2012 PA Charitable Organizations Survey

Member Group : Lincoln Institute

Response Summary

Total Started Survey: 289
Total Finished Survey: 271 (93.8%)

Policy Issues

1. In general, do you think business conditions in Pennsylvania are BETTER, about the SAME, or WORSE than they were one year ago?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
BETTER 20.8% 60
ABOUT THE SAME 55.6% 160
WORSE 23.6% 68
answered question 288
skipped question 1

2. Looking ahead one year, do you expect business conditions to be BETTER, about the SAME, or WORSE than they are today?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
BETTER 33.8% 97
ABOUT THE SAME 47.0% 135
WORSE 19.2% 55
answered question 287
skipped question 2

3. Are employment levels at your organization HIGHER, about the SAME, or LOWER than they were one year ago?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
HIGHER 17.5% 50
ABOUT THE SAME 56.1% 160
LOWER 26.3% 75
answered question 285
skipped question 4

4. Looking ahead one year, do you expect employment levels at your organization to be HIGHER, about the SAME, or LOWER than they are today?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
HIGHER 20.7% 59
ABOUT THE SAME 66.7% 190
LOWER 12.6% 36
answered question 285
skipped question 4

5. What impact has the ongoing economic downturn had on your organization?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT 24.7% 71
SOMEWHAT NEGATIVE IMPACT 57.5% 165
NO IMPACT 11.5% 33
SOMEWHAT POSITIVE IMPACT 5.6% 16
SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE IMPACT 0.7% 2
answered question 287
skipped question 2

6. Has the ongoing economic downturn caused your organization to increase services, decrease services, or has the level of services provided remained about the same?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
INCREASED SERVICES 24.1% 69
ABOUT THE SAME 50.0% 143
DECREASED SERVICES 25.9% 74
answered question 286
skipped question 3

7. Has your organization had to do any of the following as a result of the ongoing economic downturn:

YES NO DON’T KNOW/REFUSED Response
Count
LAY-OFF STAFF 31.9% (90) 65.6% (185) 2.5% (7) 282
REDUCE EMPLOYEE HOURS 28.8% (81) 69.0% (194) 2.1% (6) 281
CUT SALARIES 9.7% (27) 85.2% (236) 5.1% (14) 277
CUT OR ELIMINATE BENEFITS 26.5% (74) 68.8% (192) 4.7% (13) 279
DISCONTINUE SOME SERVICES 33.7% (94) 63.8% (178) 2.5% (7) 279
BORROW OPERATING MONEY 26.5% (74) 66.3% (185) 7.2% (20) 279
CANCEL OR POSTPONE EXPANSION PLANS 38.4% (108) 54.1% (152) 7.5% (21) 281
answered question 285
skipped question 4

8. If your organization receives state funding, has your level of funding INCREASED, DECREASED, or stayed ABOUT THE SAME over the past year?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
INCREASED 3.1% 9
ABOUT THE SAME 17.8% 51
DECREASED 42.0% 120
DON’T RECEIVE STATE FUNDING 37.1% 106
answered question 286
skipped question 3

9. Would you say the current level of public trust in charities is:

Response
Percent
Response
Count
HIGH 20.9% 60
MEDIUM 62.7% 180
LOW 10.5% 30
NO OPINION/REFUSED 5.9% 17
answered question 287
skipped question 2

10. Would you say the level of public trust in charities has IMPROVED or GOTTEN WORSE over the past couple of years?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED 1.4% 4
SOMEWHAT IMPROVED 19.7% 56
ABOUT THE SAME 45.1% 128
SOMEWHAT WORSE 28.2% 80
SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE 1.1% 3
NO OPINION/REFUSED 4.6% 13
answered question 284
skipped question 5

11. To what extent are you familiar with the term "Community Benefit Organization"?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM 40.4% 115
HEARD TERM. BUT NOT CLEAR ABOUT ITS MEANING 27.4% 78
NEVER HEARD THE TERM 32.3% 92
answered question 285
skipped question 4

