Publications from the Community Foundation of Utah

The Nonprofit and Entrepreneurial Sectors

The economic crisis requires a re-engineering of the way we approach funding and solving long standing social issues. We began by asking: What if we could engage Utah's entrepreneurs to address Utah's complex problems? How can we provide nonprofit organizations the strategic resources they need to create sustainable positive change?

To help answer that question we held a series of meetings with entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. We found a disconnection between these important sectors: entrepreneurs know little about the role of the nonprofit sector, and nonprofit leaders are yearning for a way to effectively tap their resources. Yet each do, and will, rely on each other. A growing economy needs a healthy community, and the organizations that support the public good need the intellectual and financial capital of entrepreneurs.

We believe, and our research confirms, that Utah needs a catalyst so that nonprofits and entrepreneurs benefit from each other's expertise.

 Enlightened_Entrepreneurs_2010.pdf

Results of our Speed Mentoring Event December 15, 2009.

Nonprofit FocusGroup.pdf and Entrepreneur_Focus_Group_June_2009.pdf

These two reports share insights into the relationship between entrepreneurs and nonprofits.

The State of Utah's Nonprofit Economy

We are partnering with the Wells Fargo Foundation to measure the impact of the economic downturn on Utah's nonprofits

 Wells Fargo Nonprofit Dashboard January 2010.pdf 

A quarter of Utah's nonprofits saw deep declines in year end giving in 2009. Most, however, think they have made it through the worst of the recession.(January, 2010)

  Wells Fargo Nonprofit Dashboard November 2009.pdf 

Few Utah nonprofits have reserves or endowments, collaborations and mergers are increasing, and nonprofits leaders remain pessimistic about the future.  (November 2009)

 Wells Fargo Nonprofit Dashboard July 2009.pdf

Utah's nonprofits struggle as donations are down and demand is up. Lay offs have an especially deep impact on arts organizations and rural nonprofits are hardest hit.(July 2009)

 Wells Fargo Nonprofit Dashboard April 2009.pdf

Read the results of our first Utah Nonprofit Economic Dashboard measuring how the economy is impacting Utah charities.(April, 2009)

Other studies

Nonprofit Opinion about a Community Foundation for Utah

• Utah's nonprofit leaders share their thoughts about the creation of a community foundation in Utah and their perceptions about the strengths and weakness of our current philanthropic landscape. (January 2009)