Tackling the Nonprofit Conundrum?

The nonprofit sector employs more than 10% of America’s private workforce, contributes around $985 billion to the economy, and produces myriad benefits that reach into every community and most homes. It’s a powerful, socially-focused engine hell-bent on doing-good. Maybe nonprofits haven’t conquered all the problems or brought equal life quality to everyone, but they’re filled with millions of hard-working people who are out there trying.

Given the oversized burden nonprofits carry, the financial data is scary. Ninety-seven percent have annual budgets of less than $5 million, 92 percent less than $1 million, and 88 percent less than $500,000. Twenty percent have budgets of $100 thousand or less and many are run by volunteers. Around 50 percent have less than one month of cash reserves to draw on if the bottom falls out.

The strain of inadequate, insecure funding is exhausting and often sends nonprofits tilting at every windmill that might throw out a grant dollar. And with low pay, long hours, and demanding work, nonprofits can easily turn into socially motivated sweat shops. There’s no easy way out of this. But just as a civil society is obligated to try to face down its dragons, nonprofits are obligated to try to face up to their conundrum. An America without nonprofits would be dystopian. They’re that important.

Every organization has its own pressure points and problems, but there are some commonalities throughout the sector:

• Claim the power that comes from your impact. This means embracing evaluation and using data as a tool to leverage increased, sustained financial support. This may mean prioritizing smart data over other compelling needs
• Claim the power that comes from genuine connections with those you serve. As the community’s front-line muscle on issues ranging from homelessness and childcare to arts and culture, your influence and importance is real. Use it. Show up at the important tables with a loud, well-reasoned voice.
• Establish mutually respectful partnerships with funders who share your concerns. Your power rests in the knowledge, passion, and focus you bring to your mission. In the words of the late Norton Kiritz, founder of The Grantsmanship Center, “You’re applicants, not supplicants. Don’t beg.” Beggars see a chance to bring in some cash, think up a project, and chase the money. Applicants see issues that need tackling, make a plan, and build partnerships with funders.
• Take care of your own. Make a livable wage a priority. Support professional development. Provide adequate time off for staff to recharge and come back swinging. Maybe you’ll have to cut back on the service you provide but the long-term payoff will be a greater benefit to the community.

You’re social activists and fighters, the moral engine of our society. Be lean but strong, loud but well-reasoned, tough-skinned but caring, fair and smart. And in the words of Winston Churchill, “Never, never, never give up.”

- Barbara Floersch, Chief of Training & Curriculum

We welcome you to link to these pages and to direct people to this information on our site.
Please contact us for permission if you'd like to use this copyrighted material in some other way:
info@tgci.com. We love to hear from you!

© Copyright 2019 The Grantmanship Center. All rights reserved.