12. Do you find the term "Community Benefit Organization" to be MORE ATTRACTIVE or LESS ATTRACTIVE than the term "Nonprofit Organization"?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE 15.5% 44
SOMEWHAT MORE ATTRACTIVE 25.7% 73
ABOUT THE SAME 15.1% 43
SOMEWHAT LESS ATTRACTIVE 19.4% 55
MUCH LESS ATTRACTIVE 12.3% 35
NO OPINION/REFUSED 12.0% 34
answered question 284
skipped question 5

13. Has anyone from your organization registered as a lobbyist under the Pennsylvania Lobbying Disclosure Act?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
YES 6.0% 17
NO 82.3% 233
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 11.7% 33
answered question 283
skipped question 6

14. On any public policy issue during the past year did your organization lobby:

YES NO DON’T KNOW Response
Count
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 19.1% (53) 72.2% (200) 8.7% (24) 277
STATE GOVERNMENT 28.8% (81) 62.6% (176) 8.5% (24) 281
COUNTY GOVERNMENT 18.5% (51) 72.5% (200) 9.1% (25) 276
LOCAL GOVERNMENT 15.2% (42) 76.2% (211) 8.7% (24) 277
answered question 284
skipped question 5

15. Does your organization PLAN to lobby government at any level on any public policy issue during the coming year?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
YES 29.4% 83
NO 51.4% 145
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 19.1% 54
answered question 282
skipped question 7

16. Does your organization have a board approved policy on advocacy and/or public policy?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
YES 45.9% 129
NO 34.2% 96
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 19.9% 56
answered question 281
skipped question 8

17. When it comes to your personal responsibilities for lobbying would you:

YES NO DON’T KNOW/REFUSED Response
Count
BENEFIT FROM TRAINING 44.4% (123) 36.5% (101) 19.1% (53) 277
BENEFIT FROM FACE-TO-FACE BRIEFINGS 37.7% (104) 42.0% (116) 20.3% (56) 276
READ BRIEFINGS 57.7% (161) 23.3% (65) 19.0% (53) 279
answered question 285
skipped question 4

18. Do you provide health insurance to your employees?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
CURRENTLY PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE 79.6% 227
PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED, BUT DISCONTINUED 2.8% 8
DO NOT PROVIDE, BUT PLAN TO IN THE FUTURE 3.5% 10
HAVE NO PLANS TO PROVIDE INSURANCE 11.9% 34
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 2.1% 6
answered question 285
skipped question 4

19. If you provide health insurance, who pays the premium?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
EMPLOYER PAYS FULL PREMIUM 32.2% 88
EMPLOYEE PAYS FULL PREMIUM 0.7% 2
SPLIT/MAJOR PORTION PAID BY EMPLOYER 47.6% 130
SPLIT/MAJOR PORTION PAID BY EMPLOYEE 0.7% 2
50/50 SPLIT EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE 2.2% 6
DO NOT OFFER/WILL NOT OFFER INSURANCE 12.5% 34
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 4.0% 11
answered question 273
skipped question 16

Organizational Issues

20. Since the beginning of the year has income to your organization from all sources:

Response
Percent
Response
Count
INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY 0.4% 1
INCREASED MODERATELY 21.0% 56
STAYED ABOUT THE SAME 37.1% 99
DECREASED MODERATELY 26.6% 71
DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY 13.9% 37
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 1.1% 3
answered question 267
skipped question 22

21. Generally speaking, do you expect to see funding for 2012 INCREASE, DECREASE, or STAY ABOUT THE SAME as it was in 2011?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
INCREASE 21.0% 56
STAY ABOUT THE SAME 48.3% 129
DECREASE 26.2% 70
DON’T KNOW/NO OPINION 4.5% 12
answered question 267
skipped question 22

22. Approximately what percentage of your funding in 2012 came from the following sources?

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[td c3]

[td c3]

[td c3]

