Every day, nonprofits in Kalamazoo County are doing vital work that strengthens our community. But it’s hard for many nonprofits to find the time or resources to share their work with the community consistently.
The economic challenges are severe. According to the Kalamazoo Community Impact Analysis conducted by the YWCA in May of 2025, 81% of local nonprofits receive or once received federal funding. As those streams declined, 55% cut budgets and 34% prepared for layoffs.
Since last year, conditions have not changed much. Local foundations have seen an increase in grant requests, with nonprofits scrambling to fill in the gaps. The reality is simple: nonprofits in our community need every possible form of support to keep doing the vital work they provide.
When stories go unheard, services remain underused, fundraising opportunities are lost, and the community misses out on inspiring stories of resilience. Research shows that people are more likely to engage, volunteer, or donate when they see authentic stories that reflect their community.
That’s where PMN comes in. Did you know that we provide low-cost opportunities for these organizations to get professional media production done for them, as well as access to equipment and media education specifically designed for nonprofits?
The Koa Fund works to help young people be brave, bold and courageous through creative arts, social justice, and identity acceptance. They were able to share the story of their annual Sunrise Gathering more widely this year by partnering with Public Media Network – before, during, and after the event, which took place in December.
Outreach ahead of time helped build awareness and participation, while documenting the Gathering itself — a celebration that brought together youth, families, and community members to honor creativity, belonging, and self-expression — created a lasting record of a meaningful moment for those involved.
Dean Suárez-Starfeldt from the Koa Fund said “working with the PMN team was terrific,” and shared that the collaboration came together smoothly.
PMN works to ensure that local organizations like the Koa Fund can focus on their mission by giving them the tools to share their work, preserve important moments, and connect with more people across Greater Kalamazoo.
When local nonprofits have meaningful stories to share, access to affordable, high-quality media support can make all the difference to raise awareness, build trust, and connect more deeply with the community — strengthening both the organizations themselves and the people they serve.
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