Nicole Sherard-Freeman’s appointment as the incoming President of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a significant moment for both Black leadership and philanthropy in the region. Sherard-Freeman, with over 30 years of tri-sector experience, will take the reins in January 2025, becoming one of the most powerful Black women in Detroit’s philanthropic space. Her leadership signals a pivotal shift—Black women are increasingly stepping into roles that shape the financial and social futures of entire communities. In a place like Detroit, where most of the residents are Black, this kind of leadership in philanthropy is not only impactful but essential for creating equitable change.
“The Community Foundation’s footprint is a seven-county region in Southeast Michigan,” Sherard-Freeman shared. “So, it is the opportunity for greater impact around a broader region that sets this particular opportunity apart.”
Black women have long been at the forefront of movements for social justice, education, and economic progress in their communities. Whether it’s organizing voter drives, running nonprofits, or advocating for systemic changes in policy, their work has often laid the groundwork for progress. But leadership in the philanthropic sector has historically been dominated by white men. The sector, despite being rooted in the idea of giving, has long struggled with equitable representation. That’s why the rise of Black women like Sherard-Freeman in philanthropic leadership marks a new chapter—one where the needs of historically marginalized communities are not only heard but prioritized.
Sherard-Freeman’s new role means she will be in charge of directing the Community Foundation’s significant resources toward communities that need them most. Southeast Michigan, particularly Detroit, has been long underserved by philanthropic efforts. This is partly because many foundations are disconnected from the communities they aim to serve. When someone like Sherard-Freeman steps into leadership, that gap narrows. As a Detroit native with deep ties to the city’s workforce and economic sectors, she brings both the lived experience and professional expertise necessary to direct funds where they will create the most impact.
“Nicole is always prepared and focused on impact,” shared Hiram E. Jackson, CEO of Real Times Media and publisher of Michigan Chronicle. “She has an uncanny way of simplifying complex issues and making them relatable to everyday people. She is from the west side of Detroit, and she has seen a lot and done a lot, and because of that she is able to articulate the challenges of different socioeconomic groups in our community.”
Her journey reflects the increasing presence of Black women in leadership roles that were historically inaccessible to them. As a former Chief Economic and Workforce Development Officer for the City of Detroit under Mayor Mike Duggan, Sherard-Freeman has overseen initiatives that resulted in billions of dollars in real estate investment and tens of thousands of jobs for Detroit residents. This work, particularly her leadership of Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, Sherard-Freeman doubled the organization’s revenue in four years while reducing reliance on federal funding by 21%. She also led the local workforce investment board, which consisted of over 30 business, labor, nonprofit, and philanthropic leaders appointed by the mayor. Her ability to connect large-scale initiatives with local needs has set her apart in every role she’s held. She played a critical role in securing more than $5 billion in real estate investments for Detroit, and her leadership ensured that thousands of adults and youth in Detroit found meaningful employment opportunities. These are the kinds of transformative results that Southeast Michigan, and Black communities in particular, need to see replicated in the philanthropic sector.
“I really don’t know if there’s better preparation than working for a city or a municipality,” said Sherard-Freeman. “Now, there’s a special kind of ready that you get when you have the privilege of working in Detroit. One of the ways that the city prepared me for the Community Foundation and for this role was by giving me exposure to so much in a compressed period of time. It was like being a pressure cooker, you get exposure to everything right now. That condensed period of learning about what it takes to make a city, a region, a state operate well not just to the immediate needs of a community but being able to think about needs long term and try to get to root causes, there’s no better training ground for what I’m doing now.”
Sherard-Freeman’s accolades are a testament to her impact. Among her many awards, she has been named to Crain’s Detroit Business 50 Names to Know in Government and the 100 Most Influential Women in Michigan. She was also listed among Axios Detroit’s 8 Most Powerful People in 2022 and the Michigan Chronicle’s Power 50: Most Powerful African Americans in Metro Detroit. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and has completed graduate studies in Organizational Development at Fielding Graduate University.
Philanthropy, at its core, is about funding change. When Black women take on leadership roles in this sector, they bring an understanding of how resources should be allocated in ways that benefit their communities. They know firsthand the barriers that exist—barriers to education, to housing, to jobs, to access. Sherard-Freeman’s leadership reflects this understanding. As she steps into the presidency of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, her influence will ensure that the millions of dollars in grants the foundation awards annually are distributed with an eye toward equity and access for Black Detroiters.
But why does this matter so much? Because philanthropy is often the engine behind the nonprofit sector, which in turn drives many of the critical services that communities rely on. When leaders at the helm of these philanthropic organizations understand the nuanced needs of underserved populations, the likelihood that resources will reach the right places dramatically increases. This isn’t just about writing checks to organizations that serve Detroit’s Black community; it’s about creating sustainable, systemic change.
