16 ▼ July 2 1 . 1 0 6 5 ▼ ju s t out
TWENTY-THIRD AVENUE
BOOKS
local news
G leaning svpport
1015 NW 2 $rd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97210, (503) 224-5097
A local organization helps nonprofits navigate the
challenges of staying in business
Monday-Friday 9 :3 0 - 8 pm □ Saturday 10 am - 8 pm □ Sunday 11 am - 4 pm
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by Inga Sorensen
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(503) 224-3285
The Resource Project will be conducting sum
ith a Republican Congress ea
mer leadership support meetings in July, August
gerly wielding its budget-cut
and September in Portland. Those gatherings—
ting ax— and aiming primarily
some are open to all and others are geared toward
at targets such as social ser
people of color— are designed to give partici
vices—times will undoubtedly
a chance
get tougher for organizations that pants
provide
ser to share ideas and listen to other
professionals in nonprofits as they discuss the
vices to those in need, for arts organizations, for
challenges they face.
groups promoting community education— so says
According to Sohl, gay and lesbian nonprofits
Kay Sohl, executive director of the Portland-
have historically been a “hard sell” when it comes
based Technical Assistance for Community Ser
to gleaning support from traditional foundations.
vices, a nonprofit organization she co-founded in
On the flip side, as with any oppressed group,
1977 to assist nonprofit organizations “with the
sexual minorities often donate time and money to
business of staying in business.”
those organizations because they feel personally
“ Money is going to become an even bigger
invested in the groups’ cause.
problem in the next two years. Even those orga
But, as with many oppressed groups, the incli
nizations that don’t take a direct hit will feel the
nation
to criticize “one’s own” can be strong.
effects as funding for various services are cut
“The opponents outside can be terrifying. Instead
back,” explains the 49-year-old Sohl. “There will
be increased demand for
help and fewer govern
mental dollars available.
That will in turn lead to
increased competition for
foundation money and pri
vate donors.... It’s vital
nonprofits be able to adapt
to th ese ty p es o f
changes— no matter how
ominous they may be—
and we’re here to assist
them.”
A ccording to Sohl,
during the past two de
cades her organization has
provided training and/or
consultation to more than
2,000 nonprofits through
out Oregon and Washing
ton, including the Ameri
can Indian Association of
Portland, Black United
F ro n t, B rad ley -A n g le
House, Centro Chicano
Cultural de Oregon, Eq
uity Foundation and the
American Red Cross.
“We organize training
programs and retreats. We
host workshops to address issues important to
of fighting the world, it sometimes feels easier to
nonprofits. We have an information helpline we
nit-pick and take your frustrations out on another
can access that includes 250 consultants who
board member,” says Sohl. “I think that’s chang
specialize in particular areas,” she says. “We
ing a bit because [gay men and lesbians] have
assist nonprofits in assessing where they cur
really had to stick together because of the OCA.”
rently are and planning how to get where they
She adds, “And I think the OCA era has made
it more acceptable for corporations to provide
want to be,” she says.
According to a TACS brochure, the organiza
support to [sexual-minority-oriented issues/
tion helps nonprofits build informed and involved
groups] because they’ve witnessed firsthand the
boards of directors, develop strategies for leader
challenges faced by these groups. They’ve seen
ship transitions, build inclusive leadership, and
the assault that gay men and lesbians are under.”
assess clients’ strengths and weaknesses in rela
According to Sohl, Techincal Assistance for
tion to a wide variety of potential funding sources
Community Services has a $400,000 budget.
(foundations, government, individuals, religious
Seventy-five percent of that funding is generated
or civic groups, fees for products and services,
by fees paid by nonprofits that utilize TACS
etc.). TACS also performs management reviews
services. The remainder comes from foundations
and offers diversity training to help nonprofits
and grants. Fees are paid using a sliding scale.
build and support diversity in all parts of the
For more information about TACS and/or the
organization— board, staff, volunteers and pro
Community Leaders Resource FYoject’s summer
gram participants.
meeting schedule, call 239-4001. TACS will also
The TACS-sponsored Community Leaders Re
host a workshop entitled “Diversity in the Work
source Project, which was launched in 1990, places
place: Where Do We Begin?” on Aug. 3 from 1
emphasis on providing support to people who are
to 4:30 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church,
often told they are not leaders: women, people of
1624 NE Hancock St. in Portland. The workshop
color, low-income people, gay men and lesbians,
costs $45; call 239-4001 for more information.
young people, and people with disabilities.
W