MLive's recent article about fundraising outlooks for Michigan nonprofits featured an interview with Matthew Downey.

"Michigan no longer offers a charitable tax credit for individual donations to certain organizations like food kitchens, community foundations, homeless shelters, state universities and colleges, libraries and public broadcasting stations.

It’s too soon to tell how the tax credit's elimination will impact fund-raising," said Matthew Downey, nonprofit services program director for Grand Valley State University’s Johnson Center for Philanthropy.

Financial incentives help, but play more of a role on wealthy donors’ decisions to give, he said.

“The average middle-class donor is really giving more out of the love for their community and their concern for humanity and less giving in response to some sort of tax incentive,” he said.

In general, Downey anticipates modest growth in giving this year, but said organizations will continue to seek creative ways to reign in costs as they face more demand for services.

A 2011 survey from the Michigan Nonprofit Association and Johnson Center showed 73 percent of 326 respondents experienced increased demand for services in 2010."

Read more from MLive.

Established in 1992 with support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy promotes effective philanthropy, community improvement, and excellence in nonprofit leadership through teaching, research, and service. The Johnson Center is recognized for its applied research and professional development benefiting practitioners and nonprofits through its Community Research Institute, The Foundation Review, The Grantmaking School, and Nonprofit Services.

Grand Valley State University is a four-year public university. It attracts more than 24,500 students with high quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Grand Valley is a comprehensive university serving students from all 83 Michigan counties and dozens of other states and foreign countries. Grand Valley offers 81 undergraduate and 29 graduate degree programs from campuses in Allendale, Grand Rapids and Holland, and from regional centers in Muskegon and Traverse City. The university is dedicated to individual student achievement, going beyond the traditional classroom experience, with research opportunities and business partnerships. Grand Valley employs more than 1,900 people and is committed to providing a fair and equitable environment for the continued success of all.

For more information, contact Robert Shalett, communications director for the Johnson Center, at 616-331-7585.