Boston Foundation Releases Landmark Study of Nonprofit Organizations in Massachusetts

The Boston Foundation recently released a landmark study of nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts: Passion & Purpose: Raising the Fiscal Fitness Bar for Massachusetts Nonprofits (June 2008).

The report "calls upon all stakeholders -- government, foundations, investors and nonprofits themselves -- to raise the fiscal fitness bar by looking at strategies, practices and policies to strengthen the Massachusetts nonprofit sector so that it can continue to serve as a powerful 'glue' for our communities, an expression of our values, and an important contributor to our state's competitive edge.”

Among other interesting points, the report notes that:

•  The Cape and Islands “is economically strong relative to the rest of the state and is the home of a disproportionate share of the state’s nonprofit organizations (6%), particularly in the Environmental (14%) and Arts (9%) arenas. The 522 nonprofits in the region held $1.9 billion in total assets, generated $1.1 billion in revenues, and spent $1.0 billion a year in this region.”

•  "There are 2.1 nonprofits per thousand residents on the Cape, 62% higher than the nonprofit concentration in the whole state. The total spending per capita is $4,035, just 54% of the statewide spending figure. The Environmental and Animal-Related nonprofits spend considerably more (176% of the state average) ..."

Established in 1915, The Boston Foundation has assets of almost $900 million.