We compiled this list to make it easy to find articles related to the downturn, layoffs, and so forth . . . this list as of June 2009
Blue Avocado is a practical, provocative and fun online magazine for community nonprofits. Subscribe free by sending email to editor@blueavocado.org [4] or by visiting www.blueavocado.org [5]. You can also find these articles by going to any page at www.blueavocado.org [5] and using the search function button on the right column towards the bottom. (More on Blue Avocado at the end of this handout.)
And Now for Something Different about Nonprofits & the Economy [6]
Jan Masaoka offers some unconventional advice, including, "Do less with less."
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/and-now-something-different-about-nonprofits-and-economy-1109 [6]or click here [6].
Survival Strategies for the Arts [7]
Artist and arts grantmaker John Killacky offers some pithy advice for arts organizations, for funders, and for audience members.
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/survival-strategies-arts [7] or click here [7].
Nonprofit Layoffs and Furloughs: Do Them Right [8]
Blue Avocado's Ask Rita in HR column gives step-by-step guidance for layoffs, furloughs, and temporary closures.
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/nonprofit-layoffs-and-furloughs-do-them-right [8]or click here [8].
Sample Layoff Letter [9]
In case you need one.
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/sample-layoff-letter [9] or click here [9].
Loans from Nonprofit Board Members [10]
Six types of loans and if you need one of them, how to do it properly.
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/loans-nonprofit-board-members [10] or click here [10].
Thinking the Unthinkable: Maybe We Should Shut Down [11]
The Board Café column looks at how to look at closures, and briefly addresses a variety of alternatives.
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/thinking-unthinkable-maybe-we-should-shut-down [6] or click here [11].
Closing Down the Right Way [12]
Bankruptcy can be done well or poorly. A step-by-step guide to nonprofit closures.
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/closing-down-right-way [12] or click here [12].
The M Word: A Board Member's Guide to Mergers. How, Why, and Why Not to Merge Nonprofit Organizations [13]
First published by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, this 50-page comprehensive booklet addresses mergers, alternatives to mergers, reasons to merge and reasons not to merge, case studies, and step-by-step processes. Download the booklet at this link
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/m-word [13] or click here [13].
Nonprofit Budgets Have to Balance: False! [14]
Blue Avocado finance columnist Jeanne Bell takes a look at when budgets have to balance and when they don't.
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/nonprofit-budgets-have-balance-false [14] or click here [14].
Laid Off by a Nonprofit: Me! [15]
Part of Blue Avocado's First Person Nonprofit series, this is one person's story about losing her job at a nonprofit.
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/laid-nonprofit-me [15] or click here [15].
When You Lose Your Health Insurance [16]
Blue Avocado columnist Steve Zimmerman gives practical advice for people in this fix.
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/when-you-lose-your-health-insurance-coverage [16] or click here [16].
Top Ten Questions from Nonprofit Jobseekers . . . Answered! [17]
Search consultant Sally Carlson offers some practical advice.
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/top-ten-questions-jobseekers-answered [17] or click here [17].
How to Take a Public Policy Stand [18]
Includes sample criteria for when to take a policy stand, and suggests processes for doing so.
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/how-take-public-policy-stand-sample-criteria [18] or click here [18].
Downsizing from Employees to Independent Contractors? [19]
Nonprofits often consider this step as a way to reduce personnel expenses and increase flexibility in staffing. This Ask Rita in HR column looks at how to do it right.
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/downsizing-employees-independent-contractors [19] or click here [19].
Layoff Stories from Blue Avocado Readers [20]
A fast-read of the experiences of several nonprofit folks
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/layoff-stories-blue-avocado-readers [20] or click here [20].
Are there too many nonprofits? Three thought-provoking OpEds
Word on the Street: The Mortgage Crisis and Transitional Housing [24]
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/word-street-about-mortgage-crisis-and-transitional-housing [24] or click here [24].
Economic Downturn: A Performance Poem [25]
A poetry slam-style piece that was used to sum up a nonprofit discussion on the topic
http://www.blueavocado.org/content/nonprofit-economic-downturn-performance-poem [25] or click here [25].
Blue Avocado publishes on the 1st and 15th of each month to 50,000 subscribers and innumerable web visitors. Each issue we have at least one news/provocative
article, at least one practical article, and at least one fun article. Our goal is to change the nonprofit sector's view of itself, to seeing itself as it is: a dynamic, high-impact builder of community and driver of social change. Editor-in-Chief: Jan Masaoka. Partners: CompassPoint Nonprofit Services [26], Nonprofit Insurance Alliance Group [27].
Contact: email editor@blueavocado.org [4] or click here [28].
Links:
[1] http://www.blueavocado.org/category/topic/feature-articles
[2] http://www.blueavocado.org/?
[3] http://www.blueavocado.org/print/380
[4] mailto:editor@blueavocado.org
[5] http://www.blueavocado.org
[6] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/and-now-something-different-about-nonprofits-and-economy-1109
[7] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/survival-strategies-arts
[8] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/nonprofit-layoffs-and-furloughs-do-them-right
[9] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/sample-layoff-letter
[10] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/loans-nonprofit-board-members
[11] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/thinking-unthinkable-maybe-we-should-shut-down
[12] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/closing-down-right-way
[13] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/m-word
[14] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/nonprofit-budgets-have-balance-false
[15] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/laid-nonprofit-me
[16] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/when-you-lose-your-health-insurance-coverage
[17] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/top-ten-questions-jobseekers-answered
[18] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/how-take-public-policy-stand-sample-criteria
[19] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/downsizing-employees-independent-contractors
[20] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/layoff-stories-blue-avocado-readers
[21] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/too-many-nonprofits-yes-least-too-many-aids-organizations
[22] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/too-many-nonprofits-yes-clueless-seattle
[23] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/too-many-nonprofits-no-there-arent-enough-good-nonprofits
[24] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/word-street-about-mortgage-crisis-and-transitional-housing
[25] http://www.blueavocado.org/content/nonprofit-economic-downturn-performance-poem
[26] http://www.compasspoint.org
[27] http://www.insurancefornonprofits.org
[28] http://www.blueavocado.org/contact-jan-masaoka