Three More Years of This?

Experts Say Giving Downturn Likely to Last Until 2012

A recent article in The Christian Science Monitor reports that giving may remain flat or continue to decline for a few more years. According to the Giving USA Foundation, contributions dropped 2 percent from 2007 to 2008 and are likely to decline more steeply this year. Another study concluded that, based on giving patterns in the aftermath of the Depression and the recession of 1973-75, inflation-adjusted giving won’t return to the 2007 level until at least 2012, even if the recession ended by this June.

Other recent studies have concluded that due to the shrinking economy, global shifts in economic power, and the enormous growth of the nonprofit sector over the past decade, a large percentage of churches and nonprofit organizations could remain in a chronically difficult situation for years to come. That is, unless, something significant changes.

Organizations that intend to continue to serve the needs of their community will have to confront this reality directly, implementing new strategies for raising funds and providing service that maximize resources and organizational impact.

Even amidst this challenging economy, numerous organizations continue to raise significant support, initiate new plans and programs, and increase their overall impact. New “start-up” organizations are emerging with energy, optimism, business smarts, and a ready-to-change-the-world posture. People are doing it. You can too!

This is not a time for incremental or reactionary thinking. This is a time for monster missions. This is a time for highly engaged leaders and teams. This is a time for real comprehensive and strategic approaches to funding. This is a time for creating new mission-driven visions and vehicles for impact – grounded in reality, but no longer relying on past paradigms for guidance and success.
 
This is, above all, a time to live on the EDGE.