Governor To Non-Profits: Time To Collaborate And Consolidate (With Video)

Delivering a message that sounded a little bit like tough love, Gov. Dannel Malloy and a panel of experts Saturday evening encouraged the state's nonprofits to get real, collaborate, and consolidate.

Visiting the First Congregational Church in Madison as part of a panel on "Building Community in Changing Times--The Role of Nonprofit Partnerships," Malloy reminded dozens of representatives of local, state, and national organizations that, in these difficult economic times, governments are cutting back and that nonprofits have to as well.

"We probably have too many Boards of Education in Connecticut and we probably have too many freestanding ... libraries," he said. "We have this constant repetition of services from community to community. And we have to find a way to reduce expenses. We are working in an anti-tax environment. We have to make it easier to provide services in a more cost-effective way or we will lose those services ... We have to start thinking outside the box to preserve the lifestyle we want to maintain."

Starbucks in the library

He provided an example of creative thinking. In Stamford, where Malloy was mayor from 1995 until 2009, Starbucks Coffee opened a shop in the town's free public library, the Ferguson Library, in 1999. The coffee shop, along with a bookstore in the library, provides the library with an income stream.

The panel Saturday evening, moderated by Madison mom, volunteer, and WTNH-TV Anchor Ann Nyberg, also featured Nonprofit Liaison to the Governor Deborah Heinrich, President and CEO of Ability Beyond Disability Thomas H. Fanning, President of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy Nancy Roberts, and CEO of Startup America Partnership Timothy "Scott" Case.

The panel discussion was part of a "Raise the Roof" event sponsored by Madison Cares and Habitat for Humanity on Saturday. The enormously successful event drew more than 400 volunteers from all area towns to several different locations around downtown Madison, where, with the sun shining and music playing, they worked side by side building components of a house that will be shipped to New Haven and used on Habitat for Humanity homes.

The panel responded to a wide variety of questions posed by the audience, and provided advice to the nonprofits as they try to figure out how to cut back, consolidate, and provide services to increasing numbers of people who need support as the troubled economy recovers.

Heinrich encourages nonprofits to think about the big picture, look for similar groups

"I encourage you to think about the big picture and think about the community as a whole. Are there any other groups that provide similar or complimentary services?" asked Heinrich, a Madison resident who used to serve as a state representative for the town. "Can you work together? ... think about how we can come together as a community."

Fanning agreed. "What is your vision for your organization? Does it have one? If survival is the vision, that should be re-visited. What are your outcomes?" If the goal of the organization is merely to survive, that is not ideal, he said. "The focus should be on using fewer and fewer resources to get the maximum benefit." He encouraged nonprofits to use some creative "new math." "We need to make one plus one equal three," he said.

Roberts said that, while by some measure there may be too many nonprofits right now, in another sense there are not enough. She encouraged the creation of social enterprises and entrepreneurs who would create "new programs with new agendas that take the long view."

Network for Good helps nonprofits tap individuals, broaden base of support

Case said it would be enormously disappointing if the nonprofits in attendance, after spending a perfectly good Saturday night talking about business, did nothing. So his advice was, "Do something. Don't leave tonight and sit down at your desk on Monday and do nothing. Pick one thing to do differently on Monday morning and do it." He also encouraged the nonprofit representatives to take time after the formal presentation to meet at least three new people, share ideas, and seek common ground.

Case also encouraged the nonprofits to cultivate individual donors, noting that it makes more sense, and provides more stability, to have 10,000 donors giving $1 each, than one big donor giving $10,000. Among Case's many other volunteer initiatives, he serves as chairman of Network For Good, a national nonprofit that helps thousands of other nonprofits tap individuals with online fundraising and communication services.

Heinrich acknowledged that hearing a message of  "collaborate and consolidate" might not be easy for nonprofits to hear. She said, however, that her office is committed to helping nonprofits do this in a way that allows them to continue to do their important work, and serve their constituency, at a time when their services are needed more than ever. She encouraged nonprofits to contact her office for help with this process. She said the state intends to "honor and value the partnerships we have with these nonprofits. We really do rely upon that partnership to serve our most vulnerable people."

Nonprofit representative, "encouraged and energized" by message

Several of the nonprofit representatives in attendance said they were encouraged and energized by her offer of guidance and support.

"We need more forums like this. This is long overdue," said Mary Ellen McGuire, a Madison resident and nonprofit development consultant with C3 Consulting LLC. "As a founder of a couple of nonprofits, we are all aware of the challenges. I concur with everything you said."

Malloy said he picked Heinrich to be his nonprofit liaison because she has an established history of working effectively on their behalf. He said he is confident she will be able to provide nonprofits with the support they need to do their work while adjusting to new economic realities.

Heinrich encouraged nonprofits to contact her office to find out more and talk about next steps.

Contact Information:

Deb Heinrich

Office of Policy and Management

55 SEC

450 Capitol Ave

Hartford, CT 06106-1379

Deb.Heinrich@ct.gov

(860) 418-6235