FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 11, 2009

County helps nonprofit agencies explore collaboration
Hit by economic downturn, sharing some 
services could save money

MIDDLETOWN – The downturn in the economy has adversely impacted fundraising abilities for all nonprofit social service agencies, including those in Monmouth County. The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders is trying to help them find new ways to do more with less.

“There are many opportunities to find efficiencies as economic resources diminish,” said Freeholder Amy A. Mallet, liaison to the Human Services Department. The County Human Services Advisory Council and the United Way of Monmouth County hosted a symposium Tuesday, May 5, at Brookdale Community College that invited nonprofits agencies in Monmouth County together for the first time. The program was entitled, “Adaptation to a Changing Economic Environment.”

“There are possibilities for sharing resources and expertise to achieve greater efficiencies,” Mallet told more than 100 representatives who attended the three-hour session. “My hope is you will leave today with new ideas and that you will find new colleagues to collaborate with.”

Among the speakers was Kevin Ryan, former commissioner of the state Department of Children and Families who is now president and CEO of Covenant House, a national privately-funded agency in the Americas providing shelter and other services to homeless, runaway and throwaway youth. Ryan advised the group to not only share resources, but to share fundraisers.
 
“Galas and benefit concerts are not providing revenues like they used to,” Ryan said. He talked about a group of providers in Anchorage, Alaska, that together sponsored one ball with the money being divided up based on how many people each group brought to the event. “You will make more from that divided up six ways than from one benefit concert.”

The biggest source of income for nonprofit agencies was government grants, but as the economy nosedived government funding has been reduced by as much as 60 percent, said Tim Hearne, CEO of the United Way of Monmouth County. In Monmouth County, for example, the Board of Chosen Freeholders cut funding to its nonprofits this year by $945,000.

“Like other local governments, Monmouth County is grappling with a decline in revenue and cuts had to be made to the county budget,” Mallet said. “But Monmouth County is not abandoning its nonprofit partners. As a result of this economic downturn, the mission now is for Monmouth County and its nonprofit community to create a new environment than will energize the human services community in a way that fosters collaborative action focused on improved delivery of services. We also must develop ways to assist those nonprofits that are struggling to meet their clients’ needs.”

As local government funding has diminished, funding from the federal government has increased, Ryan said. He recommended checking the federal grants Web site at www.grants.gov for available funding or becoming a placement organization for the AmeriCorps Service Program. Americorps  provides funds to local agencies committed to using national service to address critical community needs in education, public safety, health and the environment. The funds are used to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members. There is also the federal stimulus money, he said.
 
“There is lemonade to be made here if we look at the federal stimulus package creatively,” Ryan said. “In Detroit they were able to steer federal weatherization money to their youth program.”

Ryan also recommended that the nonprofits see if they can buy items in bulk together rather than separately, and going back to their contractors and renegotiating contracts.

“Monmouth County has the strongest human services community in the state,” Ryan said.  “We’re going to get through this. Keep your chin up and thank your donors. Be a community of gratitude toward those who are invested in us. Our friends, donors and contributors are going to remember how we got through this. When the economy is swimming again, they will invest again.”

Presenting ideas at the symposium were Tony Comerford of the New Hope Foundation, “Mergers as a Way to Adapt – Taking the Fear Out of the Process;” Robert Hodnett of Catholic Charities and Kathy Collins of Monmouth Cares, “New Opportunities Coming out of a Changing Environment;” Donna Blaze of Affordable Housing Alliance, Paul McEvily, Interfaith Neighbors and Maureen Mulligan, Coastal Habitat, “Using Coalitions to Respond to Opportunities,” and Kevin Ryan, who offered “Perspectives on a Changing Environment.” Mary Ann Christopher, President of the Central Jersey Visiting Nurse Association and Chair of the county’s Human Services Advisory Council, emceed the event.
 
Mallet said the intent of the symposium was to provide a setting for the county’s many nonprofit agencies to forge new relationships, communicate and share ideas.

“The great number of attendees is a real testament to the need for this kind of collaboration,” according to Mallet, who said that some of the goals of the gathering have already been met, despite this being just the beginning. “Those in attendance stayed after to exchange ideas and information. I applaud them all for being there.”

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