pic from richard scott 33

The economics of existing as a nonprofit should focus on two factors:  raising money to lower the costs charged for your service and showing measurable results.  If a nonprofit cannot show both than it needs to seriously think about closing. 

Raising funds can be through in kind donations, cash, selling a good or service, and volunteers. 

Measurable results require that the nonprofit has set clear goals and objectives and with their data is able to show results. 

The future is about being part of a solution; the reason you exist.  If your nonprofit is part of maintaining the status quo until the problem is solved, your nonprofit is at risk of early extinction.    Nonprofits that are part of the solution are those that evolve to meet the changing needs with their focus on the mission and vision.

Photo by:  Telstar Logistics

Some of you out there may be wondering about different ways that you can reach out to the college population to help them out and get interested in the non profit sector.  There are several different paths you can choose.
A popular option is to offer a scholarship.  This does not have to be much, only a few hundred dollars.  For college students trying to pay for school any money is a help to them.  If using a scholarship you should set up requirements.  You can have the applicants write and essay about something to do with the nonprofit sector or to come up with a plan to help some area of your nonprofit.  These options are really endless and all that is required is for you to just be a little creative.  You can even contact some colleges in a certain mile radius and see if they can put your scholarship in the list of scholarships that many schools have.  This will help to inform more college age people about nonprofits and get a number of them interested in joining the nonprofit sector after they graduate.

pic by Bearman 2007

There continues to be a negative reflection by voters of their local elected officials role and expectations.    Part of such a reflection is due to the continuing facts becoming public that elected officials are getting benefits or passing laws to benefit specific officials for retirement.  

Nonprofit leaders are viewed more positively since they are considered to be dedicated to the public good.  However, there is a trend that some nonprofits leaders are more interested in the money and manipulating nonprofits to benefit themselves and their friends.  This can become a dangerous trend if left unchecked. 

cartoon by wster2

Promising financial assistance if you lose your job and bought their product.  The word “recession proof” is being used to make consumers think the business your buying from really cares.  It should really say buyer beware, read the fine print.  With the hype that is focused on changing the consumer’s behavior to buy, guarantees are about changing the mindset of the buyer not about protecting the consumer from job loss.

The national savings rate has hit record highs.  The building of financial reserves is a positive action that both businesses and individuals have neglected for a long time.  Easy credit only made it easier for outside influences to affect businesses and individuals. 

Savings is the root difference for providing the means to decisions occurring within ones own control.

Debt swaps have gone from being a blessing to being the death to financial stability.

Tax-exempt bonds once had been viewed as worthy as municipal bonds due to the nature of government regulation.  However,  with municipal bonds being viewed less favorable, the same has occurred for tax-exempt bonds.

As municipal or nonprofits default on their debt service in 2009 it will cause  serious problems for government and nonprofits needing to finance debt.

I would suggest that certain nonprofits and municipalities look to bankruptcy to create the right amount of time to negotiate with bond holders, especially if it is the change in the financial markets that has created the current fiscal crisis for the organization.

However, due to the fact that some nonprofits and government entities are unable to make the necessary decisions to do what is best for the industry I think regulations should be in place allowing state governments similar measures that the SEC and Federal Reserve have in dealing with financial institutions.

The industry of $430 billion tax exempt bonds is too important to not be more strongly supported during this time of tight credit and illogical behavior of the financial markets.  These bonds are not from entities that represent investors seeking a return but rather are from entities whom are to accomplish public good.

(pics by vintfalken, wonderwebly, and thelastminute )

 pic by woodleywonderworks

Nonprofits worth billions making a major financial impact in communities across the country and growing each day.

Credit unions differ from other banks in several ways:

Credit Unions                                                    

• Not-for-profit cooperatives
• Owned by members
• Operated by mostly volunteer boards

Other Financial Institutions

• Owned by outside stockholders
• Owned by outside stockholders
• Controlled by paid boards

These factors allow credit unions to offer its members lower loan rates, higher savings rates and fewer service fees.

 pic by clappster

Best Value:  St Jude makes reaching for the future a reality for thousands of children.

Only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute.

St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world.

St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance.

No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay.

pic by andyinnyc

When AARP solicitations come in the mail maybe its time to thinking of it as junk mail.  AARP has been collecting royalties and fees from insurers for endorsing their policies.  This fact has caused the policies they endorse to not be the best buy for members.  In 2007 this amounted to almost 500 million dollars, 43% of their budget.  AARP has become an organization promoting an old message, dependent on past brand loyalty and focused on monetary returns.

Conflict and misleading Ads by AARP.  When AARP says it will review its marketing and suspend sales of such policies it is important to weigh what actions AARP in reality takes.  I do not see AARP taking action to give up 500 million dollars from insurers.

The  only promise that AARP makes is that they will provide you access to Health related Benefits.  It says that they share your information with companies they have selected.

Therefore, every member should depend on checking the Medicare web page to ensure that AARP is not pocketing money that should stay in their pocket.

Their promise of demanding from our leaders lasting solutions in  health care and financial security is empty when it means they makes so many millions on their endorsements of the products sold to you and said pricing includes paying off AARP for the endorsement.

If you want to make the biggest impact:

• Save by not buying their products and getting the same coverage at a lesser price.
• If you give the money you save to the elected officials in your district.
• You will have the attention of elected officials even more.
• Now thats a promise you can expect since you did it your self.