Member Perspective: Stimulus Funding At Work

Story developed for the Michigan Nonprofit Storybank.
Since 2006, the number of uninsured patients of Muskegon Family Care, a Community Health Center located in West Michigan, has increased by 59 percent. This Community Health Center (CHC) is one in a network of 32 public and nonprofit organizations, who provide quality, comprehensive, community-oriented primary health care [...]

As Poverty Rates Rise, Michigan Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTAs Work to Get Things Done

One could argue that there has never been a more important time to become an AmeriCorps *VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). VISTAs are individuals who dedicate a year of their life to eradicating poverty—these volunteers pledge to “get things done for America.” As poverty and unemployment rates have climbed sky-high nationwide, VISTAs have worked [...]

Join Your Nonprofit Colleagues in the FutureLab

Our work to define the sector’s role in society will never be more important. Every day we witness the work of the nonprofit sector being defined and redefined by circumstances seemingly beyond our control. For example, the health care reform debate is the nation’s single most contentious issue—even greater than our two foreign [...]

Want to Attend the 2009 Independent Sector Conference?

Michigan Nonprofit Association is pleased to announce a scholarship program for the 2009 Independent Sector Annual Conference, which will be held in partnership with the Council of Michigan Foundations on November 4-6, 2009 at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center. This program is generously sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Max M. & [...]

StrategyLab: Building a Stronger Nonprofit Sector

I was invited along with more than 70 other individuals to participate in a “Strategy Lab” hosted by Independent Sector called, Envisioning our Future. The focus? Building a stronger nonprofit sector out of one of our nation’s worst financial crisis. This meeting started with a three-day conference in Colorado and continues now [...]

Are you a Best Managed Nonprofit?

Detroit-area nonprofits listen up! Crain’s Detroit Business is searching for the Best Managed Nonprofits. For all the details and an application, read Crain’s article about this year’s search: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090730/FREE/307309991/-1#
Crain’s states that this year’s search will focus on ways nonprofits are meeting the challenges of the economy. Applications are due August 10 so [...]

Nonprofit Best Practice: Advocacy

Advocacy for nonprofit organizations is as simple as speaking up for the mission of the organization and those they serve. Advocacy is a best practice nonprofits should (and can!) participate in. As entities that serve the public, nonprofits should be engaging in public policy and advocacy to promote constituent, organizational and sector interests. [...]

Service for a Year and for Life

At the end of December, we all take a moment to reflect on the year past and set goals for the year coming. We acknowledge goals accomplished, mourn for the ones lost and are hopeful for the year to come. Reflection is an important part of life, and if done with deep intentions, has the [...]

Health Care Reform Proposals Misunderstand Nonprofits

While the Confirmation Hearings for Sonia Sotomayor and the health care reform debate rages on in Congress, many nonprofit leader were on the Hill talking about nonprofit capacity building. The Kennedy Hatch Act provided for $5 million in capacity building funds to help nonprofits in their ability to deliver services. The funding was omitted [...]