How Charities Cope With a Troubled Economy The financial crisis embroiling the United States has many charities worried about how to manage their finances, raise money, and keep up with growing demand for services. To help readers navigate the challenges, The Chronicle has compiled recent stories, live discussions, and statistics about how charities deal with turbulent times. Jamie Gaskin is one of many nonprofit leaders who have been able to guide their charities through economic challenges. Mr. Gaskin, who oversees the Boys & Girls Club in Flint, Mich., has worked closely with his board of directors to identify new sources of money and appeal to his community's needs in the face of a bleak economy. (Photograph by Santa Fabio, for The Chronicle) Careers Fund-Raising Teams Rethink Roles Amid Economic Pressure to Justify Jobs (7/23/2009) A Growing Leadership Gap Need for qualified executives persists even as charities trim staffs (4/23/2009) Company's Nonprofit Academy Helps Prepare Leaders (4/23/2009) Lending a Hand in Hard Times The recession forces charities to get creative as they recruit Americans to volunteer (1/29/2009) Opinion: Adding to the Nonprofit Work Force Is a Smart Way to Stimulate the Economy (1/19/2009) Worth the Price? Charities think twice about using expensive executive-search firms (12/11/2008) Rethinking Nonprofit Jobs Competition and the bad economy force charities to get creative (11/13/2008) Job-Market Jitters The poor economy is making it hard for fund raisers to find work (9/4/2008) Fund Raising Fund Raisers Rethink Scope of "Big" Contributions (10/29/2009) Red Cross Retools Its Fund Raising to Overcome a Troubled Financial Picture (10/29/2009) Charities Are Cautiously Optimistic as Fund-Raising Season Begins (10/1/2009) How Trustees Can Help: Ideas From a Board Chairman (10/1/2009) Expert Advice for Donors (9/17/2009) Fund Raising Goes Global to Meet Growing Needs: More and more charities are seeking, and winning, contributions from different parts of the world (9/17/2009) Green Shoots and Greenbacks Seeds of recession recovery give new life to some charities' capital campaigns (8/20/2009) Fund Raisers Not Optimistic About Giving, Say Researchers (8/20/2009) Fund Raisers Find Mix of Personal and Professional Support at Local Round Tables (7/23/2009) Charities Tweak Their Handling of Gift Annuities in Bad Economy (7/2/2009) How Different Types of Charitable Causes Are Faring in the Downturn (6/18/2009) Giving Takes a Beating Donations dropped by 5.7% last year, new report says (6/18/2009) When Will It End? If this recession turns out to be like the one in the mid-1970s, donations won't rebound until at least 2012 (6/18/2009) International Fund Raising Lessons Learned (6/4/2009) Online Giving Slows Charities look for ways to raise smaller sums from more donors (5/7/2009) Rebuilding Buckeye Business Ohio grant makers help position the region for economic recovery (5/7/2009) Charities Work to Lure More Start-Up Businesses to Cleveland (5/7/2009) Animal Charity Ponders Ways to Make the Most of Text Messages in Seeking Gifts (5/7/2009) Charity Athletic Events Fared Well in 2008, but the Forecast for This Year Is Not So Sunny (5/7/2009) Fund Raisers Urged to Pursue Childless Donors for Bequests (4/9/2009) Fewer Than Half of Charities Raised More Money in 2008, Study Finds (4/9/2009) How Charities Can Find Donations Even in Tough Times (4/1/2009) Youth Charities Work Together on Planned Giving (3/26/2009) Opinion: Appealing to a Donor's Heart Matters in Tough Times (3/26/2009) Salvation Army Kettles Raise Record Donations (3/18/2009) Foreclosure Cases and Drop in Giving Add to Legal-Aid Charities' Recession Woes (3/12/2009) Despite Grim Outlook, Some Corporate Philanthropists Stay Upbeat (3/12/2009) America's Biggest Foundations Won't Increase Their Giving in 2009, Says a New Report (3/12/2009) Strains in the Safety Net Social-service groups face growing demand and a drop in support (3/12/2009) A Lesson in Character Development (2/26/2009) Raising