Employee Resource Group and DE&I Committee Directed Grants

Each of Flagstar’s nine Employee Resource Groups and three Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committees had the opportunity to present a $5,000 grant to a nonprofit organization that aligns with their focus. The groups were encouraged to make their selection based on three criteria:

• Urgent COVID-19 relief needs, such as personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies
• General program costs to maintain services for clientele
• Capacity-building initiatives to develop critical capabilities for sustainability

In 2021, 11 nonprofits received grants through this program. During their respective awareness months, the groups presented the grants to increase community connectivity and deepen impact in the areas most important to our employees.  

Quotes from grant recipients

“Thanks to the generous support of the Flagstar Foundation, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is better able to offer needed, competent, and affordable immigration services to vulnerable and low-income immigrants throughout northeastern Indiana. We are proud to provide vital services to ensure that our local immigrants and refugees are able to access or maintain a legal work status, keep their families intact, and understand their rights as employees and residents.”
- Luz P. Ostrognai, Immigration Director, Catholic Charities Fort Wayne-South Bend, Fort Wayne, Indiana

“With support of Flagstar’s contribution to Family Service and Children’s Aid (FSCA), our commitment to creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment has begun, giving voice to our clients, staff, board, and the community. Thank you for helping FSCA begin to realize strategies and efforts that are more comprehensive and all-encompassing!"
- Dr. Bob Powell, CEO, Family Service and Children’s Aid, Jackson Michigan

“Gifts raised through this campaign and matched by the Flagstar Foundation will support more Native arts programs and services throughout the country, including the Poeh Cultural Center, which supports Tewa artists so that traditional Tewa art and cultural traditions are passed onto generations of Tewa youth. Their services are needed to bolster the resilience, identity, pride, and potential of Native youth.”
- Sarayl Y. Shunkamolah, Grants Development Officer, First Nations Development Institute, Longmont, Colorado

Nonprofit spotlights

Ruth Ellis Center

Detroit-based Ruth Ellis Center provides trauma-informed services for LGBTQ+ young people. Grant funding will support their Studio Art Therapy Model, a program that uses art therapy in individual and group settings to meet behavioral health needs. Through painting, drawing, and modeling, participants discover an outlet to express their experiences, feel a sense of community belonging, and improve their quality of life. The program is also an aid for diagnosing mental health issues for LGBTQ youth and young adults who are struggling. 

St. Mary Medical Center Foundation 

St. Mary Medical Center Foundation supports the needs of communities in California’s rural High Desert, where more than 40% of households fall below 200% of the federal poverty level. Their grant will fund work connecting graduating seniors and young adults to health-care career opportunities with livable wages and benefits. Some 300 participants will benefit from gaining access to a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions within a nonprofit hospital setting. 

Indiana Veteran Initiative, Inc.

Indiana Veteran Initiative, Inc. (INvets) works to strengthen the Indiana workforce by connecting veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses to employers. With their grant, INvets will build county-specific webpages on invets.org that showcase the quality of life, affordability, and key employers as well as local veteran resources and groups. Partnerships with local veteran service officers and other community leaders will make sure each page accurately reflects local support systems and events. 

Our 2021 Foundation Grantees