Phone: 313-393-1185

E-Mail: skillmanfoundation@gmail.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/skillmanfound

The Skillman Foundation

A voice for children since 1960, The Skillman Foundation is a private philanthropy that serves as a fierce champion of Detroit children. The Foundation works to ensure Detroit youth achieve their highest aspirations by strengthening K-12 public education, afterschool learning opportunities, and college and career pathways.

Blog

Announcing Angelique Power as our Next President CEO

June 21, 2021

Blog

The Skillman Foundation announces inaugural Vice President of Learning & Impact and Vice President of Communications

March 1, 2023

Blog

20 Black Detroiters Making History 2023

February 28, 2023

Blog

Meet our 2023-2025 President’s Youth Council

February 16, 2023

Blog

Call for Nominations: Young Black Detroiters Making History 2023

January 12, 2023

Blog

New Trustees Join The Skillman Foundation

January 9, 2023

Blog

Staff changes at Skillman

January 3, 2023

Blog

“I feel great about it!” Detroit youth donate $205k to programs that helped them

December 12, 2022

Blog

The Skillman Foundation and Parade Company Announce Detroit Student Winner of the 31st Annual Skillman Foundation Float Design Contest

November 20, 2022

Blog

Our Racial Equity Audit

November 14, 2022

Blog

Detroit kids are rich with ideas to boost well-being

September 12, 2022

2021 Audited Financial Report

August 25, 2022

Blog

Education leaders say change is on the horizon

June 29, 2022

Blog

Family service agencies create a net for neighbors in need

June 29, 2022

Blog

Youth Council take the stage at 2022 Mackinac Policy Conference

May 17, 2022

Report

2020 Audited Financial Report

April 29, 2022

Blog

Detroit kids celebrate Reading Month 2022

March 1, 2022

Blog

20 Black Detroiters Making History 2022

February 1, 2022

Communications Officer

December 21, 2021

Blog

Call for Nominations: Young Black Detroiters Making History 2022

December 15, 2021

Blog

The Skillman Foundation & The Parade Company Announce Winner of the 30th Annual Skillman Foundation Float Design Contest

November 17, 2021

Report

2020 Annual Report

October 12, 2021

Organizational Learning

Let’s Talk: What’s Hope got to do with it?

October 6, 2021

Blog

New poll finds Michigan voters demand investment in kids

September 20, 2021

Three children are pictured in black and white with a teal, dark blue, and yellow patterned background. They stand next to a pot filled with coins and a small seedling.

Blog, Report

What Michiganders want: Investments in children

September 20, 2021

Blog

People who partner

August 31, 2021

Blog

The Skillman Foundation’s 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference Session

August 24, 2021

K-12 Education

Let’s Talk: School in 2021 & Beyond

August 18, 2021

K-12 Education

Wellness Opportunity for Detroit Principals

June 11, 2021

Enabling Communities

Announcing our Wellness Works Initiative

June 10, 2021

K-12 Education

The Skillman Foundation supports DPSCD’s culturally responsive literacy initiative

June 3, 2021

Organizational Learning

Changing in Place: The Skillman Foundation, Detroit, and the Good Neighborhoods Initiative

May 12, 2021

Afterschool, Organizational Learning

From Citywide to Neighborhood-Based: Two Decades of Learning, Prioritization, and Strategic Action to Build The Skillman Foundation’s Youth-Development Systems

May 12, 2021

Organizational Learning

Changemaking: Building Strategic Competence

May 12, 2021

Organizational Learning

Foundation Readiness for Community Transformation: Learning in Real Time

May 12, 2021

K-12 Education, Organizational Learning

Finding the Fix: Embracing Philanthropy’s Role in Transforming an Urban Education Landscape

