AUBURN - During a conference on philanthropy at Cayuga Community College Susan Raymond, vice president of Changing Our World Inc., stressed the importance of evolution in nonprofit foundations and community cooperation in the face of major economic and demographic change.

“Keep a close finger on the pulse of change ... on your community, the economy, the nation and the world,” said Raymond, who advises not-for-profit groups on topics like fundraising and planning to keep their organizations effective.

During her talk, Raymond examined some of the changes in local demographics. Specifically, she pointed out that the aging population in both the state and area counties are growing quicker than the work force

Those numbers are important to foundations that provide human services, Raymond said.

“It matters, because it predicts dependency,” said Raymond, who noted that Medicare payments in Cayuga and Onondaga counties have tripled in the last 15 years.

Raymond also touched on the youth demographic, saying that an increasing percentage of young people statewide are of minority status. That is important to service foundations, she said, because ethnic populations live in poverty in higher concentrations, she said.

In Onondaga, Cayuga and Seneca counties, 33 to 41 percent of the minority population lives in poverty, she said.

As these changes progress, she continued, the non-profit sector will have to change as well.

It already has in some ways, Raymond said. While the amount of money given to philanthropy rises almost every year, the number of organizations has increased at a faster pace. That has created more competition for the funds.

“Competition is costly,” Raymond said. “It means you have to have time to make your case.”

As funding becomes more competitive, donors will seek more say in how that money is spent, she continued. That control isn't always something foundation boards want to give up.

“But it's something that the sector is going to have to master,” she said.

Competition and demographics are not the only things that are expected to affect non-profit organizations in coming years. The current economic crisis is already expected to put a strain on local groups.

At the Gavras Center, many of the employees need to receive special training, Diane deRoos said in panel discussion after Raymond's talk. Tighter funding can make that a challenge.

“It is difficult with the economy to take the time off to provide that training,” deRoos said.

Nancy Tehan of Success by Six added that the effect the local economy could have on literacy rates in the area. Success by Six sponsors a local version of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which sends books to children's homes to encourage reading.

With all the added stress brought on by unemployment and mortgages, Tehan said, families can forget to stress the importance of reading.

“Reading seems light and fluffy, ... but it is also equally important,” she said.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net