Serving others

Charities for under served populations are feeling the monetary strain of the economic downturn and cutting back on spending, but individual volunteering and donations have increased despite the crisis.

Although charitable organizations for the needy are cutting their budgets as a result of the unstable economy, demand for the services they provide is increasing at a stable rate. People are still volunteering often and donating any spare money they have to the missions of these organizations.

Sarah Fujiwara, chief programs officer at Horizons for Homeless Children in Boston, Mass., said, “It’s obviously uncertain economic times for all of us, but the ends that cause our programs to exist aren’t going away, they are only increasing. It’s a compelling mission.”

The number of homeless families in Boston has definitely grown, according to Fujiwara. Shelters are now serving over 600 families in motels. Horizons for Homeless Children provides childcare at no cost for these families while the parents work toward self sufficiency, but recently low income housing and jobs have been hard to come across.

“Finding housing has been a problem so families have stayed in shelters longer because there just isn’t subsidized housing,” Fujiwara said.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Boston noticed the effects of the economy on their organization this year when corporate donations started decreasing.

Greta Pemberton, communications director at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Boston, said, “Some donors have been tightening their belts visibly. Corporate group budgets have been cut, this winter especially.”

Non-profit organizations are cutting their spending in an effort to save money. Many are merging administrative staff and curbing spending on office supplies.

Pemberton said that Habitat is trying to save money because of the monetary pressure on the organization’s up-keeping, but that production has not slacked.

“We’re tightening our own belts. We’re looking for ways to cut our budget. We’ve had to cut some staff. We’re looking at everything on the balance sheet and seeing how we can save money, but in terms of production, we’re pushing through,” Pemberton said.

Bridget Snell, director of marketing and public relations at Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston, said that her organization is doing anything from watching spending on office supplies to installing energy-efficient light bulbs.

Lynn Gibson, director of community relations at The Philanthropy Roundtable, an organization in Washington, D.C., that measures philanthropic activity, said, “I think what is actually happening is people are reassessing everything they are doing. Folks are really looking at their missions and seeing how people respond, but there’s not one size that fits all, and an economic situation like this forces people to evaluate their organizations.”

But even though these organizations have had financial difficulty, volunteerism and donations have in many cases increased during this time of crisis.

Snell said, “While charitable donations are down, we are actually experiencing a higher dollar value per gift. It seems that in times like these, there are individuals who understand that they could be the ones choosing between a meal or paying a bill, and make a gift to organizations like ours in recognition of that.”

Pemberton said that Habitat’s volunteers are consistent in helping out, especially during times of trouble, when those who are homeless need help the most.

“I get 80 volunteers signed up twice a month. I see a lot of people who are laid off that volunteer. I think it’s because we are really addressing the root problem of the crisis,” Pemberton said.

Bill Connolly, director of Globe Santa, a program that provides Christmas for families in need, said that the program experienced one of its best years since it started in 1956.

Connolly said, “We had more donors this year than in the past three years, and raised a total amount of $1.3 billion—the fifth highest year Globe Santa’s had.”

Globe Santa does not get corporate donations, but instead is a more grass roots program, according to Connolly. Many donors, such as Boston public schools, raise money by sponsoring coin drives. Because of the state of the economy, this year, people donated not only some but all of the change they had in their pockets.

Connolly said, “We’re a local charity that people have known about for 52 years with a great reputation for really staying to the principles and mission of our charity which is giving gifts to needy kids. I think people respect and honor that. I think it also speaks to the circumstances this year when the community says ‘If it’s bad for us, it’s even worse for those that need help.’”

Representing The Philanthropy Roundtable’s perspective, Gibson said she thinks the charitable sector will be stronger as a result of the economic pressure because organizations will come together to combine services.

“Necessity is the mother of invention, and people are thinking of creative ways to serve others,” she said.