Wake up! State grants should be more consistently and effectively managed!
Posted by Jon Pratt on January 12th, 2007
We like to say that one of the duties of the Council of Nonprofits is to Keep the World Safe for Nonprofits.
This neccessary task came up again last Friday when the Office of the Minnesota Legislative Auditor released an evaluation report examining state grants to nonprofit organizations, and making recommendations.
MCN supports most of the report’s recommendations for improving the state’s fragmented system of contracting with outside organizations, which are very similar to those presented a year ago by Drive to Excellence Grants Management Steering Committee, of which MCN was an active member (represented by Marcia Avner , MCN Public Policy Director).
Unfortunately the media reports were well wide of the mark. The StarTribune and Pioneer Press described the Legislative Auditor’s report, but their headlines and focus implied that the underlying issue was a lack of accountability on the part of nonprofits, as opposed to the primary problem being the fragmentation and disorganization within state government.
Most inflammatory was WCCO-TV in its story, which opens with stock footage of piles of cash. Gripping!
Naturally, the legislative auditor job is to identify weaknesses in state government – though in this case the coverage suggested both a bigger problem and points at nonprofits – leaving a suggestion that nonprofits are where the problem is located.
We held a strategy discussion today with MCN members to discuss the nonprofit sector’s response — and our position on legislation to be introduced. Overall MCN supports the suggested reforms, even though they only apply to a small portion of the funds that the state expends with outside parties, and we know that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
For more information see MCN supports reform of state grants process.
January 31st, 2007 at 8:02 am
It’s nice to know MCN is watching out for Minnesota’s nonprofits. Thanks for the great job you’re doing. The media should do a better job of investigating both sides of the story before it goes public.
March 13th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
I think it’s well known that the media will do what is "easiest" when reporting. The press release they were using was from the MN Legislature and that is certainly not going to say anything bad about the state offices.
Kathy is right that they need to do a MUCH better job about investigating and reporting the facts. There are huge amounts of misinformation in the mainstream media due to the lack of good investigative journalists and FACT checking.
We can’t control what they choose to do. I would suggest that anyone concerned or angered over this take action right now by contacting the media outlets mentioned in the blog and asking them to be more responsible in their work.
Another thing we can do is work together more effectively when we are working for the same goals. Redundant services (or not referring people to other agencies) is just another way that we show people that we can’t be trusted to be efficient with their money. Being able to show that we are working together to make the money spread further is just as important as being able to show our funders the outcomes of our programs.
We have more power together than we do alone. Lets organize!