The coming year, with its political upheavals and forecast recession, would not seem the most promising for the non-profit community. Yet the leaders of America’s most prestigious agencies are hopeful for 2008, even as they struggle with the increasing needs of the country’s poor and with intransigent issues such as the lack of access to quality healthcare. They insist that over the next 12 months their organisations will achieve goals of increased penetration and expanded scope.

In spite of this confidence, non-profit heads are concerned that a widening income gap, exacerbated by an economic downturn, could increase requests for their services at a time when fund-raising is difficult.