After being diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer and being told he’s nearing the end of his life, Dan Austin wants to secure the preservation and advancement of the city he loves. He and his wife found a way to do that with the Austin Past & Future Fund.

Austin, 45, is a storyteller who has spent the past 20 years showcasing Detroit’s architecture, music and history. His work on the website Historic Detroit serves as a comprehensive archive of Detroit landmarks. It’s been primarily funded by Austin himself for the last 15 years, with some help from his audience.

The Austin Past & Future Fund allows for Historical Detroit’s archive to live on after he passes. It also provides scholarship funds to help motivated youth receive an education that will help them build up the city.

Eligible students can range from 16 to 26 years of age and apply to a variety of fields. “Whether they want to be a teacher or an urban planner… there are so many ways that you can make Detroit a better place, make a difference here,” says Austin. The amount of funding those students receive, as well as the number of students benefiting, all depends on donations to the Past & Future Fund in the years to come. Scholarships will be available starting in 2027.

Only a small portion of money is needed to keep Historic Detroit online as a resource. All donations to the site since the beginning of March go to the Austin Past & Future fund, and are tax-deductible.

Austin will also be auctioning off his extensive vinyl collection and donating the proceeds to the fund this summer.

“All I’ve ever wanted to do is give back to the city, because the city has given me so much,” said Austin. “So being afforded this opportunity, this vehicle to continue giving back to the city even after I’m gone… It’s more than I could have hoped for.”

Go to austinfund.org to learn more and donate.