Nonprofit/NGO Expense Reduction & Cost-Cutting Ideas [by Laura Deaton]

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:37:28 -0000

Emergency Room:: Nonprofit/NGO Expense Reduction & Cost-Cutting Ideas
We all know that community benefit organizations always have lean, mean expense budgets, but now's definitely the time to just double-check and make sure you've explored all of your options. Here are some resources we've found that include some traditional and not-so-traditional ideas for cost savings.

Nonprofit Cost Analysis Toolkit: Links and Resources from the Bridgespan Group

20 Cost Cutting Ideas for Nonprofits from Fieldstone Alliance

Expense Reduction Opportunities for Nonprofits Looking to Cut Back from Cherry & Holland, CPAs

10 Ways for Nonprofits to Cut Costs from About. com

Cost Reduction Ideas from The Cost Reduction Consultant

Cost Cutting Tips for Nonprofit Entrepreneurs

Managing in a Tough Economy from Bridgestar

Do you know of other resources or have some strategies and tactics that haven't been mentioned? Log on in and add a comment!

Re: Local after-school program having a hard time [by Laura Deaton]

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:07:48 -0000

Emergency Room:: Local after-school program having a hard time
Hi, Friend - Sounds like you're in a tough position. I'd need to know a little more before giving you much more advice, but here are my preliminary thoughts:

(1) Have you considered issues-based advocacy? By that, I mean, grab some parents and go meet with the school board, or go to a public meeting and share your concerns. Now isn't the time to be bashful if it may mean the demise of the organization. Is there anyone on your board who has an "in" with decision makers there?

(2) Go to the media. Get your families involved in a letter writing campaign to the local newspapers, get on the radio show, talk about how important your program is to the community, bring in the local TV station to see the kids at work.

(3) Bridge funding. Are there any foundations or major donors that might help by providing you with funding long enough for you to explore longer-term resources without completely shutting down?

(4) Speaking of bridges, now may be the time to re-build bridges. Consider approaching the "big name" program about taking on your part-time program staff as a pilot program, or contracting with your staff to continue to provide services (assuming no duplication exists). Usually this works best if you can bring something to them as well. For instance, do you have any board members or donors that could join their organization. Could you create good publicity around a merger?

Just a few thoughts...Anyone else have some advice?

--Laura

Third Sector Connector :: Forum

Nonprofit/NGO Expense Reduction & Cost-Cutting Ideas [by Laura Deaton]

Re: Local after-school program having a hard time [by Laura Deaton]