Supporting Financial Vibrancy in the Quest for Sustainability in the Not-For-Profit Sector

Summary

Interest in the concept of sustainability by both funders and leaders of nonprofit organizations is mounting as the nonprofit sector moves more deeply into what may be termed a funding crisis. This article explores the notion of "financial vibrancy" as a way of understanding organizational sustainability. It is based on an analysis of 60 Canadian case studies developed in a project commissioned by the Financial Capacity Task Group of the Voluntary Sector Initiative's Capacity Joint Table. The case-study organizations were chosen to illustrate financial/resourcing best practices. They are all vibrant and growing organizations, many back from the brink of "near death" experiences, and all thriving and optimistic about the future. A study of these organizations offers a challenge to some of the recent thinking about capacity building for sustainability and begins to set the sign posts for reflection on funder practices that would support a new way forward.