Shared Work
Shared Commitment
Shared Joy
Celebrating our exceptional partners and giving thanks for our work together: welcome to our 2021-22 Impact Report.
The Foundation’s mission is to enrich humanity by strengthening and empowering children and families in need.
Our shared work and commitment are centered in the legacy of Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, their core values, passed from generation to generation of the Fisher family, as well as their partners’ impact work.
We concentrate on ensuring the vitality, success and future of our Jewish community here and in Israel. We work to ensure children have the most equitable start to their lives through early childhood development. We work with partners to ensure children and families have access and exposure to arts and culture to bring color, creativity and passion to their lives. We do this through traditional grantmaking in addition to critical investments for impact organizations of all sizes and stages.
But what is far more important than simply what we are known for – is how we are known. How the Foundation is known emphasizes the aspirational culture of our organization. The Foundation believes that working with partners for justice (tzedakah) will repair our world (tikkun olam).
The Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation’s core philosophy is grounded in the beliefs of our founders and the family’s shared Jewish values that life’s purpose is found in service to others. The mission of the Foundation is to enrich humanity by strengthening and empowering children and families in need. In the Jewish tradition of tzedakah, the Foundation works to repair the world (tikkun olam) alongside those who share our mission.
Tzedakah, derived from the Hebrew language, conveys fairness and justice. This is the closest term to “charity” in Hebrew, and stems from a fundamental belief that donors benefit from philanthropy as much as recipients. More than a financial transaction, philanthropy in the tradition of tzedakah builds trusting relationships. The Foundation is guided by tzedakah and driven by a desire to work in partnership with those inside the issues we seek to address.
“You have proven your strength in working together…We are truly living our internal mission, strengthening family ties through philanthropy and service.”
– Marjorie S. Fisher
Dear Partners,
Mother’s words highlight the partnership between our family and our staff team. Side-by-side, the family and staff work tirelessly to further the mission and vision of the Foundation.
These past two years have been difficult for many in our community. The ongoing impacts of COVID-19, combined with social and economic unrest, continue to test us all. But I remain encouraged by the strong relationships we have forged over these years to learn and act together for long-term positive change in the areas we support.
Even in the most difficult of times, our family and staff work collaboratively to make grants, steward relationships, and advance the work of the for-impact sector. In turn, this strengthens our entire community and fuels continued positive change.
Whether we are side-by-side in the boardroom, connecting virtually over Zoom, or in action together at a site visit, the family and staff work together as true partners in everything we do.
With gratitude,
Marjorie M. Fisher
CHAIR
“We must back-up those who are devoting their lives to this task of rescue.”
– Max M. Fisher
Dear Partners,
Mr. Fisher spoke these words in the 1960s to celebrate the work of his professional partners on the ground who welcomed new immigrants to Israel and dedicated themselves to the task of repair each day. His respect for those who chose to work in the for-impact sector was clear.
In the work of the Foundation and family, we also recognize the pivotal role of another set of partners in our work of tzedakah: our neighbors who live closest to the issues we hope to address together. To further this commitment, we have welcomed independent committee members formally into our leadership structure.
Whether it is the loved ones who entrust their children to the early childhood education providers in the Brightmoor neighborhood in northwest Detroit or the young people who brim with opportunity in Kiryat Yearim Youth Village just outside of Jerusalem, we are so grateful they have allowed us into their lives.
Without the gift they have given us to work alongside them, the stories of shared alignment, learning and impact in this report would not be possible.
In service,
Douglas Bitonti Stewart
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
IMPACT AREA:
JEWISH
The Foundation works with partners and leaders
to provide for the needs of and ensure the ongoing vitality, success, and well-being of the Jewish People.
Together with our partners, the Foundation’s work will lead to more:
- Jews feeling a lifelong connection to their Jewish identity, Israel and other Jews throughout the world.
- Children and families having a greater connection to tzedakah (justice) and tikkun olam (to repair the world).
- Jewish youth in need being empowered to achieve their goals leading to personal success.
GRANTMAKING
IMPACT AREA:
EARLY CHILDHOOD
The Foundation works with partners and leaders to provide children ages 0 to 8 and their families the opportunity to access and engage with high quality early childhood development resources that meet their needs, leading to success in school and throughout life.
Together with our partners, The Foundation’s work will lead to:
- Healthy, thriving children and families: Children are healthy and developmentally on track.
- Parent and Family Leadership: Families are strengthened, and parents and caregivers are better equipped to be children’s first teachers
and champions. - High quality programs and professionals: The early childhood system has high quality professionals and programs.
- Safe and inspiring environments: Early childhood learning environments are safe and inspiring.
- Better system alignment: The early childhood system is better aligned to improve impacts for families and children.
- Increased and aligned funding: Aligned funding leads to better use of resources in the early childhood system.
GRANTMAKING
IMPACT AREA:
ARTS & CULTURE
The Foundation works with partners and leaders to provide children and youth in need with enrichment, exposure, and instruction in arts and culture.
Together with our partners, the Foundation’s work will lead to more:
- Children and youth pursuing opportunities in arts and culture.
