Nonprofits vie for support
With sources of government funds dwindling, area nonprofits are competing for limited dollars.
Because so many schools, sports groups, clubs and nonprofits have jumped into the fund-raising fray, it’s harder than ever to raise money.
“Everybody is looking for the new idea, but we always seem to come back to auctions, golf tournaments and raffles,” said Ron Hardin, development coordinator for Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs.
SNAP was forced to cancel its charity golf tournament this summer and is looking at alternatives to its auction because there are so many competing auctions.
SNAP provides energy and emergency assistance, including transitional housing and educational programs that provide a safety net for the area’s poor.
Last year, SNAP’s $15.6 million budget helped 33,500 low-income people in Spokane County.
In the past few years the agency, which receives 75 percent of its funding from the state and federal government, has seen cuts that took away hundreds of thousands of dollars. At the same time, there are fewer grants available and more low-income people needing help with rising utility and emergency bills.
In 2001 the agency helped 21,265 people. As Kaiser Aluminum and other businesses collapsed, the number of community members needing help rose by 12,000 in two short years.
Hardin said another challenge area nonprofits are facing is the loss some federal HUD community development block grant funds that are being used to pay debt on the River Park Square parking garage. The River Park Square developer is an affiliate of Cowles Publishing Co., which owns The Spokesman-Review.
An estimated $1.5 million of HUD monies that were slated to improve low-income neighborhoods are now at risk because of the ongoing financial struggles of the garage.
“There is a deep concern among a lot of nonprofits in Spokane that community block funding is being cut back,” Hardin said.
Because fund-raising is now necessary for so many nonprofits and schools, area businesses are bombarded with requests for donations.
“It has become a real challenge for businesses in Spokane to decide which organization they support,” Hardin said.
As owners of Ben Franklin stores in Cheney, Newport and Deer Park, Bill and Nancy Nation are regularly approached to donate merchandise and gift certificates.
Because Cheney has few businesses, that store is tapped three or four times a month to contribute.
“We feel responsible to contribute whenever we can. We give a little bit to a lot of people,” said Bill Nation, adding that a couple of others stores in the area contribute regularly, as well.
His Cheney store donates everything from gift certificates to popular pet items for theme baskets and prizes for senior all-nighters.
Items are given for money raising events for Eastern Washington University’s drill team, service clubs and other groups.
“It’s part of doing business to a degree, but it’s also part of our philosophy of doing things,” Nation said.