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2008 Pennsylvania Charitable Organizations Survey

Total Respondants: 140

1. Policy Issues

1. Would you say the current level of public trust in charities is:

	Response Percent	Response Total
High	15.0%	21
Medium	74.3%	104
Low	9.3%	13
Don't Know/Refused	1.4%	2
Total Respondents		140
(skipped this question)		0

2. Would you say level of public trust in charities has improved or gotten worse over the past couple of years?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Slightly Improved	1.4%	2
Somewhat Improved	27.1%	38
About the Same	30.0%	42
Somewhat Worse	35.0%	49
Significantly Worse	5.7%	8
Don't Know	0.7%	1
Total Respondents		140
(skipped this question)		0

3. Does your organization use earned media (that is other than paid or donated advertisements, such as news releases and public service announcements) to promote its public policy agenda on state issues?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	37.92%	53
No	54.6%	79
Don't Know	5.7%	8
Total Respondents		140
(skipped this question)		0

4. How frequently do you communicate with the media?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Daily	1.4%	2
Weekly	10.8%	15
Several Times a Month	25.2%	35
Monthly	10.8%	15
Several Times a Year	41.0%	57
Never	6.5%	9
Don't	4.3%	6
Total Respondents		139
(skipped this question)		1

5. Do you believe your communications with the general public are effective?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Highly Effective	10.1%	14
Somewhat Effective	65.5%	91
Somewhat Ineffective	13.7%	19
Highly Ineffective	4.3%	6
Don't Know	6.5%	9
Total Respondents		139
(skipped this question)		1

6. Do you think non-profit organizations should be required to register as lobbyists if they interact with the federal, state, or local government, or should non-profits be exempt from such requirements?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes, should be required to register	30.0%	42
No, should not be required to register	50.0%	70
Don't know	12.1%	17
No Opinon/Refused	7.9%	11
Total Respondents		140
(skipped this question)		0

7. Has anyone from your organization registered as a lobbyist under the Pennsylvania Lobbying Disclosure Act?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	10.8%	15
No	71.9%	100
Don't Know/Refused	17.3%	24
Total Respondents		139
(skipped this question)		1

8. Do you understand what will be required under the new Pennsylvania lobbyist disclosure law?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	33.3%	46
No	57.2%	79
Don't Know/Refused	9.4%	13
Total Respondents		138
(skipped this question)		2

9. Did your organization lobby the FEDERAL government on any public policy issue during the past year?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	26.4%	37
No	64.3%	90
Don't Know/Refused	9.3%	13
Total Respondents		140
(skipped this question)		0

10. Did your organization lobby STATE government on any public policy issue during the past year?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	43.6%	61
No	44.3%	62
Don't Know/Refused	12.1%	17
Total Respondents		140
(skipped this question)		0

11. Did your organization lobby any LOCAL government (county, city, borough, township) on any public policy issue during the past year?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	32.4%	45
No	54.0%	75
Don't Know/Refused	13.7%	19
Total Respondents		139
(skipped this question)		1

12. Does your organization PLAN to lobby government at any level on any public policy issue during the coming year?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	52.2%	72
No	26.1%	36
Don't Know/Refused	21.7%	30
Total Respondents		138
(skipped this question)		2

13. Do you feel you would benefit from training on lobbyist registration and lobbying issues?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	50.4%	70
No	12.9%	18
Not Sure	36.0%	50
Refused	0.7%	1
Total Respondents		139
(skipped this question)		1

14. Do you provide health insurance to your employees?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Currently Provide Health Insurance	87.1%	122
Previously Provided But Discontinued	0.7%	1
Do Not Provide, But Plan To In The Future	4.3	6
Have No Plans To Provide Insurance	7.9	11
Total Respondents		140
(skipped this question)		0

