Viewpoint

The nonprofit health and human services sector, arguably stressed in the best of times, is resilient. We give our neighborhoods vitality and provide a safety net for community members in need. This is a time when our sector not only can but must focus on operating more effectively and efficiently. Our managers are creative and have shown they can emerge from a crisis smarter and stronger.

But among us are worthy organizations whose size or diversity of programs and funding makes them less likely to be able to sustain themselves in a crisis. These organizations have an imperative to think differently about their organizational structure and their work; they may well choose to right-size, affiliate, merge or even close – these alternatives, if not done with much care, have the potential to leave neighborhoods diminished and families abandoned.... It is possible for organizations of all sizes and types to get stronger, even in the face of adversity, if they welcome change and are willing to consider new approaches to fulfilling their social missions….

Make no mistake about it. The challenge we face is daunting. Yet, I am confident that, by embracing and shaping change and thinking creatively about our work and how we do it, we can all make progress toward the social and organizational goals that motivate us.

 Ellen L. Rautenberg,
 President & CEO