May 12, 2021

K-12 Education

What billions in funding could mean for Detroit schools & students

April 21, 2021

Afterschool

Punita Thurman joins Coalition for Michigan Schoolchildren’s Right to Play

April 16, 2021

President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

March 4, 2021

Blog

The Skillman Foundation Launches President’s Youth Council

March 2, 2021

Blog

20 Black Detroiters Making History

February 1, 2021

Blog

The Skillman Foundation Seeks Examples of Young Black Detroiters Making History

January 8, 2021

Blog

Tonya Allen to step down as president of The Skillman Foundation to lead the McKnight Foundation

December 14, 2020

Report

60th Anniversary Report (with 2018-19 Annual Reporting)

December 9, 2020

Blog

The Skillman Foundation & The Parade Company Announce the Winner of the 29th Annual Skillman Foundation Float Design Contest

November 23, 2020

Afterschool

Our community wants Wayne kids to win

November 18, 2020

Report

2019 Audited Financial Report

October 12, 2020

Report

2018 Audited Financial Report

October 12, 2020

K-12 Education

Black and Bright: Advancing Equitable Education Policies

September 22, 2020

Blog

The Skillman Foundation Welcomes Three New Board of Trustees Members

September 21, 2020

Blog

The Skillman Foundation announces President’s Youth Council to guide strategy

August 26, 2020

60 Examples of Detroit Genius: 51-60

August 17, 2020

K-12 Education

New Tech Fund for Detroit Students helps close city’s digital divide before school year

August 11, 2020

60 Examples of Detroit Genius: 41-50

August 3, 2020

60 Examples of Detroit Genius: 31-40

July 20, 2020

60 Examples of Detroit Genius: 21-30

July 6, 2020

K-12 Education

Detroit Coalition Launches Springboard Collaborative’s Family-Based Literacy Program for Thousands of Children Learning at Home

June 30, 2020

60 Examples of Detroit Genius: 11-20

June 21, 2020

60 Examples of Detroit Genius: 1-10

June 8, 2020

Blog

60 Examples of Detroit Genius

June 5, 2020

Blog

The Skillman Foundation partners with Catchafire to Support 200 Organizations

June 1, 2020

Economic Well-Being, K-12 Education

Letter from 18 Groups Urge Michigan Leaders to Protect Student Financial Aid During COVID-19

May 18, 2020

Economic Well-Being, K-12 Education

Bridging the digital divide for Detroit students: First fund of $23M launches

April 23, 2020

Blog

COVID313 virtual townhalls

April 10, 2020

K-12 Education

Tonya Allen on One Detroit

April 9, 2020

K-12 Education

Students, we want to know your challenges, fears, ideas

April 2, 2020

Blog

$500k grant to United Way COVID-19 Fund among our initial efforts to support families, nonprofits

March 18, 2020

College and Career Pathways, K-12 Education

COVID-19 Resources for Students, Families, & Grant Partners

March 16, 2020

Updated Coronavirus COVID-19 Procedures & Resources

March 13, 2020

K-12 Education

MI Philanthropy Continues to Support Literacy Work and Families

February 3, 2020

Blog

The Skillman Foundation Seeks Examples of Detroit Genius to Celebrate its 60th Anniversary

January 14, 2020

Blog

The Skillman Foundation Announces Team Member Promotions

January 14, 2020

Blog

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

January 10, 2020

K-12 Education

Wayne State University College of Education to host second annual Distinguished Lecture in Urban Education

January 7, 2020

College and Career Pathways

Over $1M in Mini-Grants Deployed for 2020 Census

December 26, 2019

K-12 Education

DERP Releases Report on Persistently Present Students

December 24, 2019

K-12 Education

Historic Panel of State Leaders Recommend Strategies for Michigan Educational Results

December 18, 2019

K-12 Education

The Skillman Foundation Opens Afterschool and Summer Program Request for Proposals this Month

December 6, 2019

K-12 Education

Afterschool Program Database for Metro Detroit Youth Launches

November 13, 2019

K-12 Education

Our Kids Essay Contest

November 7, 2019

K-12 Education

NBC News Learn Presents: Education Now Detroit

October 29, 2019

K-12 Education

Cody Rouge Initiative Invests $1.4M to Expand City Year Support for Neighborhood Students

