Hi, Friend - Sounds like you're in a tough position. I'd need to know a little more before giving you much more advice, but here are my preliminary thoughts:

(1) Have you considered issues-based advocacy? By that, I mean, grab some parents and go meet with the school board, or go to a public meeting and share your concerns. Now isn't the time to be bashful if it may mean the demise of the organization. Is there anyone on your board who has an "in" with decision makers there?

(2) Go to the media. Get your families involved in a letter writing campaign to the local newspapers, get on the radio show, talk about how important your program is to the community, bring in the local TV station to see the kids at work.

(3) Bridge funding. Are there any foundations or major donors that might help by providing you with funding long enough for you to explore longer-term resources without completely shutting down?

(4) Speaking of bridges, now may be the time to re-build bridges. Consider approaching the "big name" program about taking on your part-time program staff as a pilot program, or contracting with your staff to continue to provide services (assuming no duplication exists). Usually this works best if you can bring something to them as well. For instance, do you have any board members or donors that could join their organization. Could you create good publicity around a merger?

Just a few thoughts...Anyone else have some advice?

--Laura