Max and Marjorie Fisher Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Max and Marjorie Fisher Foundation supports high-quality early childhood programs aimed at improving school readiness and reading proficiency, as well as arts education and enrichment programs targeted at youth and children. It also supports programs that promote Jewish culture in the United States.
IP TAKE: While this funder awards grants to organizations located across the United States, it prioritizes organizations located in and around Detroit, so organizations beyond this area will have a harder time securing funding. This is not the most accessible funder, but it will consider letters of inquiry. A good local funder to know if you’re working in Detroit. This is also an open-minded funder that likes to support its grantees beyond funding.
PROFILE: The Max and Marjorie Fisher Foundation, or M&M Foundation, was founded in 1955 by Max Fisher, who owned a chain of gas stations, and his wife, Marjorie Fisher. The foundation aims to “enrich humanity by strengthening and empowering children and families in need.” Based in Southfield, Michigan, just outside of Detroit, this foundation’s impact areas are Jewish Causes, Early Childhood, Arts and Culture and Impact Investing.
Grants for Jewish Causes
The Max and Marjorie Fisher Foundation’s Jewish grantmaking supports programs that “provide for the needs of and ensure the ongoing vitality, success, and well-being of the Jewish People.” It supports community centers and other nonprofits that promote vibrant Jewish culture and identity, especially those that empower Jewish youth and increase the connection of Jewish families to “their Jewish identity, Israel, and other Jews throughout the world.” Grantees include the Detroit Jewish Community Center, the Detroit Jewish News Foundation, the Jewish Federation of Metro Detroit, the Jewish Funders Network and the B’Nai B’Rith Hillel at Ohio State University.
Grants for Early Childhood Education
The Max and Marjorie Fisher Foundation’s Early Childhood program supports high quality programming, including programs aimed at developing skills in parents and caregivers. It primarily supports programs that promote “parent and family leadership,” “high quality programs and professionals,” “safe and inspiring environments,” and “increased and aligned funding.” One past grantee is Brilliant Detroit, which works with families with children below the age of eight to ensure that kids are “school ready, healthy and stable.” Other grantees include City Year Detroit, Development Centers Inc., the Michigan League for Public Policy and the Midwest Education Trust.
Grants for Arts and Culture
The Max and Marjorie Fisher Foundation’s Arts and Culture grantmaking primarily seeks to “provide children and youth in need with enrichment, exposure, and instruction in arts and culture.” It supports programs that expose children to arts education, as well as outreach efforts from cultural institutions. Grantees include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Motown Historical Museum, 826Michigan and Coaching Detroit Forward.
Other
The Max and Marjorie Fisher Foundation’s Impact Investing impact area supports other nonprofits and funders by ensuring they have “access to growth capital to expand innovation and grow organizational capacity and sustainability.” It aims to “lead alongside others,” “learn through participating in collaborative investments,” and “accelerate the field.”
Important Grant Details:
Fisher grants range from about $100,000 to $400,000. While the foundation does not set specific geographic limits to its funding, many of its grantees operate in the Detroit area. Lists of recent grants can be found on the foundation’s grant partners page.
The M&M Fisher Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funding, but it encourages prospective grantees to submit letters of inquiry through its online grant portal.
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