It’s estimated that there are about 1.9 million active nonprofits in the United States, a figure slightly lower than the more than two million organizations that are officially registered. Nonprofits come in many forms: public charities such as schools, food assistance programs, and religious organizations; private foundations that fund nonprofit work; and social or welfare groups that advocate around issues like maternal health, voting rights, or specific industries, including restaurant workers.
Here in Georgia, the ProPublica nonprofit tracker reports that the IRS lists 66,613 active tax‑exempt organizations operating in the state. Collectively, these nonprofits reported “$120 billion in revenue on their most recent tax filings.” Whether large or small, nonprofits face significant challenges and for smaller organizations, those challenges are even more acute. With rising costs and cuts to nonprofit funding, many under‑funded organizations are in a moment of survival.
A new effort described as a “first‑of‑its‑kind initiative” has been launched to support nonprofits in the Atlanta metro area. The Nonprofit Sector Sustainability Fund, created through a partnership between the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta and the Nonprofit Finance Fund, aims to help organizations navigate this uncertain landscape.
Ayana Gabriel Turner, vice president for community impact at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, told “Closer Look” host Rose Scott that the sheer volume of applications, which was more than 200 for just 12 available grants, underscores the level of need.
“What this tells us is that it’s not just about funding,” Gabriel Turner said. “Funding is extremely important, but this is a clear signal that we’re in an uncertain environment, and particularly the grassroots nonprofits who have the smallest funding need support.”
