
K-12 Education
A quality education is the basis for being able to lead a life of independence and prosperity. It better enables you to write your own future. It helps you direct the futures of your community and country as an active citizen. A good education expands what is possible and makes positive outcomes much more probable.
We support a high-quality system of schools that helps children meet educational milestones and move through life as capable and confident thinkers. Where Detroit children go, we follow; our investments span both traditional and charter public schools in Detroit. We work to provide the best for Detroit students: high expectations, equitable treatment and resources, and best-in-class curriculum. We back educators and their development to help them lead effective classrooms and schools. We support partnerships between schools, parents, youth providers, and the community at-large.
Key Indicator
Third-Grade Reading Proficiency

Third-grade literacy is known to be a strong indicator of life outcomes because it is an academic milestone at which point children should advance from learning to read, to reading to learn. However, in 2019, fewer than half of Michigan third graders scored as reading proficiently, and in Detroit, fewer than 16% achieved the level of proficiency. Years of low marks has made literacy a priority for our city and state, further catalyzed by a 2016 Read by Grade Three Law that provides additional help for students and schools—along with a provision that students may be retained if they are one or more grade levels behind in reading by third grade.
Recent News
Recent Grants
Detroit Urban League, Inc.
College for Creative Studies
American Indian Health and Family Services of Southeastern Mi, Inc.
Warren Conner Development Coalition, Inc. DBA Eastside Community Network
Institute for AfroUrbanism
Art of Culture, Inc.
Detroit Equity Report Inc.
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation
Detroit Crime Commission
Metro Solutions, Inc.
Faith in Action Network
We the People – MI
Michigan League for Public Policy
The Avalon Village, Inc.
Yeshivath Beth Yehudah
Camp Restore Detroit
Michigan Department of Civil Rights
Metro Detroit Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation DBA Metro Detroit Black Business Association
Grace in Action Collectives
L!FE Leaders, Inc.
Southwest Solutions, Inc.
Council of Michigan Foundations, Inc.
Friends of the Children-Detroit
Coalition for Juvenile Justice
Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation, Inc.
Detroit Community Schools
826 Michigan
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Detroit Crime Commission
Downtown Detroit Partnership, Inc.
Detroit Crime Commission
Strategic Community Partners
Straightback Movement, Inc.
Black United Fund of Michigan, Inc.
Detroit Association of Black Organizations DABO Inc.
LWSC Community Circle
Open Door C O G I C
The Konnection
Student Advocacy Center of Michigan, Inc.
Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision Project
Strategic Community Partners
NW Goldberg Cares
Nurturing Wellness Group Foundation
Neighborhood Building Urban Gardens
Positive Zone Foundation
Independent Living Housing, Inc.
Healthy Kidz R US Athletic League
Franklin-Wright Settlements, Inc.
Strategic Community Partners
Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice
Class Act Detroit
Black Caucus Foundation of Michigan
Alkebu-lan Village
A Courageous Voice
Women of Banglatown
WHOH Community Sports Complex, Inc
We Are the Culture Creators Nonprofit
Wayne State University
Wayne-Metropolitan Community Action Agency
Urban Neighborhood Initiatives, Inc.
The Learning Group
Children’s Center of Wayne County, Inc.
Strategic Community Partners
Steen Foundation
Calebs Kids
SER Metro Detroit-Jobs for Progress, Inc.
New City Kids- Detroit
Mint Artists Guild
Mack Avenue Community Church Community Development Corporation
Life Remodeled – a nonprofit corporation
Islamic Center of Detroit Inc.
Future 4 Teens
Warren Conner Development Coalition, Inc. DBA Eastside Community Network
Developing Kingdoms in Different Stages
Strategic Community Partners
482Forward
Detroit Police Athletic League, Inc.
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation
Detroit Heals Detroit
Allied Media Projects, Inc.
Destined for Greatness!
Congress of Communities
Communities First, Inc.
Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance, Inc.
Cass Corridor Neighborhood Development Corporation
Be-Moor Radio Institute
Bailey Park Project d/b/a Bailey Park Neighborhood Corporation
Au-Some City 313
Association for the Advancement of Deaf-Hard of Hearing
A Girl Like Me
1 Michigan for the Global Majority, Inc.
InsideOut Literary Arts Project
Urban Alliance Foundation, Inc.
Midnight Golf Program
College for Creative Studies
Diversified Community Services
The Yunion
Atlantic Impact
Urban Neighborhood Initiatives, Inc.
Issue Media Group
Athlete Transition Services Corp.
Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan
The Yunion
Tides Center
Talent 2025, Inc.
Tides Center
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
Council of Michigan Foundations, Inc.
Detroit Public Schools Foundation
Grand Valley State University
Atlantic Impact
Calebs Kids
NW Goldberg Cares
Tides Center
Michigan’s Children
Urban Alliance Foundation, Inc.
InsideOut Literary Arts Project
Midnight Golf Program
College for Creative Studies
Art of Culture, Inc.
Muckrock Foundation Incorporated
The Institute for College Access and Success, Inc.
Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation
Detroit Phoenix Center
Mack Avenue Community Church Community Development Corporation
Multiplier
Friends of the Rouge
Schott Foundation for Public Education
Council of Michigan Foundations, Inc.
Allied Media Projects, Inc.
Mothering Justice
Black Executive Directors Alliance of Detroit
Heritage Works
SAY Detroit
Alkebu-lan Village
Detroit City Lions Youth Club
SER Metro Detroit-Jobs for Progress, Inc.
The Michigan Hispanic Collaborative
Give Merit, Inc.
Detroit Food & Entrepreneurship Academy
Detroit Parent Network
International Child Art Foundation
Mothering Justice
Bailey Park Project d/b/a Bailey Park Neighborhood Corporation
NW Goldberg Cares
Community Development Advocates of Detroit
Allied Media Projects, Inc.
Wayne State University
Student Advocacy Center of Michigan, Inc.
Developing Kingdoms in Different Stages
Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation
Mack Avenue Community Church Community Development Corporation
Warren Conner Development Coalition, Inc. DBA Eastside Community Network
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation
Detroit Revival Engaging American Muslims
Operations School
Latham Consulting
Black Legacy Advancement Coalition
Michigan Science Center
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
Gleaners Community Food Bank, Inc.
482Forward
The Forum for Youth Investment
LaFrance Associates, LLC
CollegeSpring, Inc.
Detroit Food & Entrepreneurship Academy
Give Merit, Inc.
Warren Conner Development Coalition, Inc. DBA Eastside Community Network
Michigan Congress of Parent Teachers and Students
Congress of Communities
Family Assistance for Renaissance Men
Congress of Communities
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Co.act Detroit
SAY Detroit
Allied Media Projects, Inc.
Heritage Works
Alkebu-lan Village
Henry Ford Learning Institute
Allied Media Projects, Inc.
Detroit City Lions Youth Club
Mack Avenue Community Church Community Development Corporation
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit
Mothering Justice
Wellspring
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation
Center for Success Network
YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit
Special Olympics Michigan, Inc.
Southwest Economic Solutions
Racquet Up Detroit
CODE313, Inc.
Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan, Inc.
Detroit Police Athletic League, Inc.
Detroit Horse Power
Urban Neighborhood Initiatives, Inc.
Student Advocacy Center of Michigan, Inc.
ARISE Detroit
Association of Black Foundation Executives, Inc.
CODE313, Inc.
Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan, Inc.
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation
Detroit Police Athletic League, Inc.
Special Olympics Michigan, Inc.
Racquet Up Detroit
Detroit Horse Power
YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit
Southwest Economic Solutions
Tides Foundation
Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, Inc.
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
Neutral Zone
Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance, Inc.
Detroit Phoenix Center
Detroit Area Youth Uniting Michigan
Wellspring
Center for Success Network
Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation, Inc.
Grantmakers for Education
BFDI Educational Services, Inc.
Detroit 90/90
Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences
New Paradigm for Education
New Paradigm for Education
Brilliant Detroit
Hope Network
Soar Detroit
Black Male Educators Alliance
Osborn Neighborhood Alliance
Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance, Inc.
Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation
Brightmoor Alliance, Inc.
Congress of Communities
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation
The Center for Michigan, Inc.
Grosse Pointes & Harper Woods NAACP
Autism Alliance of Michigan
Council of Michigan Foundations, Inc.
Grace in Action Collectives
City Year, Inc.
Detroit Phoenix Center
Bend the Arc-A Jewish Partnership for Justice
GreenLight Fund, Inc.
Developing Kingdoms in Different Stages
Urban Neighborhood Initiatives, Inc.
Local Circles
Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan
Michigan College Access Network
Detroit Parent Network
Teach for America, Inc.
Public Progress
Athlete Transition Services Corp.
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation, Inc.
Michigan Association of United Ways
Catchafire Foundation
Northend Youth Improvement Council
Metro Solutions, Inc.
