WHY “NONPROFIT” IS A NO-NO WORD

When I talk about organizations that are mission-driven rather than profit-driven (often referred to as “nonprofits”) I try to avoid using the word. These organizations fight injustice, inequity, bigotry, and ignorance.  They feed the needy, house the unhoused, educate, heal, research, and bring art and culture to their communities. All while being defined by what they don’t do (make a profit) rather than by the ways they are making our community better.

They do this work while working in the margins, operating on a shoe-string budget, relying on (and sometimes even playing on) people’s emotions to generate generosity.  They are expected to achieve grandiose mission statements with staff that are overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated.  Their facilities are often in disrepair, using technology that borders on extinction.

One glaring example of this is employee pay. According to this NonProfit Times article from September 2024 Nearly one-third of workers at social assistance and at arts, entertainment and recreation nonprofits faced financial hardship”  This included those providing social assistance (32%); arts, entertainment and recreation (32%); and religious organizations (29%).   These are folks that deserve a similar level of appreciation as we give first responders, yet one of the key metrics nonprofits are judged on is how much is spent on “overhead costs” such as salary instead of the great work they’re doing.

WHAT IF…..

            Instead of making these organizations constantly try to do more with less, we treated them as they really are…businesses that are mission-focused instead of being profit focused?  No one blinks an eye when Coca Cola invests in itself with the latest technology and equipment, professional development for staff, or even *GASP* promoting itself to the public, yet organizations that are taking care of our unhoused, feeding the needy, and providing us with entertainment are expected to constantly do more with less.

            So knowing how much words matter, I intend to focus my words on what these organizations DO rather than what they don’t do.  IF YOU WORK FOR, VOLUNTEER WITH, OR DONATE TO ANY SUCH ORGANIZATION, FIRST OF ALL, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU.  SECOND, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME HERE AND LET’S TALK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BE SEEN FOR HOW YOU’RE MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.