BLOG for ADVOCATES

We created this blog to share interesting advocacy related items that cross our desks. It can be anything from new research on funding for advocacy to examples of unusual advocacy strategies. If you have an item to share please send it to npaction@npaction.org.
NPAction Staff

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

New Challenges for Charities

The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently featured an article entitled, "How Bad Is It? Economy’s Downturn Prompts New Challenges for Charities." In the article, Holly Hall, the author, emphasizes how the current economic situation may significantly alter donations to charities. The downturn could potentially affect not just private giving, but money charities receive from government sources as well.

The current state of the economy has already provoked some charities to change their fund-raising approach. The article sites several charities that are moving quickly to minimize potential damages in the next few months. The Associated Services for the Blind in Philadelphia, for example, is delaying its annual November awards ceremony and fund-raising event until January because recruiting corporate sponsors and ticket buyers is substantially more difficult this year than in previous years.

Many charities are also adopting a "wait-and-see" attitude until they know for sure how the commotion in the financial industry will affect their donors and impact funds. Leaders of charities and nonprofits are trying to get out ahead of the financial crisis by holding meetings and several conference calls to discuss new fund-raising strategies that should be adopted in the coming weeks.