O'Neill Ch. 10
3% of nonprofit revenue is grants??? That's it? And we're complaining about undue corporate influence in the non-profit sector? I feel like there might be some hypocrisy somewhere in this scheme...hmmm. Maybe my theme should be "why are we complaining so loudly about non-profits when the private sector is allowed to buy the government out?" Ugh.
O'Neill Ch. 11
I like when everyone wins. :) The fact too is that without these vital organizations, we would have no way to speak for our rights. I know I might come off as radical for it, but I feel like most mutual benefit non-profits are the only true non-profits that SHOULD be outside of the government. I think that the public should have universal access to things like education, family services, and pension so there is a safety net. The safety net should not be dependent on nonprofits in any way that destabilizes or jeopardizes its existence.
Budget Plan Brings changes to tax incentives for donors
My immediate worry was that this would mean less for charities, but I got to thinking about it, and if these people are only bringing in 3% of total non-profit revenues anyway, it's maybe BETTER for us to get their taxes and be able to spend more money supporting people and infrastructure to begin with. Not much else to this except for NO ON BUSH TAX CUT EXTENSIONS!! Are people insane? Can we not all understand how economics does not work? Trickle down is moronic and dangerous, and we know this, we see this, and yet we continue to perpetuate the idea that it has positive economic effect, that SOMEHOW money will get where it should be, etc. No way, not when we don't have money laying around, and not when we're in deficit.
Donors and Nonprofits face a defining moment in responding to a crisis
Fluff piece. Here it is in one line: Things changed after the recession, but weren't as bad as predicted, and now NPs need to step up to change with the economy. Well? That's about what I grabbed out anyway.
Artist-Endowed Foundations
Well, this has been a long time coming, and it's great for the arts. I'm curious to see how the next generation of philanthropists will react to the needs of the community now that people are really targeting "non-essential" charities like the arts. Who is going to head the organizations of the future? Will we see ever-more people who represent the communities they belong to and have benefited from? I think so. At least, I hope so. This is a heartening change.
How to do good and prove it
YES YES YES!! I think that this article has a really important message for ANYONE doing ANYTHING: Make it actually apply in reality. The best ideas in the world only work if they are responsive to what people actually do or need. Performance metrics ARE the way that groups can better keep up with their base and make sure that they are being as effective as possible. It's sometimes a "hard-line" sort of stance to say that an organization shouldn't exist if it doesn't have integrated metrics analysis methods, but this is actually the only way that an organization can keep its focus. How many things have YOU ever succeeded in that had no way to measure success?
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4 comments:
Metrics are everything in the nonprofit world... or at least we try to have them be... when we have them. There are so many NP's that do work that involve changing someones life for the better? How do you measure that across the board? When everyone is doing something different?
The grant program that I manage tried to show change by pulling people's credit reports at the start and at the end of their participation... the problem is that some people are only in it for 6 months... some people for up to 3 years.. not a lot happens on credit reports in short periods of time. We were hoping it would be a metric to talk to legislators about that they would comprehend (and want to keep funding our programs)... we have gone back to the drawing board.
In theory yes I would rather have the tax cuts for the wealthy revoked and leave the gifting to whoever. But that is not going to happen anytime soon, and taking away tax breaks for charitable contributions is NOT about increasing revenue from the rich, it is about defunding non governmental social service programs. There are plenty of other ways that they can keep the money from being taxed. I know I sound kind of paranoid, but after what has happened in Wisconsin this week, there can be no benefit of the doubt.
I agree with you 100%, Julie. What just happened in Wisconsin is yet another example of American politics at work - both sides were certainly playing the game and it's unfortunate that a compromise wasn't reached.
It will be very interesting to see what happens in the next couple of years as we look forward to more changes.
I know that you value art so this comment is not aimed at you in particular.
Many people would argue to say that art is essential. Whether it be psychological or holistic this is something that must be maintained to keep people going.
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