About MNA Public Policy
Contact:
Erin Skene-Pratt, Senior Director of Public Affairs
Tiffany Aurora, Public Policy Manager
Michigan Nonprofit Association
1048 Pierpont, Suite 3
Lansing, MI 48911
Phone: 517/492-2400
Fax: 517/492-2410
Michigan Nonprofit Association Public Policy
The Michigan Nonprofit Association's public policy efforts are affiliated with the Council of Michigan Foundations and are guided by the MNA Public Policy Committee and the MNA Board of Trustees. Specifically, MNA:
- Educates policymakers and the media on issues impacting Michigan nonprofits;
- Advocates on behalf of the Michigan nonprofit sector on public policy issues that impact all nonprofits;
- Engages nonprofits in advocacy by providing organizations with the tools and resources necessary to be effective advocates and lobbyists; and
- Promotes research on the sector by locating and summarizing research relevant to nonprofits, and encouraging research.
In terms of legislation, MNA protects the interest of Michigan nonprofits by:
- Supporting tax-incentives for charitable giving to Michigan nonprofit organizations.
- Opposing legislation that would limit the ability of nonprofit organizations to communicate and interact with elected or appointed officials.
- Supporting legislation that would continue funding of national service programs.
- Supporting legislation that exempts sales and use tax from the contribution portion of fundraising sales by charitable organizations.
- Supporting legislation that enhances volunteerism and the ability of Michigan citizens to contribute their time and talents to community service.
- Supporting legislation that works to eliminate fraudulent nonprofit fundraising.
- Carefully monitoring and actively engaging in the growing debate over changes in the federal income tax system, to preserve and encourage federal tax policies that support charitable contributions to and enhance the voluntary activity in the nonprofit sector.
- Seeking to influence and monitor legislation action and the regulatory activities of state and federal agencies that have a monitoring function over the nonprofit sector.
- Monitoring legislation that would regulate nonprofit conversions.
- Monitoring and opposing legislation and initiatives on a local, state and federal level that jeopardize the property tax exempt status of nonprofits.
In addition, MNA Public Policy includes the following programs:
- Michigan Participation Project (MPP) - a nonpartisan, nonprofit initiative dedicated to expanding the role of Michigan’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in voting and elections. We provide training, materials and other resources designed to help nonprofits integrate voter registration, voter education, and voter mobilization work into their ongoing activities.
- Serve Michigan - a program designed to highlight and promote public policy issues as they pertain to national and community service and volunteerism in Michigan.
MNA Public Policy Committee
Chair: Rob Collier, Council of Michigan Foundations
Dr. Ibraham Ahmed, AmeriHomeCare, Inc.
Diana Rodriguez Algra, Volunteer Centers of Michigan
Luke Austenfeld, Sherman Lake YMCA
Tom Bailey, Little Traverse Conservancy
Rev. Ben Baldus, Lutheran Social Services of Michigan
Dr. Edward O. Blews, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan
Martha Bottomley, Volunteer Muskegon!
Michael Boulus, Presidents Council of State Universities of Michigan
Sheri Brady, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Drew Buchholz, Interlochen Center for the Arts
Dr. John Chamberlin,
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan
P.J. Cherrin, Jewish Community Council
Gretchen Courand, Michigan Library Association
Neeta Delaney, ArtServe Michigan
Patricia Donath, League of Women Voters of Michigan
Teresa Durham, Nonprofit Alliance
Angie Gaabo, Community Economic Development Association of Michigan
Kathy Hagenian, Michigan Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Susan Herman, Michigan Jewish Conference
Edward Hoort, Legal Services of Eastern Michgian
Lynn Jondahl, Michigan Prospect
Jacqueline Jones, United Way of Southeastern Michigan
Katherine Knoll, American Heart Association of Michigan
Mike Latvis, ArtServe Michigan
Nancy Lindman, Michigan Association of United Ways
William Lukens, American Red Cross
Jane Marshall, Food Bank Council of Michigan
Tom Masseau, Michigan Protection & Advocacy Services
Sharon Parks, Michigan League for Human Services
Lana Pollack, Michigan Environmental Council
Craig Ruff, Public Sector Consultants
Earl Ryan, Citizens Research Council
Janet Reynolds Snyder, Michigan Federation for Children and Families
Terri Stangl, Center for Civil Justice
Joe Tuchinsky, Community Consulting Associates
Dale Weighill, Resource Center
Linda Wendt, Battle Creek Community Foundation
Don Wotruba, Michigan Association of School Boards
What Happened to MPPI?
MPPI (Michigan Public Policy Initiative) was the public policy arm of the Michigan Nonprofit Association since 1997. As MNA merged with the organization ConnectMichigan Alliance, it seemed the appropriate time to also fully integrate MPPI under the MNA umbrella. MNA will continue all of the efforts of MPPI through MNA's public policy department, and MNA's policy activities will continue to be affiliated with the Council of Michigan Foundations.
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