The weeks between the season of gratitude and the season of giving bring me to reflect on a core belief: Giving brings joy. After all, every gift is an act of hope, and who can be hopeful and unhappy at the same time?
For Mackinac donors, that hope is directed toward others, often toward people you will never meet. The quiet, outward-facing generosity of our donors makes our impact unique. Mackinac Center donors rarely give to meet a personal need or to assist someone whose story is familiar. Your gifts are offered for the benefit of workers, families, and job creators across Michigan. Those folks may never have the chance to thank you directly, but their lives are better because others chose to give.
Consider the workers who can keep more of their own pay rather than fund a union. Or the family that now has more educational options. The small business owner, relieved of unnecessary regulation, who can now hire additional employees, solve more problems and meet more needs. The gains in opportunity, stability, and freedom our fellow citizens enjoy do not happen by accident. They are made possible because someone like you believes policy change can produce lasting improvements in people’s lives.
Policy-focused generosity is a distinctive kind of giving. Some outcomes can be anticipated, but many of the most meaningful effects ripple outward in ways no one can foresee. Supporting this work requires vision, trust and a willingness to invest in the flourishing of strangers.
At the center of this kind of giving is hope. Every gift is an act of hope. Your generosity strengthens Michigan, improves daily life for countless residents, and, I trust, brings a sense of happiness to you as well.
