69-Year-Old Nonprofit in Cincinnati Closes Its Doors—Isolated Incident, or Part of a Trend?
NONPROFIT QUARTERLY
By Rob Meiksins
OHIO---For the past 69 years, Bridges for a Just Community has been promoting diversity and fairness in the Cincinnati. The website describes the organization as the Queen City’s “leading human relations organization since 1944 and…a founding member of the National Federation for Just Communities, a coalition of like-minded organizations working across America to bring the values of diversity, inclusion and social justice to our communities, schools, workplaces and institutions.” But in a recent news release, Bridges has announced that it would cease doing business in September. In a city that has a history of troubled race relations, but is very proud of its history helping slaves find freedom, why is a venerable organization like this one in trouble? With a strong mission, a desire to forge powerful collaborations, and designation as a Better Business Bureau accredited organization, why are donations slipping to the point of having to close their doors? Is this an isolated incident of an organization going past maturity and into decline, or is it an example of something broader? [link]
By Rob Meiksins
OHIO---For the past 69 years, Bridges for a Just Community has been promoting diversity and fairness in the Cincinnati. The website describes the organization as the Queen City’s “leading human relations organization since 1944 and…a founding member of the National Federation for Just Communities, a coalition of like-minded organizations working across America to bring the values of diversity, inclusion and social justice to our communities, schools, workplaces and institutions.” But in a recent news release, Bridges has announced that it would cease doing business in September. In a city that has a history of troubled race relations, but is very proud of its history helping slaves find freedom, why is a venerable organization like this one in trouble? With a strong mission, a desire to forge powerful collaborations, and designation as a Better Business Bureau accredited organization, why are donations slipping to the point of having to close their doors? Is this an isolated incident of an organization going past maturity and into decline, or is it an example of something broader? [link]
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