Philanthropic Giving
Through the Flagstar Foundation, we give back to those we serve by promoting workforce readiness, arts and culture, and financial capability.
Flagstar Foundation
The Flagstar Foundation embodies the giving culture and spirit of Flagstar Bank and our personal interest in caring for the communities we serve.
The Foundation’s priorities have always been workforce readiness, arts and culture and financial capability. But in response to COVID-19, in March 2020 the Foundation Board temporarily shifted to address the extreme difficulty many nonprofits were facing -- specifically, by supporting organizations providing basic needs to their communities, such as food, shelter, protective equipment, cleaning supplies, and medical services for vulnerable populations.
Additionally, the Foundation offered financial support to Flagstar employees in need during the COVID-19 pandemic by donating to the newly established Employee Assistance Fund (EAF) in 2020. The EAF has provided nearly $170,000 in grants to more than 220 of our colleagues.
Flagstar Foundation spend 2020:
- $2 million total
- $160,335 total raised by employees in 2020 through a silent auction, payroll deductions (including paid time off contributions) and text-to-give campaigns
Flagstar Foundation investments since its founding in 2017:
- 419 grants totaling $5,361,855
- Average grant range: $5,000 - $25,000
- 105 grants totaling $298,200 to employee nonprofit board and volunteer activity
- $821,022 in contributions from Flagstar employees and donors since start of foundation in 2017
Learn more more about the Flagstar Foundation, including ways you can help.
Employee Resource Group-directed grants
Each of Flagstar’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) had the opportunity to select a nonprofit organization to receive a $5,000 grant from the Flagstar Foundation. Each recipient aligned with the focus of the ERG and was selected by voting among the ERG members. The potential awardee could either be a previous Foundation grant awardee/partner or new organization.
ERGs were encouraged to make their nonprofit selection based on those having urgent COVID-19 relief needs such as personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, or resources to provide remote services or program costs. Nine nonprofits received $5,000 grants in 2020.
Quotes from grant awardees:
“The grant funds came at a critical time as we have incurred multiple extra costs to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Like most nonprofits, all fundraising events have been cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic. This unexpected gift from the Flagstar Foundation for critical resources has made a significant impact on our ability to provide a vibrant and healthy program for our children.” - Penrickton Center For Blind Children, Taylor, MI
“The funds were fully expended on COVID-19 health and safety needs - specifically, funds for two-plus months of sanitation and cleaning services. The grant played an important role in our ability to take all necessary actions and safeguards to keep students and staff safe and healthy.” - Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program, Detroit, MI
“The recommendation of the Flagstar Young Professionals ERG to support our students and programs allowed us take our Workforce Prep Program and pivot it into four virtual program models that are serving hundreds of local high school and college students.” – Winning Futures, Warren, MI
Pontiac Funders Collaborative
In September 2016, Flagstar announced a five-year, $10 million commitment to Pontiac, Michigan to further drive development and create a platform for future economic successes. The areas of focus are homeownership, economic development, the Flagstar Strand Theatre for the Performing Arts, and financial capability.
In 2019, our work expanded into a collaborative with other foundations to support a collective plan to help strengthen Pontiac's ability to thrive. Those foundations include the Ballmer Group, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the Flagstar Foundation, General Motors, the New Economy Initiative, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the Tauber Family Foundation, the Vera and Joseph Dresner Foundation, and the William Davidson Foundation.
In 2020, this collaborative initiated subcommittees to work with community stakeholders to fulfill this purpose through investments in the following areas:
- nonprofit capacity building
- key institution support
- entrepreneurship
- public spaces
- communications and storytelling
- workforce development
- infrastructure and evaluation
- collective impact
Throughout 2020, the collaborative awarded grants to build the capacity of local organizations, respond to the coronavirus pandemic, and provide direct support for small businesses. Specifically, the collaborative made grants totaling $150,000 to three critical human services agencies to support their emergency aid efforts. Additionally, a Small Business Relief Fund was established to provide $200,000 in grants to 56 Pontiac businesses with 10 employees or fewer. At the same time, 18 nonprofits received grants totaling $100,000 in the first round of capacity building.
