The Vella Strategic Philanthropy Group (The Vella Group)

Mission Statement

Jim Vella, CEO and Founder, has 40+ years of philanthropy leadership expertise, public relations and broadcast journalism experience. For thirteen years, Jim served as president of the Ford Motor Company Fund, a $60 million global charitable foundation, transforming it from an outlet for corporate gifts into a strategic component of the company’s global mission to make lives better. Upon retiring from Ford Motor Company in 2019, Jim’s consummate advocacy for social justice led him to create The Vella Group. His teammates had long careers as non-profit CEOs, fundraisers, website designers, news reporters, marketers, grant writers, and communications professionals. The Vella Group is well-versed in planning facilitation, board and stakeholder engagement strategies and processes. We deliver unfiltered guidance and feedback to address the client’s goals and concerns. We are empathetic, principled and innovative, supporting like-minded organizations to maximize positive social impact. The Vella Group works with like-minded leaders who lead organizations missioned to provide needed resources and services to underserved communities.

Why do you think it’s important for your business or organization to support nonprofits and community organizations in Southeast Michigan and what kind of positive impact do you think your work could have?

We have served many non-profits in (mostly) Detroit and surrounding areas. The Vella Group team, through their vast years of experience, understands the needs of the Detroit community, many of which are being addressed by our hard-working and under-staffed and under-funded nonprofits. We volunteer, sit on boards, live, work, worship and play in Detroit and are passionate about the people that require what many of us daily take for granted. It is through empathy and because of our ability to identify insights, and our vast network of resources and relationships, that we bring meaningful innovative solutions.

Nonprofit Experience Yes, I primarily work with nonprofits and/or community organizations	Years of Nonprofit Experience 20+ years
Nonprofit Clients N/A	Nonprofit Roles Advisor/Mentor Board Member Paid Staff Pro Bono Consultant Volunteer