Nonprofits Come Together
Wednesday, July 30 2008 @ 12:56 PM GMT+5
Nearly 40 people gathered at the invitation of the Community Foundation to give voice to the collective needs and challenges facing charitable organizations serving Muscatine County.
Executive Director Judi Holdorf gave a brief overview of the Community Foundation and its granting program followed by an interactive session in which participants listed the specific needs their individual organizations have. As these needs were verbalized, common issues emerged.
The current economy is creating a Catch 22 effect for charities. Funding is decreasing, causing programming and staffing decreases. Yet the demand and need for services are increasing. Participants recognize the challenges that the present economy poses, however there was solace in knowing that others shared those challenges and were interested in working together on areas such as:
Need for volunteers
Communications/awareness/education
Operational funds for salaries, fuel, materials and supplies
Funding for on-going programs
Concern for services for those with low income
Executive Director Judi Holdorf gave a brief overview of the Community Foundation and its granting program followed by an interactive session in which participants listed the specific needs their individual organizations have. As these needs were verbalized, common issues emerged.
The current economy is creating a Catch 22 effect for charities. Funding is decreasing, causing programming and staffing decreases. Yet the demand and need for services are increasing. Participants recognize the challenges that the present economy poses, however there was solace in knowing that others shared those challenges and were interested in working together on areas such as:
Need for volunteers
Communications/awareness/education
Operational funds for salaries, fuel, materials and supplies
Funding for on-going programs
Concern for services for those with low income