15. If you provide health insurance, who pays the premium?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Employer Pays Full Premium	35.0%	48
Employee Pays Full Premium	0.7%	1
Split/Major Portion Paid By Employer	48.9%	67
Split/Major Portion Paid By Employee	2.9%	4
50/50 Split Employer/Employee	1.5%	2
Do Not Offer/Will Not Offer Insurance	10.9%	15
Total Respondents		137
(skipped this question)		3

16. If you provide health insurance, how are your rates this year compared to 2007?

	Response Percent	Response Total
First Year Offered, No Prior Rate History	2.3%	3
Premium for 2008 Decreased	9.2%	12
No Change	7.7%	10
Premium for 2008 Increased 0-25%	56.2%	73
Premium for 2008 Increased 26-50%	10.8%	14
Premium for 2008 Increased 51-75%	1.5%	2
Premium for 2008 Increased 76-100%	0.0%	0
Premium for 2008 Increased More Than 100%	0.0%	0
Do Not Offer/Will Not Offer Insurance	12.3%	16
Total Respondents		130
(skipped this question)		10

17. If you provide health insurance, are you doing any of the following to reduce costs? (Check the ONE most applicable choice.)

	Response Percent	Response Total
Increasing Deductibles	11.0%	13
Increasing Co-pays	12.7%	15
Changing Insurance Companies	21.2%	25
Changing Type of Coverage (PPO vs Traditional)	7.6%	9
Requiring Employee Contribution	2.5%	3
Increasing Employee Contribution	10.2%	12
Hiring a Broker to Negotiate a Better Rate	8.5%	10
Offering Flex Plans	5.1%	6
Other	8.5%	10
Do Not Offer/Will Not Offer Insurance	12.7%	15
Total Respondents		118
(skipped this question)		22

18. In the last year, have you had any employee complain about being unable to receive medical care due to physicians discontinuing or cutting back on service as a result of the rising cost of medical malpractice insurance?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	9.5%	13
No	68.6%	94
Don't Know/Refused	21.9%	30
Total Respondents		137
(skipped this question)		3

19. When it comes to providing social services, which level of government do you think operates most efficiently?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Federal	6.6%	9
State	8.8%	12
County	29.9%	41
Municipal (Local)	11.7%	16
Don't Know/Refused	43.1%	59
Total Respondents		137
(skipped this question)		3

2. Organizational Issues

20. Generally speaking, from 2006 to 2007 did funding for your organization INCREASE, DECREASE, or STAY ABOUT THE SAME.

	Response Percent	Response Total
Increased	34.7%	43
Stayed About The Same	41.1%	51
Decreased	20.2%	25
Don't Know/Refused	4.0%	5
Total Respondents		124
(skipped this question)		16

21. Generally speaking, do you expect to see funding for 2008 INCREASE, DECREASE, or STAY ABOUT THE SAME as it was in 2007?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Increased	26.2%	33
Stayed About The Same	51.6%	64
Decreased	19.4%	24
Don't Know/No Opinion	2.4%	3
Total Respondents		124
(skipped this question)		16

22. Generally speaking, do you have GREATER, ABOUT THE SAME, or LESS ability to fulfill your organization's core mission this year than in past years?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Greater	29.0%	36
About The Same	47.6%	59
Less	21.8%	27
Don't Know/Refused	1.6%	2
Total Respondents		124
(skipped this question)		16

23. What percentage of your budget comes from federal funding?

	Response Percent	Response Total
0-10%	43.1%	53
11-20%	4.1%	5
21-30%	6.5%	8
31-40%	4.1%	5
41-50%	2.4%	3
51-60%	0.8%	1
61-70%	4.1%	5
71-80%	2.4%	3
81-90%	0.0%	0
91-100%	0.8%	1
Don't Receive Federal Funding	22.0%	27
Don't Know/Refused	9.8%	12
Total Respondents		123
(skipped this question)		17

24. What percentage of your budget comes from state funding?

	Response Percent	Response Total
0-10%	35.0%	42
11-20%	10.0%	12
21-30%	11.7%	14
31-40%	7.5%	9
41-50%	3.3%	4
51-60%	2.5%	3
61-70%	1.7%	2
71-80%	0.8%	1
81-90%	2.5%	3
91-100%	0.0%	0
Don't Receive State Funding	15.8%	19
Don't Know/Refused	9.2%	11
Total Respondents		120
(skipped this question)		20

25. What percentage of your budget comes from county or local funding?

	Response Percent	Response Total
0-10%	37.1%	46
11-20%	12.9%	16
21-30%	4.0%	5
31-40%	6.5%	8
41-50%	3.2%	4
51-60%	0.8%	1
61-70%	2.4%	3
71-80%	2.4%	3
81-90%	0.0%	0
91-100%	2.4%	3
Don't Receive County or Local Funding	17.7%	22
Don't Know/Refused	10.5%	13
Total Respondents		124
(skipped this question)		16

26. Is your organization contemplating any type of material change in 2008?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Merger	3.3%	2
Limited Liability Corporaton	0.0%	0
Closing Your Doors	0.0%	0
Expanding Operations	51.7%	31
Moving Your Offices	16.7%	10
Other (Toggle View)	27.3%	17
Total Respondents		60
(skipped this question)		80

27. Does your Board of Directors have adequate knowledge of their fiduciary responsibility as board members?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	75.8%	94
No	16.1%	20
Don't Know/Refused	8.1%	10
Total Respondents		124
(skipped this question)		16

28. Does your Board of Directors regularly review the information on Form 990?

	Response Percent	Response Total
YES	54.1%	66
NO	28.7%	35
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED	17.2%	21
Total Respondents		122
(skipped this question)		18

29. Is your organization aware of major changes in the new IRS 2008 Form 990?

	Response Percent	Response Total
YES	63.4%	78
NO	23.6%	29
DON'T KNOW/REFUSED	13.0%	16
Total Respondents		123
(skipped this question)		17

30. The new 2008 Form 990 asks if you have each of the following policies in please. Please check each policy you current do have in place:

	Response Percent	Response Total
Conflict of Interest Policy	98.2%	112
Document Retention Policy	71.1%	81
Whistleblower Policy	64.0%	73
Total Respondents		114
(skipped this question)		26

31. Does your organization have difficulty hiring/retaining qualfied staff?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Yes	46.0%	57
No	51.6%	64
Don't Know/Refused	2.6%	3
Total Respondents		124
(skipped this question)		16

32. If your organization does have difficult hiring/retaining qualified staff, what is the cause of that difficulty?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Our Salary Offers Are Lower	49.3%	37
For Profits Offer Better Salary/Benefit Packages	24.0%	18
Inadequate Preparations of Prospective Employees	1.3%	1
Inability to Provide Benefits	4.0%	3
Other (Toggle View)	21.3%	75
Total Respondents		65
(skipped this question)		26

33. Which issue(s) has your organization experienced challenges in regarding the recruitment of good Board members?

	Response Percent	Response Total
Non-Profit Scandals	1.7%	2
Liability	0.0%	0
Lack of Time	50.4%	58
People Already Committed To Other Organizations	39.1%	45
Other (Toggle View)	8.7%	10
Total Respondents		115
(skipped this question)		25

