The current economic downturn has affected everything from government revenues to nonprofit donations. With demand for services on all fronts up but revenues down, what’s an organization to do? Actually, there may be a solution in governments and nonprofits working together to leverage dollars and provide services.
An example of a great public-private partnership is the work of LISC (Local Initiative Support Corporation). LISC works nationally to garner funding from foundations, individual philanthropists and through government grants. It then sends that money to its local LISC organizations, such as LISC Jacksonville. LISC Jacksonville in turn raises funds through grants, individual philanthropy and city government support. So, what was a local $500,000 donation is leveraged to create a pot of over $12 million to help neighbors create sustainable communities in underserved neighborhoods. Wow, any nonprofit would love to “grow” money like that.
So while money doesn’t grow on trees, it can be made to grow into a substantial pot that will have a better chance of achieving goals through leveraging a public-private partnership.
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