Steen Foundation

About Us

The Steen Foundation is a youth-led philanthropic organization based in Detroit, Michigan, committed to generational equity, educational access, and economic opportunity for underserved communities. Founded by Jeremiah Steen as a grassroots project through the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots program, the Foundation has grown into a nationally recognized force for youth empowerment and social change.

At our core, we believe that those closest to the problems must have a seat at the table—and the resources to design the solutions. Since our inception, we have stewarded and deployed funding through youth-led grant-making juries, intergenerational governance models, and innovative civic engagement programs that center the voices of young people, families, and frontline communities.

Affiliated Initiatives (Fiscally Sponsored Projects)

Pages Bookshop (Youth-Owned):

• A free mobile book fair and literacy equity initiative providing culturally relevant books and author visits to schools across Michigan—removing cost as a barrier to literacy access. Also, ouSusan & Pip. Scholarship Fund providing $500 - $1,000 scholarships for DPSCD students.

• NextGen Detroit:

  A bold effort to create civic, entrepreneurial, and creative pipelines for Gen-Z leaders, especially in public service and community development.

• TradesForce(Partner Organization):

  A mass mobilization strategy connecting 1,600+ young people to high-paying, green economy jobs through partnerships with UAW, unions, and skilled trade programs.

• Trespass Project:

  A global nonprofit justice initiative deploying technology-driven solutions to advance youth legal access. The project builds digital tools and advocacy channels—backed by pro bono attorneys—to simplify complex legalities and equip youth with clear pathways to drive change.

• Animation Discovery Studio:

  Empowers young creators from underrepresented communities to imagine boldly, think critically, and tell their own stories through the art of animation. By blending mentorship, innovation, and culturally rooted creativity, we equip the next generation with the tools to not only succeed in the industry but also to shape it.

Why We’re a Necessity

In Michigan alone, over 50% of students are economically disadvantaged, and 1 in 4 high schoolers reports chronic absenteeism—contributing to a broken pipeline between education and workforce readiness. Meanwhile, youth voter turnout and civic trust are at historic lows, particularly among marginalized communities.

The Steen Foundation addresses these urgent gaps by equipping young people not just to succeed in the system—but to reshape it through policy, philanthropy, and power-building.

From the classroom to the boardroom, we are building a world where Boomers to Zoomers are connected through purpose—and where youth are no longer an afterthought, but the architects of our shared future.

Sponsors Receive ($1,000 and up):

• Free access to Steen Foundation Signature Events ($500 and up)

• Invitations to private author meet-and-greets and special events at Pages Bookshop

• Recognition across our website, newsletters, and all digital/print marketing materials

• Optional engagement opportunities with youth leaders and project teams

Custom sponsorship tiers are available for foundations, businesses, and individuals.

Where Your Gift Goes

Our goal is to raise $55,000—and we stretch every dollar to create maximum community impact.

Your support fuels the Steen Foundation across four core areas:

• Youth Programming & Grants – $20,000

  Supports youth-led grantmaking juries, civic engagement trainings, and direct youth project funding.

• Affiliated Initiatives – $15,000

  Strengthens operations for fiscally sponsored projects like Trespass Project, Animation Discovery Studio, and the Pages Bookshop Mobile Fair.

• Signature Events & Community Engagement – $10,000

  Enables school-based activations, public forums, and intergenerational gatherings to promote equity and voice.

• Organizational Sustainability & Leadership Development – $10,000

  Supports infrastructure, staffing, and long-term planning to keep youth leadership thriving.

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Visual Impact: