From feeding families to delivering critical care, nonprofits step up every day to protect and save lives in ways most of us never see. In moments of crisis, it’s often nonprofits that provide what matters most: a safe place to sleep, urgent medical care or someone who will answer the phone and offer help. Through volunteer fire departments, food banks, mental health hotlines and more, they are helping to keep our community strong and safe.

But their impact goes beyond emergency response or crisis relief. Nonprofits shape our daily lives, offering more than volunteer opportunities or accepting donations — they ensure access to services like libraries, provide educational and cultural events and advocate for policies and programs. By supporting local initiatives, advancing civic engagement, promoting social change, offering resources and developing and improving recreational open space, they strengthen our community at every level.

We all use nonprofit services on a weekly, if not daily, basis. If your children attend a public school, use the library or participate in community-run sports or leadership development organizations (Scouts, 4-H), they are engaging with a nonprofit. Likewise, nonprofits that support these schools and organizations enhance public education with funding for programs, supplies and enrichment services. For example, the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) offers grants to Anne Arundel County Public School teachers from its Grants 4 Teachers Fund every year as a way to provide them with funds to implement innovative projects for their classrooms that are otherwise impossible due to funding constraints.

Museums, libraries and public radio/TV offer free or low-cost access to culture, knowledge and lifelong learning. Theaters, symphonies and arts centers enrich our community's cultural life — and most operate as nonprofits. When you enjoy a morning stroll in downtown Annapolis on May Day, an afternoon admiring the Historic London Town gardens or an evening picnic at any of our county parks, you can thank the local nonprofits who are working to preserve our rich Anne Arundel County history.

Nonprofits ensure access to essential resources like food, housing and education, benefiting everyone in the community. They work hard to bridge gaps in healthcare services through initiatives such as mobile health vans, community clinics, health screenings, education and preventative care programs. Others work behind the scenes to advocate for foster children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Nonprofits also organize community activities and develop leadership programs, ultimately bolstering the community. These organizations often provide unbiased information and educational programs, such as financial literacy, career tips, health and life skills. For instance, CFAAC offers educational programs for the broader community — covering topics such as mental health and estate planning — as well as specialized training for local nonprofits to strengthen their capacity and impact.

You can thank nonprofits for supporting parks, greenways and trails, maintaining and protecting natural spaces, advocating for clean water and air and promoting sustainability so you can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing and boating.

Nonprofits conduct research, raise awareness and strive to create a community that is fair and just. In that area, CFAAC publishes a Community Needs Assessment Report every three years. This data-rich report tracks the key measures of community well-being, so we can identify the county’s priority needs and possibly identify root causes that contribute to those needs. Then community advocates, individual philanthropists, nonprofits, volunteers, elected officials, government agencies and the general population can use this report to develop and prioritize strategies, implement plans and support these efforts. CFAAC’s next needs assessment report will be published this fall, so stay tuned.

Many nonprofits provide indirect benefits that are not always immediately apparent, but still impact the daily lives of citizens. They provide a way for like-minded people to work together for a common cause and play a vital role in advocating for policies and programs that benefit all residents. And let’s not forget houses of worship for those who attend weekly services.

Through partnerships with individuals, businesses and institutions, nonprofits build a sense of shared responsibility and inspire people to lead change. Government support alone often isn’t enough and that’s where nonprofits, and the people who believe in them, step in. Every dollar and resource given to a nonprofit benefits our community and society as a whole. Consider taking a moment to thank and help the local nonprofits that make a difference in this county. Nonprofits need the support of the community to survive.

This article was originally published in the June 27, 2025 issue of the Capital Gazette.