http://www.catalystfoundation.ca/charging-and-charities.html Leadership Organization Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:13:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://www.catalystfoundation.ca/charging-and-charities.html/comment-page-1#comment-90 chris wignall Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:15:23 +0000 http://www.catalystfoundation.ca/?p=773#comment-90 Thanks Harry I agree with all that you have said here. It is a significant challenge to begin charging people for something they've previously received for free. There is bound to be push back on every level (donors, board, staff, volunteers, clientele). However, it may be worth the efforts required to educate them all that this multiplies the potential impact of the organization and may say something about dignity. I'm not advocating for eliminating donors; there is something meaningful about those with means making sacrifices for the benefit of those in need. I am asking (as I know you are at Ray of Hope), are there ways to improve the financial sustainability of our organization within the scope of our core convictions? And is it possible that charging a fee for service when we can actually improves not only our economic bottom line but adds value for our mission also? Thanks Harry
I agree with all that you have said here. It is a significant challenge to begin charging people for something they’ve previously received for free. There is bound to be push back on every level (donors, board, staff, volunteers, clientele). However, it may be worth the efforts required to educate them all that this multiplies the potential impact of the organization and may say something about dignity.
I’m not advocating for eliminating donors; there is something meaningful about those with means making sacrifices for the benefit of those in need. I am asking (as I know you are at Ray of Hope), are there ways to improve the financial sustainability of our organization within the scope of our core convictions? And is it possible that charging a fee for service when we can actually improves not only our economic bottom line but adds value for our mission also?

]]> http://www.catalystfoundation.ca/charging-and-charities.html/comment-page-1#comment-89 Harry Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:57:36 +0000 http://www.catalystfoundation.ca/?p=773#comment-89 We are fortunate as a charitable organization that we run some programs that generate some income to offset the expenses related to the program and have other assets that we can charge some rent for, but I am sure that many organizations would find it difficult to find means of income generation. This is the whole premise of social enterprise ventures and while they certainly hold some promise, they are not the be all and end all for funding problems that organizations face. I don't think we would want to do away with the need to share our vision and have people embrace it through volunteering and supporting our work financially. I have heard of organizations that provide meals for the homeless, like we do, but still charge the clients a dollar, as much to provide a heightened sense of self worth as to assist with financial support. It is an idea that I find interesting and at the same time wonder how our clients would respond if we implemented the same type of system. We are fortunate as a charitable organization that we run some programs that generate some income to offset the expenses related to the program and have other assets that we can charge some rent for, but I am sure that many organizations would find it difficult to find means of income generation. This is the whole premise of social enterprise ventures and while they certainly hold some promise, they are not the be all and end all for funding problems that organizations face. I don’t think we would want to do away with the need to share our vision and have people embrace it through volunteering and supporting our work financially. I have heard of organizations that provide meals for the homeless, like we do, but still charge the clients a dollar, as much to provide a heightened sense of self worth as to assist with financial support. It is an idea that I find interesting and at the same time wonder how our clients would respond if we implemented the same type of system.

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