You can pretty much say that Erie’s non-profits just hit the lottery. It was announced last week that the Erie Community Foundation had received $100 million from an anonymous donor that will dramatically impact 46 local non-profit organizations. As a former CEO of a non-profit, my reaction is, like…WOW!

People shouldn’t underestimate the power and significance of this gift and its donor. First the donor, who is reported to be deceased. This person obviously led a well-stewarded life to be able to amass such a fortune in a smaller city like Erie. The agencies he designated tell you a lot about this person and who he/she cared about. The list of recipients signifies a desire to help the poor and afflicted, educate the young, and heal the sick. You see many of the values of Christ held up in these agencies, many of whom are faith-based. This person understood the value of a holistic mind/body/spirit solution to society’s ills, and this gift ensures that thousands of our neighbors will benefit.

What the gift means to the various organizations is monumental. What should an agency do that will honor the donor and provide the most enduring impact of the gift? That’s where their boards and management should employ the bright minds at the Erie Community Foundation and its Non-Profit Partnership for help. Great consideration should be made toward establishing endowments that will be able to fund programming in perpetuity from the investment earnings of the gift. Consider this: many non-profits in our area have seen declining annual funding because of the shrinkage of the manufacturing base and the general reluctance of large corporations to commit to donations. The endowment can replace those lost funds to keep current programming going. Much caution should be taken before starting anything new or any great expansion of mission. For those folks that have aging buildings, perhaps building remodeling or replacement would be an efficient use of the funds, especially for infrastructure items (boilers, plumbing, kitchens) or aging equipment. For many of these agencies, this might be their only shot; they have to do it right.

I’ve already seen some typical Erie grumbling about how these organizations get a big influx of cash and they don’t pay any taxes. As I said in my Loving Erie: The Non-Profits series, the non-profits contribution to jobs and our quality of life is immeasurable. To the naysayers, I say “get over it.”

To the family of this wonderful person who although is now gone, but his or her legacy will live on I wish you God’s blessings as you cope with your loss, and encouragement at the generosity of your loved one. Finally, to the non-profits who are reeling at their windfall, albeit with smiles on their faces, “be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16) as you plan your future.