Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) released the results of its 2014 State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey last week, and the findings are not surprising:

The economic recovery is leaving behind many nonprofits and communities in need:

• 80% of respondents reported an increase in demand for services, the 6th straight year of increased demand.
• 56% were unable to meet demand in 2013 - the highest reported in the survey's history.
• Only 11% expect 2014 to be easier than 2013 for the people they serve.

Nonprofits are working to bring in new money; in the next 12 months:

• 31% will change the main ways in which they raise and spend money.
• 26% will pursue an earned income venture.
• 20% will seek funding other than grants & contracts, such as loans or other investments.

41% of nonprofits named "achieving long-term financial stability" as a top challenge, yet:

• More than half of nonprofits (55%) have 3 months or less cash-on-hand.
• 28% ended their 2013 fiscal year with a deficit.
• Only 9% can have an open dialogue with funders about developing reserves for operating needs, and only 6% about developing reserves for long-term facility needs.

Nonprofits are taking wide-ranging steps to survive and succeed.

In the past 12 months:

• 49% collaborated with another organization to improve or increase services.
• 48% invested money or time in professional development.
• 40% upgraded hardware or software to improve organizational efficiency.
• 39% conducted long-term strategic or financial planning.

Respondents said that more than 70% of their funders requested impact or program metrics.

• 77% agreed that the metrics funders ask for are helpful in assessing impact.
• Only 1% reported that funders always cover the costs of impact measurement; 71% said costs were rarely or never covered.

For the full NFF survey, with an interactive survey analyzer and a look at trends over the past 6 years, go to http://survey.nonprofitfinancefund.org