I believe there is a direct connection between the health of the economy and the vitality of the nonprofit sector. Those who report on economic matters pay little attention to this fact, but that doesn’t make it any less true.

Without the nonprofit sector’s deep and wide support, the business world and the economy would be in far sorrier shape than they are today.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that an army of reliable employees are reliable because they leave their children, safe and secure, in nonprofit day care facilities. An entire tier of workers do the same thing with their aging parents, too.

It’s no secret that thousands of businesses which do not provide health insurance for their employees are relying on nonprofit clinics to provide care; if the clinics weren’t there, employers would face huge absentee problems and a direct loss of production and profit.

The list is endless. Workers who enjoy cultural events are more creative on the job because they’ve seen a play or attended a concert or been inspired by an art show – all of those activities are conducted by nonprofits. Young people are healthier – freeing their parents of worry and additional health care burdens – because they’re in athletic programs created and administered by nonprofit organizations.

There are dozens of examples in your community.

This should translate into sustained support flowing from businesses to nonprofits, but such support is the exception, not the rule. Sure, large corporations parade modest donations to nonprofits and some businesses participate in United Way campaigns, but in the main, businesses simply don’t support the nonprofit sector in significant numbers.

So I want to suggest a plan of action.

Over the next few months, I suggest that each community’s nonprofit sector organize to find creative ways to let the business community know how much they contribute and how valuable that contribution is.

It could be as simple as developing a flyer which every agency passes out to every client, asking the clients to deliver the flyer to their place of employment:
“I came to work today because a nonprofit is caring for my children.”
“My back ache is being treated by a nonprofit clinic.”
“In our community, nonprofit agencies generate salaries of $XXXXX and that money comes in your door every day.”

Or it could be as dramatic as a one-day “strike” in which nonprofits close their doors to show the business community just how vital their services are. What would your community’s businesses do if day cares closed, clinics shut down, after school programs ceased?

Nonprofit leaders are resourceful and creative and smart. Apply those assets to demonstrating to your community just how important your contribution to the community is.

Give it a shot. When you do, drop me a line about your plan – I’ll share it with others and they can build on your initiatives until, sooner or later, the business community is convinced of that which we all know to be true: without the nonprofit community, business as usual doesn’t exist.