A reminder

Gristmill reminds us that They are called nonprofits for a reason ...:

It's the end of the year, and if your inbox is anything like mine, you've received a deluge of end-of-year donation requests from your favorite nonprofits.

On behalf of my brethren nonprofit directors, let me share some insight into current nonprofit funding dynamics before you hit the delete button.

First, this was an extraordinary election year. Obama, for example, set fundraising records, and while individual donations are not necessarily a zero sum game, let's take you for an example. Maybe you are thinking -- hey, I gave a lot to my favorite political candidate(s), times are tight, and I'm going to keep my wallet in my pocket. If so, you are not alone. And you scare the bejabbers out of us.

How about foundations? Foundations have lots of money, right? Well, they did. Most endowed foundations keep their endowment in stock, and give out 5 percent of their endowment every year. So, if a foundation had an endowment of $1 billion and made grant commitments of $50,000,000 in 2008, well, their endowment is now down to maybe $700,000 million, and their current commitments are $15 million over their comfort level. My fellow nonprofit colleagues are, in a word, freaking-out.

Times are tight all over, but if your favorite nonprofit is doing work you appreciate to, say, fight Bush's last minute midnight regulation blitz or provide quality policy suggestions for a green stimulus, know that any pennies you throw their way are needed now more than ever.

My pitch that you should give to NCSE is simple: Texas gearing up to revise science standards, and then to adopt textbooks. Many other states follow Texas' lead on these matters, and the board there has 7 creationist hardliners and two swing votes. This will be a huge fight, and NCSE and our allies need your help.

Louisiana is in the process of implementing the creationist bill passed last year. NCSE is working with local educators and officials to make those regulations as harmless to education as possible, and to try to roll the bill back eventually.

Half a dozen states considered similar bills last year, and at least as many will take them up again in the coming legislative session. NCSE was on the front lines of those battles last year, and we and our allies need your help to block these attacks on science education in the coming year.

A new President and a new Congress have declared their interest in making a real push to improve science. That's great, but they need guidance from the folks in the trenches. Your support is critical to making our voices heard in the halls of power, whether in DC, state capitols, or municipal school board meetings.

An NCSE membership is cheap, and comes with a great newsletter 6 times a year.