0-10% 11-20% 21-30% 31-40% 41-50% 51-60% 61-70% 71-80% 81-90% 91-100% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED Response
Count
FOUNDATIONS 53.2% (132) 16.5% (41) 9.3% (23) 3.2% (8) 2.0% (5) 2.8% (7) 0.8% (2) 1.6% (4) 1.2% (3) 0.8% (2) 8.5% (21) 248
FEDERAL FUNDING 58.7% (138) 6.8% (16) 5.5% (13) 5.1% (12) 4.3% (10) 2.6% (6) 2.6% (6) 1.3% (3) 0.4% (1) 0.9% (2) 11.9% (28) 235
STATE FUNDING 48.1% (112) 8.2% (19) 10.3% (24) 7.7% (18) 4.3% (10) 1.7% (4) 2.1% (5) 3.4% (8) 3.0% (7) 0.9% (2) 10.3% (24) 233
COUNTY/LOCAL FUNDING 55.4% (128) 10.4% (24) 6.9% (16) 6.5% (15) 0.9% (2) 4.3% (10) 3.5% (8) 1.3% (3) 0.4% (1) 0.4% (1) 10.0% (23) 231
INDIVIDUALS 37.2% (93) 16.8% (42) 10.8% (27) 5.2% (13) 5.6% (14) 3.6% (9) 3.2% (8) 2.4% (6) 4.4% (11) 2.8% (7) 8.0% (20) 250
PROGRAM FEES 46.8% (111) 12.2% (29) 7.6% (18) 5.9% (14) 4.2% (10) 3.8% (9) 0.8% (2) 1.7% (4) 3.8% (9) 3.0% (7) 10.1% (24) 237
answered question 262
skipped question 27

23. Generally speaking, do you have GREATER, ABOUT THE SAME, or LESS ability to fulfill your organization’s core mission this year than in past years?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
GREATER 17.2% 46
ABOUT THE SAME 55.4% 148
LESS 26.2% 70
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 1.1% 3
answered question 267
skipped question 22

24. How would the reduction or loss of the Federal tax charitable contribution deduction affect your organization?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE EFFECT 40.1% 107
MODERATE NEGATIVE EFFECT 34.8% 93
NO EFFECT 9.7% 26
MODERATE POSITIVE EFFECT 1.1% 3
SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE EFFECT 0.7% 2
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 13.5% 36
answered question 267
skipped question 22

25. Does your organization use social media? (Check all that apply)

Response
Percent
Response
Count
TWITTER 42.3% 99
FACEBOOK 93.2% 218
LINKED IN 44.9% 105
YOU TUBE 32.1% 75
BLOGGING 22.6% 53
PINTEREST 7.7% 18
GOOGLE+ (AS INDIVIDUALS TO PROMOTE YOUR ORGANIZATION) 14.5% 34
Other

* don’t use social media
* very little use of both
* Network for Good, email, Manta
* Use of social media is limited by staff time to attend to various aspects.
* Org Website
* Instagram
* no
* website
* goodsearch.com
* just organizing to use
* not sure
* Constant Contact
* Email marketing
* Website

14
answered question 234
skipped question 55

26. Have you tried to raise money through social media?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
NO 64.5% 171
TRIED, RAISED UNDER $100 6.0% 16
TRIED, RAISED $100-$999 12.5% 33
TRIED, RAISED OVER $1,000 12.1% 32
TRIED, RAISED OVER $10,000 4.9% 13
answered question 265
skipped question 24

27. Is your organization contemplating any type of material change in 2013?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
MERGER 3.8% 10
LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION 0.0% 0
CLOSING YOUR DOORS 0.0% 0
EXPANDING OPERATIONS 9.8% 26
MOVING YOUR OFFICES 5.6% 15
NO CHANGE 73.7% 196
Other

* Merger in the future.
* rebranding
* re-structuring of staff
* Opened an additional office to expand literacy classes
* researching merger
* closing doors if no merger/partnership can be consummated
* not certain what we will change at this time
* always exploring strategic alliances with other orgs
* retirement of CEO
* Consolidating Site Locations
* To Be Determined
* MSO
* Leadership Transistion
* Partner unofficially by sharing costs with other org
* Another organization is becoming a susidiary of us
* possible merger
* Looking at options
* not sure what yet
* Likely that something will change, but whether merger or closing doors, or even expansion not yet clear.