The collaborative additionally awarded:
- Four key institutions $290,520 to support civic infrastructure
- One public spaces project $37,000 to round out grants from multiple sources
- One grant of $515,985 to support collective impact structure and strategic development
- One grant of $80,000 to further entrepreneurship and economic development
Nonprofit spotlights
Fort Wayne Dance Collective (FWDC) - Indiana
FWDC’s Dance for Disabilities program was awarded $15,000 to provide dance instruction to children, youth, teens, adults, and seniors with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities – providing them with social enrichment, physical and mental wellness, and academic learning through movement and rhythmic instruction.
The funding increased FWDC’s ability to offer programming at multiple locations, as FWDC served 718 people with disabilities at 11 Dance for Disabilities locations. And when the pandemic hit, FWDC was able to pivot programming quickly, offering Zoom classes and virtual videos.
Second Harvest Silicon Valley and Volunteering - California
Susan McHan, president of the Retail Mortgage Division, recommended Second Harvest of Silicon Valley for grant consideration as a nonprofit providing basic needs. As a result, they received a Flagstar Foundation $10,000 award.
The grant allowed them to serve 20,000 meals to those in need as a result of the pandemic. Additionally, a team of employees saw a great opportunity to give back by volunteering at Second Harvest as part of their day of service. The team of 13 employees safely boxed 11,700 pounds of produce for distribution to the Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, Second Harvest served over 250,000 clients monthly, including 85,000 children and 62,000 seniors. They’re now serving more than half a million people per month. The volunteer engagement manager for Second Harvest thanked the Flagstar team, saying “we literally could not meet the demand of food without volunteers like you who give toward the vision of a hunger-free community.”
Our 2020 grantees
A Better Way Domestic Violence Shelter
Mojave United Fund
St. Mary's Medical Center Foundation
Victor Valley College District Foundation, Inc.
Victor Valley Community Council
Community Solutions
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
City Rescue Mission
Clara White Mission
Hubbard House
Atlanta Habitat for Humanity
AMANI Family Services, Inc.
Center for the Homeless
Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Inc.
Fort Wayne Civic Theater
Honeywell Foundation
Just Neighbors Interfaith Homeless Network
Miami County Helping Hands, Inc.
Northeast Indiana Fund
Rush Memorial Hospital Foundation
The Fort Wayne Rescue Mission
The Pax Center (State Street Community Church)
Whitington Homes & Services for Children and Families
Abhi Shah Foundation
Accounting Aid Society
Affirmations Lesbian Gay Community Center, Inc.
American Indian Health and Family Services
Beaumont Health Foundation
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County
Boys Hope Girls Hope of Detroit
Carr Center for the Arts
Cass Community Social Services
Catherine's Health Center
Center for Higher Educational Achievement
Centro Multicultural La Familia
Chamber Music Society of Detroit
Child and Family Charities
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Community Foundation of Marquette County
Cornerstone Education Group
Covenant House Michigan
Detroit Cristo Rey
Detroit Horse Power
Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber Fund, Inc.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Detroit’s Actor Theatre Company
Dickinson County Salvation Army
Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program
Dutton Farms
Family Promise
Family Service and Children's Aid of Jackson
Forgotten Harvest
Franklin Wright Settlement
Gleaners Food Bank
Housing Services Mid-Michigan
ICCF – Financial Empowerment Initiatives
InsideOut Literacy
Invest Detroit
Jackson Friendly Home
John George Home
Kadima Jewish Support Services
Latino Family Services
Lighthouse of Michigan
LISC Detroit
Living Arts
Marquette Women's Center (Women's Center, Inc)
MCREST
Michigan Council of Women in Technology
Michigan Crossroads Council of Boy Scouts
Michigan Hispanic Collaborative
Michigan Humane Society
Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion
Millenials Matter USA
National American Arab Nurses Association
New Development Corp.
Oakland Youth Orchestra
Paint Creek Center for the Arts
Penrickton Center for Blind Children
Ruth Ellis Center, Inc.
Saugatuck Center for the Arts
Services to Enhance Potential
Simple Kindness for Youth
Soldier’s Angels
Superior Arts Youth Theater
The Order of the Fishermen Ministry Head Start Program Inc.
Todd Martin Youth Leadership
UP Children’s Therapy
Vista Maria
Wayne Metro Community Action Agency
Winning Futures
YMCA Metropolitan Detroit
YWCA Greater Flint
The Rainbow House
Tri-City Area United Way