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Financial meltdown’s effect on nonprofits

September 20, 2008

Here’s another group that’s going to suffer because of the financial sector’s implosion: nonprofits.

Kate, who blogs at It’s Not Always About Money, had an "I told you so" moment last week as fiscal chaos reigned. She notes that months ago, she wrote that heavy reliance on a single donor, whether individual or corporate, was a very risky proposition for a
nonprofit organization.

Now groups that counted bankrupt Lehman Brothers as a, or the, major donor better have contingency plans in place, writes Kate, because making up those dollars will take
a lot of effort.

Bloomberg and Crain’s New York Business have more on this topic, and UK Fundraising looks at how it could affect charitable groups worldwide.

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TO WRAP UP 2026

It’s over! With October’s extended filing deadline behind us, it is now time to focus on year-end moves to reduce your 2026 tax bill. 

You’ll find ways to do just that on the Tax Tips page (see the More Tax Posts drop-down menu at the top of the blog), as well as the separate tax tip pages for each month, notably October through December. If you’re on the Tax Tips page, you’ll find a monthly list at the end of this column. If you’re on another blog page, you can head straight to the October tips; at the bottom of that tips page you’ll find links to all the other 11 months’ collections of tax advice.

Not to spoil what you’ll find in that tax advice, but it does cover such things as tax deductions for charitable donations, investment moves that could reduce tax due, and ways to max out your tax-favored retirement savings. 

Finally, as the year winds down, things get hectic. There are lots of other things to occupy our time, like the much more fun upcoming holidays. But don’t lose sight of taxes, since timing is key. To be of use, most tax moves must be made by the end of the tax year. That’s Thursday, Dec. 31, which also is the last business day of the year. 

So that you don’t miss that final tax year deadline, also keep an eye on the countdown clock below. It will keep you on top of just how much time is left to make important, tax-saving moves. (Note: I’m in the Central Time Zone, so adjust accordingly for where you live.)

Comments
  • Thanks for the link, Kay. The concern for nonprofits is twofold, I believe. First, as you say, there is the sudden demise of a corporate supporter. Shocking as that is, it should only have a direct impact, at least initially, on those nonprofits receiving grants from that company’s foundation.
    More worrying is the second issue – thousands of individuals suddenly losing their jobs. Imagine the number of nonprofits whom Lehman Brothers’ staff supported with regular or one-off gifts. At the other end of the scale, think of the number of senior staff there who will have been major donors to some nonprofits.
    So, worrying times not just for those nonprofits who received support from Lehman Brothers’ two foundations.

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