Hurrah for oversight

Dear Editor:

I appreciate last week’s editorial endorsing closer county oversight of investment of public funds in our county’s non-profit groups.

I’ve been a nonprofit fundraiser 25 years and can only sigh with relief at the decision our officials have made to rationalize the process of giving county grants to nonprofits. It’s impossible to raise money ethically when you can’t say how you’re going to use it and assure your donors that their funds will be invested in the ways you promised.

This is how we build the long-term loving relationships we need with our donors (and grantors) that sustain us through thick and thin economic times — mutual respect.

The requests for information should be reasonable and as much as needed, but information-sharing is needed. I use the word “invest” not to turn nonprofits into “for profits” but to remind us all that a donation of dollars to a cause is a precious commitment of one’s self that we “clothe” the cause in (the original meaning of “invest”).

Also, Rick Vance’s column “Don’t Give Up” on February 1 was the second of his that I’ve loved.

Beth Raps
Berkeley Springs