Celebrating the Helpers this National Nonprofit Day

Did you know that Sunday, August 17, is National Nonprofit Day?

On August 17 each year, National Nonprofit Day recognizes the goals and positive impacts nonprofits have on communities and the world.

I still remember the time my professor in the school of business at Azusa Pacific University said to us, “Nonprofit doesn’t mean no profit” – it means “not for profit.” Nonprofits need to make a profit to accomplish their mission, but they exist in the U.S. for purposes other than generating a profit. They exist to address a social issue, or a marginalized group, or to educate, and so on. 

Nonprofits serve a critical role in society. And as author, entrepreneur, and philanthropy expert Dan Pallotta eloquently put it, philanthropy is the market for all those people for whom no other market is coming.

Dan’s point was that in a capitalism-based society, business and the market economy tend to work very well for the 85% of people who can take advantage of it, but in any developed economy, there are always people who are left out or unable to tap into the economy for one reason or another. There are also intractable problems that businesses and governments can’t solve – that’s where the philanthropy and the nonprofit sector come in.

Last year, I wrote an article titled “Philanthropy is the Market for Love,” mainly based on how Dan’s work shifted my perspective on the role of philanthropy and nonprofits in society. For more on Dan Pallotta’s work, see his book Uncharitable, documentary film of the same name, and one of the most popular TED talks of all time, “The way we think about charity is dead wrong.”

💡 Takeaway: Nonprofits exist to meet needs and solve problems the market and government can’t — making philanthropy, in Dan Pallotta’s words, “the market for love.” Their role isn’t secondary to business or government, but essential to a healthy, compassionate society.

The “Para” of Nonprofits

In Christian faith-based circles, the term parachurch is typically used to refer to an entity that operates alongside (“para” means alongside) the local church to fulfill specific needs, often complementing or supplementing the work of local congregations.

When I entered the nonprofit sector 21 years ago, I learned there was a whole industry of experts and providers that came alongside nonprofits – agencies, tech providers, data companies, consultants, and so on. 

As EVP at Masterworks, one of the largest agencies in the U.S. specializing in faith-based causes, I would joke that if the nonprofits we served were the parachurch – the “helpers coming alongside the church,” then we were the para-parachurch – we helped the helpers. 

One of my favorite Mr. Rogers quotes of all times is from when he was a child, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

If you work in the nonprofit sector, you are a helper, and we celebrate you this National Nonprofit Day. 🎉 You are a part of the fabric that makes up the beautiful tapestry of society. You are there for those in need, and I am grateful for you.

If you are a nonprofit leader, thank you. We need you. We need you at your best, so please invest in growing yourself, your leadership, and your organization. Healthy, thriving leaders lead healthy, thriving organizations. We celebrate you.

If you work with nonprofit organizations, thank you. You are the “para” to this sector – you come alongside those who come alongside others. Remember that in your work with nonprofits. We celebrate you!

💡 Takeaway: Whether you lead a nonprofit or serve alongside one, you are part of a vital chain of helpers meeting the world’s needs. This National Nonprofit Day, we honor your role in making communities stronger.

As we celebrate National Nonprofit Day, we recognize the work of nonprofits, and the importance of innovating funding for those nonprofits.

Until next week… Surf’s Up! 🌊

  - Dave