The question often asked and seldom answered is this, “are there too many nonprofits?” The answered is yes. In the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nov. 18, 2011, issue the article titled Calling All Boomers: Don’t Start More Nonprofits by Mark Rosenman referenced a study that 12 million baby boomers want to start their own nonprofit or socially oriented business over the next decade.
There are way too many nonprofits that are so small they have no paid staff or maybe one and not much money. These nonprofits are challenged to advance their mission and serve the community.
What the nonprofit sector should be focusing on is growing small organizations so they are better positioned to offer services. This might mean collaboration, partnership and mergers, or it might mean some nonprofits should dissolve. Rather too many nonprofits struggle and just barely get by. It is unfortunate.