The book, The Art of the Turnaround, by Michael M. Kaiser, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, offers 10 basic rules which can be adapted for any organization.
For excerpts from the book, click on this article from The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

When revenues are down, nonprofits are forced to make some decisions about how to spend their scarce dollars on employee salaries. Typically, employee salaries represent well over 50 percent of an organization’s budget, so compensation mistakes can be costly.
Click here for some hints on how to avoid these common mistakes and retain valuable staff.

Many nonprofits may be searching for additional grant revenue to replace some funding that is being cut.  Here are some suggestions for looking at new grant opportunities. These strategies work for foundation grants as well as government grants and contracts. Atlas is also accepting applications for its Templeton Freedom Award grant program.

The economic downturn or other external factors may be forcing your organization to re-structure. This may include modifying your mission, organization structure or organization culture. This article contains 22 strategies for how to start engaging in organizational change.

The database, JSTOR, contains a wide range of major academic journals from a number of different disciplines. In 2008, JSTOR adopted a new plan to waive or reduce participation fees for any academic or not-for-profit institutions in developing countries outside of Africa. This program complements JSTOR’s existing African Access Initiative. Under this new plan, fees [...]

What are the roles and responsibilties of a board of directors? How should it be structured? How can you use your board to help your think tank get through difficult times? Click here to find the answers to your questions.

Need some fundraising strategies to pull you through these tough economic times? Non-profit leaders and fundraising experts suggest that you 1) develop multiple sources of contributions to avoid financial collapse, 2) avoid cutting your fundraising department and 3) look for donors in thriving industries. To read more suggestions, click here.

Are you experiencing tension among your board members? Are you feeling like you are not all on the same page? This workbook is a useful guide for assessing the health of your board and it includes strategies for how to discuss problem areas with your board members.

Atlas has officially launched its “Ask Atlas” video series! Click on the ‘Ask Atlas’ tab above and submit your think tank management question. In the coming weeks, Atlas will select a question to be answered via video.

The key to surviving these challenging economic times is to develop strategies  that help to increase your income, cut your costs and utilize  your resources more efficiently. Click here for tips on emergency funding sources and here for ideas on how to cut costs.