George Jacobsen is Program Director for the William Davidson Foundation’s Southeast Michigan Economic & Cultural Vitality team. He is a committed and effective philanthropic partner in transformational community change. He works with grantees and partners to advance the quality of life in Southeast Michigan, focusing on the growth and development of good jobs and great places. He believes strongly in the power, creativity, and determination of the region’s artists and creators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to expand economic and cultural opportunities for individuals and families to thrive.
He previously worked at the Kresge Foundation where he led significant portfolios of work, including its vanguard Detroit arts and culture program, encompassing the development of its signature artist fellowship programs. He also developed an innovative grant initiative to support small-scale but transformative, inclusive projects in Detroit neighborhoods, as well as supported national work to strengthen and diversify the leadership pipeline in the social sector. He has also worked on a range of quality-of-life issues in Detroit and regionally in prior posts at the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.
George has a master’s degree in urban planning from Wayne State University and a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in social science from Michigan State University, where he focused on international studies. He currently serves as a founding board member of Sidewalk Detroit and on several advisory committees.