Mott Foundation Commits $2B in New Grantmaking Over the Next Decade

As it celebrates 100 years of philanthropy, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is charting an ambitious course for its second century with a commitment of nearly $2 billion in new grantmaking through 2035. This multiyear plan reinforces the foundation’s long-standing mission of promoting a just, equitable, and sustainable society while doubling down on support for its hometown of Flint, Michigan, and communities worldwide.

The long-range giving strategy builds on more than a century of philanthropic impact. Since 1926, the foundation has awarded more than $4.4 billion in grants — the equivalent of over $9 billion in today’s dollars.

Though roughly 60% of the Mott Foundation’s annual grantmaking is focused on Flint, the plan outlines several targeted allocations across youth engagement, the environment, and civil society:

• Education in Flint. Up to $370 million, including roughly $100 million for school facilities, will support learners from early childhood through postsecondary education.
• Childhood poverty reduction. Up to $100 million will bolster efforts addressing economic hardship among families in Flint.
• Youth engagement. Up to $200 million in initiatives will broaden opportunities and participation for young people nationally, particularly around after-school and summer learning programs, entrepreneurship, and children’s savings accounts.
• One-water solutions. Up to $100 million will advance equitable access to clean, safe, and affordable water — bridging local and national efforts.
• Access to justice. Up to $40 million will help support access to justice globally.

“Through times of peace and prosperity — as well as world wars, natural disasters, and man-made crises — the Mott Foundation has been able [to] provide support to help communities chart their paths forward,” Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation and the great-grandson of the organization’s founder, said in a post announcing the strategy. “... And we intend to continue doing this work for centuries to come. At the Mott Foundation, we believe giving is here for good. And so are we.”