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.
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