80% of nonprofits experiencing fiscal stress

Have you checked out the recent study of nonprofits from Johns Hopkins University? It’s not pretty:

Johns Hopkins Study: Impact of the Recession on Nonprofit Organizations

· 80% of responding nonprofit organizations reported experiencing fiscal stress in the past year

· Almost 40% reported severe or very severe fiscal stress

· Experiencing declining revenues, increased costs, restricted cash flow, declining endowments

Here’s a reality check! Some of my nonprofit friends are saying that it’s not a recession, it’s a “restructuring.” One friend says our business will never be the same.

Another friend says that many struggling nonprofits will probably fold in these times.  And she says that won’t be all bad.  She thinks it’s a good thing for organizations to merge or end their work if they don’t have a passionate group of supporters who will keep it alive.