A Nov. 18 evening discussion — Santa Fe, the Economy and the Future — focused on real estate and identified the problems facing our town.

No one is immune to the domino effect of the national economic crisis, and Santa Fe has its unique challenges. I was hoping a representative or advocate for the hundreds of nonprofit organizations in town might have been invited to join the panel, too. The nonprofits have no reserves to fall back on, and when you really think about it, the good work that all of these organizations do in our town has a direct influence on tourism and real estate.

Some of these nonprofits provide food and shelter to people who would otherwise be on the streets begging tourists and residents for hand-outs; there are a multitude of nonprofit education options that make relocation more attractive, and there are arts, health, and so many more human services all enhancing our city and quality of life. Think of the social and economic impact that nonprofit organizations have in staffing alone. These hard-working people make up a large part of our community and are truly passionate and dedicated to both our city and the long-term worthwhile causes they contribute to.

Casualties in this area will have a long-lasting economic impact on the whole town that is hard to measure. Now that the city prepares for a 400th anniversary celebration we need to immediately put a proactive solutions-oriented focus on helping our area nonprofits in a significant way. Could we have the foresight to look at ways we must help the deficit our nonprofits are facing now with fewer donations. Perhaps there is something we could do similar to the lodgers tax, which allows for the purchase of media and advertising to promote tourism. We need to keep inventing new ways to help each other in these challenging times.

Tracy Hogg is the president of the SantaFeDonations.com.