24 | APRIL 1 • 2021
D
an and Jennifer Gilbert announced a
pledge of $500 million to aid citizens
of Detroit over the next 10 years at
a press conference March 25. The Gilbert
Family Foundation will contrib-
ute $350 million, and the Rocket
Community Fund will invest
$150 million.
The first allocation of $15
million will pay off the property
tax debt of 20,000 low-income
Detroit homeowners. In doing
so, the Foundation will assist in
preserving an estimated $400
million in wealth and home equi-
ty in Detroit.
The investment will establish
the Detroit Tax Relief Fund to
be administered by Detroit non-
profit Wayne Metro Community
Action Agency, which will pay the remaining
delinquent tax burden on behalf of program-
eligible residents.
Along with Dan and Jennifer Gilbert,
Rocket Companies CEO Jay Farner, Rocket
Community Fund Vice President Laura
Grannemann, Gilbert Family Foundation
Executive Director Joyce Keller, Detroit Mayor
Mike Duggan and Wayne County Executive
Warren Evans were on hand to announce the
good news.
A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM
Rocket Companies Chairman Dan Gilbert
has been a proponent of addressing housing
stability since chairing the Detroit Blight
Removal Tax Force in 2013. It was then he
realized one of the main causes of blight is
home foreclosure.
“This unparalleled commitment builds off
of the work we have done over the past several
years and scales it in a way that will allow us
to continue addressing issues that have been
facing Detroiters for generations alongside the
Gilbert Family Foundation,
” Grannemann of
Rocket Community Fund said.
During the Rocket Community Fund’s 2019
citywide canvas of tax delinquent properties
through Neighbor to Neighbor — a door-to-
door effort — the organization discovered
nearly 90% of Detroit homeowners behind
on their property taxes should have been able
to qualify for relief but were not aware of the
programs available to them or were unsure of
how to apply.
According to Gilbert, much of the back
property taxes owed came from penalties and
interest, leaving homeowners in a cycle of
debt and uncertainty about their ability to stay
in their homes. “The problem was systemic
and generational,
” he said.
“Everyone deserves to achieve the
American dream of homeownership, and that
includes the ability to sustainably and perma-
nently enjoy the home you make for yourself,
your family and your loved ones,
” said Gilbert,
who added that home ownership is the main
way most Americans build wealth and eco-
nomic mobility.
‘BIGGER SOLUTIONS’
Over the course of 2020, Gilbert Family
Foundation cofounder Jennifer Gilbert held
focus groups with Detroit leaders and resi-
dents to better understand the challenges they
face. Two themes emerged: Detroiters are
resilient, and Detroiters need greater access to
opportunity.
“Big problems require even bigger solutions
that address the symptoms as well as the sys-
tems that have contributed to the challenges
Detroit continues to face,
” Jennifer Gilbert
said. “We look forward to working with
existing and future partners to drive systemic
change in Detroit.
”
The Gilberts stressed the important role
played by their employees, whose work result-
ed in the ability to redistribute wealth to make
an impact on the lives of others — a mission
of Rocket Companies.
When asked why now for announcing the
program, the Gilberts said that they were con-
fident the necessary partnerships, policies and
programs were in place to make the program
a success.
Following the first initiative, Jennifer
Gilbert said the Gilbert Family Foundation
plans to remain connected to the homeown-
ers supported through the Detroit Tax Relief
Fund to help shape future investments in eco-
nomic opportunity and mobility.
Further investments will be focused on
their community priorities and may include
digital equity, home repair needs, employment
opportunities and other areas.
The Gilbert Family Foundation also
remains committed to supporting efforts to
cure neurofibromatosis, a nervous system
disorder.
“The greatest resource of any community
is its people, and we are honored to be able to
invest in removing this tax burden, which will
build a stronger foundation for Detroit fami-
lies to thrive,
” Dan Gilbert said.
Gilbert Family Foundation, Rocket Community Fund
announce $500 million commitment to Detroit.
A Gift to Detroit Citizens
Dan Gilbert
JN STAFF
Jennifer
Gilbert
OUR COMMUNITY
Volunteers from Rocket
Companies went door to door
to canvas for homeowners
delinquent on their taxes.
ROCKET COMPANIES