Michigan, like the rest of the United States, is experiencing a major energy transition. Previous sources of energy like coal are being replaced with natural gas and renewable energy sources. At the same time, efforts to increase energy efficiency are on the rise.

Working in partnership with experts in the clean energy field, the Council of Michigan Foundations offered opportunities for community foundations to learn more about clean energy and explore what taking a leadership role on this issue could look like in their communities.

To strengthen the leadership capacity of Michigan community foundations interested in supporting clean energy initiatives, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation offered a one-time grant opportunity known as Community Foundations for Clean Energy demonstration projects. These grants supported projects aimed at catalyzing, designing and conducting community activities to produce clean energy more effectively and efficiently and in ways that also create jobs, increase family economic security, grow business and bolster civic engagement.

Four communities (three individual community foundations and one regional team comprised of three community foundations) were awarded Community Foundations for Clean Energy grants.

This publication offers an introduction to their demonstration projects and provides a glimpse of their early results. Moreover, their stories demonstrate the breadth of opportunities community foundations have to play a leadership role in the shift to clean energy in our state.