Northeast Ohio Nonprofits Brace for Tough 2010; Turn to Collaboration and Financial Planning

Key findings include:

* Only 17 percent of respondents expect to be above break-even for the current fiscal year, down from 35 percent the prior fiscal year.
* Of the nonprofits that receive each type of funding, 67 percent expect a decrease in foundation revenues, 54 percent expect a decrease in government revenues, and 40 percent expect a decrease in gifts from individual and corporate donors.
* 80 percent of nonprofits predict an increase in demand for services for the remainder of 2009 and in 2010.
* Fewer than half of nonprofits that expect an increase in demand are planning to reduce programs.
* Nonprofits are responding aggressively to economic challenges in order to meet the needs of their constituents. They are taking action in myriad ways:
o 59 percent have collaborated with other organizations on programs and/or administration in the past 12 months.
o 51 percent have developed a "worst-case scenario" contingency budget.
o 56 percent have engaged more closely with their board.