PASE | Supporting Agencies in Turbulent Times

Preliminary Results of Survey on Youth-Serving Organizations in Turbulent Times

The Partnership for After School Education (PASE) is here to support the afterschool community in this unprecedented financial crisis. In order to help us serve the field better and advocate for its needs, PASE has initiated a surveying project focused on the financial issues facing youth-serving afterschool programs.

PASE will conduct similar surveys quarterly, and the results will be analyzed and distributed to government, community and business leaders, and other interested parties so that we can work together to continue to provide critically needed services during these challenging times.

Below is a summary of the preliminary results of the first of these surveys, which was completed by senior-level managers at 72 community-based organizations in the greater New York City area in September 2008

The average funding profile for these organizations was 44.7% government, 26.6% foundations, 25.2% fee-for-service, 22.5 % individuals, and 9.8% corporations. 20.5% of funding came from other sources.

76.5% of these organizations had lost funding in the last quarter.

In the last quarter, 60% of these organizations had seen a decrease in revenue from government sources, 46% from foundations, 42% from individuals, 34% from corporations, 32% from fee-for-service, and 4% from other.

In the last quarter, as a result of lost revenue, 52% of these organizations had cut services, 56% had cut staff, and 78% had changed staff assignments or duties.

In the last quarter, as a result of lost revenue, 62.5% of these organizations cut non-personnel administrative costs. The top four areas for cuts were office supplies (58%), professional development (56%), program supplies (54%), and consultant services (48%).

These organizations received various forms of support from their Boards of Directors in addressing revenue loss, including identification of new sources of revenue (40%), additional financial contributions (18%), in-kind contribution of services (16%), non-financial material contributions (16%), and other forms (16%). 56% received no support from their board.

In the last quarter, as a result of lost revenue, 68% of these organizations experienced difficulty meeting demand for their services, while 40% had difficulty maintaining program quality.

When asked about potential major organizational changes as a result of revenue loss, 18% had considered shutting down all operations except core programming, 12% had considered significantly altering their organizational mission, 10% had considered merging with another organization, and 6% had considered shutting down their organization entirely.

77.8% of these organizations anticipate revenue loss in the next quarter.

Finally, PASE asked these organizations to rate how useful various forms of support would be to them during difficult financial times. From most useful to least useful, these types of support were grantwriting services, grantwriting training, financial consulting, management consulting, human resources advice, legal services, and assistance with merging shutting down operations. (Note: While fewer organizations had use for the final two forms of support, these organizations’ need for them may be paramount.