For the first time, the Gilbert Family Foundation is excited to release our annual impact report. This 2022 report highlights the investments we've made and the programs we created in the past year, all of which support our mission to build opportunity and equity in Detroit and accelerate a cure […]

Recently, some of our Venture 313 founders were offered a unique opportunity to attend the innovative SXSW conference in order to network, learn from other entrepreneurs and harness professional development to support their businesses. James Feagin, Director of Economic Mobility at the Gilbert Family Foundation spoke on a panel about […]

The Gilbert Family Foundation has committed $600,000 over three years to support the Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance's core programs.

In this Q&A blog post, we sit down to chat with JJ Vélez, Director of Public Spaces at the Gilbert Family Foundation. JJ talks about the unique challenges he faced starting his job at the onset of the pandemic, and how his experiences growing up influenced his perspective on the […]

In this partner spotlight, we highlight LifeLine Global Consulting, a full-service business planning and management consultancy that supports women and minority-owned small businesses with the resources they need to thrive. Dr. Nicole Parker, Founder and CEO of LifeLine shares her personal journey and her passion for supporting entrepreneurs.

The Thriving Neighborhoods Fund recently held their first quarterly convening, where the 20 nonprofit organizations in the cohort were able to connect in order to share ideas, network, discuss best practices and more. Watch the video to learn more about the program and how the organizations benefitted.

In celebration of Black History Month, we're highlighting the diversity of our team and the voices of our Black team members by exploring why diversity in philanthropy is critical to building more equitable communities.

In 2022, CultureSource and 8 Bridges partnered to release a 2022 impact report on the Digital Access for the Arts Program (DAAP), a multifaceted program funded by the Rocket Community Fund and now supported by the Gilbert Family Foundation. Read the full report to learn how the organizations in the […]

Councilman Fred Durhal of Detroit's District 7 talks about the vision for the new Tireman-Minock Park, which is part of the city's Strategic Neighborhood Fund initiative. Last year, the Gilbert Family Foundation supported with an additional $275,000. Durhal is joined by JJ Velez, Director of Public Spaces at the Gilbert […]

Venture 313 launched in October 2022 as a revolutionary new program to better support Detroit entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. After a successful launch party and onboarding hundreds of entrepreneurs, the team looks to the future to build momentum with new features, updates, and goals for 2023.

Watch the video to learn how the Downtown Detroit Markets and Cadillac Lodge are supporting small business owners and creating a safe, inclusive and vibrant space for residents and visitors to shop, eat and connect during the holiday season.

Since 2017, the Small Business Murals Project has elevated the local business community by pairing local artists with Detroit entrepreneurs. To date, 32 murals have been created by 25 artists, featured on local businesses from restaurants to gyms to auto repair shops. The murals are conversation starters and elevate foot […]