Money in Hard Times: a Special Report (2/26/2009) Museum Finds a Way to Energize Revenues (2/10/2009) A Year for Big Bequests Richest donors gave $15.5-billion in 2008, but this year looks gloomy (1/29/2009) 2008 Results Mixed for Online Giving Sites (1/15/2009) College Fund Raisers Predict Small Decline in 2009 Gifts (1/16/2009) Special Report: Feeling the Squeeze Charities and the Economy (1/15/2009) Video: Feeling the Squeeze: One Charity's Story (1/15/2009) Charities Brace for a Tough Year and Seek Role in Recovery Plan (1/15/2009) Group Urges Change in Gift-Annuity Payouts to Donors (1/15/2009) A Mixed Outlook for Corporate Giving in 2009 (1/7/2009) Nonprofit Groups Must Avoid Fear During Recession (1/5/2009) Working for Miracles Nonprofit groups are experimenting with new ways to ensure that donations flow over the holidays (12/11/2008) Charities Explore New Ways to Lure End-of-Year Gifts (12/11/2008) Americans Say Poor Economy Could Fuel Interest in Gifts of Charitable Donations, Polls Find (11/27/2008) Stock Market's Drop Will Probably Reduce Number of Gifts of $1-Million to $50-Million (11/27/2008) More Charities Report a Drop in Gifts This Year, Report Says (11/13/2008) Giving's Tough Climate Economic woes put damper on some donations (6/26/2008) Audio: How One Charity is Bucking the Trend (6/26/2008) Feeling the Squeeze Some capital campaigns falter as the economy sours (5/15/2008) Fund-Raising Strategies for Troubled Times (2/7/2008) How a Recession Would Affect Fund Raising (2/7/2008) How the Economy Affects Giving (2/7/2008) 29% of Americans Plan to Cut Giving This Year (9/18/2008) Managing 12-Year Philanthropic Partnership Leads to Tough-Love Advice Book (10/29/2009) Beating the Recession by Seizing Opportunities to Expand (10/15/2009) Two National Youth Charities Strike Partnerships to Share Resources (10/15/2009) Let's Start a Loan Fund to Keep Social-Service Groups in Business (10/15/2009) A Few Charities Buck Layoff Trends by Hiring Workers, Creating Jobs (10/1/2009) New State Laws Give Charities More Wiggle Room on Endowment Spending (9/17/2009) Some Small Groups Fail in Recession (9/17/2009) Belts Tightened by Recession, Diversity Officers Stretch Resources (9/17/2009) Opinion: New Endowment Rules Signal Caution for Charities (9/17/2009) Opinion: An Affair to Remember: When conflicts get personal (9/17/2009) Vacant-House Hunters Charities shift from building to renovating foreclosed properties (8/20/2009) Abandoned Apartments in Gritty D.C. Neighborhood Become a New Community Center (8/20/2009) Overwhelmed Credit-Counseling Charities Battle Their Own Debt (7/23/2009) San Francisco Studies Nonprofit Efficiency (7/23/2009) New York City Mayor Is a Force for Philanthropy in Tough Times Efforts to help charities weather the recession, and new program designed to spur volunteerism, could be models for other cities (7/23/2009) Collaborating for Coverage A region's Jewish groups band together to give their employees affordable health insurance (7/23/2009) Most Nonprofit Groups Change Asset Allocations (7/23/2009) Accepting Less Charity leaders forgo or donate personal income as a way to save their organizations money (7/23/2009) Worst-Case Scenarios Charities that prepared contingency plans are faring better as the recession rages, say experts (7/2/2009) Ford Foundation Offers Buyouts to One-Third of Its 550 Workers (7/2/2009) Community Foundations Fare Relatively Well During Recession, Report Says (5/28/2009) Ford Foundation to Close Offices in Russia and Vietnam as Part of Cost-Cutting Effort (5/7/2009) Recession and the Arts: Act II Large institutions join the ranks of those making cuts, but creative strategies emerge (5/7/2009) Opinion: Unprecedented Times Call for Unprecedented Actions (5/7/2009) Opinion: With Stimulus Aid Coming, Charities Need to Build on Success (5/7/2009) Opinion: Charity Loans: a Creative, Underused Form of Support (5/7/2009) Nonprofit Financial Officers Expect Recession to Last Through Year's End (4/17/2009) Riding Out