Did you know there are an estimated 1.3 million charitable nonprofit organizations (NPOs) in the United States? Considering this figure, and the diversity of organizations that fit under the nonprofit banner, it’s fair to say the impact of nonprofits on communities is significant. Let’s break that down into specifics by outlining some of the ways nonprofits help communities. Some of them may even surprise you!
Why Are They Called Nonprofits?
Before we dive into the benefits of nonprofits, let’s first briefly define the term. According to FoundationList.org, a nonprofit is an organization that is “not operating primarily to make a profit” but “focuses on furthering a social cause or a shared goal or mission.” Any money a nonprofit takes in is not paid to shareholders but instead goes to supporting the organization itself and its cause. For these reasons, the IRS gives such organizations tax-exempt status. Nonprofits are funded through corporate contributions, donations, grants, and bequests.
How Nonprofits Benefit Communities
- Depending on the type of organization, NPOs may offer these and/or other services at little or no cost to recipients:
- Job training
- Hospital care
- Foster care
- Education from preschool to higher education
- Daycare
- Family counseling
- Fitness and sports facilities and activities
- Meals
- Clothing
- Holiday gifts
- Cultural enrichment (e.g., museums)
- They help raise money and awareness for myriad causes.
They advance their policy agendas by educating legislators, elected officials, and the public on their mission. - They provide invaluable relief services in the face of ongoing concerns such as hunger and catastrophic events such as natural disasters and wars.
- They have a positive financial impact on their community. Nonprofit organizations are employers and by current estimate provide jobs to some 12.3 million people. They also pay other parties for goods and services.
- They encourage civic engagement, inspiring people to become involved with issues that affect their community.
- They help make communities better places to live by promoting equality, clean and safe neighborhoods, respect for the environment, education, recreation, and community events.
- They provide opportunities to volunteer.
- They incite a passion for important issues among people in the community.
Make a Greater Impact on Your Own Community With an MPA
You too can make an impact on your community through a career in the nonprofit or public sector, and earning the right credentials is a great way to start. If you hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and meet all the other program requirements, we invite you to apply to our online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program.
During our program, you’ll master personnel administration, public budgeting, ethics, public policy, research, data analysis, and other theoretical and practical aspects of community leadership. Equipped with your MPA, you’ll be poised to launch a nonprofit or public sector career, move between the two fields, or advance in your current role.
Consider the advantages of our MPA program:
- Finish your degree in as little as 12 months.
- Steer your program curriculum toward your career goals with diverse interdisciplinary elective courses.
- Complete your degree from practically any location with no campus visits required.
- Earn a coveted master’s degree while maintaining your professional and personal commitments.
- Learn from experts with extensive experience in the field: the same renowned faculty who teach the program at the UTPB campus.
- Enjoy tuition rates that are among the most affordable of any regionally accredited university of our standing.
- Graduate without writing a thesis or completing an internship.
Make a Greater Impact on Your Career And Compensation Potential
Did those advantages capture your attention? You may also be surprised to learn just how marketable an MPA is. This degree will help you excel in fields including:
- Public safety
- Transportation
- Economic development
- Parks and recreation
- Human services
- Criminal justice
- Healthcare
- Fine arts
In addition to expanding your professional options in a variety of rewarding careers, our MPA can give you a salary boost and increase your likelihood of staying employed. According to a report published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), master’s degree holders’ median earnings are about 18% higher than those of bachelor’s degree holders. The same BLS report shows individuals with a master’s degree experience higher rates of employment than individuals with a bachelor’s degree alone.
Learn how to make a greater impact on your community and your own future alongside the experts. Apply to our online MPA program today!