Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Humble Design
Legal Name (if Different): Humble Design Inc.
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 21420 Melrose Avenue
City: Southfield
State: Michigan
Postal Code: 48075
Main Phone: 844 486 2533
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.humbledesign.org/
Employer ID Number: 27-0410088
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3) 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 03/31/2025
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Furnishing Futures: Stability for Families, Confidence for Kids
Project Description:

In 2009, our founder realized her friend’s children were sleeping on a makeshift bed of jackets on the floor of their new home after experiencing homelessness. This realization inspired our founder to take action. She quickly rallied her community to donate and furnish the entire home. She had uncovered a critical gap in the system, leading to the creation of Humble Design. Since then, we have designed 3,722 homes, improving the lives of nearly 7,000 children, including 812 minors in 2024.
Our mission extends beyond furniture – it’s about creating warm, personalized spaces that foster belonging and promote long-term stability where children can thrive. Collaborating with community partners, volunteers, and donors we serve immigrants, domestic abuse survivors, LGBTQIA+ individuals, veterans, and families – in Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, and San Diego. Families are 71% of who we serve, often with multiple children.
Using donated items eases the financial burden of setting up a home. This unique approach helps families stay housed and breaks the cycle of homelessness. While over 50% of individuals leaving homelessness nationwide return to shelters or streets within a year, a UCSD study found that over 98% of Humble Design’s clients remain housed.
Homelessness often disrupts a child’s life, robbing them of security, sleep, and a stable environment to play, learn, and grow. Humble Design gives children a space to thrive. The same UCSD study reported that 72.9% of parents said their kids have more friends over, fostering connection and confidence, while 90% noted their children feel more secure about their futures, demonstrated by improved sleep, reduced anxiety, and positive behavioral changes. Humble Design provides a foundation for security, growth, and success. This grant enables us to continue creating brighter futures for more children.
Humble Design welcomes people home so that lives are changed for good.

Total Project Budget: $762,879

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): The Daniels Group (Committed) – $2,000 | Milliken Charitable Foundation (Committed) – $10,000 | Individual Giving (Committed) – $62,076 | Matching Gift (Committed) – $300 | UHaul (Committed) – $4,156 | Hormel Foods (Potential) – $15,000 | O’Reilly Automotive Foundation (Potential) – $15,000 | Bank of America (Potential) – $20,000 | The Lawrence Foundation (Potential) – $10,000 | William Randall Hearst Foundation (Potential) – $100,000

Project Duration: Year-round
Geographical Area Served: Currently serves communities in Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Detroit, MI; and San Diego, CA
Age Group To Be Served: All ages (of which 61% children/minors)

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Michelle
Contact Last Name: Marshall
Contact Title: Director of Development
Contact Phone: 646 573 0128
Contact Email: michelle.marshall@humbledesign.org