The Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation celebrated its 10 year anniversary by releasing The Road Already Traveled and the Journey Forward, highlighting its past grantmaking and outlining its plan for its future.
The Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb Family Foundation celebrated its 10 year anniversary by releasing The Road Already Traveled and the Journey Forward, highlighting its past grantmaking and outlining its plan for its future.
“Over the past 10 years, we have learned a tremendous amount, and we now see how our role has expanded beyond that of funder to include thought leader,” John Erb, chairman and CEO of the Erb Family Foundation wrote. “This is possible because our collaborative efforts have created natural bridges for convening experts to have thoughtful, impactful conversations about the issues that challenge us most.”
The report provides an in-depth summary of the foundation’s first 10 years of grantmaking in the following impact areas:
Environment: Over $47 million was granted to support a clean and healthy Great Lakes ecosystem and environmental health, justice and equitable development in metro Detroit.
The Arts: Since 2009 the foundation granted over $20 million to arts organizations and programs in the Detroit area, including grants for jazz education, a personal passion of Fred A. Erb.
Alzheimer’s Research: The foundation’s funding for Alzheimer’s research—focused on prevention, management and treatment—totaled over $3.4 million.
In addition to the 10-year retrospective, the report includes an overview of the foundation’s next five years of grantmaking, including adjustments to its impact areas.
“Building on our success of the first 10 years, we will refocus our efforts, keeping the same themes yet placing new emphasis on how we approach them and measure our impact,” Neil Hawkins, president, Erb Family Foundation wrote. “Our aim is to be more targeted and quantitative. This is a new approach for us, but one we believe is worth undertaking with our grantees and partners.”
For the next five years, the Erb Family Foundation will focus on five key areas, building off their first 10 years of grantmaking:
The Great Lakes: Improve water quality for communities who use the lakes as a water source, decreasing agricultural runoff into the lakes and supporting a green stormwater infrastructure.
Environmental Health, Justice and Sustainable Development: Focusing on reducing lead exposure levels in and around Detroit, improving air quality to combat asthma and supporting sustainable development in metro Detroit.
Anchor Arts: Support a vibrant arts culture in metro Detroit.
Jazz Education: Provide education and training to youth in the art of jazz music.
Alzheimer’s Research: Further support research dedicated to preventing, treating and managing Alzheimer’s.
The Erb Family Foundation hopes these adjustments will allow it to stay true to its roots while tackling emerging problems in metro Detroit and beyond.
“We must not stop now,” John Erb wrote. “The original priorities set out by my parents still guide us, yet we realize that there are more challenges now than ever before.”
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