Why nonprofits matter - Part 6

We train good citizens and develop ethical leaders.

Nonprofits offer volunteer opportunities to people of all ages, and through volunteering, people are often exposed to issues that they might not otherwise be aware of. We may be invited to “walk in someone else’s shoes” or to speak out against injustice. Our worldview is expanded, often to consider the issues facing people who are more marginalized or vulnerable than ourselves.

Nonprofits are also a place to practice and grow leadership skills. In part because they are under-resourced and dependent on volunteers, there are ample opportunities to step into leadership. Starting in young adulthood, I had opportunities to facilitate meetings, plan big events, serve on committees, and guide the work of other volunteers. This was certainly work, but it was also professional development and moral development.

Once exposed to societal ills like poverty, child abuse, and hunger, it is hard to look away. We become people who have a wider circle of concern and greater empathy for others. Once exposed to great art, the healing power of nature, or the joy of sports, we want to advocate for these opportunities to be available to everyone. We are more likely to vote, to step into leadership positions, or to consider running for office. This is good for democracy.

When I was in college, I was a young feminist who opposed gender-based violence. Sojourner House, a local domestic violence shelter in Rhode Island, transformed me from someone with an abstract understanding of the issue to a crisis line volunteer who knew more about the complexities facing people experiencing abuse. This knowledge and experience has changed the rest of my life. With education, I was able to provide better, more compassionate help and support to callers, later to friends and family members, and even to recognize concerning signs in one of my own relationships. Engagement can have ripple effects that a nonprofit may never know about.