Current Realities:

• The System Mapping SWOT Analysis completed in 2005-06, confirmed the dependence on public sector funds for the programs profiled in the county is evident. Of the funds spent on programs for pre-birth through 5 years old, a significant portion was from “institutional funding streams” that are almost solely publicly funded. One of the recommendations coming out of the study was a greater investment in private-sector fundraising by leading institutions in early childhood.  
  • Many stakeholders have already recommended that the economic development virtues of child development be promoted and utilized as a rationale for local business investment and changes in business practices to a more “family friendly” model for employees.
• Legislators and government officials will call on nonprofits to become still more financially self-sufficient. At the same time, legislators and government officials will increasingly criticize nonprofit revenue generating ideas. Likewise, legislative and regulatory demand will continue to grow for nonprofits to behave more like businesses in their financial and accounting practices.Yet, legislative and regulatory demand will continue to grow for nonprofits not to behave so much like businesses in their commercial and sales practices. Source:   http://www.hurwitassociates.com/l_21_trends.html