February/March Member Spotlight Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation
Established in 2008 and a GIA member since 2016, the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation envisions a flourishing, healthy, and resilient Great Lakes ecosystem and culturally vibrant, sustainable Southeast Michigan. The Foundation’s work reflects Fred and Barbara’s shared and expansive passion for the arts in the Detroit metro region, including Fred’s love of jazz music, Barbara’s appreciation for theatre, and their avid collection of 20th century art.
The focus of the Erb Family Foundation’s arts grantmaking over the past 15 years has included multi-year general operating support to over 60 arts and cultural organizations through Detroit Arts Support, a common application funding program across three foundations. The Erb Family Foundation has also supported a core group of jazz education providers who help continue Detroit’s rich jazz legacy and mentorship traditions and has helped strengthen collaboration among these partners by funding JazzEd Detroit.
In 2022, the Foundation made the decision to spend-down its assets by 2034, a decision that stemmed from a desire to address urgent needs more effectively and to implement transformative projects that can create lasting change within a shorter time frame. After an extensive two-year planning process informed by over 200 interviews with grant partners, funding peers, and staff and board members, the Foundation is excited to embark upon this work of spending down over the next 10 years.
The Erb Family Foundation’s arts and culture grantmaking during spenddown will work to strengthen the resiliency of arts organizations and leaders in the tri-county region and Detroit’s jazz culture. Across the arts—and all its grantmaking areas—the Foundation will provide capacity-building support with the hope of helping organizations become stronger in preparation for a time when the Foundation’s support ends.
Follow the Erb Family Foundation’s spend-down journey via our newsletter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
You can learn more about Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation on the photo credits page.