Our Story
This nonprofit began with a simple but powerful truth: Behind every building is a piece of our collective story - and every story matters.
For more than 20 years, Dan Austin has worked to uncover forgotten stories and places, preserve the city’s historic buildings, celebrate its culture and legacy, and work to make Detroit a better place for all.
Now, with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis bringing his own story to an end, this fund has set out to continue his work and legacy.
Why we exist
When Dan was diagnosed with stage IV cancer, it became clear that his work needed to be safeguarded and carried forward after he is gone.
This nonprofit was born out of that urgency, but also out of love— love for Dan, for his life’s work and for Detroit itself.
Our mission is simple yet deeply rooted:
To continue documenting the stories of Detroit’s buildings, monuments and neighborhoods so that they are not lost to time.
To invest in students who will carry this work into the future, ensuring the next generation of storytellers, city planners, architects, social workers and preservationists has the tools needed to succeed and continue moving Detroit forward.
To honor Dan’s legacy and the decades of passion he has poured into preserving Detroit’s architectural, musical and cultural history.
Our mission
Looking ahead
We believe this is not work we can — or should — do alone. It belongs to all of us who care about Detroit, its past and its future. By coming together, we can preserve the stories that shape our city, honor the voices of the Detroiters who came before us and inspire those still to come.
Together, we carry our stories forward.
Support our mission by making a tax-deductible donation.