Nonprofit "U" Episode 2: Weathering the Storm
Valerie F. Leonard
Published: June 25, 2015
In an ongoing effort to help organizations increase their capacity to serve their clients and communities, the Nonprofit “U” radio blog talk show will host its second episode, Weathering the Storm. The show will stream live on Monday, June 29, 2015, from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. from BlogTalkRadio.com/nonprofit_u. Valerie F. Leonard, an expert in community and organizational development, is the host. Monday’s episode will include budget updates, nonprofit news headlines and provide strategies for nonprofits to survive during turbulent times. There will be opportunities for listeners to call in with questions and participate in live chats. Nonprofit professionals are especially encouraged to call in and share their “war stories” of challenges and triumphs. The live call in number is (347) 884-8121.
The State of Illinois is the largest contributor to the state’s nonprofit sector. In spite of the fact that the Illinois economy is in recovery, the state is experiencing a $4 billion budget gap for FY 2016. Reductions in tax receipts make it difficult for state and local governments to meet their obligations and address the growing need for social services. The inability of the State to pay nonprofits on time is one of the greatest threats to the viability of the nonprofit sector. The nonprofit sector accounted for 8% of the State’s workers and 8.7% of the Gross State Product in 2000 (Donors Forum 2003).
“We are all in this together, Leonard, said. “We won’t solve all of our problems in 30 minutes, but it is my hope that we can create an environment in which nonprofit leaders feel comfortable sharing challenges and identifying solutions to move forward. No organization is an island.”