In 2020, Enterprise Community Partners facilitated the merger and expansion of two philanthropy-supported funding programs to create the Detroit CDO Fund, designed to build capacity and support the sustainability of less-resourced community development organizations (CDOs) in Detroit while strengthening the city’s overall development ecosystem. During Phase I (2020–2022), the CDO Fund provided $12.2 million in operating grants, technical assistance, and learning resources to 25 organizations, followed by the ECDO Fund, launched in 2021, which supported emerging CDOs with $1.8 million to address their unique challenges in organizational growth and scaling. Together, these programs reached neighborhoods representing nearly 75% of Detroit’s residents and were supported by multiple foundations pooling resources to increase collective impact and reduce competition among grantees.
Phase II of the program expanded both funds, increasing the CDO Fund to $17 million and the ECDO Fund to $4.6 million, allowing for larger operating grants and more investment in technical assistance (TA). TA supported grantees in diverse areas including strategic planning, financial management, real estate development, and federal grant applications. Collaborative TA initiatives enabled multiple organizations to work together on shared challenges, such as housing solutions in Southwest Detroit, leading to the creation of the Joint Operating Southwest Entity (JOSE) to implement coordinated strategies for workforce development, housing feasibility, and funding. Grantees also participated in learning trips to other U.S. cities, gaining insights into permanent affordability through Community Land Trusts and fostering collaboration across the cohort.
Evaluation of Phase II shows that the CDO and ECDO Funds strengthened organizational sustainability and community impact in a mutually reinforcing cycle. Multi-year funding and TA allowed organizations to diversify revenue, expand programming, and build internal capacity, resulting in tangible benefits such as the creation or preservation of over 1,400 homes and improved financial stability. Learning trips and ongoing support from funders helped grantees align efforts with neighborhood priorities and navigate evolving funding landscapes. Overall, Phase II demonstrates that a collaborative, flexible funding model enhances organizational growth, amplifies community impact, and provides a foundation for long-term sustainability across Detroit’s community development ecosystem.
