The Gen Forward Network, a giving circle supported by the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, empowers emerging philanthropists to invest in the future of Genesee County. Since its founding in 2013, the network has welcomed over 165 members and awarded more than $105,000 in grants to grassroots initiatives across the region.
But the impact doesn’t stop there. We caught up with four past grantees to learn how those early investments helped them grow, evolve, and continue creating change in their communities, years after receiving support from Gen Forward.
Carriage Town Ministries
Blueline Donuts
Blueline Donuts, now a beloved community staple, got its start with a $15,880 grant awarded to Carriage Town Ministries in 2017. That early funding helped launch the social enterprise, which provides job opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness. By teaching baking, safe food handling, and customer service, Blueline Donuts equips people with the skills they need to succeed in the food industry and beyond.
How did the grant from Gen Forward Network impact Blueline Donuts?
The grant helped Carriage Town Ministries in a couple of ways. The deck oven allowed Carriage Town Ministries to improve its efficiency, as the deck oven is used daily! It is used by the kitchen staff as we are serving close to 480 meals a day, and is great for baking casseroles, as well as pastries.
How has Blueline Donuts grown since the 2017 grant?
Since being awarded the grant, Carriage Town Bakery has changed from selling donuts one day a week out of the dining room in the main building to having a brick and mortar across the street from the main building, selling donuts and baked goods five days a week! The community can come down and support our efforts by making this their donut shop of choice. We are open Tuesday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Communities First, Inc.
Culture Shock Program
Back in 2015, Communities First, Inc. received a Gen Forward grant to expand its Culture Shock program—an arts and culture initiative designed to connect youth and families with diverse experiences through pop-up performances, global cuisine, music, and the Movies Under the Stars series.
How did the grant from Gen Forward Network impact the Culture Shock program?
The CFGF Gen Forward Network grant has been a remarkable catalyst for our growth at Communities First, Inc. By providing crucial financial support, it has empowered us to expand our services and enhance community engagement efforts. With this grant, we were able to initiate new projects aimed at providing arts and culture exposure through our Culture Shock program. This important experience offered new perspectives, fulfillment, and fun for participants.
How has Culture Shock grown since the original 2015 grant?
The Culture Shock programming has endured. In 2025, we will host the 12th year of our outdoor movie series, Movies Under the Stars and the 11th year of our African American Film Series. Being a trusted partner with the Gen Forward Network provided critical funding at the right time to ensure long-term sustainability of the Culture Shock program.
St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center
Social Enterprises
In 2014, Gen Forward supported St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center’s growing workforce development efforts by funding two of its emerging social enterprises: a sewing initiative and a lawn care service. The Center, rooted in faith-based support, helps individuals build life skills, find employment, and achieve long-term stability.
What did the grant from Gen Forward support?
The grant that was provided to the St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center through the Gen Forward Network allowed us to move the needle in our social enterprises, most notably sewing and lawn care. These two enterprises have served as conduits for hundreds, if not thousands of men and women, the ability to regain stability and create a pathway for long term self-sufficiency. Since 2014, the enterprises have grown to include many local contracts and partnerships, including the Genesee County Senior Services Department, Michigan Church Supply and the Teddy Bear Patrol.
How has your organization grown since the grant?
The Center has been growing in not only its reach but also its scope. New programming and services, including Domestic Violence Support programming and an eye clinic have allowed us to really address the needs of our community in new and creative ways. We have served over 300 women through our Resilient Communities program and last year alone 884 individuals were given exams and free glasses through our eye clinic.
Red Ink Flint
No Child Left On-Line
Also in 2014, Red Ink Flint received funding from Gen Forward to scale up No Child Left On-Line, a youth-focused program offering monthly outdoor events like canoeing the Flint River, community hikes, and even a putt-putt tournament. The grant expanded the program from just a few events to more than 30.
How did the Gen Forward grant expand Red Ink Flint?
The Gen Forward grant was very important for our organization. Our youth arts venue, Flint Local 432, had long experience working with high school and college-age students, but this was our first program geared towards middle schoolers.
The grant came soon after reopening Local 432 and provided a big boost to our confidence and our profile. Up until that point, we had been a music venue, and that was the start of us serving the community more broadly.
How can the community support you?
The support we've already received from our community has been incredible, and we see tremendous potential in deepening those relationships. Going forward, continuing impact could come from strategic partnerships to create larger, more complex projects with our community partners. With the right kind of interaction, we could create things on a scale that no single group would have the capacity or budget for. These kinds of partnerships—centered around shared goals and collective creativity—would allow us to expand our reach, amplify our impact, and build truly transformative initiatives together.
Support community organizations like these grantees by becoming a part of the Gen Forward Network, which accepts members anywhere, anytime. Learn more here.
