About the Sponsors

The Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) and the Council of Michigan Foundations (CMF) are co-sponsors of Michigan in Brief: 2002–03. This handbook and the corresponding Web site are a project of the Michigan Public Policy Initiative (MPPI), an MNA program with which the CMF is affiliated.

Michigan Nonprofit Association

The Michigan Nonprofit Association is the collective voice of Michigan's nonprofit organizations. The association was incorporated in 1990 and has more than 650 members. It provides a statewide network for the nonprofit sector, serves as a management-practices resource for nonprofit organizations, and acts as an advocate for the nonprofit community. The MNA's mission is to promote the awareness and effectiveness of Michigan's nonprofit sector. The goals of MNA are the following:

• Provide services to the membership. Examples are
  • information on fundraising, management, taxes, and technology; and
  • discounts on such items as director and officer liability insurance, long-distance telephone service, classified advertising, and office supplies.
• Provide training and technical assistance. Examples are
  • workshops on topics such as nonprofit management, legal issues, volunteer management, board development, and lobbying; and
  • annual statewide conferences such as the Grantmakers/Grantseekers Conference, the Volunteerism SuperConference, and a public policy day.
• Promote nonprofit involvement in public policy. Examples include the Michigan Public Policy Initiative, an MNA program that
  • educates policymakers and the media on issues of concern to Michigan nonprofits;
  • advocates for the Michigan nonprofit sector on public policy issues that affect all 501(c)(3) organizations and the people they serve; and
  • engages nonprofits in advocacy by providing them with the necessary tools and resources.
• Promote and disseminate research on the nonprofit sector. An example is
  • working with Michigan universities to develop new and promote existing research about issues of concern to the Michigan nonprofit sector and distributing it to practitioners, funders, policymakers, and the media.

For more information on the Michigan Nonprofit Association, please visit the MNA Web site at www.mnaonline.org or call (517) 492-2400.

Council of Michigan Foundations

The Council of Michigan Foundations is a 29-year-old 501(c)(3) nonprofit, membership association comprising nearly 500 independent, family, community, and corporate foundations and giving programs that make grants for charitable purposes. The CMF's mission is to enhance, improve, and increase philanthropy in Michigan.

The CMF supports both existing and developing foundations through specialized publications, educational and networking events, a Web site and listservs, consultation, and advocacy with state and federal policymakers. In addition, the CMF publishes the biennial Michigan Foundation Directory and assists partner organizations in sponsoring seminars for grant seekers.

The CMF has two supporting organizations, the Michigan AIDS Fund and Michigan Community Foundations' Ventures. The CMF also partners with the state—for example, through the Tobacco Settlement Partnership with community foundations.

For more information on the Council of Michigan Foundations and its services to philanthropy, please visit the Web site at www.cmif.org or call (616) 842-7080.

Michigan Public Policy Initiative

The Michigan Public Policy Initiative is a program of the MNA and is affiliated with the Council of Michigan Foundations. The goal of the MPPI is to promote the involvement of Michigan's nonprofit community in public policy through training the community's leaders, building the capacity of its organizations, and encouraging its collaboration with public policymakers. The activities of the MPPI help to position the nonprofit sector as a partner with public and private leaders in working on pressing social issues facing Michigan residents.

The MPPI is guided by its Advisory Committee. The members are the following:

Peg Barratt Director, Institute for Children, Youth and Families, Michigan State University
John Chamberlin Professor, University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy
Rob Collier President and Chief Executive Officer, Council of Michigan Foundations
David Egner President, Hudson-Webber Foundation
Peter Eisinger Director, State Policy Center, Wayne State University
Lynn Harvey Professor, Michigan State University
Paul Hillegonds President, Detroit Renaissance
Lynn Jondahl Co-Director, Michigan Political Leadership Program
Ann Marston President, Michigan League for Human Services
Chris Nelson President, Michigan Association of United Ways
Sharon Claytor Peters President, Michigan's Children
Craig Ruff President, Public Sector Consultants, Inc.
Earl Ryan President, Citizens Research Council
Sam Singh President, Michigan Nonprofit Association
Erin Skene Director, Michigan Public Policy Initiative

For more information on the Michigan Public Policy Initiative, please visit the MNA Web site at www.mnaonline.org or call (517) 492-2400.

CONTENT CURRENT AS OF APRIL 1, 2002
© 2002 Public Sector Consultants, Inc.
Sponsored by the Michigan Nonprofit Association and the Council of Michigan Foundations
www.michiganinbrief.org