Our Past Challenge Projects
The Challenge Detroit Challenges
Challenges are the heart of the program. In partnership with local nonprofits, the challenges are designed to positively impact the city and region while giving the Fellows an opportunity to learn by doing. Challenge Detroit has supported over 50-nonprofits through challenge projects.
Past project features
Equitable small business growth & entrepreneurship
The Detroit Economic Growth Corp (DEGC), through its Motor City Match program helps start new businesses in Detroit’s commercial corridors, by assisting throughout the start-up and building renovation process and pairing businesses with Detroit real estate. To accomplish this, they provide grants, loans and counseling to building and business owners.
For this challenge project, Fellows conducted interviews to understand the obstacles that impact Motor City Match’s small businesses across Detroit neighborhoods. Using these insights, they generated key findings and actionable recommendations across areas including business-to-business support, resource navigation, and factors that may cause businesses to close, in order to help expand and maximize equitable development opportunities for neighborhood small businesses. Fellows had the opportunity to partner with Kyla Carlsen, DEGC Small Business Manager and Challenge Detroit Alumni Fellow (2015-2016).
Following the project, Motor City Match staff implemented Fellow’s deliverables to address small business challenges including a YouTube financial challenge series, contractor and FAQ resources, a quarterly check-in survey, website and training infographics, and even a pilot internship program.
Homelessness
Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS) is an organization dedicated to alleviating homelessness in Detroit by providing an array of services that enable people to achieve self-sufficiency and obtain quality affordable housing.
For this challenge project, Fellows helped COTS increase their awareness and stakeholder involvement. The Fellows engaged stakeholders including staff, volunteers, partners, supporters, and residents of COTS to learn more about homelessness and its impact on Detroit. Based on their findings, Fellows designed creative campaigns to attract new donors, better support the individuals served by the organization, cultivate existing relationships and increase overall recognition of the organization’s missions and services. Specifically, Fellows designed a highly impactful marketing and fundraising campaign - “One Step Away” - aimed at sharing the different stories and perspectives of COTS’ stakeholder groups to increase an overall awareness and understanding of the organization.
Following the project, COTS implemented the campaign idea and raised over $40,000 to support their work and shelter.
