The economic downturn has some local non-profits worrying about their future.

Jessica Forres reports....

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

David Smith runs the Earth Conservation Corps an environmental organization that provides young people in the inner-city job skills while they help restore the Anacostia River.

WE'RE VERY CONCERNED AT THE CURRENT ECONOMY AND THE CURRENT MARKET AND WE'RE WATCHING CLOSELY.

Watching closely and preparing for the storm.

Chuck Bean is the Executive Director of the Non-profit Roundtable of Greater Washington and a member of WAMU's Community Council.

He says the recent events on Wall Street are going to have an impact on philanthropy.

THE STORM HAS MANY COMPONENTS, THE STOCK MARKET IS GOING TO HIT THE ASSETS OF THE ENDOWMENTS OF PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, PRIVATE CORPORATIONS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PICK UP THE SLACK AND THIS IS A TIME WHEN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE REPORTING SHORTFALLS.

Smith has already started thinking about a Plan B…

THAT INCLUDES GOING AFTER FUNDERS WHO WE NORMALLY DIDN'T GO AFTER. FROM GOVERNMENT TO INDIVIDUALS AND IT ALSO INCLUDES DOING MORE WORK-RELATED TO FEE FOR WORK.

Non-profit leaders say they will start feeling the woes on Wall Street this holiday season. They say that's when many organizations receive most of their money from individual donors.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

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The continued woes on Wall Street have some local non-profits preparing for the worst.

Jessica Forres reports…

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

At the Sitar Arts Center in Adams Morgan, one student learns how to play the drums.

[NAT: DRUMS]

Ed Spitzburg, the Executive Director, says the Center provides high quality arts education to children who mostly come from low-income households.

He says the current economic climate has created a sense of urgency within his organization.

WE ARE ALREADY ENGAGING OUR ENTIRE STAFF AND OUR BOARD AND OUR DONORS IN THIS SENSE OF URGENCY IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO OFFER THESE PROGRAMS.

Chuck Bean is with the Non-profit Roundtable of Greater Washington. He is also member of WAMU's Community Council.

He says many non-profits are preparing for a "category five" storm.

I'M TALKING TO NON-PROFIT LEADERS EVERY DAY AND THE MAIN QUESTION THAT HAS EMERGED IS WHAT IS PLAN B SO FOLKS ARE THINKING ABOUT THAT.

He says the economic downturn will hit the non-profit community this holiday season, when individual donors are most likely to give to charities.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News