Nonprofits suffer despite rise in giving

Nearly 60 percent of nonprofits in Eastern Washington have decreased services in the past two years because of financial struggles, according to a survey released this month.

“Despite positive fund-raising trends, nonprofits across Washington are scaling back services,” said Aggie Sweeney, CEO of The Collins Group, the Seattle firm that did the survey.

“Giving trends aren’t keeping up with the costs of delivering services.”

The percentage of Eastern Washington nonprofits decreasing services was nearly double the statewide figure of almost 33 percent. Sweeney said the study did not address why regional nonprofits may be faring worse than others in the state.

The survey of 140 state nonprofits found that giving has increased in recent years but so have employee health costs and increased government regulation. Many have also lost state or federal funding.

Many nonprofits are looking to save costs by forming alliances with other nonprofits, the survey said. Seventeen percent of nonprofits entered such an agreement last year.

The survey also found that nearly 45 percent of nonprofits relied on budgets of less than $500,000 a year.