June 22, 2010; Source: St. Cloud Times | We wish we saw more of these stories, though maybe it is happening out of sight—the St. Cloud United Way has, for the second year in a row, drawn down from its reserves in order to maintain a higher level of giving than could be supported if they were to use only campaign money. The agency knows first hand how critical basic services are right now, citing the fact that calls to its 211 number are up 40 percent. Their budget this year—even with the $200,000 they have drawn down—is $100,000 less than last year and $500,000 less than the year before.— Ruth McCambridge
About The Author
Ruth is Editor in Chief 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.
