Comerica Charitable Foundation

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OVERVIEW: The Comerica Charitable Foundation broadly funds housing, community development, and education projects in communities where the bank operates.

IP TAKE: This funder no longer accepts open applications, and its grantmaking is geographically limited to Texas, Michigan, California, Arizona, and Florida. It does consider emails, so write the foundation to learn more about its grantmaking and, perhaps, to get on its radar. This is not an accessible funder. It’s unclear if it considers employee-led grantmaking.

PROFILE: The Comerica Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Comerica Bank, an American financial institution headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The bank’s corporate giving aims to “partner with the communities we serve through investments in education, economic and community development and human services for those in need.” It makes grants in the communities in which Comerica primarily does business: Texas, Michigan, California, Arizona, Florida.

Comerica’s giving philosophy revolves around four key points. It seeks to “enhance Comerica’s commitment to community reinvestment;” “impact issues that are important to Comerica and our communities; respond to the diversity within the population and needs of each community; create pride and loyalty among Comerica employees.”

Grants for Community and Economic Development

Comerica conducts funding for community  economic and community development grantmaking supports programs that “promote and enhance opportunities for LMI families and communities,” such as “affordable housing advocacy and development,” “economic self-sufficiency,” “job creation, training, readiness and retention,” “neighborhood/community revitalization and business development,” and “small business training and development.” Comerica also offers human services grants that include support for “transitional and supportive services and housing” and “food access.” Past grantees include Community Reinvestment Fund, Inc., United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, Bridges Out of Poverty, Downtown Detroit Partnership, Inc., Valley Economic Development Center, Women Veterans Alliance, and TMC Development Working Solutions.

Grants for STEM Education

Comerica’s education grantmaking supports low-and moderate-income individuals and families. Its grants fund programs that support: “financial education (Pre-K through 12th grade and adult); business-focused and STEM-related education; and college scholarships for business, finance and STEM-related fields.” Past education grantees include United Negro College Fund Inc, Cornerstone Schools Association, and Wayne State University. 

Important Grant Details:

Grants generally range from $1,000 to $100,000. Comerica does not provide detailed information about its past grants on its website.

Comerica accepts unsolicited requests for funding, which must be submitted online. The foundation has four grant cycles per year:

  • January 1 to March 15 (grants announced after April 15)

  • April 1 to June 15 (grants announced after July 15)

  • July 1 to September 15 (grants announced after October 15)

  • October 1 to November 15 (grans announced after December 15)

Interested grant seekers may contact the foundation at comericacorpcontributionscmail@comerica.com. Note that the foundation only supports organizations operating in Texas, Michigan, California, Arizona, and Florida. It only makes grants to nonprofit organizations with charitable 501(c)(3) status.

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