“My first experience with the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation was as a Flint kid, growing up in a city where their fingerprints were everywhere. From strong public schools to community programming, Mott created opportunity in an under-resourced place, and I was a direct beneficiary long before I ever held a leadership role.
“That changed when I was elected to the Flint Community Schools board. As board president, I had the unique opportunity to help restore a partnership between Mott and the district after a 20-year lapse. It was more than financial support — it was collaboration, innovation, and a renewed commitment to our students. Together, we reimagined the Community School model and worked through some of the district’s most difficult challenges.
“Later, as Vice President and then President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, I came to know Mott as both a grantmaker and a civic partner. Working alongside leaders like Bill White and Ridgway White, we advanced literacy, expanded education initiatives, and — most critically — stood shoulder to shoulder during the Flint Water Crisis. That moment tested every institution, but it also solidified our partnership and strengthened community trust.
“What sets Mott apart is its deep commitment to place-based philanthropy. The Foundation doesn’t just fund projects — it invests in people, neighborhoods, the power of proximity, and the long-term possibility of community.”
— Isaiah Oliver, president, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida