Support your favorite non-profits on September 20th, the Day of Giving
Thank goodness for community-based non-profit organizations (CBOs), they are a uniquely American model of providing a social safety net for our neighbors. They are numerous, they are mission driven, and are responsive to the needs of their communities.
Many do not know or think about how these non-profits survive, especially in a challenging economy where the prices of goods and competitive labor market increases while revenues are static or in some cases decreased. I have worked in for-profit and non-profit and the goals are very different. For-profit organizations are just that, driven by profit. And non-profits are called that for a reason. Although, they need to make an operating margin to be sustainable for pay increases, new program growth, etc.
CBOs are not franchises of a larger corporate entity. Most do not have a financial pipeline to support our services for those in need. CBOs have three sources of revenue, first from a fee for services, which usually does not cover the cost of service. And third, and partially by design, community fundraising. Partially by design, because the community has to value the service enough so that community members make contributions to support the CBO. For example, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires hospices to provide a percentage of services to be provided by volunteers. Many foundations require matching funding from the community donations to demonstrate community support for their service.
Some who come from traditional businesses have a hard time understanding that most CBOs do not make a “margin” from the provision of services. Even large non-profits, such as hospitals and health systems struggle to make a margin and rely upon grants and fundraising, especially in New York. Our communities are very giving and supportive of CBOs and this is again a very American trait. We help our neighbors; many have or know someone who has benefited from the services of a CBO.
Helios Care provides many complementary services in addition to hospice care which is not reimbursed for by Medicare or Medicaid or any payor source. We do it because it benefits our patients and their families. During the Pandemic we provided Bereavement Services to anyone who may need it, normally reserved for hospice patient families. And we have now continued that service because of demonstrated need. Other CBOs do the same: respond to the changing needs of their constituents.
So, on September 20th there is a unique opportunity to support many of your favorite CBOs. #MohawkValleyGives, is a 24-hour community wide giving day benefiting participating non-profit organizations in Otsego County and the greater region. It is easy and convenient to see all the CBOs and what their funding needs are, read their stories, and donate to multiple agencies all in one place. The website will go live today, September 16th: givemv.org and will remain open until the 23rd to help facilitate donations. We obviously hope you donate to Helios Care so we can continue to provide our services to those facing serious life-limiting diseases. However, donate to those CBOs who you value, it helps everyone.
-Dan Ayres, President & CEO
