The Educational Alliance prepared for the recession

Most New York nonprofits have prepared their organizations for the recession that we are currently experiencing.  Many started planning back in late 2007 knowing that the economy was going to take a rapid turn for the worse.  In the New York Nonprofit Business Examiners profiling of New York nonprofits sustaining their operations during the recession, we were fortunate to connect with The Educational Alliance.

The Educational Alliance is a non-profit organization that changes lives. The organization was founded in 1889 to help Jewish immigrants get settled in the U.S., today the organization serves a broad and diverse group of downtown New Yorkers -- of all religions, ethnicities, races and socio-economic backgrounds.

In a recent interview with the New York Nonprofit Business Examiner, Robin Bernstein, President and CEO of The Educational Alliance says, "There are four vital areas in which our organization has relied on during this recession.  These areas have included focusing on what is the most important, investing in growth for key areas, diversifying funding streams and using social media to raise awareness about our organization."

Bernstein offers the following in regards to her four key areas for sustainable nonprofit programming:

1. Focus on what is most important - The Educational Alliance developed a strategic plan in 2006 and has stuck with it – implementing it and using it to chart our actions, despite the recession. Our focus throughout has remained on what we do best and what the neighborhood needs most. We have transitioned out of programs that are better run by other organizations. Like other non-profits, we have had to make difficult decisions (we reduced our workforce by 10% in the last 18 months), but we have remained grounded by a strategic plan that informs those decisions. Because we know and stay focused on our core, we have been able to grow and deepen our youth development and early childhood education programs.
2. Invest for growth in key areas - In some cases, the organizations decisions have actually required that we spend money, but they have been strategic risks that were driven by our core mission and our strategic plan. Last summer, we embarked on a $1.2 million renovation of the 14th Street Y, resulting in brand new, state-of-the-art facilities including a renovated fitness center, locker rooms and lobby. We took a risk, despite the horrible economy, and spent money to try to have the facility match the quality of the programs in the building. Since the renovation completed in October 2009, the 14th Street Y has consistently exceeded its goals for the number of individuals we serve, and membership is up 25%.
3. Diversified Funding Streams -The Educational Alliance receives funding from a combination of government funding (city, state & federal), foundations & private donors and we generate revenue through affordable, high-quality fee-for-service programs. This gives us more flexibility in this economic climate. In 2009, we raised more money from individual donors than ever before. This too is an outgrowth of our strategic plan – we are responding to needs/interests in the neighborhood and have developed programming in response. Our goal is to be a place that helps all members of our community learn and thrive no matter their socio-economic status or how the services are paid for.
4. Raise Awareness by using Social Media -In 2009, The Educational Alliance raised our visibility by launching a new website, creating a strong presence on social media outlets such as Facebook & Twitter, and hiring a Public Relations manager who helped raise our media profile with stories in the New York Times and ABC, NBC, FOX and other broadcast TV outlets. Web visits increased by 30% in 1st Quarter 2010 (compared to 1st Quarter 2009).

Diversifying your organizations funding stream is a highly recommended action to take. If you are an organization that depends solely on one state or federal contract, it would behoove you to apply for other types of grants that are cycling that align with your cause. There are many resources online that will allow you to find grant opportunities that are appropriate for your organization such as grants.gov or the Founder Center.

You can connect with The Educational Alliance through its Facebook, Twitter or YouTube Channel to keep up with the work of the organization on a daily basis.