Resource Friday: Nonprofit Story Bank

Media across the state contact MNA to find local stories about nonprofit organizations. In an effort to help capture the stories of nonprofits in Michigan, MNA has developed a Nonprofit Story Bank for organizations to share their stories of success, new ventures, learned lessons and best practices. Nonprofits should never underestimate the [...]

Michigan Nonprofit Caucus Launched in Michigan Legislature

While the nonprofit sector is not traditionally thought of as an economic powerhouse, the recent Economic Impact of Michigan’s Nonprofit Sector 2009 report shows that Michigan’s charitable nonprofit organizations are integral to the state’s social safety net and economy. With more than 32,000 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits actively serving Michigan communities in every legislative district and [...]

Resource Friday: Federal Stimulus FAQs

In an ongoing effort to provide up-to-date information about federal stimulus funding, MNA has launched a Frequently Asked Questions page on our web site about the stimulus dollars as they relate to nonprofits. This page provides answers to frequently asked questions from the nonprofit community about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and [...]

Spread the Word to End the Word

It’s no secret that nonprofit organizations are in the business of raising awareness, not to mention funds. Over time, the tools and methods may change, but in the end, personal relationships are one of the strongest allies that nonprofits have to make meaningful connections to donors. Today, the tools are changing rapidly, including the immersion [...]

Member Perspective: MNA Member Goes Mobile

When I called the main line at the Michigan Suburbs Alliance, the phone rang as usual. I entered the extension for Associate Director Melanie Piana, but her phone didn’t ring at her desk, in fact, her desk wasn’t even there. I was seamlessly transferred to Piana’s cell phone, where she was ready to answer [...]

Nonprofit Innovation

I recently met with the director of the new White House Office on Social Innovation, Michele Jolin, to talk about what that new organization will focus on and how it will drive the President’s Agenda and vice versa. This concept was based in part on a whitepaper Ms. Jolin developed for the Stanford Social [...]

AmeriCorps – Getting Things Done

It is an exciting time for AmeriCorps. Saturday, May 9 kicked off the third annual National AmeriCorps Week – a recruitment and recognition initiative to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible. It also provides an opportunity [...]

Transforming the Identity of the Nonprofit Sector

This year’s Michigan Nonprofit SuperConference was held May 5-6, 2009, in Dearborn. The conference convened participants, presenters, exhibitors and speakers from across the state and nation who all took part in a dialogue about the current state of our sector, and what the future holds as we work to advance the nonprofit movement in [...]

Generation Service

Last week we celebrated volunteers across Michigan and the nation as President Obama signed the Serve America Act into Law and MNA released its annual Snapshot on Giving & Volunteering in Michigan 2008 report. This survey found 9 out of 10 people made a contribution to charity in the previous year, and nearly 50 [...]