The Certified Public Accounting firm of Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs PLC, located in Williston, Vermont, conducted a survey of Vermont-based not for profit organizations regarding their most pressing issues.
Not for Profits organizations around the state responded to a range of questions regarding financial information and operational challenges. Respondents were asked to identify their annual revenue, operating budget, as well as expected operating budget. They were also asked to rank the most pressing issues faced by their organization.
Of the Vermont not for profit organizations surveyed, it was revealed that the most pressing challenges faced are fundraising and staff compensation. 68% of respondents are very concerned
Vermont Nonprofit Survey
Text Block:
This survey is being distributed to Vermont nonprofit organizations to identify thespecific issues facing the state's nonprofits. Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs thanks you for your time in completing this brief survey.
Please identify your organization's sector.
Answer
0%
100%
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Arts, Culture, Humanities
4
16.0%
Health
2
8.0%
Human Services
9
36.0%
Education
5
20.0%
Environment, Animals
2
8.0%
Religious
0
0.0%
Other
3
12.0%
No Responses
0
0.0%
Totals
25
100%
Please identify your total annual revenue in fiscal year 2011:
Answer
0%
100%
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
$0 - $50k
2
8.0%
$51k - $100k
0
0.0%
$101k - $250k
1
4.0%
$251k - $500k
3
12.0%
$501k - $2M
11
44.0%
$2M+
8
32.0%
No Responses
0
0.0%
Totals
25
100%
Over the last 12 months, demand for your organization's services has:
Answer
0%
100%
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Significantly increased
10
40.0%
Slightly increased
6
24.0%
Remained the same
8
32.0%
Decreased
1
4.0%
No Responses
0
0.0%
Totals
25
100%
Your organization ended fiscal year 2011 with an operating:
Answer
0%
100%
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Deficit
8
32.0%
Surplus
14
56.0%
Break-even
3
12.0%
No Responses
0
0.0%
Totals
25
100%
Your organization anticipates ending fiscal year 2012 with an operating:
Answer
0%
100%
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Deficit
8
32.0%
Surplus
7
28.0%
Break-even
10
40.0%
Totals
25
100%
On an annual basis, which of the following has your organization performed?
Answer
0%
100%
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Audit
17
73.9%
Compilation
0
0.0%
Review
5
21.7%
Other
1
4.3%
Totals
23
100%
What accounting software does your organization use?
Answer
0%
100%
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
QuickBooks
18
72.0%
Sage Fundraising
0
0.0%
Sage Peachtree
2
8.0%
Fundware by Blackbaud
0
0.0%
Fundraiser
0
0.0%
Trailblazer
0
0.0%
Other
6
24.0%
Totals
25
100%
Does your organization track multiple programs and/or cost centers?
Answer
0%
100%
Number of
Responses
Response
Ratio
Yes
21
84.0%
No
4
16.0%
No Responses
0
0.0%
Totals
25
100%
Please rate each of the following challenges faced by nonprofit organizations by the level of your organization's concern.
1= Not concerned ,2= Mildly concerned ,3= Very concerned
Answer
1
2
3
Number of
Responses
Rating
Score*
Talent recruiting and retention
25
1.7
Staff compensation
25
2.4
Financial compliance and reporting
25
1.8
Budget analysis
25
1.6
Fundraising
25
2.6
Board member education
25
2.0
Employee morale
25
1.8
*The Rating Score is the weighted average calculated by dividing the sum of all weighted ratings by the number of total responses.
Show Details
about the issue of fundraising, while 44% are also very concerned about staff compensation. Other noteworthy challenges faced by those polled include board member education (24% very concerned), financial compliance and reporting (20% very concerned), and employee morale (12% very concerned).
Respondents were asked to gauge the demand for their services over the last 12 months. Of those surveyed, more than half identified an increase in the demand for their services. 24% of which saw a slight increase while 40% experienced a significant increase in demand. Of those that have seen a significant increase, 30% are from the education sector while another 30% are from the human services sector.
In regards to economic optimism, 56% of respondents ended the fiscal year 2011 with an operating surplus, while only 28% expect to have a surplus in 2012. Of those that expect a surplus in 2012, 85% ended 2011 with an operating surplus and 15% with an operating deficit.
32% of respondents reported an operating deficit for 2011. 32% also expect a deficit in 2012, but only 37% of those that reported a deficit in 2011 expect a deficit in 2012. 50% of those that reported a deficit in 2011 anticipate to break even in 2012, while only 12% of those same respondents expect an operating surplus.
How does Davis & Hodgdons managing partner, John Davis, sum up the results? It is not surprising that two of the most prominent challenges faced by Vermont not for profits are fundraising and staff compensation. Fundraising is affected by many factors including economic climate and proper staffing. Not for profits need to become even more creative in terms of fundraising, embrace technology and use the Internet and social media to fuel their efforts. Donors are savvier in determining whether they are getting the bang for their bucks at charitable organizations. The organizations need to better measure and communicate their results with the public. In regards to staffing concerns Davis added, Recruiting and retaining talent has historically been a challenge for this industry, but one that could be assisted by creative incentive plans with additional emphasis placed on fringe benefits and quality of life issues.
For complete survey results, go tohttp://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e6iz2n1oh8g53xg8/results
Source: Williston, VT December 17, 2012 Davis & Hodgdon Associates CPAs PLC