Non-profits profit Virginia

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: June 26, 2008

Wow.

We knew that Charlottes-ville-Albemarle is a preferred address for many non-profit agencies, but we didn’t know just how popular.

According to “Virginia’s Nonprofit Sector: An Economic Force,” a study commissioned by Connect Network and the Community Foundation, the Char-lottesville area is third in the state in the value of assets held by its nonprofits, behind only Arlington and Fairfax. Local nonprofits account for 10 percent of the value of all nonprofits statewide.

Charlottesville proper has 499 nonprofit groups, and Albemarle County has 278. That’s a total of 777 — a “lucky” number in more ways than one. And it doesn’t even consider groups headquartered in surrounding counties.

Among the local agencies are many that exist solely for local purposes — to serve city and Albemarle residents.

Others are state or regional organizations that have chosen to locate here. Many are attracted by the area’s central location, offering ease of access to other parts of the Virginia; by the beauty and livability of our region, or by the proximity to the University of Virginia, with which they might a formal relationship or an informal tie.

According to the new study, the nonprofit sector has seen significant employment growth in the last decade — 34.7 percent, compared with 11.9 percent in government and 19.5 percent in business. Charlottesville-Albemarle’s share of that growth helps the economy.

The study said 128 of Albemarle’s nonprofits reported total revenue of $75 million and total assets of $202 million; and 303 of those in Charlottesville reported total revenue of nearly $1.5 billion and almost $7 billion in assets.

That provides business and employment for asset managers from area banks, brokerages and other financial institutions. When nonprofits put their money to work buying building supplies for raising a home or food for nourishing a family, they also create spinoff economic benefits for the community.

And it goes without saying that these nonprofits provide benefits that are more directly targeted. Many exist for the specific purpose of serving our local community, filling needs that otherwise would not be met. From Girl Scouts to Little League teams, homeless shelters to educational foundations, area nonprofits enrich the city and county.

There’s one more conclusion that may be drawn from the statistics. If nonprofits are growing at nearly three times the rate of government in the last decade, one might surmise that nonprofits are stepping up to fill all sorts of community support roles. Ideally, that is the way communities should work — with the private sector organizing to take care of its own as a first resort.

The report also says that, for all its nonprofit activity, Virginia does not keep pace with the nation. Virginia’s nonprofit sector accounts for about 6 percent of total employment compared, with a U.S. average of 7.2 percent.

We say: Be grateful for that 6 percent. Virginia’s nonprofits are busy, useful, efficient, effective organizations. Despite a few failures here and there, most sustain excellent reputations both for compassion and efficiency.

They may hold billions of dollars in financial assets, but as spiritual, cultural and educational assets to their communities, they are beyond measure.