A decade of generosity: NCF Michigan celebrates $320M granted to 1,200 Michigan charities

More than 68,000 acts of generosity in Michigan have benefited 1,200 local charities in the last decade—to the tune of $320 million.

NCF Michigan serves generous givers across the entire state, from the beautiful UP to the bustling towns of the lower peninsula. This month, we’re celebrating the generous donations of Michigan givers to churches, charities, and nonprofits headquartered right here in Michigan.  

Each blue dot on this map represents at least one charity that’s been on the heart of a generous giver in Michigan. The total donations to these nonprofits in the last 10 years is $320 million. That number doesn’t include additional gifts made to charities with headquarters outside of the Mitten State.

These incredible organizations are actively caring for vulnerable people in their spaces, in everything from food pantries and emergency shelters to addiction recovery and museums. In 2024, the top primary charitable causes supported by Michigan givers were churches, education, and then humanitarian aid and development.

The Michigan team represents a local office of the National Christian Foundation. The NCF Michigan office was first established in 2001 and has served generous Christian givers and their families for over 25 years. Every day, we get the joy of facilitating gifts to some incredible nonprofit organizations. Each grant is spurred by a giver’s personal recommendation from their Giving Fund, to which they can contribute cash and non-cash assets like publicly traded securities, real estate, and privately held business interests.

Donors utilize NCF for digital convenience and tax-savvy strategies, but also for intangibles like guidance on how to navigate difficult family dynamics or pass on a spiritually rich legacy to the next generation. When giving through NCF, donors are joining a larger community united in generosity and shared faith. They can spend time exploring their personal Giving Strategy to determine where, how, and when God wants them to give.

NCF’s charity database contains information for over 30,000 nonprofits. More are being added every day by our givers. Inside the digital MyGiving portalopens in a new tab, users can search for a charity by name or browse organizations based on causes they address. Michigan is home to many effective and passionate ministries, including hyper-local charities as well as international nonprofits.

After givers contribute to their Giving Fund, they have the option to invest the balance. This means the charitable dollars can be put to work until they reach their final destination. This is especially helpful for managing charitable gifts from major life events such as receiving an inheritance or the sale of a business. We believe that God has a purpose for every single dollar to further His Kingdom, and a donor-advised fund is one helpful tool to facilitate that work.

Michigan is not alone in this increasing, faith-based charitable activity. NCF’s local offices across the nation are experiencing a similar growth in philanthropy as more givers become aware of these tools. You can view our combined annual report from across the nation here. We look forward to seeing how God will continue to call His people to cheerful generosity across Michigan over the next decade.

Are you interested in opening a Giving Fund? Start here with the application or watch this short video to get an idea of what it entails. Reach out to Director of Giver Services Arlene DeYoung with questions at adeyoung@ncfgiving.comopens in a new tab.

Do you represent a Michigan-based charity? Check out our resources for charity leaders, including webinars on next-gen giver engagement, women and the Great Wealth Transfer, and elevating your major gifts strategy with non-cash giving.