Sep 8, 2026 · 23 min · 12 segments
Nonprofit organizations rarely fail because of one sudden disaster - they fail because too many early warning signs get ignored. If you lead a board, finance team, or nonprofit program, this episode…
Joe BlattHost
The economy changes constantly, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.
This includes not only the business climate, but the laws that regulate us and our funding.
We have the obligation to prepare for these types of shifts and to be flexible enough to adapt.
During COVID, there was a significant shift in demographics as many families relocated to the suburbs and some to different cities around the country.
Some schools adapted well and adjusted their models to serve less students, which meant reducing costs and offering new services.
They didn't look at the demographic models, they didn't develop forecasting models, and instead took a huge loss and kept up the motto that next year would be better.
This lack of versatility resulted in the schools going into financial distress and some closing their doors forever.
Businesses, including nonprofit organizations, need to be flexible and have contingency plans.
They need leaders who can adapt, As a board member, you have an obligation to ask hard questions and make hard decisions, even when management doesn't want to.
You should be looking at demographics, at the neighborhoods you are serving, as well as new and existing competition in your market and what they are doing and how that may impact the services that you are providing.
Blockbuster Video is a great example of a business that refused to change to meet the changes in the market.
Just because you are currently filling a community need doesn't make you immune to economic or market shifts.
The economy changes constantly, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.
This includes not only the business climate, but the laws that regulate us and our funding.
We have the obligation to prepare for these types of shifts and to be flexible enough to adapt.
During COVID, there was a significant shift in demographics as many families relocated to the suburbs and some to different cities around the country.
Some schools adapted well and adjusted their models to serve less students, which meant reducing costs and offering new services.
They didn't look at the demographic models, they didn't develop forecasting models, and instead took a huge loss and kept up the motto that next year would be better.
This lack of versatility resulted in the schools going into financial distress and some closing their doors forever.
Businesses, including nonprofit organizations, need to be flexible and have contingency plans.
They need leaders who can adapt, As a board member, you have an obligation to ask hard questions and make hard decisions, even when management doesn't want to.
You should be looking at demographics, at the neighborhoods you are serving, as well as new and existing competition in your market and what they are doing and how that may impact the services that you are providing.
Blockbuster Video is a great example of a business that refused to change to meet the changes in the market.
Just because you are currently filling a community need doesn't make you immune to economic or market shifts.
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