The non-profits I am involved with are all starting to feel a financial pinch. They'd all better realize that it won't be short-lived. And that's a shame.

In recent years, I have been on the boards of three faith-based non-profits, one other non-profit in place to serve the disadvantaged, and four trade association non-profits. Really, recent years haven't been too bad for these groups. Not that it isn't always a challenge to find all that you need but generally speaking it hasn't been too bad.

But that has changed rapidly in recent months as more people have felt a financial pinch. I am predicting that it will get worse as things continue to slow and more people experience joblessness. Additionally, in the financial giving to most of these organizations, the 80-20 rule prevails. 80% of their funding comes from 20% of their givers. Those are largely upper-end businesspeople and a few other professionals. As these individuals feel pinched by the economy or perhaps down the road see increased taxes, they will have no choice but to cut back on their charitable giving.

So, if you're involved with a non-profit, the time is now to start visioning your way through this if you haven't already.

And, if you're someone who donates to worthy causes, please think about how you can avoid cutting back or perhaps even amp it up a little. Where can we pull back so that we can continue to fund those who serve the least of us?

God delights in seeing what we can do for Him. Tough times are not the time to pull back.