State Association of Wisconsin Nonprofits Project
Feasibility Study

Description

Over the past two years, nonprofit sector advocates JoAnn Stormer and Heidi Fisher have led a volunteer effort to gather information about state associations of nonprofits and the potential for establishing such an organization in Wisconsin. As a part of this effort, they

conducted over 100 interviews with nonprofit leaders around the state;
reviewed successful practices of other statewide associations;
analyzed Wisconsin’s previous efforts to establish a statewide association;
established a geographically representative steering committee of nonprofit professionals
conducted focus groups around the state in August and September 2005

Their efforts culminated in January 2006 with a feasibility study report that was informed by their work and by a statewide survey of 6,000 nonprofit executive directors, conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Their efforts were funded through the generosity of the Otto Bremer Foundation, Helen Bader Foundation, Nonprofit Management Fund, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the Faye McBeath Foundation, Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Nonprofit Management Fund of Waukesha.

Rationale

Wisconsin’s residents are served through the efforts of over 19,000 registered nonprofit organizations, of which over 9,000 filed a 990 tax return in 2004.* In the U.S., there are currently 37 state associations of nonprofits, according to the National Council of Nonprofit Associations (www.ncna.org). These state associations started forming over twenty years ago. They are membership-based, and open to all nonprofits in their states. Even though Wisconsin ranks second in the Great Lakes region with the number of nonprofits, it is the only state in the region that does not have a state association serving its nonprofit sector.

State associations generally offer some of the following services to their members:

Products and Services—using the collective buying power of the membership, they negotiate discounts for products such as for health insurance and office supplies.
Technical Assistance and Professional Development—they assist nonprofits in all areas of organizational development.
Public Policy/Advocacy—they advocate for nonprofit sector interests on state and national issues.
Information and Referral—they serve as a clearinghouse for information and other
resources about and for nonprofits.
Leadership and Convening—they provide networking opportunities among not-for-profit
leaders.

findings

A state association of Wisconsin's Nonprofits will enhance capacity building, provide increased access to knowledge and resources, give a state and national voice to nonprofits and collaborate to leverage resources for all nonprofits, regardless of size or service area in the state.

The final report indicates that nonprofits across the state face similar CHALLENGES regardless of their varying demographics and missions. Funding challenges for all nonprofits are key. This includes the increasing costs of operations and employee benefits and the increasing demand for services within the nonprofit sector.

Nonprofit leaders across the state also shared similar NEEDS like the need for public policy advocacy and education efforts to educate the public on the value of the nonprofit sector and to address issues that impact all of Wisconsin 's nonprofits. Leaders also stated the need for collective purchasing of personnel benefits and other services & products and collaboration among nonprofits to help them serve more needs.

Wisconsin 's nonprofits hold assets of $31.8 billion and generate more than $22 billion in gross receipts. The nonprofit sector is the fifth largest employer in the state. This is less than manufacturing, retail trade, services and government, but more than finance, insurance, real estate, wholesale trade, transportation, communication and utilities. All of these employment sectors have some type of organized entity to represent their interests; nonprofit organizations do not.

For specific information about this effort contact: JoAnn Stormer (j_stormer@hotmail.com) or Heidi Fisher (fisherhl@uwec.edu).