Planting the seeds for generations to come  Non-Profits in
Trouble  Are You the Problem or the Solution?  By Viken
Mikaelian  It's big news. And let's face it, it's true. Non-
profits are in trouble. And of course the economy is to blame.
Some blame Obama. Some blame Bush.  But I blame you.  It's time
to wake up. The real reason non-profits are in trouble is not
because of the economy. It's because we were not proactive 20
years ago. Sorry, I mean 5 years ago -- no… make that 1 year.
Hmm… perhaps since this morning?  The fact is most non-profits
have always been in trouble. Because they've always run their
organizations like a non-profit and not like a business. And not
much has changed over the past 20 years.  Fighting for the next
buck  That's annual giving. Nothing wrong with that. But when
you make "We need the cash now!" your constant mantra instead of
endowment gifts your long-term goal, you lose direction, you
lose focus, and you lose your future. Maybe even your job. And
the only thing you gain is chao