October 29, 2019

K-12 Education

Wayne Kids Win! announces petition drive for after school proposal

October 17, 2019

K-12 Education

Detroit Area Foundations & Businesses Announce $1 Million Fund to Recognize Detroit Youth Choir

September 20, 2019

Blog

The Skillman Foundation’s Natalie Fotias to Participate in Detroit Regional Chamber’s Leadership Detroit Class XLI

September 18, 2019

K-12 Education

Terry Takes on Racquet Up Detroit

September 10, 2019

College and Career Pathways

Tonya Allen: Changing the Odds for Detroit Children on the Trailblazers.FM Podcast

September 10, 2019

K-12 Education

Experienced Educator to Lead The Skillman Foundation’s Education Investments

August 1, 2019

College and Career Pathways, K-12 Education

How Are the Children?

July 15, 2019

Student works with volunteer at afterschool program

College and Career Pathways, K-12 Education

Ready Students, Ready Communities

May 15, 2019

Volunteer and child interact at a summer youth program

College and Career Pathways, K-12 Education

About The Skillman Foundation

May 10, 2019

K-12 Education

Punita Dani Thurman Appointed to Education Commission of the States

April 30, 2019

K-12 Education

Retired Military Officers Share Support for Launch Michigan

April 15, 2019

K-12 Education

“Get Schooled” Connects In-School Pathways to Career Competencies

March 26, 2019

College and Career Pathways, K-12 Education

The Skillman Foundation Appoints Bill Emerson as Board Chair; Names Punita Dani Thurman as Vice President of Program and Strategy

March 19, 2019

Blog

The Power of New Ideas

March 5, 2019

K-12 Education

Request for Proposals: Detroit Summer Literacy Programs

February 15, 2019

Blog

Introducing the Five MBK Detroit Innovation Challenge Finalists

February 13, 2019

Blog

Holding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Forefront

February 7, 2019

Blog

Four Tips for Launching a New Organization From Four People Who Recently Have

January 31, 2019

College and Career Pathways

Celebrating the Career of Robert Thornon

January 17, 2019

Blog

Michigan’s 49th Governor: Building a Playbook for Success

January 7, 2019

Who Will Lead Detroit

December 14, 2018

The winning design of the 2018 Skillman Foundation Float Design Contest

K-12 Education

Detroit 4th Grader Inspires New “Let’s Be Thankful” Float for America’s Thanksgiving Parade

November 19, 2018

The full group of MBK Detroit Innovation Challenge semi-finalist teams

Blog

20 Innovative Ideas to Empower Detroit Youth Cultivated through MBK Detroit Innovation Challenge

November 8, 2018

Blog

The Skillman Foundation Welcomes New Director of Evaluation, Learning and Impact

August 17, 2018

College and Career Pathways, K-12 Education

The Future of Work Is Learning

May 14, 2018

K-12 Education

Playworks to Hold Free PlayShop Workshop for Michigan Educators

May 7, 2018

Blog

Marie Colombo Named Senior Director, Office of the President

May 1, 2018

K-12 Education

Detroit Children’s Fund Launches Team Fellows Program

April 30, 2018

Blog

Equity is Not a “Zero-Sum Game”

April 26, 2018

College and Career Pathways

Detroit Innovation Challenge Funds Ideas to Support Youth

March 30, 2018

K-12 Education

K-12 Ed Studies Aim to Spur Investment and Action

March 15, 2018

Blog

Community Leaders Share Challenges Facing Girls and Young Women of Color in Detroit

March 14, 2018

Blog

100 Civic Leaders Gather for Detroit Out-of-School Time Leadership Forum

March 10, 2018

College and Career Pathways, K-12 Education

What is the State of the City for Detroit Kids? Community Members Share Their Thoughts

