The Kresge Foundation

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. What's on the ballot? Voters will choose every member of the U.S. House, about a third of the Senate, 36 governors and thousands of state legislators. Closer to home, mayors, city councils, school boards and local ballot measures will shape the future of schools, transportation, libraries, parks and more. Full participation in the nation's civic life is central to the opportunity we work toward every day. We encourage everyone to make a plan to vote and to exercise your democratic power. In this week's Kresge Weekly Newsletter, we highlight resources to help you find the information you need to vote, along with practical guides to issues affecting Kresge's focus cities: Detroit, Fresno, Memphis, and New Orleans.  https://lnkd.in/e9UvgtFY #Vote #Election2026 #getouthevote

Excited to share that I’ll be joining the TLTF Summit 2026 as a panelist in Scottsdale, Arizona, November 16–18! On November 17, I’ll join an incredible group of legal industry leaders for a conversation on “Buy-Side and Sell-Side in the AI Era”, exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping the delivery of legal services, redefining value, and challenging traditional approaches to how legal work gets done. As General Counsel at The Kresge Foundation, I’m particularly looking forward to sharing the in-house counsel perspective on some of the most pressing questions facing our profession: 🔹 Measuring value beyond efficiency: What does meaningful, measurable impact from AI look like inside an organization? 🔹 Deploying AI responsibly: How do we embrace innovation while maintaining appropriate safeguards for security, confidentiality, and accountability? 🔹 Redefining the delivery of legal services: How can legal departments and law firms evolve to meet growing expectations for work that is better, faster, and more cost-effective, without compromising quality or sound judgment? These are conversations that matter. The opportunity ahead is not simply about adopting new technology; it’s about thoughtfully reimagining how we deliver legal services, create value, and preserve the human judgment and trust at the heart of our profession. Looking forward to learning from my fellow panelists, exchanging perspectives with colleagues across the legal ecosystem, and being part of this important conversation about the future of legal services. See you in Scottsdale! #TLTFSummit2026 #LegalInnovation #ArtificialIntelligence #LegalOperations #FutureOfLaw #Leadership

NEW EPISODE: A native New Orleanian and Louisiana State University-trained emergency medicine physician, Jennifer Avegno, MD is one of the most prominent public health voices to emerge from the City of New Orleans in a generation. Avegno built her public profile through COVID-19, becoming the city’s steady, data-driven voice. She is now shaping health policy from City Hall in a role that brings the City of New Orleans Health Department, EMS, youth and family programs, violence prevention, and homelessness services under her leadership as Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. In the latest PathBreakers episode in the New Orleans series, Avegno explores what happens when community-level climate and health work meets city government. Watch or listen to our award-winning video podcast for urban changemakers wherever you get your podcasts. #PathBreaekrs #NewOrleans #podcast #publichealth #climatechange

✨ Detroit’s most inspiring night of philanthropy is almost here! ✨ Join AFP Greater Detroit for our 35th Annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Ceremony & Dinner, presented by The Kresge Foundation, on November 12 at The Henry Ford Museum. Enjoy a strolling dinner, networking with fellow changemakers, recognition of our Distinguished Volunteers, and an inspiring keynote from Nicole Sherard-Freeman, President & CEO of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. 🏆 We’ll also celebrate our 2026 Award Recipients: • Max M. Fisher Award for Outstanding Philanthropist: Paul Huxley & Cindy Pasky • Outstanding Foundation Award: The Carls Foundation • Outstanding Corporation Award: Towne Mortgage Company Charity Team • Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award: Lori Kachigian Kontry • Dr. John S. Lore Award for Outstanding Fundraising Executive: Leslie Carmona, CFRE • Sparky Anderson Award for Youth in Philanthropy: Alaina Peters • Spirit of Philanthropy Award: Kate Levin Markel • George W. Romney Award for Lifetime Achievement in Volunteerism: Tony & Sarah Earley • Neal Shine Award for Media Commitment to Philanthropy: Faraz Javed 🎉 Plus, one lucky attendee will receive a one-year AFP-GDC membership scholarship! Come celebrate the people and organizations making a lasting difference across our community. 💙 🎟️ Register today: https://lnkd.in/g2v7QdNk #NPDDET2026 #AFPDET #Philanthropy #NationalPhilanthropyDay #AFPDetroit #DetroitPhilanthropy #DetroitEvents

Once upon a time when I worked at The Kresge Foundation, I had the privilege of stewarding a general support grant in service to voter education ahead of the intent to introduce a ballot measure that would modernize Michigan’s voting system. I was new to working on pro-voter reforms and had just about everything to learn. The good people at ACLU of Michigan and NAACP Michigan generously sent my team and me heaps of information and addressed questions when we met in-person in Detroit. I remember then having subsequent conversations with colleagues in legal and finance about where c3 grant dollars can go and about their limits. It was all new to the organization at the time—and we did that! I’m proud that we moved ahead with the grant recommendation, which was approved soon after. That was 2018. Michigan has since passed additional pro-voter reforms, including statewide in-person early voting. This is me voting early in this fall’s midterm elections. I’m grateful that my professional work allowed me to steward support for voter education, a kind of public good that we need now as much as ever. I’m thankful to live in a state with a modern election system, thanks to diligent and long-term work of organizations like the ACLU & NAACP. This is your reminder to vote. Have a plan and make your voice heard.

