Anchor Institutions

Founded in 1959, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham connects philanthropists, nonprofits, and engaged leaders to build a stronger, more vibrant future for the Greater Birmingham community.  As of December 2016, the foundation held $259.5 million in assets and had disbursed $18.7 million in grants.  Its grantmaking prioritizes efforts focused on ensuring: 1) communities are sustainable, livable, and vibrant; and 2) individuals and families are economically secure.  To maximize its impact, the foundation also develops and implements large-scale, multi-year regional initiatives, which currently include an effort to reform predatory lending and the development of a city Innovation District.

A partnership between BJC Health Care (a nonprofit health care organization headquartered in St. Louis that serves residents in the greater St. Louis, southern Illinois, and mid-Missouri regions) and Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University Medical Center Redevelopment Corporation (WUMCRC) aims to improve the quality of life in Forest Park Southeast and the Central West End—neighborhoods that border the medical campus.  Since its formation in the 1990s, the group is credited with investing more than $35 million in Forest Park Southeast and helping to leverage over $1.5 billion in development.  WUMCTC is currently planning a $27 million mixed-income 150-unit housing project.  To encourage BJC and Washington University employees to live in WUMCRC’s focus areas, the nonprofits offer an Employer Assisted Housing Program, which provides forgivable loans to help employees with down payments or closing costs.

Established in 1989, the Northwest Leadership Foundation (NLF) aims to encourage, develop, and strengthen Tacoma’s leadership to create spiritual and social urban transformation.  The faith-based nonprofit has a particular focus on youth and offers programs including youth mentorship and culturally relevant leadership development.  To help ensure more Tacoma residents graduate from college and return home to serve as community leaders, NLF initiated and now coordinates Act Six, Tacoma’s only full-tuition urban leadership scholarship program.  To expand the reach of Act Six, NLF launched Degrees of Change, which now operates as an independent nonprofit organization that works with communities and colleges across the country to create local leadership scholarship programs.

Anchored by the 877-bed Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Henry Ford Health System has revenues of more than $5.7 billion, employs more than 30,000 people, and procures more than $650 million from local providers. Henry Ford actively recognizes its position as an anchor institution, working with many partners to increase its impact in the community. Through a multi-institution partnership, Henry Ford has coordinated with Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University to help revitalize Midtown Detroit by encouraging their employees to live, work, and invest in the local community. It also helped found a local business incubator at Wayne State, set active goals to procure from local and diverse suppliers, and used its purchasing power to persuade suppliers to relocate to Detroit. Further still, Henry Ford has helped finance education partnerships for high-risk youth, is focused on acquiring and rehabilitating reclaimed properties, and has helped push local infrastructure improvements.