Hudson-Webber Foundation Grant

The Hudson-Webber Foundation Grant supports community initiatives in Detroit, focusing on four mission areas: Arts & Culture, Built Environment, Community & Economic Development, and Safe & Just Communities. While the inquiry process is currently paused until January 31, 2025, the foundation encourages potential grantees to connect if their work aligns with its mission. The foundation has invested over $200 million in Detroit nonprofits, emphasizing collaborative efforts to enhance community well-being and economic opportunities.

NOTE:
Thank you for your interest in the Hudson-Webber Foundation’s grantmaking program and process. As we enter an exciting new chapter for the Foundation, with fresh leadership and evolving funding priorities, we are temporarily pausing our inquiry process for potential grantees. This pause is intended to respect the time and effort of community members and grant seekers, as we are not currently accepting new unsolicited funding inquiries.However, we still welcome conversations with potential new partners.
The Hudson-Webber Foundation invests in the success of community initiatives across our four mission areas, Community & Economic Development, Safe & Just Communities, Built Environment, and Arts & Culture. The foundation has contributed more than $200 million in grants to Detroit nonprofit organizations.
Arts & Culture
Access to art and cultural experiences is vitally important to quality of life. The city is home to arts and cultural institutions that have elevated Detroit’s creative spirit for generations, as well as emerging organizations that bring fresh perspectives and experiences. Hudson-Webber invests in the capacity of arts and cultural organizations to deliver quality, accessible, and engaging cultural programming, as well as increasing the diversity of voices reflected in the sector. The Foundation also supports arts and culture projects that contribute to the health and vitality of Detroit and its neighborhoods.
Built Environment
The legacy of Detroit’s built environment includes a rich history of architecture and public space from when the city was known as “the Paris of the Midwest,” as well as a history of disinvestment, blight and decay. The legacy is complicated by a history of revitalization initiatives that have displaced residents and erased vibrant communities of color. Hudson-Webber invests in the work that Detroiters are doing today to reimagine the city’s built environment as one of inclusivity, diversity, accessibility, and connectedness. The Foundation accomplishes this through investing in built-environment projects and by strengthening the field of practitioners that support the creation and stewardship of quality physical spaces.
Community & Economic Development
Economy, place, and opportunity are inextricably linked. For all Detroiters to participate in the city’s recovery—given an enduring legacy of disinvestment in poor and minority communities—economic growth must be linked to strategies that intentionally connect people and communities to opportunity. The Hudson-Webber Foundation invests in community and civic efforts that provide high quality jobs for all Detroiters, strengthen neighborhoods to provide opportunities and quality of life for residents, and help achieve stable racial and economic diversity and interconnectedness.
Safe & Just Communities
A strong sense of safety among residents is essential for a city to thrive. The Foundation operates with the belief that the most effective and enduring ways to achieve safe neighborhoods is to address the root causes of crime and build positive relationships between residents and law enforcement. The Foundation invests in innovative, racially equitable strategies that reduce crime and victimization and that improve community well-being. The Foundation is particularly focused on deterring crime and reducing recidivism through diversion and re-entry interventions and by strengthening relationships between law enforcement and residents that enable the co-production of public safety.

Eligibility

The Foundation only considers requests from organizations which are exempt from tax under Section 501(c)3 and are not classified as private foundations under Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.The Foundation only considers requests that align with one of its program objectives.The Foundation only funds activities based in Detroit, or otherwise have a significant benefit to the Detroit community.

Ineligibility

With the exception of the Foundation’s Hudsonians program for retirees of the Hudson’s department store, the Foundation does not make grants to individuals.The Foundation does not generally make grants for endowments or event sponsorships.