Recognizing the value added to the city by its myriad of non-profit organizations, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced a plan to support non-profits in order to counter some of the effects of the recession.  At the top of the list are efforts to cut costs by improving efficiency and energy use.  You can read the full press release here, but some notable points of the plan include:

• Streamlining the process by which charities demonstrate that they comply with laws governing non-profit operations
• Establishing non-profit-for-profit partnerships to help non-profit leaders take advantage of consulting services and executive business expertise
• Expansion of a “bridge-loan” to cover short-term cash flow challenges
• Introducing a group-purchasing plan for technology and insurance to help non-profits save money

NYC’s non-profit sector is made up of over 500,000 professionals working in over 40,000 organizations.  Bloomberg has highlighted the sector’s contributions to the vitality of the city and its economy in providing such varied services as job training, affordable housing, and access to the arts.

Via Entry Level Living via Chronicle of Philanthropy

Consider how these ideas could help your organization:

The development of a culture of collaboration, including

• Collaboration among non-profit organizations.  What are other non-profits like yours or in your geographic area doing?  Are there opportunities to share resources?  Cut costs by purchasing in bulk?  Mobilize a larger group of supporters by putting together a collective event?
• Collaboration with the for-profit sector.  Non-profits are often the recipients of free or discounted services and resources from the for-profit sector.  Have you exhausted these possibilities?  Asked for donations of time and business acumen in addition to financial support?  What does your organization have to offer the for-profit sector besides a tax deduction?

Building sustainability for the short run and the long run

• Taking time to re-organize and restructure now can save time and money in the future.  Will devoting time to re-organizing your workflow make your efforts easier or more scalable in the future?  Are there other people within your organization or outside your organization who could help you do this?
• Keep up-to-date with technology, at the very least so that you know what’s out there.  Are you making wise decisions about energy use?  Is your technology adequate for your needs?  Could an investment in more advanced technology free up time or make your impact greater?  If upgrading is difficult due to limited cash-flow, could you design a special fundraising campaign for that specific purpose?

The answers to these questions will be different for different organizations, and not all of them will be helpful questions to ask for your organization.  But asking the relevant ones within your organization or discussing them with your board could help you make wiser decisions for the future.

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