Fueling the Mission: Funding Wins & Real World Challenges

The nonprofit funding landscape is highly competitive and unpredictable. This roundtable features a candid discussion of the current fundraising environment through the lens of Melissa Kositzsky and her work with Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress. They have a variety of collaborative programs that require different funding streams to work. We'll also engage in a dialogue to share pain points, dissect future funding options, and exchange practical survival strategies in today's economic climate.

This conversation matters because many of us are facing the same challenges. Funding priorities are shifting, government support is uncertain, and competition for grants and other resources continues to grow. No matter what part of the community navigation sector you serve: 211, aging and disability services, crisis response, or other human services, these changes are impacting our ability to meet community needs.
Join your peers for an honest discussion about what's working, what's not, and where new opportunities may exist. Bring your questions, concerns, and ideas. By learning from one another and sharing real-world experiences, we can uncover practical strategies to help our organizations remain strong, sustainable, and prepared for whatever comes next.

 Melissa Kositzky

Melissa is currently the 211 Call Center / No Wrong Door Director at UPCAP Services. Melissa was hired to help build the 211 database and then took on the role of Certified Resource Specialist with the organization 22 years ago. She is responsible for overseeing and managing the 2-1-1 call center staff, the development, maintenance, and implementation of the polices/procedures and training manuals, is responsible for the maintenance of the call center database, development, and coordination of call center trainings, establishing and maintaining community relationships by serving as the 2-1-1 liaison to the community, promotion of 2-1-1 through presentations and other PR events and represents 2-1-1 to the community. Through her work with 2-1-1, she has become very knowledgeable of the local community resources and the non-profit community. Melissa is also a Certified Community Resource Specialist (CRS) and Certified Community Resource Specialist - Database Curator (CRS-DC).

Recently, she took on the role of the MI Options (No Wrong Door) Director. With this new role, she is responsible for overseeing the MI Options Person Centered Options Counselors and the day to day management, reporting, and oversight for the program.

Melissa earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Management from Lake Superior State University in 2009.