The Wonderful World of NonProfits

The Wonderful World of Nonprofit Organizations
By Dr. C

I bet a lot of us do not often think about how much nonprofit organizations are a part of our daily life. For instance, as a faculty member at the University of Oklahoma I am constantly reminded about how vital a contribution this “nonprofit” makes to the community, the state, the nation and beyond. Our big events, from athletic games to commencement and graduation ceremonies, have enormous social and economic impact upon our home town of Norman, OK, for instance. Our faculty members and researchers impact people throughout the world. Our students take their places as employers, entrepreneurs, citizens and leaders of the world. If you multiply our impact by hundreds of other leading institutions of higher education, you can get a genuine sense of awe about the impact of this one nonprofit sector.

Another nonprofit organization that plays a key role in the life of our community is the local YMCA. I usually venture into this facility’s wide halls during the wee hours of the morning, as I try to squeeze in some exercise. But as I peruse bulletin boards and watch activity around me, I notice it is some much more than a gym. This organization offers daycare and aftercare support for parents and families, athletic sport competition, an source for information about nutrition, diet and health issues, and a social network for friends who have shared interests.

But this is just a local snapshot that is limited to my own experience. What does current research say about the state and wellbeing of nonprofits generally? Perhaps, not surprisingly, national research shows that nonprofits face continual challenges to fund and support their services economically. For instance, the Corporation for National and Community Service recently completed a trends study that show many factors, including corporate mergers and increased federal spending for homeland security, challenges some of the traditional revenue sources that such organizations have used.

One consultant, Nancy E. Schwartz, offers one type of support through an online network of resources, tips and conversation about nonprofits. Getting attention is the theme of her blog, and getting attention will be part of the efforts of my PR Campaigns class this semester. The real question, though, is not only how to get attention, but to understand the “whys” and “whats” such attention entails.

All of our clients for class represent nonprofit organizations and initiatives this semester. Stay tuned for more details!