(RFP) Participatory Grantmaking: Discovery and Design

Supporting Detroiters to Direct Resources in Their Own Communities

Gilbert Family Foundation is seeking a qualified partner, or partnership team, to lead a Participatory Grantmaking Discovery and Design Process in Detroit. This engagement will yield a co-created process aimed at directing philanthropic resources based on the expressed needs and priorities of Detroit residents.

The selected partner(s) will work closely with Gilbert Family Foundation team to lead and manage a community-informed needs assessment and design an inclusive participatory grantmaking model rooted in equity, transparency, and shared decision-making. This process will be conducted in phases, starting with a needs assessment that will analyze existing data and include a combination of interviews, focus groups, and/or surveys on resident opinions and attitudes toward topics including, but not limited to: neighborhood green spaces; arts and cultural activities; and community-centered economic mobility. Learnings from Phase 1 will inform the development of a strategy, method, and framework for community-led resource allocation in Detroit neighborhoods (Phase 2).

• Phase 1: Data Analysis/Needs Assessment
• Phase 2: Participatory Grantmaking Framework and Action Plan

It is important to note that while community priorities will guide funding decisions, philanthropic resources have limits and may not be able to address needs that require significantly larger or ongoing investments. These types of needs may be beyond the scope of this project.

Lastly, in recognizing that activities in Phases 1 and 2 comprise two distinct areas of focus (data analysis, gathering, and needs assessment, and devising a thoughtful, community-informed process for Participatory Grantmaking), Gilbert Family Foundation welcomes applications that include a collaboration between multiple partners, organizations, and/or entities, each guiding different aspects of the work. We ask that collaborative applications designate Lead and Supporting partners, as one Lead Partner will be chosen to manage the project as a whole to ensure cohesion and connection between each phase.

Project Background

Four years ago, the Gilbert Family Foundation and Rocket Community Fund made a joint, $500M philanthropic commitment to build opportunity and equity in the city of Detroit. Our efforts are centered around increasing economic prosperity for a cohort of economically vulnerable Detroiters at risk of displacement (referred to as our cohort). This project seeks to advance that work by assessing interest in and feasibility of a resident-guided grantmaking process that would position Detroiters, particularly those within our cohort, to shape not only the programming and interventions in their neighborhoods, but the flow of resources that support them. The Participatory Grantmaking Discovery and Design process will help Gilbert Family Foundation determine how best to structure and implement a potential grantmaking model informed by residents.

Scope of Work

The selected partner, or partnership team, will:

1. Manage the design and facilitation of a community-centered needs assessment, including:

• Selection and onboarding of a data partner (if not within your team’s capacity; all partners subject to Gilbert Family Foundation approval)
• Identification, analysis, and integration of existing data sets collected by Gilbert Family Foundation and our partners, as well as broader citywide/community sources, to inform program priorities and design, and to determine if additional data will need to be collected
• Stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and/or surveys with Detroit residents, community organizations, and business owners in targeted districts
• Synthesis of needs, priorities, and values as defined by the community
• Presentation of Phase 1 results to residents and stakeholders

2. With Gilbert Family Foundation, co-create a participatory grantmaking model, including:

• Identification of community priorities based on needs assessment
• Structured, transparent processes for decision-making and eligibility
• Clearly defined roles and responsibilities for partner organizations, community participants and residents
• A clearly defined plan for implementation

3. Collaborate with Gilbert Family Foundation staff throughout the project, providing:

• Regular meetings and work sessions
• Opportunities for internal learning and reflection
• Preliminary and final written reports with actionable recommendations

Proposal Requirements

• A narrative outlining your full team’s approach (both Lead and Supporting partners) to:
  • Managing complex and large-scale projects
  • Neighborhood-based community engagement, including:
    • The ways in which your engagement will be inclusive of the overall population of Detroit, including seniors, residents with various household income levels, Detroiters of all abilities and language backgrounds, etc.
  • Needs assessment and data collection
  • Facilitating participatory or collective decision-making
  • Integrating qualitative and quantitative data into your process
• A proposed timeline of activities and engagements for the Phases 1 and 2 discovery/design process (anticipated 12-15 months)
• Description of your team’s relevant experience, including:
  • Participatory processes, collective collaboration, and/or community organizing
  • Experience working with Detroit communities or within similar settings. If your organization is not headquartered in Detroit, please detail your existing partnerships or collaborative efforts in the city and outline your strategy for building authentic, sustainable relationships with Detroit’s diverse communities.
• Names, roles, and short bios of project team members
• Project budget, including:
  • • Community needs assessment
    • Development of strategy and method for community-led resource allocation in Detroit neighborhoods
    • Budget narrative is optional
  • Gilbert Family Foundation recommends a budget range not to exceed $250,000 but will consider proposals above this amount with clearly stated rationale
• Identify the digital tools or database systems you use in this work
• Up to 3 examples of past relevant work
• Three references (name, organization, contact info)
• Optional: Up to 2 additional supporting documents

Key Dates

• RFP Launch: Monday, June 22, 2026
• Informational Session (4 weeks later): Wednesday, July 15 2026 @ 2:00 PM
  RSVP to Andrea Scobie at AndreaScobie@GilbertFamilyFoundation.org
• Proposal Submission Deadline (2 weeks later): July 31, 2026 at 11:59pm
  Submit proposals via this LINK
• Partner Selection: Gilbert Family Foundation will follow up with all applicants by August 24. A round of interviews may be held during the weeks of August 10 and August 17. Final selection will be communicated no later than Monday, August 24, 2026.
• Project Duration: Estimated 12-15 months for Phases 1 and 2 (Discovery and Design), beginning in Q3 2026.

The ideal partner will match the Gilbert Family Foundation’s culture of purpose and passion for Detroit, and/or for collective community impact. We are committed to exceptional service and experience in everything that we do, and we seek an aligned partner who will live these values with us. The partner we select will be equally as committed to delivering the best experience possible to residents of the city of Detroit.
For more information on the Gilbert Family Foundation, visit GilbertFamilyFoundation.org

If you have questions regarding the proposal submission process, please contact Jessica Brown at JessicaBrown@rock.com.

To attend the informational session on this RFP on Wednesday, July 15 at 2:00 pm, please contact Andrea Scobie at AndreaScobie@GilbertFamilyFoundation.org