U.P. Nonprofit Conference

Nonprofit organizations across the U.P. get some pointers on how to look for money donations in tough times.

Groups from all over the region gathered at NMU for the 4th annual U.P. Nonprofit Conference.

One of the key messages is that people are still donating, but nonprofits have to engage them better and show donors that their passion for a cause is important to the group.

Jamie Levy, a consultant to nonprofit groups around the country, says donors are often made to feel like nothing more than a commodity or a checkbook.

He says when foundations or individual people give, they’re still giving at least the same amount of money, even now.

However, they’re choosier about who they give to, so a personal relationship is becoming more important.

The Great Lakes Center for Youth Development and the Michigan Nonprofit Association put on the conference every year at NMU’s University Center.