Florida Trend: Stretched Thin

By Brian Hartz

Florida nonprofits are navigating a swirl of economic, political, and societal pressures, and their ability to adapt may determine what comes next.

Florida consumers aren’t the only ones struggling with rising costs of essential goods and services and other economic headwinds: Nonprofits across the state have encountered a confluence of challenges that threaten their ability to deliver vital programs, jeopardizing their role as a key cog in the state’s economy and a safety net for residents.

Florida’s 22,710 nonprofits employ some 456,000 people, accounting for about 7% of the state’s workforce and more than $27 billion in annual wages, according to the Jacksonville-based Florida Nonprofit Alliance. FNA says the nonprofit sector rivals construction and manufacturing in terms of workforce size.