Comments on: The stock market: Alternative financing for non-profits http://vanessamason.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/the-stock-market-alternative-financing-for-non-profits/ Social change from a public health perspective Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:08:58 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Nomadic Matt http://vanessamason.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/the-stock-market-alternative-financing-for-non-profits/#comment-152 Nomadic Matt Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:34:17 +0000 http://vanessamason.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-152 Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for coming over and commenting on my blog. It's always nice to hear from new readers. Hope to "see" you again sometime. -Matt Hey,

I just wanted to say thank you for coming over and commenting on my blog. It’s always nice to hear from new readers.

Hope to “see” you again sometime.
-Matt

]]> By: Vanessa http://vanessamason.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/the-stock-market-alternative-financing-for-non-profits/#comment-151 Vanessa Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:00:50 +0000 http://vanessamason.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-151 @Jamie I don't think it will be a problem of maintaining their mission in a market. When nonprofits fail, I don't think it is because their mission was not supported by the public. It is usually because the way they chose to carry out their mission did not appear satisfactory enough to attract donors. I think that is where markets can induce accountability. @Milena Haha! I know that I have advocated the expansion of government in other circles. For me, government is about being a safety net for people that would otherwise fall through the crack. Government funding for nonprofits is drying up, especially with some of the biases in this administration against certain causes such as reproductive rights. I do think with the current financing structure that nonprofits lack accountability that makes their forprofit counterparts function well. Introducing markets is a way to correct this. @Jamie I don’t think it will be a problem of maintaining their mission in a market. When nonprofits fail, I don’t think it is because their mission was not supported by the public. It is usually because the way they chose to carry out their mission did not appear satisfactory enough to attract donors. I think that is where markets can induce accountability.

@Milena Haha! I know that I have advocated the expansion of government in other circles. For me, government is about being a safety net for people that would otherwise fall through the crack.

Government funding for nonprofits is drying up, especially with some of the biases in this administration against certain causes such as reproductive rights. I do think with the current financing structure that nonprofits lack accountability that makes their forprofit counterparts function well. Introducing markets is a way to correct this.

]]> By: Milena Thomas http://vanessamason.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/the-stock-market-alternative-financing-for-non-profits/#comment-149 Milena Thomas Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:19:19 +0000 http://vanessamason.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-149 All right! Vanessa, great thinking. I have been confounded about the non-profit dilemma. I believe deeply in the missions of many non-profits, but as you know, I'm a pretty hard-core advocate of small government. With small government comes decreased funding for many non-profits. However, that doesn't mean funding has to or will dry up. Ideas like this show that a non-profit can and should find ways to thrive without the government. I especially like the idea of accountability and a non-profit finding out how good they are at doing good. As for "staying true to their mission" - that should not be difficult to do. I firmly believe most organizations are ethical and should find it easy to remain true to themselves. Their reward? Financial support. If they are truly benefitting society, their mission shouldn't need to change or find reason to fail. I love this. All right! Vanessa, great thinking. I have been confounded about the non-profit dilemma. I believe deeply in the missions of many non-profits, but as you know, I’m a pretty hard-core advocate of small government. With small government comes decreased funding for many non-profits. However, that doesn’t mean funding has to or will dry up.

Ideas like this show that a non-profit can and should find ways to thrive without the government.

I especially like the idea of accountability and a non-profit finding out how good they are at doing good.

As for “staying true to their mission” – that should not be difficult to do. I firmly believe most organizations are ethical and should find it easy to remain true to themselves. Their reward? Financial support. If they are truly benefitting society, their mission shouldn’t need to change or find reason to fail.

I love this.

]]> By: Jamie Beckland http://vanessamason.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/the-stock-market-alternative-financing-for-non-profits/#comment-148 Jamie Beckland Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:00:47 +0000 http://vanessamason.wordpress.com/?p=75#comment-148 I can see this having some use from a social markets perspective, e.g. www.intrade.com. That would be a fairly easy way to quantify and compare reputation between nonprofits. However, nonprofits have to deal with the challenge of staying true to their missions, which will sometimes get punished in a perfect market scenario. Orgs have to maintain their focus even when it's not popular or "profitable" - unless the reason for the org's existence has been resolved! I can see this having some use from a social markets perspective, e.g. http://www.intrade.com. That would be a fairly easy way to quantify and compare reputation between nonprofits.

However, nonprofits have to deal with the challenge of staying true to their missions, which will sometimes get punished in a perfect market scenario. Orgs have to maintain their focus even when it’s not popular or “profitable” – unless the reason for the org’s existence has been resolved!

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