NEW REPORT Navigating Turbulent Times: Voices from Metropolitan Detroit Nonprofits

City Connect Detroit recently held a series of Listening Sessions with leaders of metropolitan Detroit nonprofits to learn more about their challenges, opportunities, and ideas in these turbulent economic times. While uncovering sentiments echoing throughout our community of nonprofits, these sessions also provided an environment for thoughtful, candid conversations amongst peers about their experiences and hopes for the future. Not surprisingly, connections were made, collaborative ideas birthed, and solutions to common issues were shared.   

The report, Navigating Turbulent Times: Voices from Metropolitan Detroit Nonprofits, documents the key themes that emerged from these Listening Sessions. We believe you will find the report enlightening. It highlights the challenges of escalating need for nonprofit services at a time when funding is being cut, new opportunities for collaboration and joint ventures for efficiency and innovation, suggestions for strengthening the nonprofit sector, and many other compelling thoughts.

Through this process, we connected with a diverse group of nonprofits – from Detroit, several surrounding cities, and some as far north as Lansing – that serve hundreds of thousands of people. The nonprofit representatives participating in our sessions reflect the heart and soul of the nonprofit community in metropolitan Detroit—a dedicated, highly talented group of individuals who strive on a daily basis to improve lives and strengthen community.

We welcome your response to let us know what you think and to engage in ongoing dialogue with others about the ideas expressed. We also urge you to share this report with others you think would benefit from its insight.

Click here to download.

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Unemployment Leads Volunteers to Nonprofits

As you may know, City Connect Detroit has been holding a series of listening sessions for nonprofits over the past few weeks.  We have had very rich, frank discussion with organizations from all over Southeast Michigan about the experiences and needs of nonprofits in these times. 

A topic that continues to surface has been the increase in those willing and able to volunteer their time to these numerous organizations.  With unemployment at record highs across the country, Detroit area nonprofits are not alone.

Volunteers may help nonprofits deal with capacity issues as the populations we serve and the need for our services continue to grow.  Many organizations are finding a pool of volunteers with very desirable backgrounds and experience, now able to follow passions or donate their much needed time to organizations that truly need it.  

Have you experienced an uptick in the number of volunteers with your orgnization?   Are you now faced with a highly-skilled volunteer workforce?  And with the increase in volunteers are you now experiencing any capacity issues while managing your volunteers?  

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