Jen Lennon, Marketing Team Lead, joins the blog today to start the National Nonprofit Day celebration a little early—and provide you free resources so you can join in.
Saturday is National Nonprofit Day! Are you ready to celebrate YOU?
Each year on August 17, the spotlight shines on organizations that our world could not do without—nonprofits. It’s a day to celebrate and recognize the impact you have on our families, our communities, our lives.
At Stelter, we talk a lot about the 8 Dimensions of Wellness: physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational, financial and environmental. I’d never considered how well our nonprofit partners’ missions align with these dimensions. But while writing this blog, it struck me—they absolutely do. And I realized that they have, for me, played a role in the pursuit of finding the right balance between them. Nonprofits have helped me navigate, enjoy, improve, expand and, sometimes, just make it through, my life.
This summer I experienced first-hand the heroic efforts that disaster-relief nonprofits provide. My hometown was hit by a historic flood, damaging or destroying more than 40% of the city’s homes. Immediately, nonprofits came together to provide aid; both local organizations and those from across the country. The effort was—and continues to be—herculean; with countless nonprofits providing vital support and outreach.
Nonprofit Numbers to Know
The US has more than 1.8 million nonprofit organizations.
The nonprofit sector is the 3rd largest workforce in the US behind retail and manufacturing.
1 in 10 Americans works for a nonprofit.
Approximately 63 million Americans (25% of the adult population) volunteer.
One-third of the nonprofit workforce is volunteers.
Nonprofits contributed $1.4 trillion to the economy in 2022.
71% of nonprofits have seen an increase in demand for their programs and services.
One of the organizations that had a direct impact on my family during the flood was Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR). Their volunteers worked at my mom’s and brother’s homes, hauling water-logged, moldy, muddy appliances and personal belongings out of their basements and to the curb. Afterward, they conducted mold mitigation. I had never heard of SBDR until the day I called them up to ask for help. They asked nothing in return—they just showed up and did the dirty work. I honestly don’t know what we would have done without them.
In this spirit, and to get primed for Saturday, I asked some of my Stelter colleagues to tell me about a nonprofit they cherish.
Nonprofit Shout-Out
“The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation is dedicated to finding treatments and cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The Foundation was a fantastic resource for my parents when my brother was diagnosed with both as a young child. They provide information on everything from insurance and clinical studies to recipes—truly a one-stop-shop for anyone affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease.”
– Jenna McCarthy, Graphic Designer
“The Young Women’s Resource Center is making a notable impact on our community by empowering girls and young women to grow and thrive. Through guidance and support during some of a young woman’s most pivotal moments, the YWRC helps to navigate these milestones with confidence and resilience. I am inspired by the center’s dedication to equity, community, and women’s advocacy, and I am proud to support the positive difference being made in so many lives.”
– Hanna Plants, Digital Experience Director
“My family loves exploring America’s national parks; finding joy in the landscapes and diverse wildlife that each park offers. Whether we’re hiking through the Rocky Mountains, swimming in the lakes of the Grand Tetons or exploring the trails of the Great Smoky Mountains, our experiences have created lasting memories. The appreciation for the beauty and preservation of these places is why we love and support the work of the National Park Foundation. We love knowing they are helping ensure that future generations can also experience these breathtaking parks.”
– Amanda Samson, Senior Graphic Designer
“My aunt loved animals and was an avid volunteer in the San Francisco area. Muttville was a favorite because they focus exclusively on helping senior dogs get adopted. Walking the dogs was important to her and she kept at it, even as her health declined. This past May, Muttville held a “Memorial Day Mutt Walk” in her memory. I am grateful for all they do—both for their dogs, and for their humans!”
– Mari O’Grady, Senior Content Specialist
These were just a handful of the amazing nonprofits our staff mentioned. To the other 1.799+ million nonprofits—thank you for what you do each and every day to make the world a better place.
Get Ready to Celebrate With These Fun (Free) Images
If you’ve made it this far in the blog, you’re probably looking for the free stuff that was promised in the title. Here you go! Simply click the image to enlarge, then right-click on the image and chose ‘Save image as’ to save it to your computer. Then get your posts ready and scheduled for Saturday. Spread the love for your nonprofit across all your social channels.
For Your Instagram Feed
For Facebook, LinkedIn, Etc.
Sources:
- Network Depot. (2024, March 28). Significant positive and negative nonprofit statistics in 2024. Network Depot. https://www.networkdepot.com/significant-positive-and-negative-nonprofit-statistics-in-2024/
- Zippia. (2023, March 13). 26 Incredible Nonprofit Statistics [2023]: How Many Nonprofits Are In The U.S.? https://www.zippia.com/advice/nonprofit-statistics/
- TechReport. (2024, June 4). 60+ Key Nonprofit Statistics: Essential Insights for 2024. https://techreport.com/statistics/business-workplace/nonprofit-statistics/
- Nonprofits Source. (2023). Volunteering Statistics And Trends For Nonprofits. https://nonprofitssource.com/online-giving-statistics/volunteering-statistics/
- Double the Donation. (2023). Essential Volunteer Statistics and Trends in Engagement. https://doublethedonation.com/volunteer-statistics/
- Independent Sector. (2023, November 13). Health of the U.S. nonprofit sector. https://independentsector.org/resource/health-of-the-u-s-nonprofit-sector/