Sunday, March 23, 2008

Are There Too Many Nonprofits?

With some estimates now exceeding 1.4 million charitable nonprofits nationally, it is easy to make the case that we don't need more. Still, every year 30-50,000 new nonprofits are created - each requiring board members, volunteers, and some combination of donations, foundation grants, corporate support, government funding, etc.

On the other side of the debate, I hear experienced nonprofit leaders talk about the importance of these new organizations to drive fresh ideas, new approaches, bring new leaders into the nonprofit sector, and increase awareness or focus on a particular issue.

If it were up to you, what criteria would you use to determine when a new nonprofit is needed and when it is not?

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