Metro Solutions, Inc.
Council of Michigan Foundations, Inc.
Xavier University of Louisiana
Detroit Future City
Yeshivath Beth Yehudah
Warren Conner Development Coalition, Inc. DBA Eastside Community Network
Council of Michigan Foundations, Inc.
482Forward
Metro Solutions, Inc.
Citizens Research Council of Michigan, Inc.
Community Development Advocates of Detroit
Black United Fund of Michigan, Inc.
Playworks Education Energized
Urban Alliance Foundation, Inc.
Michigan’s Thanksgiving Parade
BMe Networks
Wayne State University
New Detroit, Inc.
Warren Conner Development Coalition, Inc. DBA Eastside Community Network
Metropolitan Affairs Coalition
Congress of Communities
Atlantic Impact
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Data Driven Detroit, L3C
Metro Solutions, Inc.
Detroit Justice Center
Business Leaders for Michigan Foundation
Inner Explorer, Inc.
Barack Obama Leadership Academy
Autism Alliance of Michigan
Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, Inc.
The Michigan Hispanic Collaborative
Grace in Action Collectives
Brilliant Detroit
Africa-America Institute
Vision to Learn
Wayne County Community College District
Wayne State University
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
New Paradigm for Education
The Michigan Hispanic Collaborative
482Forward
Calebs Kids
SER Metro Detroit-Jobs for Progress, Inc.
Midnight Golf Program
Local Circles
Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation
College for Creative Studies
Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation
Detroit Public Schools Foundation
Atlantic Impact
Wayne State University
Student Advocacy Center of Michigan, Inc.
Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance, Inc.
Give Merit, Inc.
Urban Neighborhood Initiatives, Inc.
Wellspring
Center for Success Network
Urban Alliance Foundation, Inc.
Grace in Action Collectives
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan
InsideOut Literary Arts Project
The Yunion
Allied Media Projects, Inc.
Michigan’s Children
InsideOut Literary Arts Project
Allied Media Projects, Inc.
Springboard Collaborative
Developing Kingdoms in Different Stages
Detroit Food & Entrepreneurship Academy
Michigan Education Excellence Foundation
Hope Network
Detroit Public Schools Foundation
College for Creative Studies
Brilliant Detroit
Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation
Families Against Narcotics, Inc.
Soar Detroit
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
The Yunion
Center for Success Network
Wayne County Community College District
Metro Solutions, Inc.
Henry Ford Learning Institute
Learn Fresh Education Co.
Wellspring
Detroit Children’s Fund
Detroit Public Schools Community District
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
Give Merit, Inc.
Detroit Food & Entrepreneurship Academy
Midnight Golf Program
Black Male Educators Alliance
Eastern Michigan University Foundation
The Institute for College Access and Success, Inc.
The Center for Michigan, Inc.
Council of Michigan Foundations, Inc.
Grand Valley State University
The Philanthropy Roundtable
Peak Grantmaking, Inc.
Independent Sector
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
Grantmakers for Education
The Funders’ Network, Inc.
Association of Black Foundation Executives, Inc.
Michigan Nonprofit Association
SER Metro Detroit-Jobs for Progress, Inc.
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
Council on Foundations, Inc.
CultureSource
Kaleidoscope Pathways, LLC
Chalkbeat, Inc.
Michigan Future, Inc.
Council of Michigan Foundations, Inc.
Public Counsel
CollegeSpring, Inc.
American Lightweight Materials Manufacturing Innovation Institute
LaFrance Associates, LLC
Detroit Public Schools Foundation
The Forum for Youth Investment
Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance, Inc.
Detroit Public Schools Foundation
Data Driven Detroit, L3C
Detroit Public Schools Community District
Planned Parenthood of Michigan, Inc.
Detroit Public Schools Foundation
Michigan’s Children
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
Detroit Children’s Fund
Wayne-Metropolitan Community Action Agency
Strategic Community Partners
Roeper City and Country School, Inc.
Regents of the University of Michigan
Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency d/b/a Michigan Center for Youth Justice
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Inc.
Michigan Public Health Institute
Invest Detroit Foundation
Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation
Greenlight Fund Inc.
Michigan League for Public Policy
Excellent Schools Detroit
Education Trust, Inc.
Foundation for Detroit’s Future
Center for Effective Philanthropy
Campaign for Black Male Achievement Inc.
SER Metro Detroit
Council of Michigan Foundations
Urban Justice Center
Regents of the University of Michigan
Council of Michigan Foundations
Michigan Educational Excellence Foundation
Metro Solutions Inc.
