News

Note: The deadline to apply for this funding is extended to July 16. 

DETROIT — Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan is offering stipends of $7,500 to $10,000 to support projects led by Detroit organizations working to promote economic mobility. 

The new funding opportunity aims to build on findings from Investing in Us: Resident Priorities for Economic Mobility in Detroit, a report released by Poverty Solutions in 2020. The report includes analysis of hundreds of sources of information that captured the voices of Detroit residents over the past 10 years to identify common priorities, take stock of progress made, and note opportunities for action.

Now, Poverty Solutions invites proposals from community-based organizations and agencies for collaborative projects that respond directly to the resident priorities highlighted in Investing in Us. In addition to the stipends, Poverty Solutions will offer in-kind technical assistance to support the selected projects. The deadline to submit a proposal is July 16. 

According to Investing in Us, important areas for action to expand economic opportunity for Detroit residents include, but are not limited to:

• The high costs of daily living faced by Detroit residents with low incomes;
• The value of different workforce development training programs;
• The extent to which unreliable and inefficient transportation systems present barriers to opportunity;
• The desire for economic agency and input into city policies;
• The impact of environmental conditions on health and well-being; and
• The need to improve public safety and reduce crime.

“As researchers, it’s important for us to follow the lead of community leaders in identifying new ways to tackle poverty and economic inequality in Detroit,” said Afton Branche-Wilson, assistant director of community initiatives at Poverty Solutions and lead researcher on Investing in Us. “With this RFP, we hope to support exciting collaborations with these kinds of partners that will lead to real change.”

Project types can include research, evidence-based service design and delivery, data collection and analysis, communications and outreach, or program evaluation. The Investing in Us research and this new funding opportunity are supported by Ballmer Group. 

For detailed information about this opportunity, including how to apply, please see the request for proposals here. Eligible organizations must work in Detroit and have a Tax ID number. If you are interested in this opportunity and would like to discuss a potential project, please contact Branche-Wilson at aftonb@umich.edu.