When the East Dallas Cooperative Parish celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 1992, it received the best birthday present possible – a management audit from the Center for Nonprofit Management.
The audit, which helped the parish become more organized and efficient, would not have been possible or affordable if it was not for the center, says Elizabeth Blessing, office manager for the parish, a coalition of 11 churches that provides ministry services.
“We are indebted to the Center for Nonprofit Management,” Blessing says. “It provided us information that gave us better direction in obtaining our goals.”
The center was started a decade ago to help nonprofit organizations in Dallas. It offers members consultation and legal assistance in a variety of operating disciplines – establishment, basic and comprehensive board member training, management review, strategic and long-range planning, marketing and fund development, accounting systems and audits.
The services provided by the center, 2900 Live Oak, are needed by all types of businesses, but often are too expensive for nonprofit organizations.
“Society doesn’t place a high enough value on nonprofit organizations,” says Curtis Meadows, Jr., president of the Meadows Foundation and the center’s founder.
“They think nonprofit people should work for less. These people are doing very important work for our society. They are deserving of first-class space and first-class attention.”
The center’s client list includes approximately 750 of the 2,500 nonprofit agencies in Dallas with interests in arts, civil affairs, education, health, minority issues, social services and religion.
Although the services offered by the center are open to all organizations, members enjoy discounts on seminars and general services.
Membership dues and private contributions help underwrite many of the services. Each year, 10 continuing education seminars for 200 people, management audits for five nonprofit agencies, customized management consultations for eight agencies and training workshops for four organizations are provided free of charge. There is a waiting list for these services.
“Since 1980, we have helped hundreds of nonprofit organizations operate more effectively with their volunteers and other resources,” says center spokesman Drew Dixon.
“And we are able to provide the best in legal advice and training because of our paid staff and our incredible staff of qualified volunteers.”
Mullaney Nichols, executive director of Time for Dallas, says the three-year-old organization owes its success to the center.
Time for Dallas has received financial assistance through the center’s affiliate, the Nonprofit Loan Center, which provides short-term loans at low interest rates. The loans help organizations avoid cash-flow problems due to delayed grants or unexpected expenditures.
“We have run into trouble before and been able to maintain our work thanks to financial assistance from the Center,” Nichols says. “Our agency conducts orientation and training at the center, and everyone on the staff is a professional, from their executive director, Hedy Heisell, on down.”
Blessing says the cooperative parish also has the center’s meeting rooms, which range in size from 400 to 2,000 square feet and are equipped with audio/visual equipment.
“The staff of the center are very flexible and willing to help us in any matter that pertains to bettering our service,” Blessing says.
