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The economic challenges of today's world are bearing
down on everyone, including the nonprofit sector of New Hampshire. These are
times for "all hands on deck" because it is only through a strident partnership
with business and government that we can preserve quality of life in New
Hampshire. These times call for
innovation, collective planning, leadership, resource sharing, and clarity about
how connected the nonprofit sector is to everyone's life and the social and
economic engines of our state.
We have devoted this section of our website to resources and news
items that may help nonprofit boards and staff leaders navigate these tough
times, make sound decision about their program and operational costs and develop
new partnership for the future.
The Sustainability FormulaHow Nonprofit Organizations Can Thrive in the Emerging EconomyTCC Group announced the results of an analysis of the factors that predict sustainability for approximately 700 nonprofit organizations that were surveyed using its Core Capacity Assessment Tool (CCAT). The CCAT is an online survey taken by an organization’s senior staff and board members to assess an organization’s leadership, management, adaptive, and technical capacities, strengths, and challenges. The Sustainability Formula a new paper by TCC Group Senior Vice President and Director of Research, Peter York, highlights the factors that predict a nonprofit’s sustainability. “Sustainability is not just about fundraising,” says York, “but strong, motivational, and vision-centered leadership combined with financial adaptability, effective learning practices, and good sense.” York discusses The Sustainability Formula in his recent podcast produced by The Foundation Center.
New Resource: The Nonprofit Sounding Board Often leaders are juggling a multitude of competing priorities, especially during these tough economic times. In an effort to support nonprofit leaders facing crucial junctures, we have developed The Nonprofit Sounding Board. Supported by a grant form the NH Charitable Foundation, this service provides nonprofit teams with a three-hour strategy session with both a nonprofit business and governance expert. During the session leaders can test ideas, examine sustainability opportunities, and clarify next steps. The fee for this service is $100 for NH Center for Nonprofit Members and $200 for Not-Yet-Members. Contact us for more information or sign up today.
Surviving the Financial Crisis - A BoardSource ToolkitPresented in a straight-to-the-point style designed to help you take immediate action, this 77-page guide is packed with checklists, tips, action steps, quizzes, sample documents, key points to remember, and tough questions boards should be asking. $25 for BoardSource Members; $38 Nonmembers Learn more...
 Office of Economic StimulusOn January 27, 2009 Governor John Lynch issued an Executive Order creating an Office of Economic Stimulus within the Governor’s Office. Governor Lynch appointed state Deputy Attorney General Orville “Bud” Fitch as director of the office, which is charged with assisting the Governor and state agencies in the management and expenditure of federal stimulus funds.
The office was created to “...ensure that New Hampshire and its citizens receive maximum benefits from any federal economic stimulus package, and that those funds are used to create jobs and protect essential services here in New Hampshire."
The Office of Economic Stimulus will ensure state agencies are coordinating their efforts and that New Hampshire complies with all federal requirements. Visit www.nh.gov/recovery/Ten Top Things Every Nonprofit Should Be Thinking About
- It is clearly the time to swiftly, and transparently examine your financial sustainability
- Board and staff leadership teams must engage in ardent strategic discussion based on the needs of the client
- It is also the time to talk candidly to donors - realistically about the future
- Inspiring philanthropy at every opportunity is a must
- Board and staff leadership teams should be crafting contingency plans
- Opportunities for resource sharing with other nonprofits should be thoroughly considered and acted on if appropriate
- It is a tine for honest communication with staff that engages them in understanding the facts and problem solving
- It is time for all to communicate broadly about the linkage between nonprofit services, the economy and the quality of life for everyone
- It is a time for collective planning, we all have a vested interest in community well being
- It is time for real collaboration
NH Nonprofits Featured in Union LeaderNonprofits and the economy made the front page of the New Hampshire Union Leader on Tuesday, February 10th. Several nonprofits from across the state were interviewed for the front page article as well as a shorter article on page two of the paper. The article, “Nonprofits Feel the Pinch” also cites the recent report “ Essential: A portrait of the nonprofit sector in New Hampshire” published by the NH Center for Nonprofits. Both articles are available online. Click the titles below to read the full stories.
Nonprofits Feel the Pinch
Nonprofits Try to Find Ways to Cope
And Now for Something Different About Nonprofits and the Economy Blue Avocado's recent article may resonate with some who are also reading the plethora of advice giving articles popping up in response to the economic downturn. It suggests that some of the ideas are not as helpful as the titles of the article would lead you to believe and offers up some less conventional ideas. Read more...
It May Be Hard Times: How to Navigate a Financial DownturnThe Nonprofit Quarterly has published a selection of articles from The Nonprofit Times aimed at leaders forced to manage their organizations during economic turmoil. Includes sections on "Budget Cuts and Sudden Overhead Conundrums," "Managing Financial Uncertainty," "Improving Cash Flow Management in Challenging Times: A Primer." Learn more...
