NFF’s 2014 survey of New York City’s nonprofit sector reported, in brief, that ” … the story [is] depressingly familiar;”  80% of the 5,019 nonprofit leaders who responded ” … reported an increase in demands for their services; … 56% reported that they could  not meet that demand.” As  a former chairman and current board member of Women’s Prison Association (WPA) (www.wpaonline.org), Hank Goldstein, FFM/C’s CEO knows first-hand that as the report explains ” … late payments from government, inadequate reserves, the  long-term impact of grants and funding that fail yo cover costs, and funder conversations that are stuck on the topic of  program expansion, rather than paying for what already works.” To this can be added deferred maintenance of facilities and staff turnover because of  low pay or other issues,.

From FFM/C’s perspective the new or emerging family foundation that seeks to make a difference really has to think inside the box before it can think  outside the box – meaning that small or medium-sized human service organizations, arts groups, really need basic, not-very-attractive general support. For a family foundation an inordinate fixation on making a difference could turn into making no difference at all.

No grantee will tell you that.

We will.