National Nonprofit Day

Aug 23, 2023 | Chamber Blog, Featured Business

Celebrating Local Groups & Organizations

BY: RACHEL WUMKES

As I perused the National Days last week, I came upon National Nonprofit Day. At first thought, I presumed it to be a fun little piece to write. Something fluffy to give a boost to our many nonprofit Chamber members. A bit of history, some quirky fun facts. Should be simple, right?

Little did I realize how extensive my “fun little piece” would be!

Turns out, the nonprofit sector is massive on both the local and global scale. In the United States, there are about 1.8 million nonprofits and 1.5 million 501(c)3 organizations. Between the two, they employe close to 12 million people. This makes them the third-largest employment industry in the country.

I became curious about the difference between the two classifications and dug a bit deeper.

A nonprofit corporation is a state-level designation, and the 501(c)3 is a federal designation awarded by the IRS. We could totally go down the rabbit hole of details here, but I’ll just leave it at that. One is state – one is federal. To be honest, unless you’re a financial guru who crunches numbers for a living, it will likely be a tad confusing.

To me, their importance lies in what they do for their community; the services provided and how they better our lives.

Nonprofits serve our communities by fostering civic engagement and leadership. They drive economic growth and strengthen the structure within our communities. You may not realize it, but every single person benefits from the work of nonprofits in some way.

Every single day.

Nonprofits are key players in boosting our lives. They create the thriving place where we live, work and play. Even more so, they often come together to protect the legacy of a community and its important features within the town.

Nonprofit leaders are often the voice of the people they serve. With strong relationships and intimate local knowledge, they become advocates to better meet everyone’s needs.

So, who (or what) are nonprofit organizations?

It’s easy to recognize the nonprofits who swoop in and save the day for those in need. The Food Bank feeds the hungry. The Red Cross provides disaster relief. There are, however, a whole slew of groups and organizations you may not even realize fit into the category.

Defining them is one thing, but what can you do to help? Many nonprofits earn revenue from donations, grants and memberships. Some even host events and sell products.

Here are 6 easy ways to support them!

Volunteer Your Time or Services.
Engage with the Organization on social media.
Forward an E-Blast or Newsletter to a Friend.
Buy Tickets to an Upcoming Event.
Donate Financially.

We often talk about economics and the importance of shopping locally. Well, the same rings true for our nonprofit sector. They need our support just the same as any other member! Find the group who best suits your interests and reach out.