2000 Pennsylvania Charitable Organizations Survey

November 2000

SECTION I: PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES

1.) Governor Tom Ridge has proposed a “Pennsylvania Health Investment Plan” as a blueprint for expending funds received from the national tobacco settlement.  Please tell us whether you FAVOR or OPPOSE the following proposed uses for tobacco settlement money:

A. Establishment of a new program to provide health insurance for the uninsured.

81%    FAVOR
12%    OPPOSE
7%      NO OPINION/NO ANSWER

1. Establishment of a new program to provide funds to help older Pennsylvanians to be cared for in their homes and communities, rather than in nursing homes.

81%    FAVOR
12%    OPPOSE
7%      NO OPINION/NO ANSWER

1. Additional funding for tobacco prevention and cessation programs.57% FAVOR
   22%    OPPOSE
   21%    NO OPINION/NO ANSWER
2. Additional funding for broad-based health research, and health care-related venture capital.

42%    FAVOR
33%    OPPOSE
25%    NO OPINION/NO ANSWER

E. Funding to make payments to hospitals to help defray the cost of uncompensated care.

48%    FAVOR
37%    OPPOSE
15%    NO OPINION/NO ANSWER

1. Establishment of an endowment to fund future health care needs.

58%    FAVOR
19%    OPPOSE
23%    NO OPINION/NO ANSWER

2.) Do you think revenue from Pennsylvania’s share of the national tobacco settlement should be primarily expended on health care needs, or should the funds be made available for expenditure on a wider range of programs?

60%    PRIMARILY ON HEALTH CARE
10%    SPENT ON A WIDER RANGE OF PROGRAMS
24%    BOTH
2%      NEITHER
4%      NO OPINION/NO ANSWER

3.) Would you FAVOR or OPPOSE using a portion of Pennsylvania’s share of the revenue from the national tobacco settlement to help fund elementary and secondary schools?

33%    FAVOR
58%    OPPOSE
9%      NO OPINION/NO ANSWER

4.) Do you think a portion of Pennsylvania’s share of the revenue from the national tobacco settlement should be used to cut the state’s income tax?

16%    YES
77%    NO
7%      NO OPINION/NO ANSWER

5.) Do you FAVOR or OPPOSE a new state law requiring volunteer food handlers to receive certification, requiring attendance at a classroom course and payment of a fee, before serving food at charitable fundraising events?

14%    FAVOR
76%    OPPOSE
10%    NO OPINION/NO ANSWER

6.) Do you think the state law requiring volunteer food handlers to receive certification, requiring attendance at a classroom course and payment of a fee, before serving food at charitable fundraising events will result in fewer such events being held?

75%    FEWER WILL BE HELD
12%    NO IMPACT
13%    DON’T KNOW/NO ANSWER

7.) Has your organization registered, or does it intend to register, under provisions of Act 93 of 1998, the Lobbyist Disclosure Act?

9%      YES
52%    NO
39%    DON’T KNOW/NO ANSWER

8.) Is your organization currently unsure as to whether or not it falls under provisions of Act 93 or 1998, the Lobbyist Disclosure Act?

26%    YES
37%    NO
37%    DON’T KNOW/NO ANSWER

9.) Do you think it is appropriate for non-profit, charitable organizations to be required to register under provisions of Act 93 of 1998, the Lobbyist Disclosure Act?

25%    APPROPRIATE
28%    NOT APPROPRIATE
47%    NO OPINION/NO ANSWER

10.) When it comes to providing social services, which level of government do you think operates most efficiently?

8%      FEDERAL
23%    STATE
34%    MUNICIPAL (LOCAL)
28%    NONE
7%      NO ANSWER

11.) Does your organization work collaboratively with any governmental entity, and/or have a contract to provide services with any federal, state, county, or municipal government?

52%    YES
46%    NO
2%      NO ANSWER

12.) What do you see as the biggest barrier to more collaborative projects being established between non-profit organizations and government?

14%    Government Regulations
29%    Government Bureaucracy
9%      Lack of Government Funding
12%    Lack of Non-Profit Funding
9%      Lack of Non-Profit Staffing
8%      Lack of Leadership
6%      Turf Battles
3%      Other
10%    No Answer

13.) Would you FAVOR or OPPOSE ending faith-based (religious) restrictions on federal funding for social services?

44%    FAVOR
37%    OPPOSE
19%    NO OPINION/NO ANSWER

14.) Do you think the Federal government has devolved (or passed down) enough social service programs to state, county, and municipal governments, or do you think more programs should be localized?

16%    TOO MANY PROGRAMS DEVOLVED
22%    ABOUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PROGRAMS DEVOLVED
42%    MORE PROGRAMS SHOULD BE DEVOLVED
20%    NO OPINION/NO ANSWER

SECTION II: BUDGETING AND FUNDRAISING

1.) What is the current range of your operating budget?

19%    Under $25,000
17%    $25,001 – $100,000
28%    $101,000 – $500,000
8%      $501,000 – $1,000,000
16%    $1,000,001 – $5,000,000
9%      Over $5,000,000
3%      NO ANSWER

2.) In which area(s) of revenue did you experience an increase in income during the past year?

20%    Grants
16%    Private Donations
3%      Membership Drives
4%      Corporate Gifts
9%      Earned Revenue
3%      United Way
9%      Special Events
7%      Government Reimbursement
2%      Other
24%    No Increase
3%      No Answer

3.) In which area(s) of revenue did you experience a decrease in income during the last year?

8%      Grants
12%    Private Donations
6%      Membership Drives
8%      Corporate Gifts
4%      Earned Revenue
5%      United Way
10%    Special Events
11%    Government Reimbursement
2%      Other
28%    No Decrease
6%      No Answer

4.) Comparing your organizations two most recently completed fiscal years:  Has your percentage of corporate contributions increased, decreased, or stayed about the same?

13%    INCREASED
19%    DECREASED
53%    STAYED ABOUT THE SAME
15%    NO ANSWER

5.) Was this increase or decrease planned?

18%    YES
46%    NO
36%    NO ANSWER

6.) Comparing your organization’s two most recently completed fiscal years:  Has your percentage of philanthropic contributions increased, decreased, or stayed about the same?

26%    INCREASED
13%    DECREASED
49%    STAYED ABOUT THE SAME
12%    NO ANSWER

7.) Was this increase or decrease planned?

29%    YES
37%    NO
34%    NO ANSWER

8.) Comparing your organization’s two most recently completed fiscal years:  Has your percentage of government funds increased, decreased, or stayed about the same?

24%    INCREASED
16%    DECREASED
39%    STAYED ABOUT THE SAME
21%    NO ANSWER

9.) Was this increase or decrease planned?

31%    YES
31%    NO
38%    NO ANSWER

The Lincoln Institute’s 2000 Charitable Organization’s Survey was mailed to 4,000 non-profit charitable organizations in Pennsylvania on November 30, 2000.  As of the response deadline of December 22, 2000, a total of 293 survey questionnaires were returned for tabulation.