“I champion children because the opportunities and experiences that people have when they are young leave a mark on them and their trajectories as adults.” 

Matt Hoerauf, program manager, supports the Foundation’s Strategic Initiatives. 

Matt has spent the past 20 years in the social sector connecting objectives, ideas, efforts, and people in the pursuit of racial justice. Fundraising, grantmaking, writing, research, project management, and relationship building have been key parts of that journey. Notable highlights include resourcing and collaborating in chronic absence and regional racial equity initiatives, creating a business plan for a Native American earned-income venture , raising over half a million dollars to create the Arab American National Museum, and co-authoring and editing a report “Struggles and Triumphs of Peoples of Color in Michigan”. His work is cited in the Foundation Center’s Issue Lab, Michigan State University Extension Office, and the Journal of the History of Biology. His efforts have been recognized by Minnesota Rural Partners and Public Relations Society of America—West Michigan Chapter. 

He has a bachelor’s in Native American Studies from Bemidji State University, and a master’s in history from Wayne State University. He has served on boards, committees, and workgroups pertaining to summer enrichment, safety, chronic absence, basic needs, Black well-being, and Native American rights.  

Matt enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his wife, son, and daughter, and their stubborn-yet-loveable dog Oreo.  

Areas of expertise:
I can often connect people and efforts to others that may help them further their cause

How I can help partners:
I respond to partner’s inquiries quickly, and when I can’t help them myself, I refer them to other Skillman staff or my large network of external partners 

A quote that describes my outlook:
“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” —Martin Luther King, Jr.

How I reenergize:
Spending time outdoors and watching my own children learn new things.