Support - Addressing Critical Needs

Georgianna Price, Children's Librarian, Howard County Library

During the year, nonprofit organizations faced enormous challenges. Net reductions in government outlays to the nonprofit sector, a decrease in United Way receipts, increased competition for charitable donations and the effects of a historic three-year downturn in investment performance have imposed hardship on many nonprofits.

These economic factors also impact families, and it is likely that nonprofit agencies will continue to experience heavier client loads and more intense client issues. It is likely that health and wellness in many communities across the country will be affected. In Howard County, local government provides grant-in-aid support to selected nonprofit sector organizations rather than directly offering equivalent public services. This means that local nonprofits provide treatment of last resort for some critical health and human services.

A nonprofit organization is not a business. The primary aim is to serve clients well and, in this regard, nonprofits can play multiple roles. However, given current challenges, it is essential that human service organizations operate on an efficient and cost-effective basis.

To the extent that board policy-making, management oversight and administrative operations function well, both the organization and its clientele will benefit.

The Horizon Foundation has advocated that its nonprofit grantees undertake self-assessment to ensure optimal performance in these challenging times. The Foundation has provided extensive capacity-building support to key nonprofits and has provided multi-year financial backing to the Association of Community Services in order to dramatically expand training for nonprofit personnel.

As The Horizon Foundation moves forward with its nonprofit partners, it will continue to think out of the box in devising new approaches to support improved nonprofit operations. For example, working with a broad-based steering committee, the Foundation created, developed and now maintains a computerized state-of-the-art information and referral system called HorizonHelp.

The website (www.horizonhelp.org) was developed for human service providers, discharge planners and others involved in direct service delivery, as well as individuals, who will find it easy to navigate. Search results are ranked by zip code in order to access services closest to a family member or friend who needs help. It's also easy to search by provider name or service type.

"This is something we've needed for a long time in terms of getting information out to the general public," adds Jeanette Lazarofsky, the former director of the Coalition of Geriatric Services. "It's very exciting to see the beginning stages of what this website can do and the resource it will be for the community and business."

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