Executive Issues

July 10, 2009, The Chronicle of Philanthropy — Hit hard by the economic downturn, a small foundation has opted to spend all of its remaining assets and close its doors — a move some nonprofit leaders have encouraged.

July 7, 2009 — Is there some good news on the horizon for U.S. charities hampered by reduced donor contributions?   A recent Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) survey found that 42 percent of charities in the United Kingdom are struggling to deliver services because of the ongoing recession.  The survey also showed that low interest rates have reduced contributions and are forcing almost half (45 percent) of charities to dip into their savings or reserves to deliver essential services, a pattern that is further weakening the finances of charities already facing fundraising pressures.

July 3, 2009, Boston Business Journal — Diana Wetmore is in the midst of a do-it-yourself crash course in the capital markets. The vice president of alliance management at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has a doctorate in biochemistry, but said, “Yahoo Finance is the most visited Web site on my computer.”

There’s no denying that the recession is adversely affecting most, if not all, nonprofit organizations — whether they care to admit it or not. Donors are harder to come by, dollars are being spread thinner and fundraisers are feeling the pinch.

The fundraising landscape is always changing and forcing nonprofits to work even harder to keep up with what’s hot in the market. Keeping track of new trends can be a full-time job in its own right, and knowing how to change development plans can be a daunting task. Achieving success in this ever-changing landscape can seem impossible, but it’s not.

June 30, 2009, DC Nonprofit Business Examiner — Like their for-profit counterparts, nonprofits are struggling in the wake of the economy. According to a survey done by the Bridgespan Group, the climate has changed drastically for nonprofits especially in the past six months. Nonprofits are engaged in finding more economical ways of doing business. This includes downsizing to help reduce their budgets.  According to the Bridgespan Group Survey, below are 5 findings regarding the effect of the economy on nonprofits.

June 30, 2009, The Jerusalem Post — The sentencing of Bernard Madoff has ignited a media storm of interviews from unsuspecting victims, business associates who knew him (or thought they did) and reports about more Ponzi schemes discovered in the wake of the New York financier's crimes.

June 29, 2009, Third Sector — Fundraisers are feeling increasingly stressed and overworked, according to the first results this week of a charity staff satisfaction survey.

June 25, 2009, The Oregonian — Following a weekend of bustling activity encouraged by the opening of a show on tattoo art, the Portland Art Museum on Thursday became the latest arts group to announce budget cuts and strategic decisions.

June 29, 2009, The Chronicle of Philanthropy — Two studies released this week offer fresh evidence that the recession has created havoc for nonprofit groups.