Resources for Difficult Times
The current economy affects our organizations in large and small ways. Has your organization already responded? Are you contemplating taking action? Are you looking at what others are doing? Are you looking for new ideas or new perspectives?
In the spirit of information sharing, we are posting some of the surveys, articles, and websites that other organizations have compiled on how the economy is affecting nonprofit organizations. The information is drawn mainly from the U.S. domestic nonprofit community but is relevant to international NGOs. Some resources are themselves compilations of other sources. We have noted the ones we think are especially pertinent.
- Part I is our original post from May 2009 and is organized according to articles, surveys, and helpful organizations.
- Part II is the addition of new information from June 2009.
You may want to bookmark some of the resource organizations and go back to them for periodic updates. A good example is The Bridgespan Group. One article that resonates is 7 Steps to Managing in Tough Times:
- Act quickly, but not reflexively and plan contingencies.
- Protect the core.
- Identify the people who matter most and keep that group strong.
- Stay very close to your key funders.
- Shape up your organization.
- Involve your board.
- Communicate openly and often.
We invite you to share what your organization is doing - or decided not to do - in response to the economic downturn, and how the crisis has affected your organization the most. Give us as much or as little information as you wish. Please send it to: bricci@insidengo.org. Responses will be kept anonymous. And share with us any additional resources you find particularly interesting and we will post them in our next update. Enjoy the resources.