34. What is your organization's biggest concern as you prepare for 2008?

	Response Total
Toggle View	89
Total Respondents	89
(skipped this question)	51

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Partnering with provider agencies to complete a demonstration project and securing adequate funding to determine long term sustainability. As start-up there are so many areas where the expectation is to have systems in place (technology, marketing, financial, human resource, etc) it is difficult to provide service and get systems in place. All the systems are important so determining how to spend our limited resources wisely.
Ability of counties to offer cost of living increases
The amount of money that will be available to fund programs.
Funding - state and local municipal funding, as well as community support. It's always a struggle, but with the economic downturn, it is a greater concern.
economy
flat funding . falling behind inflation
Retaining and recruitment of dues-paying members.
Money
The biggest concern if acquiring enough funding to continue operating properly.
Finding time to administer all the increasing numbers of "paper" requirements for the state (all levels) & especially foundations offering funding. The latter seem to seek out more & more for us to do for them. I'd rather have someone visit us more to experience what we do, rather than spend there time searching through all the paper work we have to provide them. I do understand a certain amount of accountability requirements, but these seem to increase in order to provide foundation people work or to maintain their own funding sources. I don't know what the complete answer to this problem is. I do understand the other side to a degree. However, I am being asked to commit more time to running papers, etc. than to our work or to actual fundraising. We need real help NOT more requirements.
financial viability and retaining competent staff
$$$$$$$$
grantmaking priroities organizational priorities
Economy
Building a better board -- term limits would help, if they would pass them.
reduced State funding
lack of sufficient volunteers to staff our facility
Flat funding and rising costs to operate.
The Economy
Earning the 501 c 3 status
Balancing the budget.
Escalating costs, donor concerns, the state of the economy
Money
Maintaining our highly successful fundraising year in 2007, because of an impending recession.
Maintaining our funding to continue giving quality services to our clients
How to effectively address the emerging needs of the communities that we serve and still stay true to the mission of the Foundation. We are also concerned about our ability to attract unrestricted funds to the Foundation to support our Community Investment Initiative critical issues.
Fundraising
keeping revenues up. also, we have a very small staff and we are very dependent on each one - there is little or no cross-training - if our admin. person gets hit by a bus, we're in trouble.
The politcal climate as it relates to social services
Finances
Recruiting and retaining qualified staff and finding enough doctor (psychiatrist) hours to keep our programs in compliance
Increasing funding to match increased demands from the public using our organization.
competition, and the changing nature of our business
Federal and State Government forgetting human services, especially children's services.
The federal deficit and continued cuts to the Medicaid/Medicare programs.
funding
over regulation under funding
The continuing movement by the government to transfer the responsibility of providing care to fot and for profit organizations without adeqaute funding
Funding
Have to diversify our funding stream. Too much dependence on gov't dollars
Retired now, so cannot respond to this question.
Economic uncertanty
Sustaining current levels of public funding.
Increasing contributed support in order to offer expanded programs
Preparing a new strategic plan to address the pressing issues in our community.
funding
Long-term funding commitments from local, state and federal partners
The Econony Public Support---Contributions
reduced federal funding
...if the 'merger' is going to work.
fundraising in shifting economy
the shift in funding from the county to the state level and the anticipated paperwork snafu that may occur resulting in not receiving the monies necessary to operate our programs/services in a timely fashion
Ongoing levels of government funding.
The State Budgets
Fiscal stewardship in challenging economic times
financial resources are too scarce
Preparing the board for a major capital campaign in the next 5 years.
Refocusing on key issues - conflicts with members over what strategic plan should be.
Staffing for growth and number of men being turned away because of lack of resources. Ours is a homeless shelter and transitional housing organization. As recession sets in, more men are desperately in need of assistance.
staffing
Fund raising.
The economy
Ability to sustain funding and allow for adequte growth to serve the increased needs of a growing population/client base.
limited funding for increased needs
ability to receive state or funding to ssupport our operation on adaily basis
Increased costs without increased funding.
The biggest concern is the challenge for finding funding.
Funding
Recession
ensuring foundation/corporation donations
Decrease in charitable giving and commitment there to of the next generation.
Funding
Funding
Revenue
getting additional money to increase wages.
Funding
communicating mission and outcomes so others will join our efforts.
Implementation of reorganization from a top down model.
Getting the funding needed to continue our work.
Negative repercussions of state proposals to alter systems of funding and providing customer services.
Expansion funding
Recruiting board members, increasing donor base.
economic downturn
general operating expenses and retaining talented staff members
Continued availability of food for distribution
Declining membership and need to offset with other financial sources
A changing administration (Presidential Election)
Financial stability due to our dependence on government funding.
the performance of the stock market as we are a private foundation

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Taking the Pulse of Pennsylvania