March 7, 2018

Director of Evaluation & Learning

February 20, 2018

Enabling Communities

Safety Strategy Review 2013-2016

February 19, 2018

Afterschool, College and Career Pathways, Enabling Communities, K-12 Education

Analyzing the Decade-Long Good Neighborhoods Initiative

February 13, 2018

Blog

Contribute Your Voice to the State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey

January 26, 2018

Blog

Youth Development Spotlight: Living Arts

January 23, 2018

Blog

Youth Development Spotlight: Neighborhood Service Organization

January 23, 2018

College and Career Pathways

Meet the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation

January 23, 2018

College and Career Pathways

Youth Development Spotlight: Detroit Food Academy

January 23, 2018

K-12 Education

Youth Development Spotlight: NBA Mathhoops

January 10, 2018

Blog

Youth Development – Our Approach

January 9, 2018

Blog

Safety – Our Approach

January 8, 2018

Blog

Community & Youth Leadership – Our Approach

January 8, 2018

College and Career Pathways

Youth Employment – Our Approach

January 5, 2018

College and Career Pathways

Financial Empowerment – Our Approach

January 5, 2018

College and Career Pathways

College & Career Pathways – Our Approach

January 5, 2018

K-12 Education

Present & Ready to Learn – Our Approach

January 4, 2018

K-12 Education

Literacy & Numeracy – Our Approach

January 4, 2018

K-12 Education

Education Ecosystem Reset – Our Approach

January 4, 2018

Afterschool, College and Career Pathways, Enabling Communities, K-12 Education

Kids Matter Here: An Analytic Review of the 10-year Good Neighborhoods Initiative

January 4, 2018

Report

2017 Audited Financial Report

December 31, 2017

2007-2008 Audited Financial Report

December 21, 2017

College and Career Pathways, K-12 Education

Our New Strategic Approaches

October 10, 2017

College and Career Pathways

Expo Highlights the Perspectives of Young Men of Color & Grassroots Programs Helping them Thrive

