News & Views

A blog for those interested in what affects, motivates and drives the New York City Nonprofit Sector — written by CRE’s crackerjack consulting team. We hope you use this space to share your thoughts, ask questions and engage in conversations about our city, social justice and the nonprofit sector.

CRE’s Neighborhood Work: A View from Highbridge

By Ximena Rua-Merkin - This past fall, CRE embarked on a neighborhood based capacity building initiative to bring our services directly to organizations working in four of New York City’s neighborhoods most affected by the economic downturn. One of these neighborhoods is Highbridge. Located north of Yankee Stadium and West of the number 4 Subway line, Highbridge has been described by public authorities as one of the poorest neighborhoods in the City. However, as I get to know and work in this community, I realize that while its residents may face tremendous challenges, Highbridge is in no way poor. Read more >>

Wednesday, February 23, 2011 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Free Services for CBOs During Hard Times

By Linda Levine, Member of Gray Matters - Has there ever been a time of greater need for NYC’s underserved urban communities? If you direct or work in a CBO, you know the struggle to provide a multiplicity of crucial services at a time when funds are scarce! Many communities suffer from lack of decent housing, medical and legal services, educational opportunities, as well as the impact of environmental injustice, limited access to the arts and the many other benefits enjoyed by citizens in more prosperous communities. Typically understaffed for the services they seek to provide, CBO's are keenly aware of how much more they might do with some professional assistance. Read more >>

Thursday, December 02, 2010 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Rapid Response to Support the Sector

by Holly Delany Cole - A recent report by Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Ph.D. and Cameron Smith, funded by the Philanthropic Collaborative, found that Foundations responded in “a targeted and timely manner”, with grants appropriately directed to recession relief to the hardest-hit parts of the country. Read more >>

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Is Your Agency (or Grantee) Starved for Data?

By Barbara Blumenthal - Funders dream about collecting data from agencies that will answer important questions about participant progress and agency performance. Read more >>

Thursday, April 08, 2010 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Comments

Scott Anderson, PhD commented on 12-Apr-2010 06:55 PM

Barbara-

Very well written and relevant piece. I like your style. You write about complexities in a very simple, straightforward manner. Nice work. (And, yes, I do think you should submit it for press...)

Your comments are right on target! As I was reading, I felt like shouting, "Yes! This is exactly what nonprofits need to hear!" There is a huge pool of data that could be collected and used, but isn't.

One addition I would make is in the power of collaborations bringing nonprofits together to increase their purchasing power. Software can be pricey, but that doesn't mean it is inaccessible. I wrote about some of our clients who came together to purchase our software, ClientTrack,in an interview with Amy Sample Ward (see http://www.clienttrack.com/OurCommunity/Blog/tabid/83/PostID/7/Amy-Sample-Ward-Interview-re-Collaboration.aspx). By joining together, three community action agencies were able to get state funding to implement an integrated software solution.

Additionally, the interview references another of our clients who implemented our software to track client progress across 60+ affiliated organizations. It's not about service outcomes anymore, but about individual outcomes across a wide continuum of care. That's a powerful level of analysis that we haven't seen happening, but is now possible. I urge you to look into our software a bit more because I believe it addresses an overwhelming majority of the issues you mention. There ARE accessible solutions, and nonprofit leaders need to know about them. There is no need to be "data starved," as you say, in a world of amazing technology.

Money Talks

by Walker Brierre - Young nonprofit employees, do you have a financial life? The answer is yes – whether you realize it or not – and Beth Kobliner wants to help you get your life in order. Read more >>

Friday, April 02, 2010 | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink

Capacity Building for Advocacy

By Valyrie Laedlein As reported in a Stanford Social Innovation Review blog post, the National Committee of Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP) recently published a report demonstrating the huge impact that foundations can make by investing in advocacy, community organizing and civic engagement. How to build the capacity of community organizations to engage in advocacy was the topic of an inquiry that Community Resource Exchange was asked to undertake by The Atlantic Philanthropies. Read more >>