7.1% 19
answered question 266
skipped question 23

28. Does your organization have difficulty hiring/retaining qualfied staff?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
YES 32.2% 86
NO 62.2% 166
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 5.6% 15
answered question 267
skipped question 22

29. If your organization does have difficult hiring/retaining qualified staff, what is the cause of that difficulty?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
OUR SALARY OFFERS ARE LOWER 41.4% 48
FOR PROFITS OFFER BETTERS SALARY/BENEFIT PACKAGES 14.7% 17
INADEQUATE PREPARATIONS OF PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES 12.1% 14
INABILITY TO PROVIDE BENEFITS 3.4% 4
Other

* we only have 1 full time and 1 part time paid employee
* Our organization is new, this does not apply
* no time to mentor / train them
* Peoples lack of interest in volunteering.
* not applicable
* No funds for staff
* all volunteer
* An unfortunate side effect of the poor economy is that candidates who,
otherwise, may have declined lower salary offers are accepting the
compensation offered. If a potential candidate has other options or an
offer with a higher salary, s/he may decline our offer.
* all of the above
* Some good people leave for better salaries.
* Do not know
* no raise within the last 5 years
* internal struggles
* n/a
* Hard to find qualified part time employees willing to work part time
* n/a
* no salary available at all for increased staffing
* lack of professionals who are willing to live in a rural area
* I am the only staff member and I am grossly underpaid
* no issues
* odd shifts, low pay, demanding jobs
* No difficulty
* Hard to find pediatrician to come to innner city and deal with lower income
* can only offer parttime
* no hired staff
* n/a
* limited number of aulified candidates
* Lack of effective board support
* Our salaries are very low, even compared to other nonprofits.
* Poor organizational culture
* All of the Above!
* no problem
* n/a

28.4% 33
answered question 116
skipped question 173

30. Which issue(s) has your organization experienced challenges in regarding the recruitment of good Board members?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
NON-PROFIT SCANDALS 0.4% 1
LIABILITY 0.8% 2
LACK OF TIME 37.8% 91
PEOPLE ALREADY COMMITTED TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS 29.0% 70
NOT WILLING TO FUNDRAISE FOR OUR ORGAIZATION 19.9% 48
Other

* limited to qualified family
* NONE
* Lack of diversity
* don’t know
* lack of qualified people
* qualified board members who understand non-profits and
have good business perspectives
* We have not had any trouble recruiting good board members
* Lack of time, other commitments, reluctance to fund raise
— question indicated multiple responses; however,
the format would accept only one
* No effort being made to do so.
* N/A
* no issues
* disengaged with agency
* Same board members for 10+ years
* 51% of our board members must be consumers
* no issues
* N/A
* all the above except #1 and #2
* able to find good board members
* Willing to fundraise in limited sense, but not well connected
* no issues.
* none
* Specific affiliation required for some members.
* None
* No problem
* 51% of the Board must have a disability. Not easy to find
needed skill sets and a disability.
* #s 3, 4 & 5 – You really should have allowed multiple answers
in some of these questions.
* UNKNOWN
* Current Board has lacked the leadership and knowhow of recruting
good Board members
* none

12.0% 29
answered question 241
skipped question 48

31. Does your organization have adequate knowledge to ensure accurate reporting of management, program and fundraising expenses?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
YES 84.8% 224
NO 10.2% 27
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 4.9% 13
answered question 264
skipped question 25

32. Do you feel your organization has adequate knowledge of all nonprofit legal and regulatory compliance issues?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
YES 72.5% 192
NO 20.0% 53
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 7.5% 20
answered question 265
skipped question 24

