Nonprofits confront cutbacks in Sullivan

By Victor Whitman

BETHEL — More than 100 people representing some of Sullivan County's largest employers attended an annual gathering of nonprofits at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts on Wednesday.

Speakers at the Nonprofit Leadership Summit 2013 emphasized that state and federal cutbacks, combined with a flat, charitable-giving environment continue to put the squeeze on the county's nonprofits.

At the same time, New York's rules and regulations and other hurdles, like turf battles among the nonprofits themselves, remain obstacles when these organizations try to share costs and collaborate to provide services more efficiently.

Three years ago, county officials came up with the idea of inviting nonprofit leaders to an annual summit at Bethel Woods. Linda Hartley, one of the three summit organizers, said the gatherings have had mixed results in fostering collaborations.

Nonprofits like the Center for Discovery, New Hope and Catskill Regional Medical Center form the backbone of the county's economy.

Catskill Regional and New Hope sent representative to this year's seminar. Catskill Regional Medical Center spokesman J.P. McGuirk said the hospital comes more for the tips from the speakers than for the opportunity to network with other nonprofits.

"There is a lot of pressure with federal and state cutbacks," McGuirk said. "We have to come up with new and creative ways to raise money and operate."

Hartley said the biggest success to date is a growing cooperation among several county arts organizations, including Bethel Woods and the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance.

She said representatives of roughly 15 arts groups got together during a breakaway session last year and continue to meet with the Sullivan County Visitor's Association. They are planning an annual festival. She said other collaborations have been harder to foster.

Doug Sauer, chief operating officer of The New York Council of Nonprofits, said partnerships can involve simply sharing information all the way up to merging. One major obstacle to forming close, legally binding affiliations, he said, is that New York state doesn't make it easy. Although nonprofits in other states can apply online and complete the process in a few months, combining services usually takes years in New York state and requires approval from multiple state agencies, he said.

Other speakers gave tips on the use of social media, recruiting volunteers and leadership building.

While organizers were pleased with the turnout, only a small percentage of the county's 600 registered 501(c)(3) organizations, attended the summit. (A 501(c)(3) organization is a charity or public service entity that qualifies for tax exemption under that section of the tax code.)

Organizers are also attempting to compile a database of the county's active nonprofits.

"We still need to have more people," Hartley said. "There are some here, but not enough."

To see the article online click here.