Board Challenge | Tobaccofreemichigan

Earlier this year, TFM learned that its largest grant was not going to be renewed due to changes in the federal and state budgets trickling down. This meant that TFM would lose about 85% of its operating income. Moments before this email was scheduled to go out, TFM learned that the funding would be renewed for at least one more year. While this is great news, challenges remain for our future funding as we are still heavily reliant on a single income source that may not exist in 2027.

To address our 2026 funding issues, the Board of Directors had approved a plan that would have kept TFM operating through the year by spending down our financial reserves. This would have allowed most of TFM's current programs to continue while we attempted to find new money. Some programs, like the mini-grants, had to be suspended immediately but we felt it was important to not lose the momentum we had gained at the local and state level over the past couple years. Although the funding has been restored for a year, it is very possible that TFM finds itself in the same situation next year.

We all hope that one day TFM will not be needed as tobacco and nicotine no longer threaten our public health, however that day is not going to happen any time soon. In order to ensure that TFM can continue to the work to support local coalitions, push for a tobacco retailer licensing system in Michigan, and raise awareness about the resources available to help stop our kids from picking up whatever new "safe" nicotine delivery system is being pushed at them tomorrow, we need to diversify our funding.

One area that TFM can diversify quickly is by increasing our individual donors. Currently individual donations make up less than 1% of TFM annual funding. Increasing individual gifts to the ideal 20% is not going to happen over night but the board and staff have collectively pledged to match donations by individual members like you so we can increase the level to over 5% this year. All donations made between October 1 and December 31, 2025, will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $2,000. The only exception is that new members of our Clean Air Club will be matched TWICE for the next year. So a $10 a month contribution will provide TFM with $360 over the next year!

If having a statewide network dedicated to reducing the impact of tobacco and nicotine is important to you please consider making a one-time gift or becoming a monthly donor today. Approximately 500 people are sent our regular emails, about 10% will usually open one or more links provided. If just 10% of you make a $40 contribution we will easily meet this challenge. Please donate today so TFM can see this fight through.

I want to join the Clean Air Club and have my contribution be tripled

I want to make a one time contribution and have my contribution be doubled

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TFM is a 501(c)(3) and all gifts are tax deductible.

Paypal is TFM's credit card servicer, you do not need a Paypal account to donate although Paypal tries to make it look like you do. To donate without a Paypal account select "check out with Paypal" than "Try Another Way" and "Pay with Debit/Credit Card"