LA’s Nonprofits Are a Major Economic Force, New Report Finds
LOS ANGELES — Nearly 28,000 organizations employ 335,000 people in Los Angeles County. The findings give nonprofit leaders new evidence to bring to funding, policy and partnership conversations.Nonprofits are often measured by the people they serve. A new report makes the case for measuring them as a major part of the local economy, too.
The Center for Nonprofit Management and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation examined
27,916 active nonprofits
in Los Angeles County. Together, the organizations employ approximately
335,000 people.
If counted as a single sector, nonprofits would rank as the county’s
fourth-largest employer.
The report estimates that nonprofit activity generates $185.6 billion in total economic output.
It also supports an estimated
1.16 million jobs
when direct employment, supplier activity and other economic effects are counted together. Those are different measures: 335,000 people work directly for nonprofits, while the larger figure includes jobs supported throughout the county economy.
The findings matter especially for smaller organizations.
Ninety percent
of the nonprofits studied have annual income below $1 million. Their combined economic reach is substantial, even though many operate with limited budgets and staff.
For nonprofit leaders, the report offers language for conversations with funders and elected officials: an investment in their work can support both community services and local employment. For businesses, it is a reminder that nonprofits purchase goods and services and can be valuable customers and partners.
The opportunity:
Read the report, identify the figures most relevant to your organization, and pair them with your own results. The countywide numbers tell a powerful story; your organization’s jobs, spending and community outcomes can show where you fit within it.
Photo:
Los Angeles County nonprofits employ approximately 335,000 people and help drive economic activity across the region.
