November 15, 2011; Source: Wall Street Journal | Thomas DiNapoli, the Comptroller of the state of New York, has taken state agencies to task for being chronically late by an average of 6 months in approving nonprofit contracts valued at $50,000 or more. The delayed writing of contracts has been identified as a problem in New York for some time. The practice, which creates massive problems for nonprofits who are operating on slight margins, is one of a number of maneuvers roughly included in the realm of late payments, and is seen by many as an attempt to control cash flow to the benefit of the state. DiNapoli says that the delays are hurting nonprofits and jeopardizing services.—Ruth McCambridge
About The Author
Ruth is the founder and Editor Emerita of the Nonprofit Quarterly. Her background includes forty-five years of experience in nonprofits, primarily in organizations that mix grassroots community work with policy change. Beginning in the mid-1980s, Ruth spent a decade at the Boston Foundation, developing and implementing capacity building programs and advocating for grantmaking attention to constituent involvement.