- Vibrant opportunities of arts and culture exposure and enrichment in neighborhoods.
GRANTMAKING
IMPACT AREA:
IMPACT INVESTING
The Foundation works with partners and leaders
to ensure organizations focused on social and environmental impact have access to growth capital to expand innovation and grow organizational capacity and sustainability.
Together with our partners, we:
- Lead alongside others by investing in individual deals to build the field of impact investing.
- Learn through participating in collaborative investments with seasoned impact investors.
- Accelerate the field by investing in opportunities that create on-ramps for new impact investors.
- Align Foundation assets to further our mission and increase impact.
GRANTMAKING
Shared Work
Shared Commitment
Shared Joy
Celebrating our exceptional partners and giving thanks for our work together: welcome to our 2021-22 Impact Report.
The Foundation’s mission is to enrich humanity by strengthening and empowering children and families in need.
Our shared work and commitment are centered in the legacy of Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, their core values, passed from generation to generation of the Fisher family, as well as their partners’ impact work.
We concentrate on ensuring the vitality, success and future of our Jewish community here and in Israel. We work to ensure children have the most equitable start to their lives through early childhood development. We work with partners to ensure children and families have access and exposure to arts and culture to bring color, creativity and passion to their lives. We do this through traditional grantmaking in addition to critical investments for impact organizations of all sizes and stages.
But what is far more important than simply what we are known for – is how we are known. How the Foundation is known emphasizes the aspirational culture of our organization. The Foundation believes that working with partners for justice (tzedakah) will repair our world (tikkun olam).
The Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation’s core philosophy is grounded in the beliefs of our founders and the family’s shared Jewish values that life’s purpose is found in service to others. The mission of the Foundation is to enrich humanity by strengthening and empowering children and families in need. In the Jewish tradition of tzedakah, the Foundation works to repair the world (tikkun olam) alongside those who share our mission.
Tzedakah, derived from the Hebrew language, conveys fairness and justice. This is the closest term to “charity” in Hebrew, and stems from a fundamental belief that donors benefit from philanthropy as much as recipients. More than a financial transaction, philanthropy in the tradition of tzedakah builds trusting relationships. The Foundation is guided by tzedakah and driven by a desire to work in partnership with those inside the issues we seek to address.
“You have proven your strength in working together…We are truly living our internal mission, strengthening family ties through philanthropy and service.”
– Marjorie M. Fisher
Dear Partners,
Mother’s words highlight the partnership between our family and our staff team. Side-by-side, the family and staff work tirelessly to further the mission and vision of the Foundation.
These past two years have been difficult for many in our community. The ongoing impacts of COVID-19, combined with social and economic unrest, continue to test us all. But I remain encouraged by the strong relationships we have forged over these years to learn and act together for long-term positive change in the areas we support.
Even in the most difficult of times, our family and staff work collaboratively to make grants, steward relationships, and advance the work of the for- impact sector. In turn, this strengthens our entire community and fuels continued positive change.
Whether we are side-by-side in the boardroom, connecting virtually over Zoom, or in action together at a site visit, the family and staff work together as true partners in everything we do.
In service,
Marjorie S. Fisher
CHAIR
“We must back-up those who are devoting their lives to this task of rescue.”
– Max M. Fisher
Dear Partners,
Mr. Fisher spoke these words in the 1960s to celebrate the work of his professional partners on the ground who welcomed new immigrants to Israel and dedicated themselves to the task of repair each day. His respect for those who chose to work in the for-impact sector was clear.
In the work of the Foundation and family, we also recognize the pivotal role of another set of partners in our work of tzedakah: our neighbors who live closest to the issues we hope to address together. To further this commitment, we have welcomed independent committee members formally into our leadership structure.
Whether it is the loved ones who entrust their children to the early childhood education providers in the Brightmoor neighborhood in northwest Detroit or the young people who brim with opportunity in Kiryat Yearim Youth Village just outside of Jerusalem, we are so grateful they have allowed us into their lives.
Without the gift they have given us to work alongside them, the stories of shared alignment, learning and impact in this report would not be possible.
With gratitude,
Douglas Bitonti Stewart
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Foundation’s mission is to enrich humanity by strengthening and empowering children and families in need.
Our shared work and commitment are centered in the legacy of Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, their core values, passed from generation to generation of the Fisher family, as well as their partners’ impact work.
We concentrate on ensuring the vitality, success and future of our Jewish community here and in Israel. We work to ensure children have the most equitable start to their lives through early childhood development. We work with partners to ensure children and families have access and exposure to arts and culture to bring color, creativity and passion to their lives. We do this through traditional grantmaking in addition to critical investments for impact organizations of all sizes and stages.
But what is far more important than simply what we are known for – is how we are known. How the Foundation is known emphasizes the aspirational culture of our organization. The Foundation believes that working with partners for justice (tzedakah) will repair our world (tikkun olam).
The Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation’s core philosophy is grounded in the beliefs of our founders and the family’s shared Jewish values that life’s purpose is found in service to others. The mission of the Foundation is to enrich humanity by strengthening and empowering children and families in need. In the Jewish tradition of tzedakah, the Foundation works to repair the world (tikkun olam) alongside those who share our mission.
