The Strategic Neighborhood Fund is a Detroit neighborhood revitalization initiative focused on commercial corridors, parks, housing, streetscapes, and public spaces that serve residents and local businesses. Led by Invest Detroit and the City of Detroit, the initiative brings public, private, and philanthropic partners together to support community-driven improvements in neighborhoods across the city. The Foundation has supported the Strategic Neighborhood Fund since 2017, helping expand its reach to 10 neighborhoods across all seven City Council districts. By grounding investment in local priorities, the Strategic Neighborhood Fund strengthens the places where Detroiters live, work, gather, and build community. Its work demonstrates what is possible when neighborhood development is guided by residents, small businesses, and partners with a shared commitment to long-term opportunity.
The Regional Revitalization Partnership is a $300 million public-private-philanthropic initiative advancing inclusive economic growth across Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Rochester, and surrounding communities through coordinated investments in small business, placemaking, workforce development, and community infrastructure. The partnership builds on years of local collaboration through initiatives such as East Side Avenues and Open4. These place-based, ecosystem-building efforts strengthened commercial corridors, community anchors, and the network of CDFIs and business support organizations serving Buffalo’s East Side and the broader Western New York region. Together, they demonstrated how targeted, locally informed investment can help small businesses grow, restore neighborhood assets, and lay the groundwork for broader regional revitalization. Today, Regional Revitalization Partnership investments are scaling that approach across the region, supporting projects that restore historic spaces, strengthen local economies, create pathways to economic mobility, and position communities for long-term growth.
The 2032 Strategic Vision for the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem of Western New York is a 10-year roadmap developed by and for the region to strengthen the conditions entrepreneurs need to start and grow successful businesses. Created through a collaborative process with more than 60 partners, the vision focuses on increasing access to capital, strengthening entrepreneurial support organizations, and building a more connected ecosystem across Buffalo-Niagara, Rochester, and the Southern Tier. The Springboard Prize Competition is one way this vision is being put into action. Launched in 2024 with Foundation support, the prize-based competition awards funding to organizations that strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The competition helps entrepreneurial support organizations become better resourced, data-informed, and equipped to collaborate in service of founders across all communities.
Arts and culture organizations strengthen communities, support local economies, and contribute to the identity and vitality of our regions. To support their long-term sustainability, the Foundation made a $200 million commitment to strengthen the financial health of arts and culture organizations in Western New York and Southeast Michigan. The commitment established permanent endowments at two regional community foundations, while also providing $7.5 million in annual grant funding, $3.75 million in each region, as the endowments are built over 10 years. Grantmaking began in 2022 to provide immediate support while building lasting resources for the sector.
Keep up with the latest information on the annual
Arts & Culture grant opportunity in Southeast Michigan
Keep up with the latest information on the annual
Arts & Culture grant opportunity in Western New York
