A Non-Profit for Non-Profits

I’ve got what I think is a bright idea. Let’s form a non-profit to help non-profit social service agencies. Clearly, they are at-risk and are need of some assistance.

Although non-profits continue to proliferate, private giving is on the decline and public funding is up but it’s not on par with what it is costing to run nonprofit organizations.

Here are some of the services that we could offer:
.Fundraising and development training

.Accounting and bookkeeping

. Corporate finance; investing
. Lobbying and government representation
. Executive training and headhunter services
. Board training and development
. Volunteer database
. Technical assistance
. Grantsmanship
. Organizational development/management
. Mergers, partnerships and acquisitions

Many social service agencies were designed with the purest of intent; to help those in need. Their allegiance to the cause has been the day-to-day focus and little attention has been paid to basic organization management, recordkeeping or long-term financial sustenance. Many of the leaders of these agencies are sincerely dedicated to the cause, but they have very little knowledge of business and management. They are not prepared to respond to today's challenges of competition, resource development, executive staff development, etc.

I would like to see government funding sources and nonprofit associations step up to the plate and provide the training, development and technical assistance that today’s nonprofit social service agencies most assuredly need. These agencies are providing much-needed services to vulnerable segments of the populace. I think they deserve some help and assistance in retrofitting their organizations to meet today’s demands.

Meanwhile, there’s a new industry on the horizon…nonprofit entities comprised of smart, business-savvy folks who can help the existing non-profits strengthen their infrastructure.