LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Lupus Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has supported lupus patients across the state for over five decades, is facing a dire financial crisis that could force it to close its doors.
Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting approximately 14,000 Michiganders, causes the immune system to attack healthy organs and tissues, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, rashes, hair loss, brain fog, and organ complications. Erica Lynn, a lupus patient diagnosed in 2015 at the age of 33, describes firsthand the challenges faced by those living with the disease.
“I was having breathing issues, kidney issues, hair loss, brain fog,” Lynn said. She became involved with the Michigan Lupus Foundation by attending support groups and eventually co-leading one. The foundation hosts symposiums that bring medical professionals to educate patients about symptoms and treatments.
However, the foundation’s future is now uncertain due to significant funding cuts. Kimberly Dimond, executive director of the Michigan Lupus Foundation, explained that reductions in support from pharmaceutical companies nationwide have dramatically affected the organization.
“Our annual operating budget is $150,000, and we spend about $10,000 a month just to keep the foundation running,” Dimond said. “Pharmaceutical companies used to provide about 60% of our funding. When they restructured and eliminated their advocacy departments, including GlaxoSmithKline and Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, it had a devastating impact.”
The loss of corporate sponsorships has compounded other challenges. When Dimond took over leadership in 2022, she discovered the foundation had lost its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status after failing to file IRS paperwork for four consecutive years, adding another hurdle to their recovery efforts.
Despite these setbacks, the foundation remains committed to supporting lupus patients like Lynn. “One of the biggest things they do is provide support and a community, as well as resources you can’t easily find elsewhere,” Lynn said.
As the Michigan Lupus Foundation navigates this funding crisis, it is calling on Michiganders and supporters to help sustain the organization’s vital work for lupus patients across the state.
