Economic Crunch Hits Downtown Nonprofits

By Richard Guzman
LA Downtown News
10/27/08

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - Andy Bales has seen a lot of hard times during his years as CEO of the Union Rescue Mission. But now, the organization that for more than a century has helped those down on their luck is in need of desperate help of its own.

"We're down about 25% over our normal donations, so we're barely hanging in there," Bales said. "I've never seen it this bad."
As the national economic crisis worsens, and as companies large and small lay off workers and individuals tighten their spending, a less obvious impact is that charitable donations are starting to slow. In Downtown Los Angeles some nonprofit agencies, and in particular organizations that work with the homeless, are already feeling a devastating decrease in donations. Others, including some nonprofits in the arts, are beginning to prepare for a tough road ahead.

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