Responding to Need

By John Bebow | Published: May 1, 2008

Michigan residents are a philanthropic population that has steadily responded to public need during the difficult, statewide economic contraction in recent years, as evidenced by a recent survey from the Michigan Nonprofit Association and the Council of Michigan Foundations.

Key findings of the survey:

  • Nine out of ten people surveyed made a contribution to charity in the 12 months preceding summer 2007.
  • That percentage of the populace making charitable contributions has hovered at around 90 percent for most of this decade.
  • The tough times may soon begin to slightly erode giving. 22 percent of those surveyed indicated they planned to give less this year.
  • Michigan residents are also giving of their time. Nearly half of the adults surveyed volutneered in some capacity in 2006. And a third of those surveyed said they planned to increase their volunteer commitments this year.

    • The survey also showed that Michigan’s nonprofit sector (which includes some 43,000 organizations and nearly 400,000 workers) is viewed as “honest and ethical” by almost four out of five people surveyed.

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    One Comment

    1. Confidential
      Posted May 2, 2008 at 1:54 pm | Permalink

      I would say that this survey is not very indicative of how I have found people to respond recently with philanthropy to something I have done for the past several years. I am doing an American Cancer Society “Relay For Life” event in the community I live in and am finding that people are not very “giving” at all this year. However, I truly understand that with the cost of gas, food, and really everything sky-rocketing out of control, it is really not an option. People are struggling to just make their monthly bills and don’t have extra money to give. As far as time goes for volunteering, a lot of people have to take another job just to make ends meet. Or they don’t have extra money for gas to get out and to volunteer. Times are touch, not just her in Michigan, but everywhere!