the Recession As revenues drop at many charity-run businesses, nonprofit leaders seek new ways to compete (4/23/2009) Keeping Charity-Owned Businesses Afloat in the Economic Downturn: Tips From Experts (4/23/2009) Charities Need Business Experts, but Few Ask for Free Help (4/23/2009) A CEO Survival Guide for Tough Times (4/23/2009) Opinion: Tough Times Require Change Throughout Philanthropy (4/9/2009) Opinion: Congress Should Reject the Idea of Adding New Restrictions on Charities (4/9/2009) Tightening Their Belts Foundations expect to make grant-making cuts after a sharp drop in assets, Chronicle survey finds (4/9/2009) Survival of the Fittest? Charities, foundations struggle over restructuring in sour economy (4/9/2009) Economic Woes Bring More Charities Together Nonprofit organizations look to mergers and collaborations as a way of surviving in tough financial times (3/26/2009) Joining Forces in the 'Back Office' Collaborative effort by Minneapolis charities combines groups' administrative operations (3/26/2009) Surviving Under One Roof A merger between two Arizona domestic-violence shelters has brought numerous benefits -- and challenges (3/26/2009) Fiscal Sponsorships Help Programs Keep Costs Down (3/26/2009) Going Forward by Staying Together A collaboration among three museums has expanded to include exhibits and capital campaigns (3/26/2009) Opinion: Tread Lightly in Nonprofit Mergers (3/26/2009) Opinion: Giving More Than Money Is Wise -- but Many Grant Makers Don't Know How (3/26/2009) Rise in Federal Spending on Social Programs Not Enough, Critics Say (3/17/2009) Résumé Builders Charities see increase in volunteers fueled by laid-off workers sharing their skills and time (3/12/2009) One in Five Charities Is Considering Mergers to Help Survive Hard Economic Times (3/12/2009) Automated Legal Documents Assist People Without Lawyers (2/26/2009) A Welcome Jolt Nonprofit leaders prepare for infusion of funds from the federal economic-stimulus legislation (2/26/2009) Letting Go Layoffs at nonprofit groups are spreading — with many more expected in coming months (2/12/2009) Culture Flash How arts groups are exploiting technology to get a leg up in the recession (2/12/2009) Opinion: Four Questions for Charities to Answer as They Seek to Thrive in Hard Times (1/29/2009) Many Foundations Have Lost Nearly One-Third of Assets, Chronicle Study Finds (1/21/2009) 25 Percent of Charities Have Changed Investing Policies (1/15/2009) Opinion: America's Greatest 'Public Works' (1/15/2009) Opinion: Foundations Should Step Up as Obama Steps In (1/15/2009) How Board Members Can Respond to Investment Turmoil (1/15/2009) Map Tracks Grants to Help Charities Cope (1/15/2009) Grants to Help Alleviate the Nation's Financial Woes: a Sampling (1/15/2009) Survival Tips for Cash-Strapped Arts Groups (1/15/2009) Most N.Y. Arts Groups Face Cuts Amid Weak Donations, Survey Finds (1/5/2009) Recession Hits Arts Groups Especially Hard (1/2/2009) Economy Has Harmed Finances at Many Charities (12/11/2008) Foundation Assets May Have Dropped 30%, Expert Predicts (11/25/2008) Opinion: Mergers Can Be a Tool for Charities in Tough Times (12/11/2008) 100,000 Nonprofit Groups Could Collapse in Next Two Years, Expert Predicts (11/27/2008) Opinion: If You Just Follow the Latest Fad, What Happens When It Fades? (11/27/2008) Audio: Tough Times for Foundations (11/25/2008) Gates Foundation Will Scale Back Grant-Making Plans (11/21/2008) As Endowment Values Plummet, Some Institutions Consider Suing Over Investment Advice (11/19/2008) Nonprofit Boards Urged to Focus on the Challenges Posed by the Economy (11/13/2008) Extending a Helping Hand Foundations retool their grant-making plans as the economy declines (11/13/2008) Opinion: How Grant Makers Should Respond to Hard Times (11/04/2008) How Bad Is It? Economy's downturn prompts new challenges for charities (10/2/2008) Endowment Managers Consider How to Handle Downturn (10/2/2008) Surviving Tough Times How five charities overcame financial challenges (9/18/2008) One