Public Forum to explore funding and services in
this challenging economy
The Great Recession--and slow recovery--have
ushered in a "new normal" in the non-profit sector. In an era
of diminishing resources and increasing need, Bergen County non-profits are
scrambling to provide much needed services and fulfill their
missions. This challenge will be the topic at an upcoming
public forum presented by the graduating class of Bergen
LEADS, the premier civic leadership program for adults sponsored by the
Volunteer Center of Bergen County. The forum will be
moderated by Nina Stack, president of the NJ Council of Grantmakers.
Sponsored by TD Bank, PSEG and Synetek Solutions,
the forum will be held on Tuesday, June 11, 2013, from 3-5 pm at Bergen
Community College’s Ciccone Theater. The event is free and
open to the public, but pre-registration is required; call 201-489-9454 Ext. 112
to register.
“When faced with dwindling
funds, the traditional response would be to either cut services or grow
revenue," says William “Pat” Schuber, former Bergen County Executive and Bergen
LEADS seminar director. "Many organizations, already lean, have cut expenses to
the bone, severely hampering their ability to meet their mission.
On the revenue side, more and more organizations are competing for scarce
dollars, often with little success."
The Bergen LEADS Class of 2013 will explore
current practices, both locally and in other communities, then make
recommendations on ways in which Bergen County non-profit organizations could do
business differently to meet the economic challenges of this "new normal.”
The men and women in the Bergen LEADS Class of
2013 have been meeting monthly since September to dissect issues, debate
viewpoints and get a first-hand look at Bergen County’s
infrastructure. The Forum is the culmination of the
seminar year for the Class of 2013.