Below is a guest blog written by Tsiporah Nephesh, a leader in non-profits (or as I call it, "social profits"). She runs New Mexico Thrives and shared this speech during the 2024 Legislative Session at the capitol. Insightful and powerful! - TL
Today we celebrate the contributions of nonprofits. Nonprofits touch every aspect of our lives:
Nonprofits serve the most vulnerable members of our communities, and tackle the stubborn problems of society. Nonprofits are on the frontlines acknowledging and addressing inequities, within our organizations and within society. Nonprofits are natural allies with government. We all want the same thing—healthy, thriving communities.
Nonprofits contribute to educational outcomes:
Nonprofits work to break the cycle of poverty, helping people create opportunities and possibilities for themselves by providing support to participate in the workforce:
People who volunteer with or donate to nonprofits are more likely to experience:
a greater sense of happiness;
a stronger sense of purpose, and
more social connections.
Volunteering lets people contribute to and connect with community.
Volunteering provides opportunities to develop job and leadership skills.
(See “Benefits of Volunteering: 10 Reasons to Volunteer” by Stacey Buttel, July 31, 2023. Visit link.)
Nonprofits contribute to our quality of life by organizing opportunities to interact with the many cultural traditions of New Mexico. In 2018, nonprofits brought $1.86 Billion of out-of-state funding into New Mexico. These funds generated another $1.36 Billion with indirect economic activity as nonprofits bought goods and paid for local services and contractors. Nonprofits generated $3.22 Billion in total economic output. (Economic Impacts of the Nonprofit Sector in New Mexico, 2019, UNM BBER)
Nonprofits make significant contributions to culture, tourism, and the local economies. Nonprofits manage some of our best known events that bring in tourists from across the country and around the world. These events generate over $471 Million in economic activity each year for local businesses.
(Albuquerque Journal 2/8/2023; Journal North 5/11/2023)
Nonprofits contribute to economic development by providing training and loans for new entrepreneurs.
Nonprofits contribute to our quality of life by:
If you have attended services at a house of worship, or attended the theatre, the Balloon Fiesta, the Mariachi Festival, the Taos Jazz Festival or the Traditional Spanish Market, you can thank a nonprofit.
Nonprofits remind us of our place in the world, working to protect the environment and all its inhabitants.
Nonprofits are an expression of our humanity: providing services to people with disabilities, those who are hungry, experiencing homelessness, struggling with addiction or domestic violence.
Nonprofits step up where our systems fall short. NM nonprofits are creative, innovative, and dedicated.
During the early phase of the pandemic, when everyone was advised to stay home, nonprofits quickly pivoted to help community members. When wildfires displace communities, nonprofits are there to help—and continue helping as people recover and rebuild.
Nonprofits show up every year during the [legislative] session, helping community members to engage in the civic process. Nonprofits are partners with government in service of our communities.
Nonprofits touch every aspect of our lives.
We are grateful for all that nonprofits do every day for our communities.
- from neonatal home visits to hospice;
- from educational enrichment to recreation;
- from providing food, shelter, and essential services in times of crisis to organizing major cultural attractions;
- from health care to home care;
- from local business to global technology.
Nonprofits serve the most vulnerable members of our communities, and tackle the stubborn problems of society. Nonprofits are on the frontlines acknowledging and addressing inequities, within our organizations and within society. Nonprofits are natural allies with government. We all want the same thing—healthy, thriving communities.
Nonprofits contribute to educational outcomes:
- providing early childhood education, after school programs, mentoring, adult literacy training, and GED preparation;
- helping students with clothing and school supplies;
- providing counseling to abused, neglected, and/or grieving children;
- providing adaptive equipment to children with disabilities.
Nonprofits work to break the cycle of poverty, helping people create opportunities and possibilities for themselves by providing support to participate in the workforce:
- care for dependent family members;
- job training and placement for those who have difficulty entering or re-entering the workforce;
- jobs and support for those who cannot work independently.
People who volunteer with or donate to nonprofits are more likely to experience:
a greater sense of happiness;
a stronger sense of purpose, and
more social connections.
Volunteering lets people contribute to and connect with community.
Volunteering provides opportunities to develop job and leadership skills.
(See “Benefits of Volunteering: 10 Reasons to Volunteer” by Stacey Buttel, July 31, 2023. Visit link.)
Nonprofits contribute to our quality of life by organizing opportunities to interact with the many cultural traditions of New Mexico. In 2018, nonprofits brought $1.86 Billion of out-of-state funding into New Mexico. These funds generated another $1.36 Billion with indirect economic activity as nonprofits bought goods and paid for local services and contractors. Nonprofits generated $3.22 Billion in total economic output. (Economic Impacts of the Nonprofit Sector in New Mexico, 2019, UNM BBER)
Nonprofits make significant contributions to culture, tourism, and the local economies. Nonprofits manage some of our best known events that bring in tourists from across the country and around the world. These events generate over $471 Million in economic activity each year for local businesses.
(Albuquerque Journal 2/8/2023; Journal North 5/11/2023)
Nonprofits contribute to economic development by providing training and loans for new entrepreneurs.
Nonprofits contribute to our quality of life by:
- providing recreational opportunities such as sports leagues, social and service clubs; and
- organizing cultural events such as art, music, and film festivals, literary events, operas, dance and orchestral performances, balloon rallies, and specialty markets.
If you have attended services at a house of worship, or attended the theatre, the Balloon Fiesta, the Mariachi Festival, the Taos Jazz Festival or the Traditional Spanish Market, you can thank a nonprofit.
Nonprofits remind us of our place in the world, working to protect the environment and all its inhabitants.
Nonprofits are an expression of our humanity: providing services to people with disabilities, those who are hungry, experiencing homelessness, struggling with addiction or domestic violence.
Nonprofits step up where our systems fall short. NM nonprofits are creative, innovative, and dedicated.
During the early phase of the pandemic, when everyone was advised to stay home, nonprofits quickly pivoted to help community members. When wildfires displace communities, nonprofits are there to help—and continue helping as people recover and rebuild.
Nonprofits show up every year during the [legislative] session, helping community members to engage in the civic process. Nonprofits are partners with government in service of our communities.
Nonprofits touch every aspect of our lives.
We are grateful for all that nonprofits do every day for our communities.
Tsiporah Nephesh | www.nmthrives.org
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