You make some very good points, Clark. But here’s a question: Can the nonprofit sector rest on its missions alone, in this new policy environment? Have our missions protected our community from the threat of sequestration or, at the state level, being underfunded to the point of starvation? Where exactly are we on a policymaker’s list of priorities? I agree that being painted as a ‘business’ may open a door to some unwanted comparisons or policy making (eg., recent legislative efforts in Springfield demanding more transparency from nonprofits.) But it can also go a long way toward positioning the nonprofit community as an equal stakeholder in public decision-making. Because, so far, we haven’t been. And while nonprofits theoretically receive fuel from government, it is in exchange for services that we provide for the good of the community on government’s behalf. It is not largesse. My fear is that while we quietly perform to our missions, noses diligently to the grindstone, we risk being pigeon-holed as passive supplicants. The image I have is of Oliver Twist asking for another bowl of porridge. I’m afraid that’s the image policymakers have of nonprofits, as well. We can’t let policymakers ignore the fact that nonprofits, like other private organizations, have grown in complexity over time. Our community, for the most part, has transformed from being a collection of alms-houses to complex organizations. Our community has practitioners of experience, education and specialized knowledge, all of which lead to innovation and informed practice. We have financial management structures and systems that need to account transparently for both public and private funds. We have governance structures that require responsible oversight and accountability. We bring something to the table and should be at it. Our sector absolutely plays a special role in our society. Nonprofits are how good happens, but policymakers are overlooking that. ~Delia Coleman, Director, Public Policy, Donors Forum

Thanks for your question, Clark. Based on a recent study from Johns Hopkins that we commissioned (http://bit.ly/X9btfq), the nonprofit sector is a significant employer in Illinois. Our sector supports over half a million jobs (517,600), which is more than the number of workers in transportation, construction, and real estate combined. The wages those nonprofit jobs produce amount to $24.3 billion. When nonprofit employees spend those wages, that money circulates through local economies, producing $459 million in tax revenues for the state, as well as $2.3 billion in federal tax receipts. The circulation of our wages, in turn, helps support other jobs, other wage earners, producing more tax benefit – as well as the social benefit of our work.