FAQs

DCF supports traditional district-run public schools and public, non-profit charter schools. We do not support private schools parochial schools, or charter schools run by for-profit companies.

Study after study has shown that the single most important factor in a student’s learning is a quality teacher in their classroom every day. Strong school leaders recruit and retain high-performing teachers by creating schools that systematically learn, innovate, and continuously improve over time. These are the kinds of schools that transform students’ lives and provide them the opportunities they deserve.

Yes. We make investments in both nonprofit charter schools and DPSCD schools. Programs like ModEL Schools and our School Collaboration Collective (SC2) program are designed to directly address the needs of individual schools. When we invest in schools, we view them holistically, and make every effort to address both strategic and critical needs to put them on a path toward improved results.

Only if such a program is a strategic or critical need of a school we support and is a part of their plan for improved academic results. There are a significant number of organizations in the city, state and nation that support these kinds of essential programs for schools and students. DCF’s mission is to increase the number of quality schools in Detroit and, while we believe that children should be engaged in a variety of ways outside the classroom, our investments will focus on opportunities that get at the heart of improving academic opportunity and outcomes.

DCF is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is housed at the Skillman Foundation offices. The Skillman Foundation is one of DCF’s largest supporters, providing both grants and in-kind donations of staff time.

While we recognize that far too many teachers everywhere do not receive the kind of basic classroom support they deserve, our investments are systemically focused on improving schools and developing educators. For needs like classroom supplies, we recommend programs like Donor’s Choose or platforms like GoFundMe.

Schools or organizations who are interested in learning more about Detroit Children’s Fund and our approach should contact us at info@detroitchildrensfund.org. We ask that you familiarize yourself with our website and current grants to determine if we are a fit before reaching out.

If you are a school leader and are interested in our School Collaboration Collective (SC2) program, please let us know by emailing info@detroitchildrensfund.org

If you are interested in becoming a teacher or school leader in Detroit, please email info@detroitchildrensfund.org

Schools or organizations who are interested in learning more about Detroit Children’s Fund and our approach should contact us at info@detroitchildrensfund.org. We do ask that you familiarize yourself with our website and current grants to determine if we are a fit before reaching out.

We are grateful for your interest in supporting Detroit’s children. At this time, our greatest need is financial support, but we may periodically post opportunities on our website to volunteer or support our schools. Please check our website frequently if this is something you might be interested in.