September 25, 2017

Afterschool, College and Career Pathways, Enabling Communities, K-12 Education

Skillman Foundation’s Good Neighborhoods Initiative

August 25, 2017

College and Career Pathways, K-12 Education

The Skillman Foundation announces election of two new trustees

July 17, 2017

Enabling Communities

Civic Leadership: Highlights from the Good Neighborhoods Initiative

June 15, 2017

K-12 Education

Janine Scott: What you should know about my students

April 4, 2017

K-12 Education

KrisTia Maxwell: What school means to me

April 4, 2017

K-12 Education

Shawness Woods-Zende: Detroit schools worked for my daughter

April 4, 2017

K-12 Education

Imani Harris: What I learned when I transferred to public school

April 4, 2017

K-12 Education

Dr. John Telford: My hope for Detroit schools

April 4, 2017

K-12 Education

Dannah Wilson: Let’s unite to change education

April 3, 2017

Blog

Bernita Bradley: My First Role Model

April 3, 2017

Blog

Leading Detroit: Delores Bennett

February 14, 2017

Report

2016 Audited Financial Report

December 31, 2016

Blog

Leading Detroit: Frank McGhee

December 15, 2016

Blog

Leading Detroit: Taju

November 22, 2016

Blog

Investing in Community Leaders, Lisa Leverette

November 22, 2016

Blog

Leading Detroit: Kayana Sessoms

November 22, 2016

Blog

Tips for Neighborhood Leaders: Jerry Ann Hebron

November 22, 2016

Blog

1 minute with a community leader: Victor Robinson

November 18, 2016

Blog

Investing in Community Leaders, Victor Robinson

November 18, 2016

Afterschool, College and Career Pathways, Enabling Communities, K-12 Education

Neighborhood Impact Statements

August 19, 2016

Enabling Communities

Maximizing Returns: Investing in Nontraditional Leaders

August 19, 2016

Afterschool, College and Career Pathways, Enabling Communities, K-12 Education

Community Leadership Strategy: the Arc of Learning, and Neighborhood Profiles

June 19, 2016

Enabling Communities, Organizational Learning

Social Innovation: Accomplishments and Early Lessons

June 15, 2016

Blog

Tonya Allen receives Freedom Institute Critical Thinker Award 2016

May 2, 2016

Blog

David McGhee on the Flint Water Crisis

February 23, 2016

Report

2015 Audited Financial Report

December 31, 2015

Blog

My Brother’s Keeper Detroit Summit II Highlights

October 5, 2015

Blog

My Brothers Keeper Detroit Summit II – REACH Panel Discussion

October 1, 2015

Blog

My Brother’s Keeper: Detroit

September 22, 2015

Afterschool

2014 Youth Development Opportunities Survey Results

May 20, 2015

K-12 Education

I’m College Bound: National College Signing Day in Detroit

May 1, 2015

K-12 Education

Rising Together: Improving graduation rates to 90 percent

February 15, 2015

College and Career Pathways

Rising Together: How Detroit can thrive for kids post-bankruptcy

February 12, 2015

Report

2014 Audited Financial Report

December 31, 2014

K-12 Education

Introducing the Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren

December 13, 2014

Blog

Detroit Accepts the My Brother’s Keeper Challenge

December 1, 2014

K-12 Education

Random Acts of Community: Don Bosco Hall

May 22, 2014

College and Career Pathways

Random Acts of Community, Workforce Development Class

May 9, 2014

Blog

Listening night in response to My Brother’s Keeper

May 8, 2014

Blog

Detroit blight removal: Behind the scenes with Motor City Mapping

February 7, 2014

Report

2013 Audited Financial Report

December 31, 2013

Blog

Random Act of Community: Detroit Police

December 19, 2013

Blog

Stories of impact: Youth help elderly neighbor uncover home

August 12, 2013

Blog

Tenacious for the D: Dawn Wilson

August 2, 2013

Blog

Tenacious for the D: Dan Varner

August 1, 2013

Blog

Tenacious for the D: Bill O’Brien

July 31, 2013

Blog

Tenacious for the D: Pat Miller

July 30, 2013

Blog

Tenacious for the D: Jessie Kilgore

July 29, 2013

Blog

Tenacious for the D: Monica Evans

July 26, 2013

Blog

Tenacious for the D: Susan Hooks-Brown

July 24, 2013

Blog

Skillman congratulates Don Bosco’s Charles Small

July 24, 2013

Blog

Tenacious for the D: Anthony Benavides

July 24, 2013

Blog

Tenacious for the D: Anita Ashford

July 23, 2013

Blog

Tenacious in the D: Aswan Almaktary

July 23, 2013

Blog

Community Connections Small Grants program

March 19, 2013

K-12 Education

Random Acts of Community – Detroit Cristo Rey

February 24, 2013

Report

2012 Audited Financial Report

December 31, 2012

Report

2008-2009 Audited Financial Report

December 31, 2009

Report

2006-2007 Audited Financial Report

December 31, 2007

Enabling Communities, Organizational Learning

Concerning Kids: A Skillman Foundation Study

November 8, 2002

Read our 2021 annual report

The Skillman Foundation

Announcing Angelique Power as our Next President CEO

The Skillman Foundation announces inaugural Vice President of Learning & Impact and Vice President of Communications

20 Black Detroiters Making History 2023

Meet our 2023-2025 President’s Youth Council

Call for Nominations: Young Black Detroiters Making History 2023

New Trustees Join The Skillman Foundation

Staff changes at Skillman

“I feel great about it!” Detroit youth donate $205k to programs that helped them

The Skillman Foundation and Parade Company Announce Detroit Student Winner of the 31st Annual Skillman Foundation Float Design Contest

