Nonprofits see decrease in financial support

The economic downtown in Michigan is affecting financial and in-kind support for nonprofits in Michigan. The Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Grand Valley teamed with the Michigan Nonprofit Association to conduct a survey aimed at assessing how the struggling economy is impacting nonprofits throughout the state.

Responses collected from more than 300 participating organizations showed a number of significant trends within the sector. "What is most troubling is that while 71 percent of organizations stated demand for their services has been increasing, 50 percent of nonprofits have experienced a decrease in financial support over the last 12 months," said Wes Miller, research assistant with the Johnson Center.

Miller said while 65 percent of organizations have been able to meet a greater demand for their services, more than a third have been unable to do so. The regions of mid and southeast Michigan have been the hardest hit with more than 60 percent of nonprofits reporting a decrease in support over the last year. West Michigan is the only region in the state where less than half of organizations expect support to decrease, Miller said.