of the Nation's Biggest Grant Makers Founders During Tumult (10/2/2008) Bracing for Tough Times Many charities feel vulnerable as economy slips (2/7/2008) A Charitable Divide As wealthy institutions report record fund-raising gains, social-service groups struggle to stay afloat (1/10/2008) Live Discussions Nonprofit Finance: What Board Members and Trustees Need to Know (10/15/2009) Executive Compensation: Is the Recession Affecting Nonprofit Salaries? (10/6/2009) Real Estate and Facilities: Understanding Your Options (10/1/2009) Helping Nonprofit Groups Make Smart Financial Decisions (9/29/2009) Diversity Efforts in the Nonprofit World (9/22/2009) Raising Money Online: How to Get Started (9/15/2009) Employee Benefits at Nonprofit Groups: How they are faring in the recession (9/8/2009) The Economic Downturn and Donor-Advised Funds: What You Need to Know (8/18/2009) How to Reconnect With Donors Who Stopped Giving (8/11/2009) Finding a Sponsor Your Group's Next Event (8/4/2009) How Charities Can Figure Out How Much Time and Money to Invest in Social Networking (7/21/2009) Making It Easy for Donors to Give Monthly: Advice for Small and Medium-Sized Charities (7/7/2009) The Economic Downturn and Corporate Giving What Grant Seekers Need to Know (6/30/2009) Making Capital Campaigns Work in the Recession (6/25/2009) Using Social Networks to Promote Good Causes (6/23/2009) The Changing Role of Foundations (6/11/2009) How Much Has the Recession Hurt Charitable Giving? (6/10/2009) Promoting Causes on Online Social Networks (6/2/2009) New Ways for Arts Organizations to Finance Their Operations (5/28/2009) Smart Strategies for Small Charities How to Make the Most of Limited Resources (5/19/2009) Financial Management in Tough Times: Financing Options (5/14/2009) Direct-Mail Workshop: Writing and Designing Winning Appeal (4/28/2009) Starting and Building a Career in the Nonprofit World (4/21/2009) How Grant Seekers Can Write Sharp Proposals in Bad Economic Times (4/14/2009) International Philanthropy in a Time of Recession (4/16/2009) Retaining Your Best Donors (3/31/2009) Managing in Hard Times: How Nonprofit Leaders Can Make the Right Decisions (3/24/2009) Making Good Decisions About Giving: What Donors Need to Know (3/17/2009) Building a Successful Organization in Stressful Times A conversation with a veteran nonprofit leader (3/5/2009) How to Solicit Gifts From Individuals (2/24/2009) Social-Media Workshop How Nonprofit Groups Can Use Online Tools to Build Awareness and Raise Money (2/17/2009) Planning Special Events During a Recession (2/3/2009) Social-Media Workshop How nonprofit groups can use online tools to build awareness and raise money (2/17/2009) Doing More With Less in Hard Times (12/9/2008) Mergers and Alliances: Should More Charities Consolidate Operations? (12/2/2008) Nonprofit Careers: How Does the Financial Downturn Affect Your Job Prospects? (11/18/2008) Spending Donations Wisely in Hard Times (11/4/2008) Year-End Appeals: Seeking Gifts in Uncertain Times (10/14/2008) Weathering a Financial Storm (9/23/2008) Corporate Fund Raising in a Turbulent Economy (8/19/2008) The State of Giving (6/24/2008) Grant Making During Difficult Times (5/15/2008) The State of Fund Raising (4/1/2008) Job Searching in a Tight Market (2/26/2008) Recession-Proof Philanthropy (2/19/2008) Surveys and Data Donations to Largest U.S. Charities Rose 1% in 2008 (10/29/2009) Nearly 30% of Nonprofit Leaders Took a Pay Cut This Year; Pay in 2008 Grew Quickly (10/1/2009) Dwindling Reserves Declines in new gifts serve as bleak omens for donor-advised funds in 2009 (8/20/2009) Charity's Declining Fortunes Endowments lost $46.6-billion since 2007, says Chronicle survey (6/4/2009) With Stocks Still Shaky, Endowment Managers Put New Faith in Cash (6/4/2009) Online Giving Slows Charities look for ways to raise smaller sums from more donors (5/7/2009) The Chronicle's 2008 Endowments Survey (7/24/2008) A Gloomy Giving Outlook Many businesses expect donations to remain flat this year (8/21/2008)