The macro problems today’s society faces are as complex as they are consequential. Issues like climate change, gun violence, the ongoing pandemic, racial injustice and health inequity can collectively feel overwhelming. And, while they play out in high-profile ways at the national level, they also have a significant impact on local communities that require collaborative and comprehensive solutions in which government, the private sector and, importantly, local and national nonprofit organizations have a seat at the table.

Nonprofits and universities consistently proved their resourcefulness during the ongoing pandemic. By hosting free clinics and conducting education seminars to help parents adapt their children to the new world of remote learning, nonprofits and university organizations filled gaps communities desperately needed. During political seasons, universities have hosted public political debates to engage local voters in the political process, helping them learn and share about issues of interest and concern to the community.

These examples are living proof that nonprofit organizations are an essential resource to the local communities in which they operate. But in order for them to fully realize their local impact, they must earn a seat at the table in local governance, which requires that they display the following attributes:

  1.  A Collaborative Spirit
  2. Rooted In Local Needs
  3. Broad Networks

Read the full article about three attributes of nonprofits by Michael Horowitz at Forbes.