through partnerships with workforce agencies, faith- and community-based organizations, education and training institutions, and philanthropic, economic development, and government entities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation?
Prospective training partners can submit DESC’s training application; the instructions and application are available through DESC. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation's EIN?
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3353746. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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