Tzedakah, derived from the Hebrew language, conveys fairness and justice. This is the closest term to “charity” in Hebrew, and stems from a fundamental belief that donors benefit from philanthropy as much as recipients. More than a financial transaction, philanthropy in the tradition of tzedakah builds trusting relationships. The Foundation is guided by tzedakah and driven by a desire to work in partnership with those inside the issues we seek to address.
“You have proven your strength in working together…We are truly living our internal mission, strengthening family ties through philanthropy and service.”
– Marjorie S. Fisher
Dear Partners,
Mother’s words highlight the partnership between our family and our staff team. Side-by-side, the family and staff work tirelessly to further the mission and vision of the Foundation.
These past two years have been difficult for many in our community. The ongoing impacts of COVID-19, combined with social and economic unrest, continue to test us all. But I remain encouraged by the strong relationships we have forged over these years to learn and act together for long-term positive change in the areas we support.
Even in the most difficult of times, our family and staff work collaboratively to make grants, steward relationships, and advance the work of the for- impact sector. In turn, this strengthens our entire community and fuels continued positive change.
Whether we are side-by-side in the boardroom, connecting virtually over Zoom, or in action together at a site visit, the family and staff work together as true partners in everything we do.
With gratitude,
Marjorie M. Fisher
CHAIR
“We must back-up those who are devoting their lives to this task of rescue.”
– Max M. Fisher
Dear Partners,
Mr. Fisher spoke these words in the 1960s to celebrate the work of his professional partners on the ground who welcomed new immigrants to Israel and dedicated themselves to the task of repair each day. His respect for those who chose to work in the for-impact sector was clear.
In the work of the Foundation and family, we also recognize the pivotal role of another set of partners in our work of tzedakah: our neighbors who live closest to the issues we hope to address together. To further this commitment, we have welcomed independent committee members formally into our leadership structure.
Whether it is the loved ones who entrust their children to the early childhood education providers in the Brightmoor neighborhood in northwest Detroit or the young people who brim with opportunity in Kiryat Yearim Youth Village just outside of Jerusalem, we are so grateful they have allowed us into their lives.
Without the gift they have given us to work alongside them, the stories of shared alignment, learning and impact in this report would not be possible.
In service,
Douglas Bitonti Stewart
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
IMPACT AREA:
JEWISH
The Foundation works with partners and leaders
to provide for the needs of and ensure the ongoing vitality, success, and well-being of the Jewish People.
Together with our partners, the Foundation’s work will lead to more:
- Jews feeling a lifelong connection to their Jewish identity, Israel and other Jews throughout the world.
- Children and families having a greater connection to tzedakah (justice) and tikkun olam (to repair the world).
- Jewish youth in need being empowered to achieve their goals leading to personal success.
GRANTMAKING
IMPACT AREA:
EARLY CHILDHOOD
The Foundation works with partners and leaders
to provide children ages 0 to 8 and their families the opportunity to access and engage with high quality early childhood development resources that meet their needs, leading to success in school and throughout life.
Together with our partners, The Foundation’s work will lead to:
- Healthy, thriving children and families: Children are healthy and developmentally on track.
- Parent and Family Leadership: Families are strengthened, and parents and caregivers are better equipped to be children’s first teachers and champions.
- High quality programs and professionals: The early childhood system has high quality professionals and programs.
- Safe and inspiring environments: Early childhood learning environments are safe and inspiring.
- Better system alignment: The early childhood system is better aligned to improve impacts for families and children.
- Increased and aligned funding: Aligned funding leads to better use of resources in the early childhood system.
GRANTMAKING
IMPACT AREA:
ARTS & CULTURE
The Foundation works with partners and leaders to provide children and youth in need with enrichment, exposure, and instruction in arts and culture.
Together with our partners, the Foundation’s work will lead to more:
- Children and youth pursuing opportunities in arts and culture.
- Vibrant opportunities of arts and culture exposure and enrichment in neighborhoods.
GRANTMAKING
IMPACT AREA:
IMPACT INVESTING
The Foundation works with partners and leaders
to ensure organizations focused on social and environmental impact have access to growth capital to expand innovation and grow organizational capacity and sustainability.
Together with our partners, we:
- Lead alongside others by investing in individual deals to build the field of impact investing.
- Learn through participating in collaborative investments with seasoned impact investors.
- Accelerate the field by investing in opportunities that create on-ramps for new impact investors.
- Align Foundation assets to further our mission and increase impact.
GRANTMAKING
IMPACT AREA:
LEGACY
In reverence to the memory of both Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, the Foundation invests in institutions and partners that bear their names. The Max M. Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center (home of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra) and the Max M. Fisher Federation Building of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, are just three organizations working to keep Mr. and Mrs. Fisher’s legacy at the forefront of society alive.
Together with our grant partners, we:
- Support opportunities honoring the lives and values of Mr. and Mrs. Fisher in a manner that pays tribute to their philanthropic legacy.
GRANTMAKING