Song Community Development Corporation works with New Orleans communities to advance community-led climate resilience while protecting cultural heritage. In our latest PathBreakers episode, Tap Bui Tap Bui, co-executive director of Sông CDC, emphasizes that communities should be centered and shape solutions for their neighborhoods. She offers advice on claiming your place in decision-making, lessons learned from community organizing, recognizing community members as experts and more. #PathBeakers #NewOrleans

Our good friend at the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Andy Kopplin, has been planning and maneuvering for many years to help bring to life a stunning bio-medical district along the northern reach of Canal Street. The complex will comprise Louisiana State University's medical and public health schools, a bio-innovation center, Xavier University's planned medical school, new housing, and re-purposed office spaces. But the heart of the district will be the restoration and conversion of Charity Hospital, the emergency public hospital all but destroyed during the breaking of the levees during Hurricane Katrina. The flooding left the hospital without power or water, forcing staff to hand-ventilate patients stuck in 120-degree rooms, evacuate them by canoe and helicopter, and convert light poles into helipads. The hospital has been boarded for more than 20 years. Tulane University announced this summer a $500 million investment to redevelop the million-square-foot structure into a hub for research, start-ups, and education — the Tulane Innovation Institute. The mind-bending complexity of restoring the building is wonderfully captured in a slogan that has attached to the hospital since the 1700s: "Where the Unusual Occurs and Miracles Happen." Indeed. And as Tulane President Mike Fitts notes: "We're not making a one-year bet or a two-year bet; we're making a 20-year bet on this." Andy and the Greater New Orleans Foundation are playing a lead role in the effort, and The Kresge Foundation has been a helpful advisor. As we’ve seen in Midtown Detroit and in the Memphis Medical District, the promise of the New Orleans approach is the catalytic potential inherent in knitting together institutional reimagination among multiple parties . . . mutually supportive private, public, and philanthropic capital . . . and intentionally elevated creative place-making that both encourages connective infrastructure sinew and the formation of social capital. The Marygrove Learning Community in Detroit is something of a micro-version of what we’re seeing in New Orleans – an anchoring site meant to generate and take advantage of the interwoven dynamics of education, housing, community space, and job creation. Watching a community foundation broker that same logic at the scale of very large downtown geography, across a divided political landscape no less, is a useful reminder of what's possible when local philanthropy leads – as Andy has done with consummate skill – with vision, courage, and tenacity. Huge congratulations to Andy, New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno, Louisiana State Senator Cameron Henry, Tulane President Fitts and the leadership of Tulane, and other civic actors. The work is far from done and it won’t be neat, tidy, and quick – but the progress and the promise are breathtaking. https://lnkd.in/ejziZNQy

✨ MEET THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER: NICOLE SHERARD-FREEMAN ✨ Join us for one of Detroit’s most inspiring nights! AFP Greater Detroit’s 35th annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Ceremony & Dinner, presented by The Kresge Foundation, takes place November 12 at The Henry Ford Museum. We’re thrilled to welcome Nicole Sherard-Freeman, President & CEO of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, as this year’s keynote speaker. Since joining the Community Foundation as chief operating officer in 2023, Sherard-Freeman has helped advance its mission of strengthening Southeast Michigan communities. She became president and CEO in January 2025, following leadership roles with the City of Detroit focused on jobs, economic development and workforce development. 📅 November 12 🕕 6:00–8:30 PM 📍 The Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn Learn more about Nicole Sherard-Freeman: https://lnkd.in/g5hX8xYd 🎟️ Register and learn more: https://lnkd.in/gpGJDTq8 We look forward to celebrating philanthropy and the incredible people making a difference across our community! 💙 #NPDDET2026 #AFPDET #Philanthropy #NationalPhilanthropyDay #AFPDetroit #DetroitPhilanthropy #DetroitEvents

WEBINAR TODAY:  Join the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, Policy Equity Group and Kresge at 1 p.m. ET today (Oct. 26) for 'Solving the Early Childhood Funding Puzzle: Lessons From Michigan.' The webinar will discuss a new report on how funding for early childhood education sources come together in Michigan. #earlychildhood #webinar There is still time to register: https://lnkd.in/eTrCdPJd

Benjamin Kennedy (MBA 2009) and Chantel R. (MBA 2015) enrolled at Harvard Business School’s MBA program with different backgrounds and perspectives, but both came with the conviction that they wanted to do good in the world.   Both found their way to The Kresge Foundation, a Michigan-based nonprofit focused on expanding opportunity in American cities. Their journeys show how the Leadership Fellows Program can open the door to meaningful, mission-driven careers. Read their stories: https://lnkd.in/g2n-QxRk