DTE Energy Foundation
DTE Energy Foundation is a private foundation based in Detroit, Michigan, and the philanthropic arm of DTE Energy. Its grants support nonprofits and initiatives, including community transformation, human needs, economic progress, education, employment, and environmental leadership.
DTE Energy Foundation at a glance
In short: DTE Energy Foundation gave $15.8M across 442 grants in 2024 (avg $36K), mostly in Michigan. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $15,822,090
- -20.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 442
- +13.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $35,797
- -29.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,025
- Total assets
- $129,139,057
- +7.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (99 of 390, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to DTE Energy Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation’s filing states that electronic applications are by invitation only, so it does not accept unsolicited requests through that process. Deadlines are quarterly and tied to board meeting dates. Separately, the Foundation has published open calls for specific Community Empowerment Awards programs.
- Contact
Application contact: Rodney Cole
Mailing address: One Energy Plaza 1535 Wcb, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 235-4000
Website: https://dteenergy.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who DTE Energy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cmnty Foundation for Southeast ($1.5M across 16 grants). Together the top 10 received $6.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
2,422 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2,013 grants of 2,422 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan; the remaining shares were South Carolina, 2%; North Carolina, 2%; Washington, D.C., 2%; and California, 1%. The 2026 Critical Repairs program is described as serving Michigan communities in DTE service territories.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 442 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is DTE Energy Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 99 of 390 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $41K; repeat grants $40K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 25% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 279% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $15.8M (2024) to $24.5M (2020). In 2024 it made 442 grants totaling $15.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DTE Beacon Park Foundation Detroit, MI | Community Transformation | $1,200,000 |
| Cmnty Foundation for Southeast Detroit, MI | Community Transformation | $1,000,000 |
| United Way for Southeastern Detroit, MI | Human Needs | $875,000 |
| Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Inc Detroit, MI | Community Transformation | $500,000 |
| The Heat and Warmth Fund Detroit, MI | Human Needs | $500,000 |
| Lower Town Riverfront Detroit, MI | Community Transformation | $400,000 |
| American Forests Washington, DC | Environmental Leadership | $250,000 |
| Detroit Regional Partnership Founda Detroit, MI | Economic Progress | $250,000 |
| Yeshivath Beth Yehudah Southfield, MI | Education | $250,000 |
| Detroit Employment Solutions Corp Detroit, MI | Employment | $225,000 |
Ready to take the next step with DTE Energy Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $129,139,057 | $19,858,012 | $15,264,335 | $15,822,090 | 442 | $16,280,114 | $9,739,065 | $5,831,445 |
| 2023 | $120,093,193 | $4,503,774 | $26,326,369 | $19,839,838 | 390 | $19,419,471 | $4,180,060 | $5,913,006 |
| 2022 | $124,858,974 | $3,314,912 | $12,504,046 | $18,397,564 | 389 | $18,056,646 | $3,256,135 | $6,792,945 |
| 2021 | $165,950,300 | $32,183,321 | $25,614,765 | $20,983,874 | 448 | $20,264,252 | $7,125,419 | $6,825,464 |
| 2020 | $141,467,280 | $19,621,412 | $39,346,852 | $24,457,482 | 753 | — | $2,646,442 | $6,026,200 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, DTE Energy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation describes community transformation as a core focus. Its Community Transformation programs support placemaking, positive family development, community-driven solutions, safety, and opportunities for youth and families. The 2026 Community Empowerment Awards: Critical Repairs Program focuses on safe, stable housing and reducing transportation barriers to basic needs, employment, health care, and other essential services.