Emergency Funding Ideas and Cutback Strategies20 Emergency Funding Ideas for NonprofitsConsulting staff at Fieldstone Alliance developed a list of 20 emergency funding ideas. These are revenue sources that can be accessed quickly—usually within 30 days. Not all of these sources are available to all nonprofits, and some of them carry great risk. Nonetheless, they offer them in the hope that you will find the list useful and thought-provoking. Learn more...185 Cutback StrategiesThis excerpt from: Coping with Cutbacks: The Nonprofit Guide to Success When Times Are Tight expands on the list of 20 from Fieldstone Alliance. Learn more...
How Charities Cope With a Troubled EconomyThe financial crisis embroiling the United States has many charities worried about how to manage their finances, raise money, and keep up with growing demand for services. To help readers navigate the challenges, the Chronicle of Philanthropy has compiled recent stories, live discussions, and statistics about how charities deal with turbulent times. Learn more...
MapShot: Foundations Respond to the Economic CrisisIn these tough economic times, the Foundation Center is providing ready access to information that will help nonprofits and foundations alike as they respond to increased needs. The Center is collecting and making available the most recent data on U.S. foundation support to aid those affected by the crisis. The data is presented using an interactive map. For New Hampshire, they currently list grants to 13 recipients totalling $709,814. They will be updating the map daily. Learn more...
New Resource for Nonprofits LaunchedThe National Council of Nonprofits – to which you belong through your membership in The NH Center for Nonprofts– has launched the “ Nonprofit Economic Vitality Center” on its website. When you visit this new site you will find it is divided into three sections: an overview of the seriousness of the economic decline, analyses about how the economic decline is hurting nonprofits, and action steps you can consider to weather this storm. NHCN has been a proud member of NCNA for many years and this year, through dues we pay to NCNA, our members automatically become NCN members. It is a great addition to your membership to have an action-oriented, advocacy connection in DC that is linking all of us here in New Hampshire with avenues for advoacy across the country. Opportunities in Lean Times The economic crisis that is unfolding is causing great anxiety that no sector is immune to. Fieldstone Alliance proposes that in turmoil there is also opportunity and they have complied some resources for nonprofits. http://www.nhnonprofits.org/knowledgecenter/opmanagement/financialoperations.cfm#opportunities When Layoffs Are Necessary, Nonprofits Need to Be PlanfulUnfortunately, with the state of the economy today, layoffs may be an option that some nonprofits need to explore. Fieldstone Alliance has an article on how to prepare for this event and ways to make the process work as effectively as possible.
Read more... In Bad Economic Times, Focus on ImpactFaced with the need to cut back, investing in projects designed to increase
productivity and efficiency (such as moving forward with the planned addition of
a chief operating officer) can mean cutting elsewhere. And that means possibly
affecting the number of people a nonprofit group serves over the short term. The
problem is, when an organization is stretched too thin to operate efficiently,
or when cost-saving investments are delayed for too long, ultimately it is the
beneficiaries who suffer as quality declines. Read more... Managing in Tough Times: 7 StepsTough times force hard choices. And these are rapidly becoming the toughest
times most of us have ever seen. Even for nonprofit leaders who are accustomed
to 'making much of little,' the repercussions of the unfolding economic downturn
are likely to pose unprecedented challenges. It’s hard to imagine that many (if
any) of us in the sector will escape unscathed. Read more... Sustaining Nonprofits During Economic DownturnsAs economic downturns reduce household incomes and lower investors' and
consumers' confidence in the economy, nonprofits face especially troubling
times. On one hand, most nonprofits' incomes fall during these recessionary
times: private contributions decline as individual, corporate, and foundation
donors are less inclined to give; governmental funding declines or disappears;
and earnings from endowments shrink along with their capital market values. On
the other hand, economic downturns put added demands on nonprofits' already
dwindling resources: more clients ask for increased help; fewer volunteers,
concerned about their own household incomes, willingly give their time to
nonprofit service; and budgets for many routine activities — such as public
outreach and maintenance of buildings and vehicles — are cut so that every
possible dollar can be channeled more directly into client services. Read more... Fundraising in Lean Times: Are Grants the Answer?This article from the Alliance for Nonprofit Management's website offers some thoughts on how the economic situation may impact fundraising strategies. http://www.nhnonprofits.org/fundingcenter.cfm Nonprofits Look to New President for Improved PoliciesWith a major economic crisis pressing on America's families and communities, the nation's nonprofit organizations are looking to a new presidency for help in responding. http://www.nhnonprofits.org/knowledgecenter/nonprofbasics/advocacylobbying.cfm#jhcstudy What Might an Obama Presidency Mean for the Nonprofit SectorThe Chronicle of Philanthropy has released a special report on what the Obama presidency might mean for the nonprofit sector and the people it serves. This report looks at Mr. Obama's stances on tax policy, national service, arts, education and much more. http://philanthropy.com/free/articles/v20/i14/obama.htm State and National Publications Feature Nonprofits and the EconomyIn an article this month, NHBR spoke with nonprofit leaders from around NH about the impact the economy is having on the sector. Read more... The NY Times had a feature spread on November 11th with multiple articles on various aspects of the nonprofit sector. Read more... |
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Communicating in Tough Times
At the December 11th NHCN workshop “Communicating through Difficult Situations” Brett St. Clair, Partner at Louis Karno & Company Communications, provided the group with an important outline for the first message after any crisis communications.
Download the handout...
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