Ensuring protection and management of a watershed forever...

Overseeing the retention, expansion and attraction of business and jobs...

Providing support to people with hardships so the avoid homelessness...

Building endowments to respond to the long-term County needs and priorities...

Providing recreational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities...

Making grants to respond to fundamental human services needs...

These represent only a sample of the missions of Manistee County's nonprofit organizations that are essential to the economic well-being and quality of life of the county and are an important component of the county's infrastructure.

With the declining state and federal tax dollars for government programs and the transformation of the nation's economy, the roles of nonprofit organizations have become increasingly more vital and complex.

Whether it is health and human services, arts and culture, youth and education, economic development and business or natural resources and recreation, Manistee County's nonprofit organizations provide programs and services that represent community interests.

Many of the County's nonprofit organizations rely on community volunteer leaders for their boards to ensure sound governanace and relevance of their missions and programs to community needs.

See the Quality of Life section for a listing of nonprofit organizations.