Philanthropists Pledge $13-Million for Detroit Art and Pensioners

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the J. Paul Getty Trust on Wednesday committed a total of $13-million toward a $100-million fundraising effort designed to prop up Detroit’s pension fund and protect its public art collection as the motor city emerges from bankruptcy, the Detroit Free Press reports.

In a statement, the Detroit Institute of Arts said that the Mellon Foundation will give $10-million and the J. Paul Getty Trust will give $3-million.

The new $13-million in fundraising comes just two days after Detroit’s “big three” automakers—Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler—said they would give $26-million.

The Detroit Institute of Arts is helping to raise $100-million, one part of a larger 20-year, $800-million fundraising effort named the “grand bargain.” It is bringing together local donors and national philanthropic organizations to ensure that the city’s commitments to its pensioners are met, while also safeguarding city-owned art.