Nonprofits Cite Limited Funding, Staff Resources As Top Concerns

A survey of nonprofit organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island – members of The Alliance for Nonprofit Growth and Opportunity (TANGO) – revealed that even as the economy slowly rebounds, lack of funding, limited staff resources and fewer donations remain the top concerns of the organizations.

“The pain points of nonprofits in the region are clear.  Lack of funding leads the way, and remains an acute need,” said Rollin Schuster, Founder and President of TANGO, a socially responsible nonprofit sustained by professional service providers dedicated to serving the nonprofit sector.

On the business side, the nonprofit organizations responding to the TANGO member survey indicated that in 2014 they anticipate seeking out resources for human resources support, employee benefits and health care reform consulting, information technology services, and marketing communications and social media consulting.  Leadership development and fundraising consulting are also ranked among the leading areas in need of additional resources and expertise.

TANGO is a community of more than 850 nonprofit organizations in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island that receives best-in-class services and a range of educational opportunities from a partnership of 30 top-tier professional service firms.  More than 10 percent of members responded to the survey.

TANGO provides member nonprofit organizations with in-person forums and webinars hosted by TANGO partners that provide services ranging from employee benefits and retirement planning to marketing, IT, fundraising and board consulting, as well as employment law, accounting, and banking. TANGO also provides a range of services, including equipment donations, social media expertise, and an ongoing exchange of intellectual capital.

Responses of the nonprofit organizations were scored on a 1 to 3 scale.  The rankings, and average scores, were:

1.    Lack of Funding 2.2

2.    Fewer Donations 2.0

3.    Limited Staff 2.0

4.      Need for Training 1.7

5.      High Overhead 1.6

6.      Differentiation 1.5

“By ‘giving back’ to our nonprofit members, TANGO Partners help strengthen the communities in which we live, coming together with the nonprofit sector to drive innovation and lower costs,” Schuster said. “We help nonprofits thrive – in precisely the areas where the need is greatest and the interest most intense.”

Regarding the business needs of their nonprofit organizations, the top 10 were:

1. HR Support  44.8%
2. Employee Benefits/Health Care Reform Consulting 43.6%
3. IT Services 42.5%
4. Marketing Communications/Social Media Consulting 42.5%
5. Leadership Development 37.9%
6. Fundraising Consulting 37.9%
7. Legal Counsel 31%
8. Accounting & Auditing  29.8%
9. Event Management 24.1%
10. Payroll 20.6%

There is no cost for nonprofit organizations to become TANGO members.  Additional information is available at the TANGO website, www.TANGOalliance.org.