Nonprofits in challenging financial times October 6, 2008

Unless you’ve just been beamed down from Outer Space, you’ve probably heard we’re in the midst of a financial crisis. According to the media, nonprofits have especially been affected, as corporate and individual giving is down and the need for goods and services is steadily increasing. You can’t open a newspaper, turn on your computer, watch the news or bake a cake (my neighbor seems to show up the second I turn on my oven), without somebody, somewhere sharing gloom and doom about our current economic issues.

Don’t get me wrong, I certainly am not minimizing the pain this is causing. Even I, with my Pollyanna look at the world, understand the seriousness of the situation; but since talking about it isn’t going to make it go away, can’t we just find a glimmer of silver in the lining of that nasty old cavity?

What if, during these tough times, we stop and take a long, hard look at how we’ve been doing things? Where can we create efficiencies to make the most of our time, energy and limited resources? Answering these questions sometimes requires change. Change isn’t easy (Trust me, I know. I’ve had the same haircut since 7th grade), but change is progress.

Most of my professional life (you mean, there are personal ones?), I’ve been involved with nonprofits; it’s a world I know and love. I believe that qualifies me to ask nonprofits who want to do more with less, to take a look at GiftWorks. It helped me tremendously, which is why I’m so passionate about it. What, you think I get this excited for no good reason? I know it can make a difference, especially in these trying times.

While you’re checking out GiftWorks, here’s another suggestion to ponder. Since everyone is blaming someone else for our financial crisis, what if we harness the energy that’s generated from all those fingers being pointed and turn it into a renewable, sustainable energy source? Now that would turn a negative into a positive! Granted, it may take a while to catch on, but keep an open mind…..anything is possible!

-Pat Weaver