Article in the Boston Globe today about Bill and Joyce Cummings signing the "Giving Pledge" - pledging to donate at least half of their fortune. This is the same pledge signed by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. I would like to see more of this and less "Real Housewives" useless shows of wealth.

Where do we go from here...?

Most of us in the nonprofit world are just starting to get a real glimpse at where “here” is donations are down, foundations are tightening their focus and funding, big events are not getting the return they did even last year.  Many agencies are planning for decreases in budgets from 10-20% in the coming fiscal year. We are all looking at drastically reduced resources.   The question becomes how do we deal with this new reality – or do we just let it deal with us?

In a recent article titled Four Futures, published in The Non-Profit Quarterly, Paul Light takes a look at four different ways that nonprofits may shape or be shaped by this financial crisis.  I liked his non-reactionary tone and ideas for getting innovative and connecting with the community.   There is already a growing pressure from governmental and philanthropic funding sources to increase efficiency, merge, streamline services, and prove value through more and more evaluation.  The problem with this top down pressure is that it will push out some of the most innovative and community connected organizations that are providing critically needed services.    

I don’t have the answer to the question “where do we go from here?” – but I’m hoping that articles like this one help us start that discussion.

 

How will a new Administration and Congress in Washington treat non-profits?

I’m hoping with the President elect’s background of community organizing in Chicago that he has a first hand understanding of nonprofit organizations and their value in society.   

Independent Sector has put out a 6-point policy paper for the incoming national decision makers.   It’s a comprehensive platform that advocates the following:

1.  Ensure adequate resources and fair and responsible fiscal policies to support vital programs that sustain, protect and strengthen communities.
2.  Preserve and expand policies that help Americans give back to their communities.
3. Ensure that nonprofits have the capacity and capital to serve the needs of our communities.  
4. Protect the rights of Americans to speak out through nonprofits organizations.
5. Ensure that Americans are able to continue vital charitable work throughout the world without unduly jeopardizing their safety or their civil rights.
   
6. Support funding and policies that provide for transparency and accountability to ensure integrity and public trust in our institutions.  
   

I encourage you to read/download the entire IS Nonprofit Policy Platform.   

I’m going to send this paper on to my elected officials -- I hope that Congress and the new Administration take time to read and think about these important policy shifts.   

Rejection -- can be a good thing????

I’ve just spent most of my morning reviewing my rejections.  Or rather denials of various grant proposals over the last five years.  While I can’t say that this is a particularly uplifting activity, it is something I should be doing at least annually. 

So why, one might ask, revisit all you past “failures”  -- proposals that didn’t fit a potential funders focus?  Here are some quick reasons:

1.     To create a solid history of what work has been tried, why (if it can be determined) we were not funded and whether it is worth trying again. 

2.     To have this history at hand when someone on board or staff says “have we looked at the XYZ foundation they look great!” and be able to answer “yes and unless you know someone on the board it’s not worth our resources….”

3.     To remind yourself that sometimes things change – encourage meeting with funders who denied in the past but seem like a future possibility.  Keep up-to-date notes so that if funders focus etc… changes you can re-apply. 

So it’s in my planner for next January – my annual denial/failure review – yippee!  Now on to finding new prospects and showing love to our current funders!

Greed, greed and more greed -- investor bilks wealthy families and their foundations

A front page article in the Boston Globe  and business section of the  New York Times yesterday outline a huge Ponzi scheme run by investor Bernard Madoff. When totally uncovered it looks like this guy (a captain of wall street and pillar of the community) has bilked billions from wealthy families and some of their charitable foundations.  From time to time scandals like this erupt in the philanthropy community.  Remember the United Way scandal from years ago?  More that just stealing from the people who trusted him to manage their foundation's investments, Madoff has sparked the worst kind of cynicism  in this season of light.  When many fundraisers are working harder than ever for important causes -- this guy's GREED hurts us all.  

NPR Marketplace - series on how charities are weathering economic crisis

I think this series on NPR started yesterday -- I listen to the Marketplace podcast.  Here is the link to the web article.  Marketplace series on charities

They are interviewing a number of nonprofit folks around the country.  

Online Fundraising -- interesting article on how it is being affected by economic crisis

Here is a link to a article put out by M+R Strategies.  I was particularly interested in the response rates from messages that didn't mention the current "tough economic times" and those that did  (hint: right now its better not to remind folks in the ask...?).  

Survey on online giving and the economy

It is a small snapshot of what's happening right now -- not definitive (is anything right now) but interesting to ponder.