logo logo
Donate
    • Membership
    • Donate
  • Social Justice
    • Racial Justice
    • Climate Justice
    • Disability Justice
    • Economic Justice
    • Health Justice
    • Immigration
    • LGBTQ+
  • Civic News
  • Nonprofit Leadership
    • Board Governance
    • Equity-Centered Management
    • Finances
    • Fundraising
    • Human Resources
    • Organizational Culture
    • Philanthropy
    • Power Dynamics
    • Strategic Planning
    • Technology
  • CONTENT TYPES
  • Leading Edge Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Webinars

Nonprofit Newswire | Of Scalability and Feasibility

Rick Cohen
June 7, 2010

June 4, 2010; Source: Financial Times | The debates are as vigorous in the U.K. as in the U.S. around scaling up nonprofit capacity for expanded service delivery and solutions to societal problems. The Conservative/Liberal government of PM David Cameron has proposed something called the “big society” in which communities would take back power from the central government and nonprofits (and “social enterprises”) would operate schools and human service programs.

The Financial Times decided to ask a few experts about the realism of Cameron’s proposed “ethos of self-help and civic duty . . . hark[ening] back to 19-century ideals of philanthropy.” The handful of sources quoted in this article weren’t particularly hopeful for the nonprofit sector. The head of the charities practice, as the “sector’s leading auditor,” suggested that small community-based charities wouldn’t be able to handle contracts of the size the government would have to let if it really wants to hand power over to nonprofit program operators. The head of the Charity Commission is concerned that government would actually avoid small nonprofits because they wouldn’t be able to demonstrate economies of scale.

Sign up for our free newsletters

Subscribe to NPQ's newsletters to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from NPQ and our partners.

Others said that they could compete if local charities were to link up with larger name-brand groups, but there was little history of successful local/national teaming up on bids. The head of a charity think-tank, New Philanthropy Capital, said that the nonprofit sector “does not have a good track record of demonstrating value for money,” suggesting charities and the nation would be better off if groups would “scale up” to show clear savings for taxpayers. Fortunately, the Charity Commission executive director pointed out that quantifying success or financial savings on complex social problems was not always easy or practical.

And a spokesperson for the National Council of Voluntary Organisations sniffed out the think-tank’s business and markets bias, suggesting that private sector contractors were at best no better than nonprofits on that score: “Show me a company that is good at measuring this,” he said. “They are appalling. They just don’t see it as relevant.” Change a little of the syntax and spelling, this article could have easily been written about the federal dialogue on nonprofits, social entrepreneurs, and measurement in this country.—Rick Cohen

About the author
Rick Cohen

Rick joined NPQ in 2006, after almost eight years as the executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP). Before that he played various roles as a community worker and advisor to others doing community work. He also worked in government. Cohen pursued investigative and analytical articles, advocated for increased philanthropic giving and access for disenfranchised constituencies, and promoted increased philanthropic and nonprofit accountability.

More about: Nonprofit News

Our Voices Are Our Power.

Journalism, nonprofits, and multiracial democracy are under attack. At NPQ, we fight back by sharing stories and essential insights from nonprofit leaders and workers—and we pay every contributor.

Can you help us protect nonprofit voices?

Your support keeps truth alive when it matters most.
Every single dollar makes a difference.

Donate now
logo logo logo logo logo
See comments

You might also like
Big Tech Comes to Tucker County, West Virginia
Laura Harbert Allen
What Happens When Your NSF Grant Is Canceled?
Nicole Walker
Amid Job Corps Cuts, HBCU Leaders Are Stepping Up
Rebekah Barber
New Tariffs Will Likely Deepen Economic Burdens for Women of Color
Rebekah Barber
Black Imagination as Strategy: Reclaiming Creativity in Nonprofit Leadership
Coniqua Johnson-Reed
With Major Sponsors Out, Who Is Stepping Up to Support Pride?
Alison Stine

Upcoming Webinars

Group Created with Sketch.
June 26th, 2:00 pm ET

From Performance Management to Mutual Commitment

Fostering a Culture of Joyful Accountability

Register
Group Created with Sketch.
July 24th, 2:00 pm ET

Organizing in Divided Times

The Relational Infrastructure We Need to Protect Democracy

Register

    
You might also like
Conservatives Attack Nonprofits on Capitol Hill
Isaiah Thompson
Glass-paneled exterior of the Microsoft building.
Microsoft Axes Free 365 Software for Nonprofits
Isaiah Thompson
US Capitol Building
Tax Provision Would Give Trump Administration Unilateral...
Rebekah Barber and Isaiah Thompson

Like what you see?

Subscribe to the NPQ newsletter to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

See our newsletters

By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from NPQ and our partners.

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Copyright
  • Donate
  • Editorial Policy
  • Funders
  • Submissions

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

 

Non Profit News | Nonprofit Quarterly
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.