Our Racial Equity Audit

Detroit kids are rich with ideas to boost well-being

2021 Audited Financial Report

Education leaders say change is on the horizon

Family service agencies create a net for neighbors in need

Youth Council take the stage at 2022 Mackinac Policy Conference

2020 Audited Financial Report

Detroit kids celebrate Reading Month 2022

20 Black Detroiters Making History 2022

Communications Officer

Call for Nominations: Young Black Detroiters Making History 2022

The Skillman Foundation & The Parade Company Announce Winner of the 30th Annual Skillman Foundation Float Design Contest

2020 Annual Report

Let’s Talk: What’s Hope got to do with it?

New poll finds Michigan voters demand investment in kids

What Michiganders want: Investments in children

People who partner

The Skillman Foundation’s 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference Session

Let’s Talk: School in 2021 & Beyond

Wellness Opportunity for Detroit Principals

Announcing our Wellness Works Initiative

The Skillman Foundation supports DPSCD’s culturally responsive literacy initiative

Changing in Place: The Skillman Foundation, Detroit, and the Good Neighborhoods Initiative

From Citywide to Neighborhood-Based: Two Decades of Learning, Prioritization, and Strategic Action to Build The Skillman Foundation’s Youth-Development Systems

Changemaking: Building Strategic Competence

Foundation Readiness for Community Transformation: Learning in Real Time

Finding the Fix: Embracing Philanthropy’s Role in Transforming an Urban Education Landscape

What billions in funding could mean for Detroit schools & students

Punita Thurman joins Coalition for Michigan Schoolchildren’s Right to Play

President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

The Skillman Foundation Launches President’s Youth Council

20 Black Detroiters Making History

The Skillman Foundation Seeks Examples of Young Black Detroiters Making History

Tonya Allen to step down as president of The Skillman Foundation to lead the McKnight Foundation

60th Anniversary Report (with 2018-19 Annual Reporting)

The Skillman Foundation & The Parade Company Announce the Winner of the 29th Annual Skillman Foundation Float Design Contest

Our community wants Wayne kids to win

2019 Audited Financial Report

2018 Audited Financial Report

Black and Bright: Advancing Equitable Education Policies

The Skillman Foundation Welcomes Three New Board of Trustees Members

The Skillman Foundation announces President’s Youth Council to guide strategy

60 Examples of Detroit Genius: 51-60

New Tech Fund for Detroit Students helps close city’s digital divide before school year

60 Examples of Detroit Genius: 41-50

60 Examples of Detroit Genius: 31-40

60 Examples of Detroit Genius: 21-30

Detroit Coalition Launches Springboard Collaborative’s Family-Based Literacy Program for Thousands of Children Learning at Home

60 Examples of Detroit Genius: 11-20

60 Examples of Detroit Genius: 1-10

60 Examples of Detroit Genius

The Skillman Foundation partners with Catchafire to Support 200 Organizations

Letter from 18 Groups Urge Michigan Leaders to Protect Student Financial Aid During COVID-19

Bridging the digital divide for Detroit students: First fund of $23M launches

COVID313 virtual townhalls

Tonya Allen on One Detroit

Students, we want to know your challenges, fears, ideas

$500k grant to United Way COVID-19 Fund among our initial efforts to support families, nonprofits

COVID-19 Resources for Students, Families, & Grant Partners

Updated Coronavirus COVID-19 Procedures & Resources

MI Philanthropy Continues to Support Literacy Work and Families

The Skillman Foundation Seeks Examples of Detroit Genius to Celebrate its 60th Anniversary

The Skillman Foundation Announces Team Member Promotions

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Wayne State University College of Education to host second annual Distinguished Lecture in Urban Education

Over $1M in Mini-Grants Deployed for 2020 Census

DERP Releases Report on Persistently Present Students

Historic Panel of State Leaders Recommend Strategies for Michigan Educational Results

The Skillman Foundation Opens Afterschool and Summer Program Request for Proposals this Month