Southern California Nonprofits Laying Off Staff, Scaling Back Programs


Support has dropped dramatically for most nonprofits in the region, according to Challenges Facing LA’s Nonprofit Sector, a just-released Southern California Center for Nonprofit Management survey.

Most board members admitted they weren’t equipped to step in and raise funds in this very difficult environment. This is more bad news for their organizations.

After rounds of cost-cutting, many organizations are laying off staff, scaling back programs, and reevaluating management. The board of Eagle Rock-based We Tell Stories, which gets the majority of its funding from the LA County Arts Commission, just laid off key staff and decided to wait out the downturn.

Glendale nonprofits are suffering as well, and local management problems can’t escape notice in this environment. New Horizons was criticized in a federal report for construction delays involving stimulus funds, while the Glendale YWCA started a controversy by terminating its director.