Skillman Foundation

The Skillman Foundation partners with people to transform the education system, nurturing the brilliance and power of Detroit youth. We believe in People Powered Education. We invest in Detroiters’ power to design an exceptional education system, we support equitable education policy advocacy, and we connect the expertise of students and those closest to them with policy movers statewide. The Skillman Foundation is a grantmaking organization established in 1960 by Rose Skillman. Across our history, the Foundation has granted out approximately $750 million and has served as a vocal advocate to strengthen K-12 public education, afterschool programming, child-centered neighborhoods, youth and community leadership, and racial equity and justice. **Our Mission** We partner with people to transform the education system, nurturing the brilliance and power of Detroit youth. **Our Vision** Detroit youth are supported to design bold destinies. **Our Values** Youth Driven ?We are following the will of [Detroit youth](https://www.skillman.org/youth-voice/) to dream and design new possibilities together. ? ? Racial Equity & Justice Focused ?We enact [racial equity](https://www.skillman.org/equity-focused/) within our practices and pursue the understanding and advancement of racial justice to change the odds for Detroit youth. We define racial equity as a level playing field for Black, Brown, and all people of color within current systems and structures. We define racial justice as shifting power to those most negatively impacted by the way things currently are so that they may redesign systems and structures to benefit all.?? Accountable to Each Other? ? We love that there is no place like Detroit. We will show up every day in partnership with each other, internally and externally, creating our shared future. We are connected.? Greater Than Grants We extend all forms of capital—financial, reputational, and relational—thoughtfully, ethically, and equitably. ? ? Listeners & Learners ? We are guided by the brilliance of Detroit youth and community. We learn from our successes and our failures to continually improve ourselves, our organization, and our communities.