“There is something about Detroit. There is something about this region that creates conditions for Black women to thrive,” Sherard-Freeman said. “It is not a cake walk, and there are all kinds of glass ceilings, but there is something about what this region and what this city needs, and there’s something about our ability to tune into that that creates leadership opportunities that are unparalleled.”
Historically, Black communities, especially those in cities like Detroit, have been excluded from the decision-making tables that dictate where philanthropic dollars go. More often than not, the organizations receiving the funds are not Black led, nor are they always equipped to address the specific needs of Black people. This disconnect perpetuates the very inequities that philanthropy should aim to dismantle. With Sherard-Freeman leading one of the largest community foundations in the nation, the script flips. She has the authority and the power to ensure that Black-led organizations get a seat at the table, and more importantly, get access to the resources they need to effect change.
Nicole Sherard-Freeman’s appointment as president comes as Ric DeVore prepares to retire after nearly three years at the helm of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. DeVore, credited with launching the foundation’s first strategic plan and championing key projects like the Detroit Riverfront, has been at the forefront of diversifying leadership within the organization. “When I took the job and was just looking at the risk in the organization, we didn’t really have enough backup plans in our key jobs, as well as on our board with our committees. And so, one of the first things I started thinking about was that we should make sure that we have succession planning to manage the risk in each of the key areas, and also as a vehicle to interject some diversity,” said DeVore. “Nicole got the job because of her qualifications. She’s an outstanding person for this role, she really brings this kind of a rigor and a background that is undeniable.”
“I met Ric Devore when he moved to Detroit,” Jackson shared. “He immediately was very supportive of the Michigan Chronicle and other institutions that support Detroit’s Black community. Ric and I have had countless conversations about minorities receiving equal access in the C-Suites and with other economic opportunities. At the Community Foundation, Ric has been committed to making the Board of Directors more diverse and younger; So It did not surprise me when he selected Nicole Sherard Freeman as The Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer. And it does not surprise me that he is an advocate of her becoming the Chief Executive Officer as he retires.”
DeVore’s leadership style, centered on inclusivity, mirrors the approach Sherard-Freeman will bring to the role. “My style is being inclusive. I was used to that at PNC. It was very collegial… We partnered with the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, with Skillman, with Kresge, with Kellogg. And so that is an example of our style,” DeVore said. “I think philanthropy with community foundations is changing. It’s going from what I call a philanthropic bank model to one of more of a change agent.” As DeVore transitions to a special advisor role through 2024, he expressed confidence that Sherard-Freeman is well-equipped to continue this evolution in leadership.
“Ric has been not only my boss, but he is also a trusted partner,” Sherard-Freeman noted. “And he has also become a friend. It has been really great to learn from him and to learn alongside him. Philanthropy is new to me, and it has been great to learn from Ric. He’s been a real ally.”
Sherard-Freeman’s focus on workforce development and economic mobility in her previous roles speaks directly to what’s needed in Detroit. She understands that the root of many of the city’s challenges—poverty, unemployment, underemployment—can be addressed through targeted investments in job training, education, and small business support. As she assumes leadership of the foundation, these priorities are expected to be central to her strategy. She isn’t just someone who talks about creating opportunities; her career has been about actively making them happen.
In Detroit, where unemployment and poverty rates has been historically high, leadership in philanthropy that reflects the needs of the community is critical. Sherard-Freeman’s work has always centered on breaking down barriers for Detroiters, particularly those who have been excluded from traditional avenues of success. As a Black woman, her leadership offers a unique lens on the challenges faced by Black communities, including systemic racism, economic disinvestment, and lack of access to resources.
Looking at Sherard-Freeman’s track record, her appointment is about more than just adding diversity to the leadership team. It’s about changing the landscape of how philanthropy functions in Southeast Michigan. Her presence ensures that the resources funneled through the Community Foundation will go toward addressing real needs—needs that have often been sidelined in the broader discourse around philanthropic giving.
For Detroiters, having someone like Sherard-Freeman at the helm of one of the region’s largest philanthropic institutions is a step toward realizing a future where equity isn’t just an aspiration but a reality. The path she has walked—leading in workforce development, economic initiatives, and now philanthropy—shows what is possible when Black women have access to power and influence. More than just a leader, Nicole Sherard-Freeman is a visionary for what equitable, community-centered philanthropy should look like. The future of Detroit’s Black community is undoubtedly tied to leaders like her, who understand not just the barriers but the possibilities that exist when resources are allocated with intention and justice at the forefront.
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