Radical Transparency vs. Crying the Blues: Effective Nonprofit Strategy?

I found an interesting article (to me) in the San Franciso Chronicle discussing the plight of a nonprofit called Facilitating Opportunities for Refugee Growth and Empowerment (FORGE). 

It appears as though the nonprofit is facing a big financial threat that could shut its doors.  Out of frustration, the exec started blogging about her woes and this in turn has generated attention from a number of readers who in turn are lending a hand.

To me the stroy really raises the question: "when is crying the blues "radical transparency" as the article introduces the approach?"  I don't have an answer and by the sounds of things from the article, the picture is actually looking a bit brighter for FORGE.  But I don't think of this, honestly speaking of what has not worked, (really where good learning lessons come from) as just crying the blues. 

Speaking the truth is just that and nonprofits actually have an obligation, at least internally, of understanding mis-steps and taking corrective action.  At the same time I remember one foundation exec calling me over one day and saying: "Mike, no one reallys wants to hear your sad story - they want to hear what you are doing right - they want to hear how you are fixing what is broken." 

I didn't really take away solutions from this FORGE story, only a sad story.  And one of the big credits given to social entrepreneurs is that they are by definition, solution-focused.  Telling a sad story just isn't enough for me.  But you know, if it works, it's good.