I’m working for a nonprofit that’s just barely able to patch itself together. Nine months ago, I started off as the communications manager, but as of today I’m covering everything from booking plane tickets to washing dishes. Should I tell my boss that I’m unhappy in the midst of chaos, or just wait it out until I find a better job?

There’s more, but you can read it at the link provided. What I find interesting is the larger issue: why do smart, capable people stay at dysfunctional nonprofits? Nonprofit work in our culture is equated with “meaning” and “good,” but these nightmare situations come up all too often–and people stay and sweep things under the rug. A healthy dose of pragmatism seems in order. If your job is making you miserable, find another one. There’s nothing essentially good about nonprofit work, which in my mind exists to fill gaps that should not even exist.

The Neighborhood Partnership Fund, an OR nonprofit, is seeking a full time Asset Building Manager to focus on asset building for individuals and families . Must be detail oriented, have strong written/verbal communication skills and experience in program analysis and evaluation. Requires demonstrated organizational development, research/ analytical skills and proficiency in Microsoft Word and Access. Three or more years in asset building or a closely related field required. Experience with resident services or employment a plus.

Full job description and application packet available at http://www.tnpf.org/news/ab_manager.php.

Salary based on experience. Good benefits and retirement plan provided. E-mail cover letter, resume, application, and responses to questions by 4:30 PM 06-17-08 tocwinter@tnpf.org. Equal Opportunity Employer.

What is an IDA? It’s a savings plan for low income people. The Oregon legislature defines what kind of goals people can save toward, and it also sets a limit on how much money can be raised from donors. Contributions come from Oregonians like you and me. Low-income Oregonians enroll in the program and start saving to buy a home, or start a small business, or further their education, or other goals. Once they reach their financial goal, their savings are matched three to one, up to a maximum of $3,000. Along the way, they go to workshops to build financial savvy.

How many peoples’ lives are better because of this program? Cynthia Winters at The Neighborhood Partnership Fund, the nonprofit that oversees the program, informs me that there are currently over 1,100 low-income Oregonians enrolled. Last year, over 500 Oregonians completed the program. This year, even more will be able to enroll.

Then there’s the donors. Last year, this group of Oregonians at the other end of the economic spectrum from the participants also benefited from the program through the tax credit for donations. Here’s how the credit works:

The IDA Tax Credit begins with your contribution to the Neighborhood Partnership Fund. 75% of your contribution becomes a credit on your State of Oregon income tax return. For example, if you as an individual made a donation of $1000 to the IDA Initiative, you would then be qualified for a tax credit of 75%, or $750 against your state income taxes. The tax credit reduces the state taxes that you would otherwise pay. (Source)

I was surprised to learn a couple things when the 2007 report to donors came out a few weeks back. One, that only 333 people contributed $6 million. Two, that the average contribution was over $17,000. I contributed, but given the amounts raised from so few people, I imagine that my tiny contribution actually skewed all the data downwards! Regardless, I benefited from lowering my tax liability and from feeling like, for once, I was certain that the taxes I paid were doing something good.

So here’s a challenge to my readers, family, and friends in Oregon: consider making a donation this year (note: link is to a .pdf). Right now, there are over $7 million in tax credits remaining. And while it’s great that a handful of wealthy Oregonians are getting tax breaks in a way that’s pretty noble, the tax credit could also benefit a lot of “average” Oregonians out there…you know, the middle-income ones who complain about how their taxes are spent. I’d love to see that thousands of Oregonians contributed to this program in 2008 when the next report comes out, not just for the tax breaks, but for a greater sense of community and being in this together.

^{*I am not an accountant or tax specialist, and this is not financial advice. See someone who is qualified to help you that way if you want to know about how this might affect your particular situation.}

The YMCA centers in Portland offered nearly $300,000 in child-care scholarships last year to low-income families, including Fackler’s.

Deborah Murray, executive director at the Peninsula Children’s Center in North Portland, said the difference between what the state reimbursed and her center’s costs ranged from $160 to $300 per child each month.

How did the nonprofit stay in business?

“We got a bunch of grants. Hired a full-time development director and spent our time fundraising like crazy,” Murray says.

But the low state subsidy also meant some of the center’s staff earned little more than minimum wage.

Now that the state has increased its subsidy, Murray says the reimbursement is much closer to the actual cost of care.

She’s able to give staff raises. And more of the low-income parents who bring their children to the center have been able to qualify for help. (emphasis mine)

One of the things that doesn’t make sense to me about the way funding for nonprofit works, whether the source be government grants or private donors and foundations, is that there is a bias against covering the costs of wages for the people who actually do the work. A number of the grants I managed previously had funds only for “direct services,” and required that the cost of staffing necessary to provide those “direct” services be raised elsewhere. This ongoing funding crunch makes it hard to develop new programs or take on projects, as staff are already maxed out on responsibilities–and are not being paid a living wage or close to it.

One of the most annoying things I have experienced is looking at income guidelines for some of the federally-funded housing programs and realizing that a lot of the people who provide those services earn so little that they themselves are eligible for the subsidies.

Update, 10:28 am: The online registration link has now been added to the DHS informational page.

CoC funds are awarded competitively, and are based on past performance. Unfortunately, advocates for homeless programs in rural areas have not been successful in getting the message across to HUD and legislators that rural homelessness is different from urban homelessness, both in causes, the demographics of those experiencing homelessness, and in levels of local resources for providing the full range of services needed in order to stabilize individuals and families and help them remain housed.

I really hate to see this kind of decision, which ultimately will encourage regressive practices such as handing homeless people bus tickets to the Big City so they can get help there.

My connection with the Ford Foundation goes back to 2003, when I was selected as a Ford Scholar and given truly generous assistance through the end of my undergraduate years. These days, one of my staff members is participating in one of their five-year community leadership programs. The free books program is just another of the many ways that they are working to empower communities in Oregon. So, check it out.

Select Books page

The request form includes a place to suggest additions to their list. I had two. One was Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, which I am having my staff read; they are kindly indulging my professorial tendencies, but (say) they really find it thought-provoking and useful. The other is Getting Funded: The Complete Guide to Writing Grant Proposals, by Mary Hall.

So, a question. If you could suggest one or two great additions to their free book list, what would they be? Why?

Looking for a status update on this legislation? See here.

Pending legislation would provide federal student loan forgiveness for long-term non-profit workers with outstanding student loans. Basic requirements for eligibility would be ten years working at non-profits and 120 student loan payments.

It seems good to me, but now that the idea is in my head, I wish the terms were more like Teach For America or the Peace Corps.

Read more at Arlene Spencer’s blog, thegrantplant.

Update: As of September 27, this bill was signed by the President and has now become law. See here for more details and a summary.

Other features of the bill that will be of interest to students and alumni of our expensive higher education system include the following (quoted from here.)