Reports - Mississippi Renewal

140 | NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONSnecessary to compete successfully inan increasingly crowded funding environment.The Commission expectsthat the next several months will showthat Katrina taxed some NGOs beyondthe limits of long-term sustainability.NGO facilities were destroyed or significantlydamaged, and organizationalrecords and equipment were lost. Reducedstaffs have struggled to keep pacewith increasing needs. Without immediateaid and support, many organizationsmay lose their abilities to provideprograms critical to keeping the socialservice infrastructure intact.RecommendationsThe Commission makes the followingrecommendations based on theresearch and discussions of the NGOCommittee:■ Immediate funding assistance.Lost revenue is the most immediateissue for most of these organizations.Many were able to repurchaseor borrow computer equipment andfind temporary space for operationsand administrative functions. Numerousentities, however, have depletedthe limited reserves and arenot equipped to coordinate withnational organizations for fundraising.The Commission, therefore, isassisting in the placement of grantwriting teams to work with NGOsin applying for funding from sourcesthat previously have been undiscovered.Many services provided bythese NGOs are eligible for fundingthrough international organizations.This grant writing assistance shouldhelp relieve immediate problems,as well as aid in drafting intermediarybudgets, providing templatesfor future grant opportunities, andTheCommissionexpects thatthe nextseveral monthswill show thatKatrina taxedsome NGOsbeyond thelimits oflong-termsustainability.boosting local leaders’ experiencein national networking. The Commissionis coordinating efforts withthe Association of Fundraising Professionalsand the American Societyfor Association Executives. At theconclusion of “fund-raising season,”these associations will begin recruitingtheir members as volunteer grantwriters. NGOs should be aware thatCongress recently appropriated $550million in social services block grantsto furnish special assistance for thedisabled, counseling, child care, andemployment in the affected states.■ Greater representation in recoveryplanning. Without a donors’ forum,local NGOs find it difficult tohave a common voice and, therefore,have not been fully integrated in recoverydiscussions. The Commissionrecommends that the governor orother designated state or local officialappoint a member of the nonprofitcommunity to serve on future committeesor commissions tasked withlong-term recovery.■ A Non-Profit Clearinghouse.The Commission recommends thatthe Mississippi Center for Non-Profitsengage with organizations on theGulf Coast including United Way andGulf Coast Community Foundationto form an entity that creates lastingsupport for nonprofit organizationsin the area. This entity, the Gulf CoastNon-Profit Clearinghouse, should bethe cornerstone institution providingbusiness and professional developmentand key links with nationalorganizations, such as the NationalCenter for Philanthropy, for grantresearch. The Clearinghouse shouldbe the central communications pointamong NGOs during disasters andan information clearinghouse in recovery.The entity also may providegrant search resources and temporaryworking office space for NGOs.Funding should include partnershipswith regional and national organizations,such as Volunteer OrganizationsActive in Disasters (VOAD),AmeriCorp, Living Cities, America’sPromise, and the Knight Foundation.The Commission is working closelywith strategic local and national partnerssuch as Gulf Coast CommunityFoundation, United Way, Living Cities,and America’s Promise to ensurethat the success of the Clearinghousemakes it a model for regional grantorsand grantees.