November 8 marks National Philanthropy Day, a day dedicated to bringing awareness of the social and economic impact that nonprofit organizations (NPOs) provide in the United States.

NPOs are the connective tissue between the bottom line and the community. Some of the most beneficial and societal saving efforts of NPOs in the course of American history include:

• The suppression of the polio epidemic (March of Dimes)
• Providing food, water and shelter during natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes (Red Cross)
• Providing hundreds of thousands of America’s children safe places to learn and play (YMCAs)
• Providing millions of meals and services to elderly Americans (Meals on Wheels)
• Blindness research, eyeglasses and jobs to millions of blind people globally (Lions)
• Psychiatric, behavioral, emotional and spiritual services to thousands of children in Arkansas who are abandoned, abused and neglected (Methodist Family Health)

In today’s world, philanthropy expands knowledge and provides humanitarian aid. There is more to philanthropy than wealthy individuals with large fortunes such as Rockefeller and Gates (although these philanthropists are responsible for major mobilizations).

A large percentage of Americans have either benefited from a nonprofit, given to one, or given to both. Philanthropy is deeply embedded in the fabric of America’s democracy.

Fundraising is just one aspect of a nonprofit’s mission; advocacy and education are just as important. These nonprofit organizations advocate on behalf of the most vulnerable populations in our country, including the hungry, the homeless, children and the disabled. By influencing policy and change, they protect America’s most sacred historical and natural resources.

There is no question that nonprofits have a positive impact on the lives of individuals (especially when we are directly impacted), but seeing their economic impact is more difficult. For instance, consider the Arkansas Food Bank Network, which met public need during COVID-19. During the emergency, more than 280,000 people received food from the program, reducing the state’s SNAP benefits costs.

A similar food-based organization, Well-Fed of Arkansas, provides healthy fresh food to Arkansas’s many “food deserts.” As part of a partnership with nurses and dieticians from UAMS, Well-Fed teaches Arkansans about healthy eating, preventing diabetes and heart disease, while saving the Arkansas taxpayer money since 100 percent of the people served are on Medicaid or Medicare, but as they grow older, they are less likely to need long-term medical care.

More than 120 years ago, Methodist Family Health (internal link) provided safety and a sense of belonging to children who were abandoned, abused, neglected and struggling with psychiatric, behavioral, emotional and spiritual issues.  In 1899, our mission was to open the Arkansas Methodist Orphanage. Today, we provide safe therapeutic homes and mental health services to almost 5,000 children annually with psychiatric, behavioral, emotional and spiritual issues.

By providing children with tools for resolving conflict and overcoming obstacles in a healthy manner, we mitigate negative outcomes. Unless children are given appropriate development skills, issues such as poverty, substance abuse and criminal activity will continue to affect our state. Methodist Family Health plays a vital role in reducing the “invisible costs” such as unemployment, disability and even imprisonment.

As the direct link between society and community, nonprofits provide a variety of activities, which allow Americans to survive, thrive and shine.

Sources:

*Nonprofit Impact Matters. National Council of Nonprofits. www.nonprofitimpactmatters.org

**Data Lake Nonprofit Research (2018). www.datalake.net