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November 09, 2008

Independent Sector
Nonprofit Groups Discuss How Elections Affect Their Organizations

Nonprofit groups on Sunday got an optimistic view of how the historic 2008 presidential elections and the administration of Presdent-elect Barack Obama, a Democrat, will effect their organizations.

Independent Sector, a nationwide association of foundations, and corporate giving programs, kicked off its annual meeting in Philadelphia with speakers who analyzed election results.

The stature of the nonprofit world cannot help but improve under an Obama administration, said James Capehart, an editorial writer at The Washington Post. He added that that the best and brightest leaders of tax-exempt organizations may be tapped to work for the new president.

Judy Woodruff, political editor of PBS’s News Hour with Jim Lehrer, explained that Mr. Obama’s campaign broke new ground by operating as a 50-state grass-roots group and that he understands the power that kind of organization can wield. In addition, Mr. Obama, as a candidate, talked about establishing an office to reach out and harness the grass-roots power of the nation’s nonprofit groups, she said.

The optimism, however, was tempered by a sharp reminder that the international economic crisis is likely to both decrease the resources of charitable organizations at the time that demands for their services are increasing.

“We need your help more than ever,” said Mayor Michael Nutter, of Philadelphia, whose city faces a $108-million budget shortfall for the current fiscal year and a gap of nearly $1-billion over five years.

Mayor Nutter recently announced major cuts in city services, including the elimination of some 800 jobs as well as the closing of city pools and libraries.

One concern of nonprofit groups is that foundations will see a Democratic White House and majority as an excuse to not give money to social service organizations, said Brigitte Savage, development director of Accesso Hispano, a project of the Self Reliance Foundation that seeks to educate the Hispanics about education, health care, the environment and reducing violence.

Rebecca W. Rimel, executive director of the Pew Charitable Trusts, said that while many foundations have lost 20 percent to 30 percent of their holdings in the declining stock market, they must maintain the focus on their missions and work in a bipartisan fashion with the new Congress and administration.

— Eric Kelderman

Sunday November 9, 2008 | Permalink

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