Life Remodeled
El Lasso (Michigan Hispanic Collaborative)
Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit
Detroit Crime Commission
Racquet Up Detroit
Forum for Youth Investment
Detroit Horse Power
Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan
Tech Town, as fiduciary for Book Nook
Student Advocacy Center
New Teacher Center
Coalition On Temporary Shelter
Michigan State University
Inner Explorer Inc.
Detroit Achievement Academy Foundation
Business Leaders of Michigan
Community Initiatives
Development Centers, Inc.
International Institute For Restorative Practices
Beyond Basics Community Support
Allied Media
826 Michigan
Brightmoor Alliance, Inc.
Michigan League for Public Policy
International Institute For Restorative Practices
Forgotten Harvest, Inc.
Heart and Warmth Fund
Gleaners Community Food Bank, Inc.
The Forum for Youth Investment
Regents of the University of Michigan / University of Michigan Poverty Solutions Center
Learn Fresh Education Co
Development Centers, Inc. / Developing K.I.D.S
Business Leaders for Michigan / Launch Michigan
Beyond Basics
826Michigan
Cody Rouge Community Action Alliance
Bridging Communities, Inc.
Wayne State University Research and Technology Park in the City of Detroit
The Sphinx Organization, Inc.
Kaboom Inc
StandardsWork Inc
CitizenDetroit
Urban Land Institute
Mercy Education Project
Mary Turner Center for Advocacy
The Michigan Afterschool Association MAA
The Center for Effective Philanthropy
Warren Conner Development Coalition DBA Eastside Community Network
Michigan Association for Evaluation
Art Creates Us Inc D/B/A ProjectArt
Esteem We Inc.
Ecumenical Theological Seminary
Equity Education
Detroit Institute for Children
Detroit Cristo Rey High School
Beyond Basics
Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities
Alkebu-lan Village
Detroit Police Athletic League, Inc.
Wayne State University Research and Technology Park in the City of Detroit
New Paradigm for Education
Michigan Youth Appreciation Foundation
Detroit Association of Black Organizations
Focus: HOPE
The Tides Foundation
Uplift, Inc.
The Heat and Warmth Fund
Forgotten Harvest, Inc.
Wayne State University, AMUS
New Venture Fund
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (L.I.S.C.)
Detroit Police Athletic League, Inc.
City of Detroit
Campaign for Black Male Achievement
Johns Hopkins University, Talent Development Secondary
Education Cities
American Promise Schools
Philadelphia Youth Network, Inc.
Operation HOPE
Downtown Detroit Partnership, Inc.
Institute For Research And Reform In Education, Inc.
Collaborations
313Reads!
A citywide initiative that works to ensure that all Detroit children read at grade level by third grade
Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren
A collaborative focused on key priorities to improve the city’s system of schools
Detroit Children’s Fund
A nonprofit organization that makes high-potential investments to ensure Detroit students can get a an excellent education
Learning & Evaluation Reports
Detroit Charter Case Studies Summary 2021
Finding the Fix: Embracing Philanthropy’s Role in Transforming an Urban Education Landscape
Two Reports on School Attendance & Academic Outcomes
Kids Matter Here: An Analytic Review of the 10-year Good Neighborhoods Initiative
The Added Value of Long-Term Investment in Neighborhoods: Two Case Studies from the Skillman Foundation’s Good Neighborhoods Initiative
Neighborhood Impact Statements
A Decade in Review: Conditions in Detroit and the Skillman Good Neighborhoods
Community Leadership Strategy: the Arc of Learning, and Neighborhood Profiles
State of the Detroit Child 2012
Good Neighborhoods, Good Schools and Skillman’s Strategy for Place-Based Change
From Tower to Ground: Systems and Policy Change in the Good Neighborhoods and Good Schools Initiative
State of the Detroit Child 2010
K-12 Education Team

Carmen Kennedy-Rogers
Dr. Carmen Kennedy-Rogers is the director of Ground Building, supporting the power of Detroit youth, educators, and residents to shift education policy and systems change.

Terry Whitfield
Terry Whitfield is a partnership manager of Policy & Systems, supporting youth-centered education policy and systems change.

Ashlee Schmidt
Works across the organization to design, strengthen, and implement processes and practices to foster greater efficiency, integration, and ultimately impact of the Program & Strategy team.

Lindsey Barrett
Lindsey Barrett is a partnership manager of Ground Building with The Skillman Foundation. She leads the Foundation’s efforts to build power with Detroit youth.