The Center for Nonprofit Communications at Drury University released a 40-page booklet on the impact Springfield nonprofits have on the community, during a morning news conference.
The study, which relied on tax filings and research that began in December 2012, found that nearly 39,000 people were employed by nonprofits in Springfield. That’s 51 percent of the workforce.
The impact study identified a total of 1,556 nonprofit organizations in town that generate $3.8 billion a year in revenue, nearly 20 percent of all city revenue. Collectively, Springfield nonprofits held $8.9 billion in assets in 2012, representing 38 percent of the city’s gross domestic product, according to the report.
“This report demonstrates the quantifiable impacts that the private sector has become so used to, and it’s important that we demonstrate that – that you demonstrate that – for the sake of future revenue streams and improving the quality of your impacts on people,” said Drury President David Manuel, speaking this morning to a roomful of nonprofit representatives and school officials in the auditorium of the Hammons School of Architecture.
Dan Prater, director of the Center for Nonprofit Communications, said the purpose of the study was to tell the story of local nonprofits, inform community leaders and support the nonprofit organizations with information. Part of the purpose, he said, was to dismiss common perceptions about nonprofits.
“Some of the things that people believe about nonprofits are simply not true. So, one of the things we wanted to do was tell the story of nonprofits and dispel some of those myths (such as) the myth that nonprofits aren’t supposed to make a profit, like that all nonprofits are little bitty operations in the back closet of somebody’s basement, or that they are all mom-and-pop shops with a few do-gooder volunteers,” Prater said at the news conference. “Those exist, but there’s a lot more to it.”
According to the report, nearly 1 in 4 nonprofits – 378, or 24.3 percent – are charitable trusts, while 289, or 18.6 percent, are religious congregations. The “other nonprofits” category comprises 889, or 57.1 percent, of nonprofits within city limits.
Many of those others are large, complex organizations such as Mercy and CoxHealth – Springfield’s two largest employers. Drury University is itself a nonprofit. Other well-known groups include Convoy of Hope and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks. On the other end of the spectrum, 344 organizations reported no assets, no revenue and no paid employees, but rely on volunteers.
Examples of volunteer-based groups include the American Society of Woman Accountants and the O’Reilly Catholic Student Center at Missouri State University.
A total of 36 nonprofits held assets of $10 million or more, but 53 percent held assets of under $150,000. Charitable trusts held 60 percent of all assets, and health care providers accounted for roughly $2 billion in assets.
According to salary information in the study, the average compensation for nonprofit CEOs and executive directors in Springfield is $88,828. The average salary is $55,584.
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