33. Has your organization been engaged in any challenges over your property tax exemption over the past two years?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
YES 7.9% 21
NO 82.3% 219
DON’T KNOW 9.8% 26
answered question 266
skipped question 23

34. Are you concerned that local/county government may be preparing to challenge your property tax exemption in the near future?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
YES 19.9% 51
NO 80.1% 205
answered question 256
skipped question 33

35. Would you regularly like to receive information on policy issues (state and national) that impact nonprofit organizations?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
YES 83.8% 223
NO 8.6% 23
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 7.5% 20
answered question 266
skipped question 23

36. IF YES, with what frequency would you like to receive information on state and national policy issues?

Response
Percent
Response
Count
DAILY 0.8% 2
WEEKLY 31.0% 76
MONTHLY 59.6% 146
DON’T KNOW/REFUSED 8.6% 21
answered question 245
skipped question 44

37. IF your organization belongs to a professional association, what services that are not currently provided would you like to see added?

Response
Count
Responses

* A directory of foundations & trusts in SE PA
* D&O insurance
* none at this time
* advocacy, other revenue sources
* n/a
* Seminars for Individual Boards, Analysis and Direction
* Pennsylvania Association for the Blind
* none
* new health care law support
* Interns that volunteer to be of clerical service
* employment postings;joint grant seeking opportunities
* none
* N/A
* more training
* resources for nonprofits to boost capacity
* All is good.
* management training
* Some attention to the arts.
* ceo roundtable for discussion
* funding techniques
* AFP
* HR consultation; Management Consultation
* Training for our needs
* Talent Recruitment
* none
* Free training – Staff development
* Stronger and Effective Advocacy

27
answered question 27
skipped question 262

38. What is your organization’s biggest concern as you prepare for 2013?

Response
Count
Responses

* retaining board members
* Funding/Fundraising
* The greater need for more community services and funds to provide those services.
* Currently experiencing an increase in demand for our services, particularly our
soup kitchen coupled with increased costs, particularly food at the same time that
foundation support has decreased both in terms of amounts awarded and more onerous
applications.
* Funding
* Funding sources
* Operational funds
* cuts in reimbursement
* Lack of volunteers.
* Continuity
* Need to raise more operating funds
* funds for capacity training and funds to do more programs and provide more services
* Being in a more rural county, not being able to secure funding especially from foundations.
* Health Insurance
* finding qualified and enthusiastic event partners, funding, overwork.
* funding that is sustainable
* continuation of federal funding
* Retaining one federal and one commercial; contract
* mission accomplishment
* finances
* Budget shortfall
* Confusion in the public mind between the big nonprofits (hospitals, universities)
and us little guys!
* The huge increases in health care costs every year are very difficult for us.
* Fundraising
* Federal funding cuts to State for Medicad programs.
* Sustainable funding
* Maintaining level of services and/or increasing as needs arise
* We are concerned about the cuts to government spending both state and federal
which affects both our target population to serve and our organization
financially in fulfilling our mission to serve them.
* decreased government funding, limite fundraising dollars, higher need for services
* protecting our investments
* Loss or Cuts in the Federal Tax Exemption for Non-Profits
* continued funding.
* Our major programs have been level funded for the past eight years; some funding
has been reduced or cut; other sources are unpredictable.
* Finding funding to replace the loss of State grants
* Adequate funding.
* Continued decline in state funding.
* Sustainability
* state of the economy; aging of key philanthropists in the region
* Government funding for programs and services for individuals with intellectual
and developmental disabilities, and potential impact to our ability to maintain
service levels and programs.
* getting donations to run our programs
* government funding
* lack of funding
* Funding
* We are a domestic violence/sexual assault agency and the increased demand for
our services continues to grow but not the funding. At some point something will
have to give….
* Money!
* Continued funding
* Fundraising and lack of Board Leadership
* The Commonwealth budget
* Being able to supply adequate and efficent service to the homeless population.
* Hiring a new Executive Director

173
answered question 173
skipped question 116