2003 Pennsylvania Charitable Organizations Survey

Columnist : Lincoln Institute

Section I: Policy Issues

1. Did your organization receive any money as a result of the tobacco settlement (Pennsylvania Health Investment Plan)?

8% YES
92% NO
0% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

2. Does your organization have a contract to provide services with governmental entity?

33% NO
15% FEDERAL
23% STATE
22% COUNTY
7% MUNICIPAL

3. Has your organization experienced “slow payment” problems (over 60 days past due) for services provided to a governmental entity?

30% YES
62% NO
8% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

4. If you have experienced “slow payment” problems (over 60 days past due) from providing services to government at any level, have you had to carry a line of credit or otherwise borrow money to bridge the cash flow gap?

18% YES
34% NO
18% DID NOT EXPERIENCE SLOW PAYMENT
25% DO NOT PROVIDE SERVICES TO GOVERNMENT
5% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

5. If you have had to carry a line of credit, what amount of credit have you had to carry?

15% LESS THAN $10,000
27% $10,000-$50,000
23% $50,000-$100,000
34% MORE THAN $100,000
1% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

6. If you have experienced “slow payment” problems (over 60 days past due) from a governmental entity, what level of government is operating behind schedule? (Check all that apply.)

7% FEDERAL
21% STATE
12% COUNTY
4% MUNICIPAL
20% DID NOT EXPERIENCE SLOW PAYMENT
30% DID NOT PROVIDE SERVICES TO GOVERNMENT
7% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

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

10% FEDERAL
13% STATE
25% COUNTY
14% MUNICIPAL (LOCAL)
37% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

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

30% FAVOR
69% OPPOSE
2% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

9. Did your organization lobby the FEDERAL government on any public policy issue during the past year?

25% YES
69% NO
5% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

10. Did your organization lobby the STATE government on any public policy issue during the past year?

34% YES
61% NO
5% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

11. Did your organization lobby any LOCAL government (county, city, borough, township) on any public policy issue during the past year?

24% YES
70% NO
6% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

12. Does your organization plan to lobby government at any level on any public policy issue during the coming year?

39% YES
46% NO
15% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

13. From the viewpoint of non-profit organizations, what is the most pressing issue facing Governor Ed Rendell?

15% HEALTH CARE
11% MEDICAL MALPRACTICE REFORM
46% STATE BUDGET SHORTFALL
3% ARTS & CULTURAL FUNDING
14% EDUCATION
11% POVERTY

14. Generally speaking, do you have a POSITIVE, NEGATIVE, or NO OPINION on the job performance of Governor Ed Rendell?

45% POSITIVE
10% NEGATIVE
45% NO OPINION

15. Thinking of its impact on the non-profit sector, do you have a POSITIVE, NEGATIVE, or NO OPINION on the recently approved state budget?

10% POSITIVE
56% NEGATIVE
35% NO OPINION

16. Do you think legitimate charities should make payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) if they have the financial ability to do so?

27% YES
52% NO
21% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

17. Would you say the current level of public trust in charities is:

17% HIGH
65% MEDIUM
12% LOW
6% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

18. Do you think it is appropriate for government to get involved in non-profit investment issues such as last year’s decision by the Hershey Trust to sell its interest in Hershey Foods?

30% YES
42% NO
28% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

19. Do you think non-profit charitable organizations charged with aiding terrorist activities should be entitled to a day in court prior to being closed by government authorities?

61% YES
26% NO
13% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

20. Generally speaking, would you say you have GREATER, ABOUT THE SAME, or LESS ability to fulfill your organization’s core mission this year than you have in past years?

21% GREATER
38% ABOUT THE SAME
40% LESS
1% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

SECTION II: Budgeting & Fundraising

1. Has your organization experienced any measurable financial setbacks as a result of the poor performance of the financial markets?

59% YES
36% NO
5% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

2. What is the current range of your operating budget?

9% UNDER $25,000
11% $25,001 to $100,000
33% $100,001 to $500,000
16% $500,001 to $$1,000,000
20% $1,000,001 to $5,000,000
11% Over $5,000,000

3. Please indicate what source(s) of operating revenue you generated in calendar year 2002: (Check all that apply.)

14% PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION GRANTS
18% PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS
8% MEMBERSHIP DUES
14% CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS
12% EARNED REVENUE
8% UNITED WAY
14% SPECIAL EVENTS
11% GOVERNMENT REIMBURSEMENTS
1% OTHER

4. In which area(s) did you experience an INCREASE in income in 2002?

16% PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION GRANTS
17% PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS
6% MEMBERSHIP DUES
16% CORPORATE GIFTS
9% EARNED REVENUE
7% UNITED WAY
7% SPECIAL EVENTS
7% GOVERNMENT REIMBURSEMENT
7% OTHER
8% NO INCREASES

5. In which area(s) did you experience a DECREASE in income in 2002?

7% FOUNDATION GRANTS
16% PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS
8% MEMBERSHIP DUES
8% CORPORATE GIFTS
9% EARNED REVENUE
3% UNITED WAY
12% SPECIAL EVENTS
10% GOVERNMENT REIMBURSEMENT
3% OTHER
24% NO INCREASES

6. Comparing your organization’s two most recently completed fiscal years, has your percentage of CORPORATE contribution increased, decreased, or stayed relatively the same?

14% INCREASED
34% DECREASED
35% STAYED THE SAME
17% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

7. Comparing your organization’s two most recently completed fiscal years, has your percentage of PHILANTHROPIC contributions increased, decreased, or stayed relatively the same?

19% INCREASED
35% DECREASED
30% STAYED THE SAME
16% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

8. Comparing your organization’s two most recently completed fiscal years, has your percentage of GOVERNMENT funding increased, decreased, or stayed relatively the same?

25% INCREASED
18% DECREASED
31% STAYED THE SAME
26% DON’T KNOW/REFUSED

 

METHODOLOGY:

The 2003 Pennsylvania Charitable Organizations Survey was conducted by the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc., and by the Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profit Organizations (PANO) between March 14, 2003 and April 2, 2003. The survey was conducted electronically via e-mail to 2,000 Pennsylvania non-profit organizations. By the survey response deadline, 240 organizations had responded.