Charitable Nonprofits and a History Rooted in Advocacy
Guest blog featuring: Kelley Kuhn, President & CEO of Michigan Nonprofit Association
Imagine your community without shelters, food banks, youth programs, or advocacy groups. It’s hard to picture, right? Charitable nonprofits don’t just support communities, they hold them up. In every corner of the country, they’re the driving force behind services, movements, and solutions that make life better for everyone. Their roots trace back to ancient civilizations, when communities would organize to meet basic needs and support one another. From Ancient Greece and Rome to the Progressive Era in the late 1800s and early 1920s, and especially in the 1960s when nonprofits began contracting with government to deliver services, this sector has always played a vital role in shaping society. It was also in the 1960s that we saw a surge in advocacy-focused nonprofits, as communities mobilized around causes they cared deeply about. That momentum hasn’t slowed.
According to Merriam-Webster - advocacy is a noun that means the action of advocating, pleading for, or supporting a cause or proposal. (1)
This definition is so fitting in the narrative of nonprofit advocacy. For those of us leading and working in the sector it is all too familiar and some would go as far as to say it is the bedrock principle of being a charitable nonprofit. For many, advocacy is at the core of everything, building programs and services around this critical value. While others would identify it as byproduct of their mission and do not consider it to be a major focus of their limited resources. Either way, the need to speak up and stand up for our communities is more important today than ever.
Regardless of how any organization identifies with advocacy, as the landscape changes, it is something anyone affiliated with a charitable nonprofit should have front and center. While intent before was on causes and issues important to the mission or on behalf of communities’ nonprofits served, it has shifted to policies that inflict harm on one or both and unfortunately now is critical to protecting of the entire charitable sector.
Today’s nonprofits not only continue to play a crucial role in addressing societal needs, but they also fill gaps left by the private sector and government and more importantly remind us that taking care of each other is the foundation of the human spirit. Charitable nonprofits improve lives, strengthen communities and the economy, and lighten the burdens of government, taxpayers, and society as a whole. It is the one sector that brings people and community together for the greater good.
Advocacy for the nonprofit sector as defined above is no longer about pleading for support of one cause or issue, but rather far greater and is about advocacy for the infrastructure by which the charitable sector was built on. Recent policies changes that have been brought forward could have long-term impacts on charitable tax status, charitable giving, nonpartisan issue positions, excise tax for foundations and much more.
Our charitable nonprofit sector is persistent, diverse, organized, ever evolving, and connected. We are resilient and deeply rooted in community. Board members, volunteers, donors and staff are all stepping up and speaking out. Advocacy now is about relationship-based organizing, coalition building across issue areas and mobilizing culturally responsive messages that help tell the story about conditions in our communities.
As the group of stakeholders concerned about the policy threats to charitable nonprofits increases, we are reminded that there are advocacy actions that everyone can take:
If you care about a cause: Get involved. Support a nonprofit that’s making a difference in your community. Join a board, volunteer, donate, and encourage others you know to do the same.
If you're a nonprofit leader: Stay connected. Join coalitions, network with peers, and mentor the next generation of nonprofit leaders.
If you are someone who believes that charitable nonprofits reflect the best of America, then speak up for policies that protect and empower them.
Nonprofits are built on the simple idea that when people come together, we can make life better for everyone. Let’s continue to keep that spirit and legacy alive, because we are proud to be #501c3.
1 - “Advocacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/advocacy. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) is the statewide nonprofit membership organization representing and supporting charitable nonprofits across Michigan. MNA advocates for nonprofits at many levels of government- federal, state, local, legislative, executive, and regulatory, to educate policymakers and others about the work and impact of nonprofits. To learn more about MNA and to join our powerful advocacy network as a member, visit www.mnaonline.org.
Kelley Kuhn is the President and CEO of Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA), a role where she leads efforts to support and empower nonprofits and the communities they serve. She is dedicated to ensuring nonprofits have the necessary resources to fulfill their missions and drive positive change in Michigan.