Reader Panel Poll
— Scott VanDeusen
director of development for annual campaigns,
St. John’s University
“For our institution (a small, public, liberal-arts college), the biggest issue right now is how the national economic crisis is affecting our students. In the past, we have been able to personally call a major donor or two and ask for an additional gift to cover emergency situations. (For example, we have encountered situations where a student’s family had to cover unexpected major medical bills that left the student without financial support for the year.) Now, there are too many requests, and we’ve formed a special committee to respond to emergency financial circumstances that an increasing number of students are facing.”
— Denise M. Krumenacker
donor relations manager,
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
“Throughout government scandal, economic downturns, inflation, and costly foreign and shoddy domestic policy, government funds are increasingly less accessible to smaller not-for-profits, which desperately need these crucial funds to meet the needs of growing residential communities. This dire situation for nonprofits is a call to action for individuals and corporations who are willing to commit to long-term investment in our communities.
The biggest issues are related to charitable contributions from the corporate sector and individual donors. It is imperative that nongovernment funders understand that monies coming to nonprofits are not just gifts or tax deductions, but also investments in the future of our communities. Donating money now to a school, museum, hospice, youth center or clinic means that you are spending less money later for incarceration, special education, welfare, Medicare and public housing. Nonprofits are ways to invest in social capital that will undoubtedly yield a return of a better quality of life for all.”
— Nicolas P. Gaudreau
director of development,
Church Street School for Music and Art