Its 2024 grants also included purposes such as human needs, economic progress, education, employment, and environmental leadership. Among the grantees, the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy says it works to establish and maintain the Detroit Riverwalk and associated green spaces and facilitate community access to the waterfront. The Heat and Warmth Fund says it works to help Michigan families stay healthy, safe, and warm. Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation describes its mission as developing local workforce talent to meet business needs, while Detroit Economic Growth Association describes its mission as promoting economic growth and revitalization in Detroit.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation made 442 grants totaling $15,822,090. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $1,200,000, with a median of $10,025. Its largest grants included $1,200,000 to DTE Beacon Park Foundation and $1,000,000 to Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, both for community transformation; $875,000 to United Way for Southeastern Michigan for human needs; and $500,000 each to Detroit Riverfront Conservancy and The Heat and Warmth Fund.
The Foundation has also announced open-call programs. Its 2026 Community Empowerment Awards: Critical Repairs Program offers awards of up to $30,000 per organization in each focus area and uses a two-step process: an initial proposal, followed by a formal application for selected organizations. The 2025 Community Empowerment Awards invited Michigan nonprofits to propose community-transformation projects, with proposals up to $50,000 and $150,000 to be shared among awardees. For that program, eligible applicants had to be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charities able to receive and manage the grant directly; the organization and project had to be in Michigan, the Foundation had to be the project’s majority contributor, and the project could not be energy-related. Applicants also had to provide a long-term sustainability plan and an annual impact report, and fulfill press-release and grant-presentation requests. Fiduciary or fiscal-sponsor payment arrangements and Type III supporting organizations were ineligible.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Rodney E. Cole Sr. as chair, president, and director; David Ruud as director, treasurer, and secretary; and Joann Chavez, Trevor F. Lauer, Joi Harris, Paula Silver, and Evette Griffie as directors.
DTE Energy Foundation is led by Rodney E. Cole Sr., Chair, President & Director since 2023 (on filings since 2021); none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Rodney E. Cole Sr.
Chair, President & Director
Director & Vice President-Partial Year → Director & Vice President, 2022
Director & Vice President → Chair, President & Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Ruud
Director, Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joann Chavez
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Trevor F. Lauer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joi Harris
Director
Director - Partial Year → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula Silver
Director
Director - Partial Year → Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Evette Griffie
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Lynette M. Dowler (2020–2023) — Director, Chair & President-Partial Yr
- Former: David E. Meador (2020–2022) — Director - Partial Year
- Former: Nancy J. Moody - Partial Year (2020) — Chair & Director
- Former: Peter Oleksiak - Partial Year (2020) — Treasurer, Secretary & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about DTE Energy Foundation
How much does DTE Energy Foundation give each year?
DTE Energy Foundation gave $15.8M across 442 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $19.8M across 390 grants.
What is DTE Energy Foundation's typical grant size?
DTE Energy Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,025, and its average grant was $35,797, across 442 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from DTE Energy Foundation that year got $41K on average.
Where does DTE Energy Foundation give grants?
DTE Energy Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (166 grants), Ann Arbor, MI (26 grants), Grand Rapids, MI (25 grants) and Lansing, MI (13 grants).
Does DTE Energy Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 442 grants with a stated purpose on DTE Energy Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Human Needs" (141 grants), "Community Transformation" (72 grants) and "Education" (54 grants).
Who are DTE Energy Foundation's largest grantees?
DTE Energy Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Cmnty Foundation for Southeast ($1,451,925 across 16 grants), DTE Beacon Park Foundation ($1,200,000) and United Way for Southeastern ($885,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is DTE Energy Foundation?
DTE Energy Foundation reported $129.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $16.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does DTE Energy Foundation fund?
The Foundation describes community transformation as a core focus. Its Community Transformation programs support placemaking, positive family development, community-driven solutions, safety, and opportunities for youth and families. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from DTE Energy Foundation?
The Foundation’s filing states that electronic applications are by invitation only, so it does not accept unsolicited requests through that process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is DTE Energy Foundation's EIN?
DTE Energy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2708636. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does DTE Energy Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in DTE Energy Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). DTE Energy Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dte-energy-foundation-morg_54041437898f4ac9b73e4185fc6f9c4d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382708636_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{DTE Energy Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dte-energy-foundation-morg_54041437898f4ac9b73e4185fc6f9c4d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from DTE Energy Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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