With bad economic times here to stay for the foreseeable future many nonprofit leaders are thinking about reduced funding, resulting in program cutbacks, but what other options do they have? Here are a few ideas:

Find a way to link your work to the negative consequences of the downturn. For example, if you provide crisis intervention, credit counseling, emergency food assistance, or similar services, emphasize the link between the growing need for these services and the down economy in your communications to donors.

For theatre groups worried about patrons with limited discretionary dollars, lower some show prices, and emphasize escapism and fun in your shows – think comedy over drama! In bad times people love a deal, and they need a laugh.

Convene others in your community or field to discuss the current economic situation and seek local support for the effort. Position your organization as a resource for the community as it tries to deal with the consequences of the difficult times. Being seen as a leader will help to make your organization even more indispensible to the community.

During President-elect Obama’s first press conference, a reporter asked about the first family’s choice of a puppy, which he has promised his girls. Obama said that their family needs a hypoallergenic breed since Malia is allergic to dogs, but that the family also wants to adopt a shelter dog, which presents a challenge, he added, because most shelter dogs are “mutts like me.”

I thought that was not only a very funny comment but one that demonstrated how far we have come in this election cycle on matters of race. Obama is usually referred to as our first Black president, but in fact, he is biracial. That he felt comfortable referring to himself as a person of mixed race will only make it easier for all of us to talk about this increasingly significant proportion of the American people.

The nonprofit sector also needs to have an open dialogue about the blurring realities of race and ethnicity. For example, social service providers have had to adapt both their program offerings and their communications as the population they serve becomes more diverse. While the next generation of nonprofit leadership has been widely discussed, one dimension often overlooked is that Generation Y is our country’s most racially diverse generation, which will have many implications for how nonprofits of the future approach diversity.