Nonprofit Harvest

To get started, here are some resources from Nonprofits Assistance Fund:

• Kate discusses the economy on Balancing the Mission Checkbook. She has identified some strategies for nonprofits, as well as offering advice on on what to be wary of. Here are a few recent posts prompted by the current financial situation:
  • Jittery About Investments
  • Start Your Turnaround Strategies Today
  • This Post Will Not Cheer Your Up
  • It’s 10am, Do You Know Where Your Cash Is?

• Managing and Adapting in a Time of Uncertainty offers a framework to respond to the challenges nonprofits face in this economic downturn and set priorities with mission in mind.
• How financially healthy is your nonprofit? With this Financial Self-Assessment, you’ll have a better idea. Use the checklist to assess your organization’s financial management practices.

There are resource collections, blog posts, podcasts, news articles, and other information that we have found particularly useful. They are a great place to start.

Resource Collections:

• How Charities Cope With a Troubled Economy: Stories, live discussions, and statistics from The Chronicle of Philanthropy

• Economic Crisis Resource Center: A compilation of resources put together by Meyer Foundation.

• Dealing with the Economic Crisis: Resources collected by Donors Forum.

• Opportunities in Lean Times from Fieldstone Alliance

Blogs, podcasts, new articles, and other sources of information:

• Philantopic has done an excellent job collecting news stories on the economy and its potential impact on the nonprofit sector. Their posts are a mix of analysis, provocative ideas, and tangible suggestions to help your organization during this uncertain time.  I suggest reading all of their posts on this topic, and have included a few that I think are especially relevant to nonprofits:
  • Tips for NPOs Threatened by the Financial Crisis
  • A to Z Survival Guide for Uncertain Times
  • Time to Start Preparing for the Unthinkable?
  • How to Survive (and Thrive in) Tough Times
  • Do Foundation Giving Priorities Change in Times of Economic Distress?

• Lucy Bernholz blogs at PHILANTHROPY 2173, where she regularly comments on the future of philanthropy.  Lucy shares some predictions on the possible short-term impact of the economy for foundation and individual giving, as well as ideas for innovating the business of giving.
  • Stirred, Not Shaken
  • Foreclosures, Falling Economies, and the Future of Philanthropy
  • Resetting Philanthropy
  • What Will You Do?

• Philanthropy Potluck, from the Minnesota Council of Foundations, regularly includes resources and news stories on the economy for grantmakers and grantseekers.

• Special Address, On Third-Sector Funding and The Economy, from Tom Suddess

• Greenlights Nonprofit Town Hall Meeting:
  • What the (Near) Future Holds
  • Raising Money in the Downturn

• New York Times
  • Giving Section
  • Facing Deficits, States Get Out Sharper Knives