Colorado Nonprofits Hurt by Economy

In tough economic times, people often turn to nonprofit organizations for support in meeting basic needs. But the increased demands for help and the steady decline in donations have many struggling to provide the same level of assistance they have in the past. And Colorado appears to be one of the hardest hit states in the US.

According to an article by the Associated Press, "In a survey released Monday by the Colorado Nonprofit Association, 762 charities in 57 Colorado counties cited economic worries similar to those faced by businesses. Declining income. Difficulty borrowing money. Staff cuts and reduced services. A few of them, 4.2 percent, said they didn't know if they'd survive 2009."

More findings from the survey on Colorado nonprofits suggest:

• More than half of the nonprofits (51.8 percent) said the recession hurt fundraising efforts.
• More than a third (38.5 percent) said the economic downturn has had a negative effect on their ability to serve clients.
• More than one in five (20.5 percent) described themselves as very unprepared or somewhat unprepared for the recession.
• More than a fourth (27.9 percent) have frozen staff wages, with 8.6 percent reporting layoffs.
• Most nonprofits reported declines in donations, from corporate sponsors and deep-pocket patrons cutting off funds to fewer people buying tickets to charity fundraisers.

Jewish Family Service is not exempt from these hardships; our donations are down, but our client needs have skyrocketed. A lot of people who have never needed help are lining up at our food pantry and seeking guidance from our counseling center. It's scary out there for a lot of people right now, but you can help us make a difference in others' lives.

One fun way to support our programs and the people we serve is by attending the fifth annual JFS Executive Luncheon on May 12th. Visit our Web site to find out more about this year's exciting guest speaker.

--Alaina Green and Kari Alpen, JFS Marketing Department