The Pontiac Funders Collaborative, an initiative of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM), was launched in 2020 and works to improve the quality of life in Pontiac through positive, community-driven change. It also provides funding to build capacity for local leaders and organizations to achieve those goals. 

The collaborative recently released its 2020-2022 Impact Report and announced it has invested more than $5 million since its inception and will commit $5.4 million more over the next three years.

The Pontiac Funders Collaborative’s funding strategy is informed by an 11-member Community Advisory Council and includes people not usually at the decision-making table.

“For the past three years, the Pontiac Funders Collaborative has supported organizations citywide with grants and technical assistance to strengthen their capacity to meet the needs of residents and create positive social and economic change,” Sonia Plata, co-chair of Pontiac Funders Collaborative Advisory Council and director of CMF member Flagstar Bank Foundation said. “This investment, coupled with the community’s resources and knowledge, has had a profound impact toward building a brighter, more prosperous future for Pontiac after decades of systemic disinvestment and years of emergency management.”

The report demonstrates how the effort has created a more connected cross-sector network, stronger organizations and collaborations, and more public and private investment and partnerships in the city.

The report highlights the collaborative’s work through CMF’s Statewide Equity Fund (SEF) in supporting Pontiac organizations' collaboration and bolstering their capacity to influence, manage and deploy American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding toward equitable outcomes that support entrepreneurship and youth in Pontiac.

As CMF reported, the first round of funding from the SEF supported four current partners of the collaborative to work with technical assistance providers. 

Through the second round of funding from the SEF, the collaborative is supporting the implementation of two entrepreneurship projects developed by two of the partner organizations aimed at leveraging government funds. The projects promote entrepreneurial efforts and work to create career opportunities for young adults in the community.  

According to the report, both partners are working in partnership with the city of Pontiac as it deploys ARPA funding to support small businesses, ensuring community voice is embedded in the process of distributing funds. CFSEM staff continues to play a role in convening the partners regularly, even beyond the grant period.

The report also highlights the collaborative’s support of development projects, capacity building for nonprofits, small business planning, public spaces and more.

“As a regional organization, the community foundation has the unique ability to convene funders that see Pontiac’s potential as an economic and cultural engine in our area,” Richard (Ric) DeVore, president of CFSEM said. “In turn, the Pontiac Funders Collaborative can make strategic investments that support nonprofit organizations, local leaders, the government and entrepreneurs in the city working to transform that potential into reality.”

The nine existing members of the Pontiac Funders Collaborative, including several CMF members, have all recommitted to the effort and welcome the collaborative’s newest member, PNC Bank.

“The impact of the Pontiac Funders Collaborative in this under-resourced community cannot be overstated,” Virginia Romano, co-chair of Pontiac Funders Collaborative Advisory Council and CEO of CMF member the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation said. “The investment has helped catalyze existing community resources and people power to create a more vibrant economic and social fabric in the city.”

According to a CFSEM press release, the lessons learned during the Pontiac Funders Collaborative’s initial phase will inform its second phase. Future investments will support:

• Capacity building for nonprofits: Support to strengthen internal capacity and professional development while also encouraging collaboration and a shared vision among small and midsize nonprofits in Pontiac.
• Storytelling and communications: Support for efforts that create accessible and relevant channels of communication about innovation, entrepreneurship, community and growth in Pontiac.
• Collective impact: Support for the creation of a cross-sector collaborative to bring partners together around shared outcomes for the community.
• Entrepreneurship and workforce development: Support for a) business service providers who serve local entrepreneurs and b) initiatives that develop residents’ skills and connect them to quality jobs.
• Capstone projects: Support for the implementation of projects with tangible, system-wide community benefits that leverage other funding sources.

Want more?

Download the full Impact Report.

Read the full press release.

Learn more about the Pontiac Funders Collaborative’s work through CMF’s Statewide Equity Fund.