2025 Annual Report
Policy
We are navigating change, disruption, and uncertainty impacting families and the communities we work alongside, and the charitable sector itself.
In 2025, there were threats to increase the private foundation excise tax and revoke the tax-exempt status of certain organizations without due process, in addition to federal funding freezes, delays in SNAP benefits, legislative and legal actions to eliminate the Johnson Amendment, and efforts to redefine civil rights and legal behavior of the sector.
CMF continues to advocate for the rights of philanthropy to give and invest in alignment with each organization’s unique mission and values to support the safety, health and well-being of communities.
“Philanthropy can’t be isolated to just grantmaking. Advocacy is a critical function that addresses the root causes of the challenges our communities face, and storytelling is essential to advancing that work. CMF provides welcoming spaces for members to deepen their understanding of policy issues, share perspectives and impacts, and engage in meaningful dialogue. That support empowers philanthropic organizations of all sizes to participate in advocacy in ways that are strategic, informed, and mission-aligned.”
Matt Cook
Member, CMF’s Government Relations Public Policy Committee
Vice President of Community Relations, Lake Michigan Credit Union
CMF Trustee
“As a leadership organization, CMF supports the philanthropic community in engaging thoughtfully and effectively in policy and advocacy efforts. CMF members and staff collaborate with state and national partners to develop resources and foster meaningful connections with policymakers—strengthening our collective ability to serve communities and help people thrive during challenging times.”
Jenée Velasquez
Chair, CMF’s Government Relations Public Policy Committee
Executive Director, The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation
CMF Trustee
“Charitable dollars alone cannot achieve the lasting change our communities need or that Michigan residents deserve. By investing in resident engagement, research, and policy advocacy, philanthropy can cultivate civic leadership and help ensure community voices drive wider access to economic opportunity, education, housing, and safe neighborhoods.”
Raquel Robinson
Member, CMF’s Government Relations Public Policy Committee
Vice President of Programs, Ruth Mott Foundation
“CMF and MNA’s annual Community & Civic Engagement Summit brings together vital partners – those who live closest to the issues we hope to face together, professionals who have dedicated their careers to the work, funders who want to fuel the work, and volunteers – who all wake up to make a positive impact toward repairing our shared community.”
Doug Bitonti Stewart
Executive Director, Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
Resources for You
Explore our brand-new advocacy guide for Michigan philanthropy: Every Action Matters. This resource is an essential advocacy primer, offering real examples of foundations’ advocacy activities and legally permissible advocacy pathways across foundation types. Whether your team is considering advocacy action for the first time and unsure where to begin, or seeking to refine and expand your long-standing practices, this is a powerful new addition to your toolbox, relevant for all foundation roles and experience levels.
Join the Policy Online Community for timely updates and opportunities for collective action.
Stay tuned to the CMF Events Calendar for policy briefings, roundtables and updates.
Connect with CMF’s Government Relations Public Policy Team.
Highlights of Our 2025 Advocacy Efforts
CMF authored and joined sign-on letters in coordination with state and national infrastructure partners.
CMF, Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA), Michigan Association of United Ways (MAUW), and the Michigan League for Public Policy co-signed a letter with more than 500 Michigan nonprofits, a diverse coalition of organizations expressing deep concern over continued efforts to withhold federal funding committed to nonprofits.
CMF and MNA co-authored a memo to Michigan’s attorney general outlining legal, legislative and regulatory actions that threaten philanthropy’s freedoms to invest in causes that align with foundations’ values and offering suggestions for how to support each other and Michigan communities.
CMF signed on to a national sign-on letter in support of protecting the charitable sector from partisan politics.
CMF signed on to a national sign-on letter urging Michigan’s Congressional delegation to take action to ensure SNAP payments continued for November during the federal government shutdown.
CMF mobilized the field to communicate the value and importance of a healthy philanthropic sector with news, resources and opportunities for CMF members to engage.
We shared regular, timely updates on policy changes and opportunities for collective action through CMF’s Policy Online Community and our Leading Boldly Hub.
CMF and our members met with policymakers to educate them about proposals that negatively impact philanthropy’s ability to effectively partner with communities and provide needed resources.
We coordinated meetings with the Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) and the Michigan Association of United Ways (MAUW) to connect directly with newly elected State House members. Together we shared details about the work of our sectorand discussed ways that we have partnered with government in addressing community needs while also learning from lawmakers about their priorities for the new session.
Celebrating Policy Wins
Thanks to your advocacy efforts, we were able to get several harmful provisions of the final federal reconciliation bill removed, including:
- The tiered excise tax increase on private foundations.
- Changes to the unrelated business income tax for nonprofits.
- Efforts to give the Treasury Secretary the authority to designate nonprofits as terrorist-supporting organizations and revoke their tax-exempt status without due process.
Your advocacy also helped ensure that a permanent charitable deduction for non-itemizers was included.
CMF’s advocacy efforts also included elevating the harm that cuts to our social safety net would have on children and families across Michigan.
These are all wins for our sector and Michigan philanthropy, highlighting the power of collective advocacy led by you, your peers, CMF and our network of national partners.
CMF/ DNR Spark Grants Program Partnership
In 2025, outdoor recreation projects began to take shape across the state through the CMF/DNR Spark Grants Program Partnership.
Administered by CMF in partnership with the Michigan DNR, and facilitated by the Governor’s Office of Foundation Liaison and through CMF’s Statewide Equity Fund, the program was established in 2024 to equitably guide American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to communities and expand access to healthy indoor and outdoor recreation projects where there has been little or no previous parks and recreation investment.
The partnership sub-granted $27.5 million to 29 designated opportunity communities around the state that have been historically under-resourced and lacked outdoor recreation spaces.
More than 15 community foundations serve as conveners, collaborating with their communities that are receiving Spark funding, ensuring community voice is centered in the projects.
Read about how the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan is walking alongside the City of Onaway to enhance outdoor recreation through the program.
Partner Spotlight: Governor’s Office of Foundation Liaison
The rapidly shifting federal policy landscape has impacted every corner of the nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem. For the Governor’s Office of Foundation Liaison (OFL), navigating this environment required constant vigilance, adaptability, and a willingness to rethink long-held assumptions about how we work to protect and uphold Michigan’s children, families and communities.
OFL is the leading national model to identify and broker innovative funding partnerships and strategic collaborations between the executive branch of state government and philanthropy.
In 2025, OFL:
Convened more than 150 foundation leaders and state partners, in partnership with CMF, to discuss pathways to support Michigan children and families during the disruption and pause of SNAP benefits. Read more.
Facilitated and supported shared learning and collaboration with CMF’s P-20 Education Peer Community amid a flurry of proposed shifts and changes with the U.S. Department of Education.
Facilitated and supported briefings and updates with CMF’s Health Peer Community and the Safety Net Workgroup, as changes to Medicaid were included in H.R.1 to protect communities and the care they receive.
OFL continues to work in partnership with CMF in the ever-changing policy landscape and connect CMF members with state agencies and the executive branch of state government for briefings and public-private partnership opportunities.
“OFL is an important resource for foundations across Michigan. This past year has underscored the importance of their work during times of dramatic policy change. During that time, we have deeply valued OFL's role in cultivating dialogue, facilitating collaboration, and orienting our efforts in relation to actions and priorities within state government.”
Kari Sederburg
Vice President for Programs, Michigan Health Endowment Fund