The Skillman Foundation

The program is a commitment to attacking old problems in new ways, working with unlikely partners, piloting programs, reacting quickly as external context dictates, trying new things and being unafraid to fail -- as long as we're failing forward. The foundation is also introducing new types of funding, include Program-Related Investments and Mission-Related Investments, and soon, social venture funds.The program's goal is to unleash social innovation and market-based solutions to benefit children, support education and strengthen neighborhoods

The foundation matches gifts of employees to various charitable organizations

The foundation believes all children in Detroit should have access to high-quality schools right in their neighborhoods. The foundation thinks this means excellent math and reading instruction, a school culture that personalizes students’ experiences and incorporates students’ voice in decision making, and strong connections between the school and community. The overall goal is to develop high-performing schools, embedded in each neighborhood of Detroit

The program provides a way for the foundation to support innovative, grassroots efforts to impact community change in the six targeted neighborhoods. The foundation typically awards grants to nonprofit organizations with federal tax-exempt status and revenues greater than $100,000. It awards grants of $500 to $5,000 and gives the foundation flexibility to provide opportunities beyond these limitations and makes it possible to respond quickly to community needs. A panel made up of residents from six neighborhoods meets monthly to review grant applications and make funding recommendations for grants. To learn more, or apply for a small grant, visit the foundation's partner and program administrator Prevention Network: http://www.preventionnetwork.org/grants.aspx

Historically, the foundation has made a PRI in the form of a loan to a youth development organization for a program designed to promote financial education

The goal of the program is to increase the felt and real safety of children living in our neighborhoods, with an initial focus on work in Osborn, Southwest Detroit and Cody Rouge. The foundation is working with residents, grassroots safety organizations, the city of Detroit police department, corporate partners, other citywide safety initiatives and youth to improve neighborhood-level safety and reduce crime, improve safe routes to school and reduce blight.

The program's goal is to address community divisions that undercut progress through investments in community leadership. The program will identify opportunities to bridge New Detroit and Old Detroit and drive an “Our Detroit” framework, build out crosscutting, intensive leadership opportunities for key, diverse leaders, and build on the extraordinary success of the small grants program and integrate opportunities for “unlikely partners” to work together, reposition and expand parent leadership work, build out “caring adults” work, focusing on key strategy levers and address family literacy and other academic tutoring

The program's goal is to increase the number of youth who graduate from high school prepared to pursue post-secondary education and who have the skills to transition into careers and adulthood. A central strategy the foundation uses to pursue that goal is increasing the quantity and quality of youth development opportunities in six Detroit neighborhoods — Brightmoor, Cody Rouge, Chadsey Condon, Northend Central, Osborn, and Southwest Detroit. The foundation will use a competitive RFP process