Relentless Care Foundation
Housing. Jobs. Mobility. Making Michigan stronger with Belonging.
Resources. Relationships. Real Impact.
At Community Financial, we love Michigan. How better to show up for our great state than by striving for a future where all Michigan communities are just, thriving, and vibrant? Building on our legacy of giving, we created the Relentless Care Foundation to make real, lasting impact in Michigan communities.
To do this, we’re tackling Michigan’s largest barrier to economic prosperity: housing affordability. We are walking alongside our partners, funding what makes housing attainable, while strengthening our workforce, and fostering community mobility.
We're building a movement of belonging. Join us!
While lots of foundations just write checks, we don’t believe that’s Enuff. Real, lasting change takes partnership and collaboration. That’s why we go beyond the dollars, walking with our grant partners to achieve the change they know is possible. To see our approach in action, take a moment to watch this message from our executive director; featuring the stories of a few of our grant partners.
Our Funding Priorities
What we fund
Beyond these core pillars, we’re committed to strengthening the ecosystems that support them. That means helping our grant partners grow and boosting the networks they’re part of.
Making housing attainable
Empowering homeownership and safe and stable housing across Michigan.
Strengthening the workforce
Supporting Michigan women & minority-led enterprise, and promoting arts education & critical thought development for youth.
Fostering community mobility
Boosting independence and autonomy for individuals and their communities.
Making Housing Attainable
Our Top Priority
Strengthening the Workforce
Great jobs are a catalyst. The path shouldn’t be a mystery.
Strong businesses and visionary leaders build thriving communities. Yet, women and minority leaders remain underrepresented despite driving higher growth and engagement. Our foundation backs programs that equip them with the skills and networks to succeed. We also champion arts education, fostering creativity and problem-solving in young people, and work to expand access to these vital programs.
Fostering Community Mobility
Mobility isn’t just about wheels. It’s also about the things communities need to succeed.
We believe community mobility is about empowering individuals and communities with the tools they need to thrive. This includes access to broadband for telehealth and remote work, as well as reliable transportation to connect families to jobs. Communities across Michigan are calling for solutions to these barriers, and we’re committed to partnering with them to expand access to the resources that drive success.
Making lasting Impact needs a different approach
The Relentless Care Foundation’s primary action is making grants to nonprofit, charitable organizations. But our foundation is about more than just dollars. We see ourselves as allies of our grant partners, walking with them as connectors, good listeners, and thought partners. Our team is actively working on the same issues we fund, so Michigan can be the most thriving state in the nation.
Impact not endowment
The Relentless Care Foundation will not seek to establish an endowment. That means the dollars we raise will go to the need right now. Not stored up to trickle out forever.
Make real Impact, right now
With no endowment, the dollars we raise go to making an impact in Michigan directly—ASAP.
Relentless Impact in action
Story
The 2nd Annual Pickleball for Good: Can You Beat $60K?
The biggest "dill" in pickleball charity events is back for the second year with all new challenges to keep the goodness going!
News
Expanding and Preserving Homeownership in Otsego-Antrim Habitat for Humanity
Home repair is a critical part of ensuring safe and stable housing for individuals and their families. The Relentless Care Foundation is honored to support Otsego-Antrim Habitat for Humanity with a $10,000 grant to further their critical home repair program.
News
Healing Through Art at the New Hope Center for Grief Support
Grief impacts us all, but can particularly be difficult for young people. New Hope Center for Grief Support has unique programming for youth navigating grief. The Relentless Care Foundation's $11,000 grant helps New Hope ensure that the healing power of the arts is part of their programming throughout the year.
Contact The Relentless Care Foundation
Anyone can be a philanthropist!
You don’t need a cool million to be an important donor, you just need a commitment to giving! Whether you’re new to giving or a seasoned donor, your support for the Relentless Care Foundation will go directly to expanding our grantmaking.
For Grantees
RCF Grants
Is your organization working to put housing within reach, create a stronger and more equitable workforce, or foster community mobility? We would love to hear from you! Please take some time to familiarize yourself with our funding pillars. If you see alignment, we want to learn more about your work. Reach out to our foundation team and let’s get connected!
Our team is deeply committed to showing up as a grant partner not just a funder. We walk alongside those we fund as thought partners and champions because we share your desire to overcome the barriers facing members of our communities. Part of our commitment is appropriately valuing your organization’s time and capacity. For this reason, we strongly encourage applicants to reach out and explore if alignment exists for funding before applying for any open grant rounds.
Target Geography
The Relentless Care Foundation’s target geography focuses on five counties in Northeast and Southeast Michigan: Oakland, Wayne, Washtenaw, Otsego, and Montmorency Counties. Organizations seeking funding must provide service or otherwise directly impact one or more of these counties. Statewide initiatives which make a specific impact in these counties are also eligible.
Who is eligible
501(c)(3) charitable organizations, in good standing with the IRS.
The Relentless Care Foundation grants will not fund
- Event sponsorships
- Endowments
- Retroactive funding
- Grants to individuals
- Grants promoting political and religious ideologies and doctrines
- Organizations who discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc.
2025 Grant Round Submissions
Stay tuned!
Our current grant round has ended! Stay tuned here and on social media for updates. If you’d like to learn more about being an RCF grant partner, check out our funding priorities and our 2025 grant guidance below. If you see alignment, we strongly encourage you to reach out to our foundation team via email.
Important things to know:
- It is strongly encouraged to be in touch with our Foundation team before beginning your application. If you are interested in submitting, contact us by email at foundation@cfcu.org.
- We are not making unrestricted grants, but we are willing to fund operational expenses tied to programs/initiatives.
Important things to know:
- It is strongly encouraged to be in touch with our Foundation team before beginning your application. If you are interested in submitting, contact us by email at foundation@cfcu.org.
- We are not making unrestricted grants, but we are willing to fund operational expenses tied to programs/initiatives.
ABOUT THE RELENTLESS CARE FOUNDATION
The history of how we got here
For the last 25 years, Community Financial Credit Union has grown its commitment to reinvesting in the communities we serve. In the last five years alone, $3.6 million went to back to our communities. In December 2022, the Relentless Care Foundation was incorporated to help the credit union make deeper, lasting impact on issues like affordable housing. In December 2023 the Relentless Care Foundation was granted 501(c)(3) charitable status and launched with our three funding pillars and a commitment to give at least $10 million by 2033.
The Relentless Care Foundation culminates decades of giving and reasserts Community Financial’s commitment to the communities we serve. As we open this next chapter, we hope you’ll walk with us to put housing, great jobs, and economic mobility within reach for more Michiganders.
Corporate Sponsors
It takes a community
Thanks to our corporate sponsors for walking with us in this incredibly important work.
Title Sponsor
Magnify Sponsors
Thrive Sponsors
Ignite Sponsors
Access our RCF Whistleblower Policy here.