The cascading bad news about our economy, with unemployment rising toward 7 percent, dramatic layoffs (half a million jobs in November), and an official declaration of recession, could have dire import for the nonprofit sector, including The HSUS. Like all charities, we rely upon the generosity of individuals, foundations, and corporate supporters, and with less discretionary income available, there is cause for worry. One analyst, Paul Light, has said that as many as 100,000 charities will fold within several years, casualties of the financial meltdown, and the sector is bracing for a decline in giving.

Here is yet another burden for President-elect Barack Obama. Obama got his start in the nonprofit sector, as a community organizer. For the first time in American history, moreover, the interests of the sector received serious attention from both Obama and Sen. John McCain during the presidential campaign.

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