May 15, 2026
Nonprofit leaders, funders, and policymakers gathered on Friday, May 8 at the Calhoun County Nonprofit Advocacy Breakfast to discuss the growing financial pressures facing organizations that provide critical community services, including food assistance, child care, housing, health care, and transportation.
Hosted by the Battle Creek Coalition for Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation at Washington Heights United Methodist Church, the event featured survey findings showing that 64% of responding nonprofit organizations reported funding losses during the past year, totaling an estimated $6.85 million.
Speakers emphasized the essential role nonprofits play in supporting families, employers, and the broader local economy. “Nonprofits are not optional,” said Elizabeth Carey, president and CEO of Starr Commonwealth. “They are infrastructure.”
Kathy Szenda Wilson, co-executive director of Pulse, highlighted the connection between child care, workforce participation, and economic stability. She noted that reliable child care systems support working families and help employers maintain a productive workforce.
The breakfast also focused on advocacy and collaboration between nonprofits and policymakers, with panel discussions addressing affordability, housing pressures, Medicaid, and SNAP uncertainty, and the importance of community partnerships. Organizers encouraged nonprofit leaders and community members to continue sharing stories and data that demonstrate the impact nonprofits have across Calhoun County.