Urban Neighborhood Initiatives (UNI)

Urban Neighborhood Initiatives (UNI) is a nonprofit organization based in southwest Detroit, Michigan. It uses its funding to sponsor development, including park development, of vacant lots, and has several youth programs. 1

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Website: www.unidetroit.org
Founded:

1997

Location: Detroit, MI View on map
Tax ID: 38-3417161
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $4,188,385 Revenue: $2,953,992 Expenses: $3,102,471

Contents

    Background

    Urban Neighborhood Initiatives was founded in 1997, originally named Neighborhood Centers Incorporated, in Detroit, Michigan. It is a nonprofit organization that engages in community development programs. 2

    UNI serves specific neighborhoods in Southwest Detroit, and engages in cleanup projects, developing vacant lots, park development, and has created youth programs. 3

    Programs

    Urban Neighborhood Initiatives is a partner of the City of Detroit LeadSafe Housing Program to have lead removed from dwellings in select zip codes. 1

    UNI has several youth programs, including an apprenticeship program that partners with local businesses for professional development, a “Leaders In Training” program that offers job training in Southwest Detroit, and a conservation project. It also has youth leadership programs, including an advisory board where youths are involved in community meetings about local projects, a Quality Team that documents the activities of UNI’s programs, and an Engaging Leaders in Tomorrow’s Education program that works on UNI’s education campaigns. 1

    UNI also offers free short-term mental health counseling for people ages 14 through 24 who live in specific zip codes in Detroit. 1

    Funding

    Urban Neighborhood Initiatives receives funding from numerous local nonprofit organizations, universities, the City of Detroit, and national banks. 4

    Local universities that donate to UNI include Madonna University, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University. 4

    Local nonprofit donors include 482 Forward, Detroit Parent Network, DTE Foundation, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Skillman Foundation, Southwest Solutions, Spectacle Society, Springwells Community Members, and the Gilbert Family Foundation. 5 4

    UNI’s bank donors include JPMorgan Chase Foundation and PNC Bank. 4

    People

    Helena Lazo is the president of Urban Neighborhood Initiatives. 6  She is also a board member of 482 Forward and project coordinator for Southwest Counseling Solutions. 7 8

    Finances

    According to Urban Neighborhood Initiatives tax returns, it received $2.3 million in revenue in 2021. It also reported $2.1 million in total expenses, $1.1 million of which was spent on salaries and employee compensation. UNI reported $2.7 million in total assets in 2021. 9

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $4,188,385 $2,953,992 $3,102,471 View
    2023 $3,500,370 $3,777,109 $3,673,010 View
    2022 $3,521,922 $2,548,997 $2,795,908 View
    2021 $2,774,632 $2,353,561 $2,144,576 View
    2020 $2,318,558 $1,552,901 $1,662,846 View

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    • Number of Employees: 336

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Christine BellExecutive Director$86,054

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $10,924,607
    • Number of Grants: 141
    • Number of Funders: 40

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $475,0002022 The Skillman FoundationEVERY SCHOOL DAY COUNTS DETROIT (ESDCD): PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY TO BUILD A SCHOOL-GOING CULTURE IN DETROIT THROUGH MULTILAYERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT PURPOSE STATEMENT
    $415,2332023 Detroit Employment Solutions CorporationSUBCONTRACTOR
    $393,9592022 Detroit Employment Solutions CorporationPAYMENTS FOR EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS
    $380,0002023 The Skillman FoundationSUPPORT FOR EVERY SCHOOL DAY COUNTS
    $303,7452024 Detroit Employment Solutions CorporationSUBCONTRACTOR
    $300,0002024 The Kresge FoundationThis grant supports Urban Neighborhood Initiatives to implement programs that advance economic and educational opportunity, health and climate resilience for residents of Southwest Detroit.
    $275,0002021 The Skillman FoundationSMARTT (SUCCESSFULLY MOVING AND READY TO TRANSITION) & EVERY SCHOOL DAY COUNTS DETROIT (ESDCD) PRINCIPAL'S NETWORK
    $268,6002023 Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND
    $250,0002022 The Skillman FoundationUNI OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING
    $247,8902020 Detroit Employment Solutions CorporationPayments for employment and training programs
    $225,0002022 McGregor FundGeneral Operating
    $215,0002024 Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.LOANS, GRANTS AND RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
    $200,0002023 The Kresge FoundationTo expand the capacity of Urban Neighborhood Initiatives to promote health and to further the development of the public health infrastructure for the residents of Detroit.
    $197,5002023 The Skillman FoundationLEARNING AND LEADING IN SPRINGWELLS
    $193,6002022 Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND
    $190,0002021 Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.CAPACITY BUILDING
    $175,0002020 The Skillman FoundationSMARTT (SUCCESSFULLY MOVING AND READY TO TRANSITION) PROPOSAL
    $152,8102023 The Jamie & Denise Jacob Family FoundationTO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY
    $152,5002024 The Skillman FoundationBUILDING CAPACITY TO BUILD COLLECTIVE POWER
    $150,0002021 UNITED WAY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGANGRANT
    $117,3252024 Community Development Advocates of DetroitTECH/PROG./COMMUNITY
    $100,0002021 The Ford FoundationCore support for the Southwest Organizing Network and UNI's Youth Hub
    $98,8102024 The Jamie & Denise Jacob Family FoundationTO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY
    $98,0002024 DETROIT HISPANIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONTO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION
    $75,0002023 The Ford FoundationCore support for UNI's internal organizing and the Southwest Detroit Organizing Network to incorporate community organizing principles and practices to address land use, economic development, and cultural production issues.

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. “Our Programs.” Urban Neighborhood Initiatives. Accessed August 7, 2023. https://www.unidetroit.org/our-programs.html.
    2. “About Us.” Urban Neighborhood Initiatives. Accessed August 7, 2023. https://www.unidetroit.org/about-us.html.
    3. Urban Neighborhood Initiatives (UNI) – DFC: A Field Guide working with lots. Accessed August 7, 2023. https://detroitfuturecity.com/whatwedo/land-use/DFC-lots/local-examples/urban-neighborhood-initiatives.
    4. “Funders.” Urban Neighborhood Initiatives. Accessed August 7, 2023. https://www.unidetroit.org/funders.html.
    5. Johnson, Myesha. “Gilbert Family Foundation Donates Half a Million Dollars to Detroit Nonprofits.” The Detroit News, October 18, 2022. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2022/10/18/gilbert-family-foundation-donates-500000-to-detroit-nonprofits/69571534007/.
    6. “Meet Our Board.” Urban Neighborhood Initiatives. Accessed August 7, 2023. https://www.unidetroit.org/meet-our-board.html.
    7. “Home.” 482 Forward. Accessed August 7, 2023. https://482forward.org/our-team/.
    8. “Helena Lazo.” LinkedIn. Accessed August 8, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/helena-lazo-21391152.
    9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Urban Neighborhood Initiatives Inc. 2021. Part I, lines 12-20.