Charities Say Philanthropy Isn't Enough in the Face of State Funding Cuts

As social service programs scrambled to adjust to abrupt state funding cuts last month, a few received generous private donations to help plug the gap. But they are hardly in the clear.

With larger cuts looming for the 2016 fiscal year, which begins July 1, charities are ramping up advocacy and fundraising—and emphasizing that philanthropy is not enough.

"As generous as our donors are, there's no way they can make up that difference," said Dick Malone, chief executive of YMCA Chicago, referring to a $25,000 donation the nonprofit received last month to partly offset a $55,000 cut...