The Social Progress Imperative’s 2020 Social Progress Index recently ranked how well countries prioritize environmental and social issues. The SPI represents a full-fledged view of each country’s performance on those issues without factoring in economics. Besides this, the index also complements more traditional success measures (e.g., gross domestic product). Overall, the SPI focuses on metrics in three specific areas: foundations of well-being, the ability to meet basic human needs and opportunity.

For the first time in the existence of the index, it has a decade’s worth of data. The U.S. ranked No. 28 on the list with a score of 85.7, two lower-than-average figures that placed it with Brazil and Hungary as the only nations to decline in progress. Developing nations such as Ethiopia are on the rise, but their upward trajectory begs the question of how the U.S. can move forward.

The answer might lie in the country’s nonprofit partnerships. As the U.S. reeled from a critical election, racial tension and growing environmental concerns over the past year, dozens of nonprofits gained significant traction. Now is the time for those organizations to combine efforts with sustainable business decision-makers and put America back on the fast track toward global social good.

According to the Aspen Institute, strong nonprofits are vital to their communities. They provide essential services, foster community relationships and give residents a sense of belonging. Plus, local nonprofits know their communities the best, enabling them to meet their unique needs and advocate for issue-specific resources in their respective areas.

Specifically, nonprofits partner with businesses to connect with their communities. During the pandemic, for example, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce encouraged employers across the nation to support vaccine administration efforts to stop the spread of Covid-19. This type of collaboration sends a powerful message: For-profits and nonprofits should partner toward a common goal.

Read the full article about nonprofit partnerships by Kevin Xu at Forbes.