Giving Compass' Take:
- Kira Caspers examines how, according to a new report, increased nonprofit utilization by community members in San Diego County is linked to the cost of living crisis.
- How can donors support efforts to mitigate the cost of living crisis? How can the nonprofit sector help bridge the gaps to create equitable outcomes for those in need and foster systems change?
- Learn more about best practices in philanthropy.
- Search our Guide to Good for nonprofits in your area.
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Nonprofit utilization is increasing in San Diego County as people seek help from nonprofit organizations more often due to struggles associated with the cost of living, a University of San Diego report found.
However, nonprofit employees can’t afford to stay on the job, putting further strain on the organizations, according to the report, the 2024 State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy.
The study compiled information from regional surveys and datasets related to the more than 13,000 nonprofit organizations in San Diego to track the vitality of the nonprofit sector.
The report found that 80% of surveyed organizations reported an increase in demand, and 81% of San Diego residents surveyed said they had benefited from a nonprofit in the past year.
“Nonprofits play a pivotal role in the well-being of communities, as we see right now in the response and aftermath of the recent wildfires in LA,” said Laura Deitrick, executive director of USD’s Nonprofit Institute.
San Diego nonprofits have mobilized to assist those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, from Feeding San Diego delivering 33,000 pounds of donated food to the city last week to the San Diego Humane Society taking in dozens of animals from affected shelters.
The report found that people surveyed were more likely to express confidence in nonprofit organizations than in corporations or government agencies.
In 2024, people who engaged more often with nonprofits cited housing scarcity, reduced government funding for education, mental health needs, senior support services, homelessness and climate change impacts as top reasons for seeking aid.
Half of nonprofits surveyed reported having a waitlist for their services, with only 9% saying they were able to completely meet the increased demand from communities.
The report also found that, for the second year in a row, nearly two-thirds of San Diegans reported they are considering moving out of the county due to affordability.
That sentiment was most common among 33-to-45-year-olds, who are the backbone of the nonprofit workforce, according to the report.
Read the full article about the cost of living and nonprofit utilization by Kira Caspers at Times of San Diego.