Category Archives: News

Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Opens Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street in Southwest Detroit

The Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation announced the opening of the Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street in Southwest Detroit, marking a significant milestone in the foundation’s commitment to deepening community engagement and supporting local neighborhoods.

The Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street, located at 3700 Gilbert St. in Southwest Detroit, will serve as a vital hub for residents, providing essential services, youth and adult programming, and a collaborative space for nonprofit organizations. The center is part of a broader effort by the Dresner Foundation to expand its impact beyond traditional grantmaking and establish a direct, everyday presence in Detroit.

“In creating this community center, we sought to move beyond traditional philanthropy and embed ourselves within the neighborhoods we serve,” said Dresner Foundation Chief Executive Officer Virginia Romano. “The Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street is a reflection of our long-term commitment to Detroit and the belief that real change happens when we stand alongside the people we support, working together to build stronger communities.”

The foundation’s journey to opening the center began in 2020, when it acquired two Southwest Detroit properties: the former St. Andrew Catholic Church and Rectory on McGraw St., which now serves as the foundation’s headquarters, and the community building on Gilbert St., which has been transformed into the community center.

The Dresner Foundation invested over $4 million in the community center, encompassing property acquisition, renovations, structural enhancements, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment. Additionally, the center’s development was guided by valuable input from area residents, nonprofit organizations, local churches, and neighborhood associations, ensuring it was thoughtfully designed and programmed to meet the needs and priorities of the community it serves.

Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency (Wayne Metro) has been selected as the anchor organization at the Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street, providing essential services such as water assistance, utility assistance, income and property tax assistance, and general resource navigation.

“Wayne Metro is honored to steward the operations of the Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street, creating a welcoming space where residents can access the tools and resources they need to thrive,” said Louis D. Piszker, CEO of Wayne Metro. “Together with our partners, we are building a foundation for lasting impact and equitable growth in Southwest Detroit.”

In addition to Wayne Metro’s presence, the foundation is in the process of selecting nonprofit organizations from a pool of applicants to join the community center. To further support participating organizations, the foundation has eliminated operational and property maintenance costs, enabling them to focus entirely on delivering services and making a direct impact in the community.

For more information about the Dresner Community Center — Gilbert Street, please contact the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation at (313) 285-8618.

Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Invites Letters of Inquiry for 2025 Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Research Fund

This national funding initiative builds on the Foundation’s investments in support of cutting-edge MDS research and related programs that will lead to the future standards of care and ultimately cure, by facilitating the advancement of innovative basic science, translational, or clinical research.

A total of three new grants, two Early Career Awards and one Established Investigator Award, will be awarded. Early Career Awards will provide funding of up to $125,000 per year for two years and Established Investigator Awards will provide funding of up to $250,000 per year for two years.

Letters of Inquiry (LOI) from 501(c)3 institutions must be received no later than Friday, March 7, 2025 (3pm EDT). The LOI must be submitted via the online MDS grant application on the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation website MDS Research Fund. Full proposals are by invitation only.

Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Invites Letters of Inquiry for 2024 Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Research Fund

This national funding initiative expands the Foundation’s investments in support of cutting-edge MDS research and related programs that will lead to the future standards of care and ultimately cure, by facilitating the advancement of innovative basic science, translational or clinical research.

A total of three new grants, two Early Career Awards and one Established Investigator Award, will be awarded. Early Career Awards will provide funding of up to $125,000 per year for two years and Established Investigator Awards will provide funding of up to $250,000 per year for two years.

Letters of Inquiry (LOI) from 501(c)3 institutions must be received no later than Friday, March 15, 2024 (3 pm EDT). The LOI must be submitted via the online MDS grant application on the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation website MDS Research Fund. Full proposals are by invitation only.

Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Opens RFP for Youth and Adult Programming

The Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation is opening a preliminary Request for Proposals to gauge 501(c)3 organizations’ interest and capacity to provide youth and adult programming at a new community center at 3700 Gilbert Community and Neighborhood Resource Center in Southwest Detroit.

Proposals are due to the Foundation on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 by 3:00 p.m. EST.

Click here for more information about the opportunity.

If you are interested in applying, please be sure to apply on the Grant Process page using the link labeled “Apply Here – Programming at 3700 Gilbert Street.”

Questions about the Request for Proposals can be directed to Erin Marie McDonald at erinm@drenserfoundation.org.

Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Recruiting Community Resource Coordinator

Supports all aspects of the functions of the Vera and Jospeh Dresner Foundation’s 3700 Gilbert Street Community and Neighborhood Resource Center.

Community Resource Coordinator

Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Recruiting Grants Manager

Supports all aspects of the grants management processes and procedures of the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation.

Grants Manager

Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Invites Letters of Inquiry for 2023 Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Research Fund

This national funding initiative expands the Foundation’s investments in support of cutting-edge MDS research and related programs that will lead to the future standards of care and ultimately cure, by facilitating the advancement of innovative basic science, translational or clinical research.

A total of three new grants, two Early Career Awards and one Established Investigator Award, will be awarded. Early Career Awards will provide funding of up to $125,000 per year for two years and Established Investigator Awards will provide funding of up to $250,000 per year for two years.

Letters of Inquiry (LOI) from 501(c)3 institutions must be received no later than Friday, March 17, 2023 (3 pm EDT). The LOI must be submitted via the online MDS grant application on the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation website MDS Research Fund. Full proposals are by invitation only.

2022 Outstanding Foundation Awarded to the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation

The Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation was honored to receive the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Detroit Chapter’s 2022 Outstanding Foundation Award. The Outstanding Foundation Award is presented to private foundations that demonstrate outstanding commitment through financial support and through encouragement and motivation of others to take leadership roles in philanthropy and community involvement.

Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation Invites Letters of Inquiry for 2022 Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Research Fund

This national funding initiative expands the Foundation’s investments in support of cutting-edge MDS research and related programs that will lead to the future standards of care and ultimately cure, by facilitating the advancement of innovative basic science, translational or clinical research.

A total of three new grants, two Early Career Awards and one Established Investigator Award, will be awarded. Early Career Awards will provide funding of up to $125,000 per year for two years and Established Investigator Awards will provide funding of up to $250,000 per year for two years.

Letters of Inquiry (LOI) from 501(c)3 institutions must be received no later than Friday, March 18, 2022 (3 pm EDT). The LOI must be submitted via the online MDS grant application on the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation website MDS Research Fund. Full proposals are by invitation only.

Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation 2022 Grantmaking

In January 2022, the Foundation will reopen its grant portal for Letters of Inquiry for all program areas. However, please visit Application Guidelines for more information before submitting.

Please contact the Foundation to determine a potential fit before submitting a Letter of Inquiry, especially those related to capital requests.