Speaker: Dana Bensinger
Dana Bensinger: Good morning nonprofit partners! As the vibrant colorful leaves disappear from the trees, it seems to be the perfect day to share with you some changes happening at the OCF. Earlier this year, our software provider unexpectedly notified us of an additional relationship fee that would be applied to our account moving forward. This year, we budgeted $10,000 and the new rate would be a 450% increase. A 600% increase next year and a 750% increase in 2026. Given our operating budget, this caught us completely off guard and required a quick shift into problem solving mode. As a result, there are some changes happening within our organization. We are migrating to a new software that is more expensive than we budgeted for in 2024, yet significantly more affordable than the new rate of our current provider. In addition to the financial resources, over the next six months, our staff time has been real located to include the complicated, intricate, but well worth it work involved in changing platforms.
Dana Bensinger: Like renovating a physical structure, renovating a system has many steps. Each step is important whether it is carried out behind the scenes or is more forward facing. We are in the early stages and had to make some hard decisions. While we're still determining all the details, we know our financial and operational demands require us to streamline our internal roles and responsibilities. Based on the software migrations timing, the community grant program will be moved from the spring to the fall of 2025. We will share the exact dates as soon as they are available, as well as the details of alternative support we will be offering next spring despite the migration.
Dana Bensinger: We did not choose the timing of this change. Yet, we are choosing to use it as an opportunity to improve our nonprofit programming which includes awarding grants as well as non grant support. We are referring to this process as a renovation or a systems update. We invite you to be part of this process by joining us for a virtual Nonprofit Exchange on Wednesday, November 13th at 8 a.m. The hour will be dedicated to listening and sharing as we learn about your organization's needs, wants and wishes. We also intend to gather your authentic feedback about our nonprofit programming. After all, our nonprofit program is designed with you in mind and we need to include you in this redesign process. To RSVP, click the link below. If you can't make it, but have feedback. Please email me at Dana@otsegofoundation.org. As your partner. we recognize there may be parts of our current system that are truly helpful as well as parts that create barriers now is the time to share and be part of this renovation.
