Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation

Detroit, the Motor City, built its identity on the assembly line. Car Stars, an original musical opening August 21 at our grant partner Meadow Brook Theatre, tells that story through 23 songs spanning vaudeville, Motown, blues, folk, gospel, and rock, following Fred, an eighty-year-old retired factory worker known as the Phantom of the Factory, from the shop floor to the auto show stage. You don't need a background in cars to enjoy it. This is a story about people, dreams, and the city that put the world on wheels. The show starts at 2 p.m. on August 21. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e-EaTyRq

Congratulations to Joanne Pike, DrPH and everyone at the Alzheimer's Association®. More than 7 million Americans are living with an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis and that number is expected to double over the next 25 years, but as head of the Alzheimer’s Association, Joanne Pike is working to send those numbers to zero. This week, the president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association® was named to Forbes' 2026 "50 Over 50: Impact" list. Fred Erb lived with Alzheimer's for the last 12 years of his life. Remembering his experience is why we fund targeted research toward better prevention, treatment, and ultimately a cure, and why progress like Joanne's keeps us hopeful about the years ahead. Read her profile and the rest of this year's Impact list: https://lnkd.in/eVV6YVAE

This year, our grant partner The Henry Ford is marking the nation's 250th anniversary with America: 250 Years in the Making, a yearlong series of new exhibitions across the museum and Greenfield Village. Three are open right now. The Jackson Home, relocated from Selma, Alabama, preserves the house where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Jackson family helped shape the Voting Rights Movement. A few galleries over, Handmade: The Crafting of America traces the evolution of craft from its functional origins to its contemporary expressions, running through January 18, 2027. The third collection, Fabric of America, draws on more than 500 artifacts from the museum's own archives to explore how clothing has shaped identity, closing September 13. Whether you're drawn to history, craft, or fashion, there's a reason to visit this year. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gHHheXMX (Photo credit: The Henry Ford)

Nonprofits are navigating a complex funding landscape, rising costs, and increasing demand for services. The network of organizations working behind the scenes to keep nonprofits running and provide legal, financial, operational, and advocacy support, matter more than ever. The Transforming Solidarity Collective — a consortium of five Southeast Michigan nonprofit support groups — was built for this moment. Led by Michigan Community Resources, the Collective brings together Community Development Advocates of Detroit, Co.act Detroit, Michigan Nonprofit Association, and NEW (Nonprofit Enterprise at Work). Together, these organizations are combining their expertise into a coordinated response to strengthen our region's nonprofit organizations so that they can better fulfill their missions. We're glad to back this effort alongside The Kresge Foundation, McGregor Fund, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and The Skillman Foundation. When the organizations that support our nonprofits are strong, the whole sector across Southeast Michigan is more resilient. Learn more about the Collective's work in Crain's Detroit Business: https://lnkd.in/gSn4q9ub (Photo credit: Co.act)

The Great Lakes hold roughly a fifth of the world's available surface freshwater, and supply drinking water to more than 40 million people in the U.S. and Canada. Since 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has invested more than $5 billion in cleanup and restoration work, funding over 8,000 projects across the region. Mike Shriberg, Director of our grant partner U-M Water Center, led a team of researchers examining why the initiative has held bipartisan support for more than a decade. They point to a consistent, well-organized message from state officials, tribal nations, and business leaders as one of its biggest strengths. Shriberg believes those same lessons could help build support for conservation efforts well beyond the Great Lakes. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g34wfc7z (Photo credit: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Our grant partner Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) makes cleaning up the Huron River as simple as showing up with a few hours to spare. Grab a kayak or canoe to clear floating debris and items caught along the shoreline, or walk the bank with a bag in hand. Join an event organized by HRWC and its partners, some of which supply canoes, or head out on your own — register ahead of time so HRWC can track volunteer activity across the watershed. Not ready to get in the water? HRWC also offers monitoring programs, habitat restoration, and other ways to get involved. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ebBb8k5V (Photo credit: Huron River Watershed Council)

Fred A. Erb lived with Alzheimer's disease for 12 years. In his memory, the Foundation made its largest-ever investment in Alzheimer's research, partnering with the Alzheimer's Association® to establish the Fred and Barbara Erb Clinical Research Science Fellowship, which supports early-career scientists working toward prevention, management, and treatment. Last month, our President Melissa Damaschke and trustee Leslie Erb Liedtke traveled to London for the Association's International Conference, spending much of the trip with several of our Fellows: Dr. Luke Fischer, Dr. Christopher Brown, Dr. David Adamowicz, and Dr. Natalie Ryan. Investing in the people behind the science, not just the science itself, remains central to how the Foundation approaches this work. Read Melissa's full reflection on the trip: https://lnkd.in/edYp6vCh (Photo credit: Alzheimer's Association)

Our grant partner Detroit Artists Market is exploring the many ways people connect with animals, from the comfort of pets to the wonder of wildlife, in its current exhibition Friends: Furry & Fictional. Fifteen artists contributed work across a range of mediums, each reflecting on how animals continue to inspire care, curiosity, and creative expression. The exhibition partners with three local animal organizations, Detroit Alley Cats, Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit, and Leader Dogs for the Blind, bringing community programs to life alongside the show. Friends: Furry & Fictional runs through August 15. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/dPGPxm5v (Photo credit: Detroit Artists Market)

Today is Primary Election Day in Michigan. Polls are open until 8 p.m today. This ballot includes races for Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, State Senators and Representatives, and more. Access to the ballot matters. We are proud to support our grant partners that have spent months registering voters, helping them understand what's on the ballot, and helping clerks get the word out about how to vote. You can vote in-person, or drop your absentee ballot off, until 8 pm today. 🔗 Find your polling place: michigan.gov/vote 🔗 Get more information about how to vote: https://lnkd.in/dPjEksi Problems voting? Call (866) OUR-VOTE | (866) 687-8683

Join our team! We're looking for a program officer who is passionate about supporting the arts. The person in this role will build relationships across Southeast Michigan, cultivate and steward grant partnerships across the region's arts and culture community, and make a crucial contribution to the Foundation's grantmaking. We're looking for someone who brings: ✓ Experience in grantmaking, philanthropy, or a related nonprofit role with strong knowledge of the arts and culture sector ✓ A collaborative and collegial spirit that loves building strong relationships and making positive impact ✓ Strong communications and organizational skills, and the ability to shepherd projects while staying flexible with shifting workloads As a spenddown foundation, we're investing all of our assets before we close our doors in 2034. We're making the most of the time we have — this is a chance to help create lasting change for current and future generations. If this sounds like you or someone in your network, we'd love to connect. 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/eXAGap8R