FYI: Nationally, the nonprofit sector is facing “severe” budget crises, even as groups widely report expanding their programs and services, according to a new report from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Civil Society Studies. Johns Hopkins surveyed 236 groups working in five areas: arts, children and families, community and economic development, and elderly services. More than half said they experienced “severe” economic difficulties in the last year. And yet, more agencies said they expanded programs than said they cut. To do so, 4 out of 5 said they boosted private-fundraising efforts, 84 percent boosted marketing and fees, and over half ate reserves—spending endowments, selling property, and borrowing. But over half also said they tapped more partnerships and collaborations to accomplish their goals. Check Tracie McMillan’s exploration of the challenges and benefits of merging with the competition in the nonprofit sector, from the November issue of City Limits magazine. [1/21/03]