The nonprofit world is about to face the toughest year in its history.  By every measure, 2010 could be far more painful for charities and the people they serve than any other they have known.  The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual ranking of the 400 charities that raise the most money found that by year’s end, the nation’s top organizations expect a median decline of nine percent in donations, meaning half will see giving drop even more.  

            The workforce that charities and foundations mobilize to meet the challenges is far different than it was just a few years ago.  Around the US, nonprofits have cut payrolls in order to continue to utilize income to meet the needs of those they serve.  At organizations around the country, workers are taking pay cuts and in many cases, reductions in retirement and health benefits.  

            As times get tougher, donors and governments are looking more carefully than ever to make sure that every dollar charities receive is spent well.  Lawmakers and donors look askance at the high executive salaries and raise questions about whether charities are making enough of a difference to justify their donations and government subsidies.  

            Amid the challenges, interest in community service is at a new high and giving is becoming an integral part of life.  

            For the northshore, the 2010 outlook means that the nonprofits serving our area will make significant adjustments to continue to meet needs in the community – and they will need the help of donors and volunteers more than ever.  As the US continues to struggle with one of the longest recessions in its history, segments of our community will struggle even more. 

            Housing, food, education and medical services just begin to touch on the basics of what many members of our  community need.  But at a deeper level, the mental and emotional challenges brought on by financial worries, create additional issues – spousal abuse, child abuse, depression, suicide and other issues arise as a result of such worries.  Although the northshore is generally socio-economically well-off, there are significant pockets of poverty.  Because of job layoffs, many families are now living closer to homelessness and poverty.  Many don’t have enough food.  I don’t know about you, but that’s not OK with me.  

How can you help?  

            Be aware that our area’s nonprofits and churches need volunteers now more than ever.  Volunteering your time brings needed skills and the precious resource of time to help nonprofits.  Giving a few hours of your time each week helps nonprofits overcome some of the stresses created by having to lay off workers.  Volunteers who give time can make a difference in whether a charity delivers services – or not.  

            Volunteering can be one of the most satisfying experiences of a lifetime.  It very often leads to enhanced feelings of well-being and personal value in addition to the satisfaction of knowing that you have changed or saved a life.  

            On the northshore, there are so many valuable nonprofit organizations that contribute to the health of our community.  If you want to volunteer, it is easy to check out a list of nonprofits (especially those that are located close to, or in, your local area) by visiting Guidestar.  

            Guidestar is a free website listing of all the nonprofits in the United States. The listings can be accessed by visiting http://www2.guidestar.org.  Registration and use of Guidestar is free.  Using Guidestar, it is possible to learn about the mission of nonprofits in your area, access current data on the people they serve, and get local contact information.  You can also check the organization’s financial history and see how well the nonprofit has been using its resources.  

            Making donations to charities in our area is also critical this year.  Our nonprofits need donors more than ever to meet the needs in our community.  Information on Guidestar can also help you decide which charities you want to support, by identifying the ones that are meeting critical needs.  Be sure to visit organization websites to learn more about their work.  And by all means, contact the nonprofit to ask any questions that you have about the organization’s work and how you can make a difference.  

Although 2010 will be a challenging year for nonprofits, our northshore community can step forward to help the charities that support our quality of life and can fill in essential gaps for those who have lost jobs, need food, require medical care, and just need emotional and mental health support.