How To Make Denver Suck Less, Karmically

By / February 24, 2009 /

By Dan Barnhart

OK. The economy seems worse every day. Our industry is pretty much Swiss cheese. Everywhere you go people are grumpy as hell. Most feel like everything they’ve worked for their entire lives (their money) has turned to fetid vapor. It’s creating self-worth issues. Substance abuse is at an all-time high. And it all seems to be a really handy excuse for being a total douchewaffle.*

As bad as it is right now for your typical corporation or small business, there is a group that makes your woes look like eating ice cream in the park on a perfect day.

These lovely times we are having have put an astounding strain on Colorado’s non-profit sector. You know, those people that have honestly tried harder than anyone to make this world a better place.

These organizations are experiencing a frightening dichotomy; overwhelming demand for services AND major funding cuts. I recently spoke with Sharon Knight, President/CEO of the Colorado Non-Profit Association, a group that oversees and assists non-profits across the state. She said, “Many foundations that fund non-profits have had to shift to an emergency situation because the donations just aren’t coming in.” Surprisingly, she also mentioned that giving in Denver and in Colorado as a state has historically been lower than most.

That fact has made this year particularly tough already. She continued, “I’ve heard from people at the Jeffco Action Center that they are seeing people who were long-term donors now coming in needing help as clients… Clients! The Salvation Army in Glenwood Springs is seeing mostly people that look like they are from the middle class, Arapahoe County had a 30 percent increase in food stamp requests, Low income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) in Boulder has had a 20 percent increase in requests and people are showing up at The Gathering Place who are homeless, not because they couldn’t pay their rent, but because their landlord foreclosed.”

Art museums, zoos and aquariums, places we all have gone to learn and be inspired, are facing sad realities. The Bronx Zoo has had to close many of its exhibits because they can’t afford to keep the animals. Many of them endangered species. And it looks like the economic stimulus bill currently on the table will exclude places like art museums and zoos from getting funding! Yah, I know it’s complicated, but this would lead one to believe that the world really is turning its back on non-profits.

Even great American traditions like the Girl Scouts are at risk right now. Rachelle Trujillo, Vice President of Communications and Marketing for Girl Scouts of Colorado, said, “It’s really bad. Investment income is greatly reduced, donations are way down, and even program enrollment is down. You don’t even think about asking foundations for money right now because they don’t even have it to give to those with basic needs.” After going through two rounds of layoffs already, Girl Scouts are down to just enough staff to barely keep it going. It’s really sad to think that Girl Scouts, the ones that were green before green was cool, are at risk of disappearing.

When I asked Rachelle what the advertising/marketing industry could do to help out non-profits right now, she said, “Well, we’ve honestly had some less-than-great experiences with ad agencies. It feels like they don’t care about truly helping out. They are more interested in winning awards and padding their portfolios with cool TV spots than moving anyone’s mission forward.”

When I heard that, I felt a little sick. Mostly because, when you clear away all of the petty rebuttals and excuses we might have, she is probably right.

I can hear you now, “Whatever man, I’m a creative, I’d rather talk ad nauseum about why Denver doesn’t have world-class creative. Why should I care? What could I possibly do?” Well, douchewaffle,* some of your peers may be in need right now or in the future. Or it may even be you. Just say you are willing to help. That’s enough for today.

This is a call-to-arms. This is the time to show that we are not just a bunch of egotistical whiners. This is the time to show we are creative in ways that are beyond the unexceptional.

This is a way to make Denver suck less. You in?

Over the next month we will be organizing to address these needs through The Denver Egotist, headed by Dan Barnhart. So if you have any time at all that you can spare, please let us know by commenting below (with your real contact info) so we can get in touch. Dan Barnhart is principal and general manager at interactive firm Malenke Barnhart in Denver.

*Douchewaffle – A term caught in the naughty word filter of the Girl Scouts online forum…