Last week I sent out my heartfelt thank you to nonprofit organizations. Nick Morpus at Capterra has published a list of seven reasons why we all should be grateful to nonprofits:
- Kindness begets kindness. Nonprofits inspire individuals to do good too.
- Nonprofits address problems that are too stigmatized for politics, often more quickly than government can do.
- There’s a nonprofit for everybody. Just ask.
- Nonprofit staff sacrifice a lot to bring about change. Too much, in fact. Thank them in the coming year by supporting higher salaries!
- Nonprofits bring communities together. It could be the broader community, or it could be creating a community out of people who care for the same issue.
- Nonprofits foster an appreciation for the arts. And not only arts nonprofits. Many the youth program makes poetry, music, drawing, or videomaking a part of people’s lives.
- Nonprofits teach us humility. As Morpus says, “Nonprofits not only provide aid to those in need, but they also provide perspective of just how good our lives truly are.” (And that’s true even if we are the ones in need.)
Thanks also to organizations that serve nonprofits
It’s easy to cheer the do-gooders. It’s harder to remember the people who make the do-gooding possible.
So today, I want to express my gratitude to:
- Nonprofit technology providers, like Capterra, Bloomerang, and TechSoup.
- Nonprofit consultants about compliance and reporting, like Kayak Consulting Group and Harbor Compliance.
- Community foundations, like the Cambridge Community Foundation or the Appalachan Community Fund. They give money and advice.
- Resource centers like Associated Grantmakers of Massachusetts or the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. They share information and training.
When we talk about nonprofit work, we rightly put our clients first, and feature or front line direct service staff second. These people and what they do make the best stories. They show how our nonprofit is making the change in the world that is its reason to be, in the first place.
Once in a while, though, look behind the curtain. See the allies without whom nonprofit work would be difficult or impossible. Today, I say thank you to them. Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day!
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