Philanthropy and Voluntarism
PND Connections - The Core of the Matter
Nonprofits have to meet basic expenses such as rent and payroll before they can effectively pursue their missions, but securing funding for general operating support isn't easy. According to the National Committee on Responsive Philanthropy, a philanthropy watchdog group, only 11 percent of the grant dollars distributed in 2001 by the nation's top hundred foundations supported operating expenses. After convening representatives from grantmaker affinity groups and nonprofits earlier this summer to examine the issue, NCRP has released a new report, The Core of the Matter (15 pages, PDF), featuring research presented at the event as well as participants' recommendations for improving the situation. The report also kicks off NCRP's campaign to encourage foundations to devote a larger share of their grantmaking budgets — as much as 50 percent — for general operating support.
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