Non-Profits Profit Everyone

After doing some online research, I've comprised a list of non-profits that I am either interested in affiliating with or simply struck a chord in me.

Below are non-profits in the Austin area I am already involved in or hope to be at some point in the future.

1) Goodwill Industries of Central Texas
http://www.austingoodwill.org/

2) Girl Scouts of Central Texas
http://www.gsctx.org/

3) United Way Capital Area
http://www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org/

4) YWCA of Austin
http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=9oIILUOtGlF&b=374495

5) YMCA of Austin
http://www.austinymca.org/

Below are some additional non-profits.

1) Campfire Boys and Girls of Austin
http://www.campfireusabalcones.org/

2) Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas
http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.deIELMOrGpF/b.4947955/k.5C/Big_Brothers_Big_Sisters_of_Central_Texas.htm

3) Boys and Girls Clubs of America
http://www.bgca.org/

4) Girl Scouts of America
http://www.girlscouts.org/

5) Boy Scouts of America
http://www.scouting.org/

Non-Profits - What Are They?

What is a non-profit?

"Non-profit organizations are a crucial part of our society, providing help to the needy, education for a lifetime, funds for good causes, and leaders in the community."

A non-profit organization (abbreviated as NPO, also known as a not-for-profit organization) is an organization that does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses them to help pursue its goals. Examples of NPOs include charities (i.e. charitable organizations), trade unions, and public arts organizations. Most governments and government agencies meet this definition, but in most countries they are considered a separate type of organization and not counted as NPOs. They are in most countries exempt from income and property taxation. Ownership is the quantitative difference between for- and not-for-profit organizations. For-profit organizations can be privately owned and may re-distribute taxable wealth to employees and shareholders. By contrast, not-for-profit organizations do not have owners. They have controlling members or boards, but these people cannot sell their shares to others or personally benefit in any taxable way.

While they are able to earn a profit, more accurately called a surplus, such earnings must be retained by the organization for its self-preservation, expansion and future plans. Earnings may not benefit individuals or stake-holders. While some nonprofit organizations put substantial funds into hiring and rewarding their internal corporate leadership, middle-management personnel and workers, others employ unpaid volunteers and even executives may work for no compensation. However, since the late 1980s there has been a growing consensus that nonprofits can achieve their corporate targets more effectively by using some of the same methods developed in for-profit enterprises. These include effective internal management, ensuring accountability for results, and monitoring the performance of different divisions or projects in order to better benefit from their capital and workers. Those require satisfied management and that, in turn, begins with the organization's mission.

My Latest Obsession

For those who know me, it's no news that I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. My mom is always telling me that I need to figure out what my passion is and then do that for a living. That's a nice thought, but I'm not likely to make a decent living holding babies, playing with animals, riding my bike, hunting, fishing, dispensing soup in a food kitchen, or talking about Jesus to homeless people. I mean, I know anything is possible, but that doesn't mean it's probable. The truth is, graduate school is helping me figure out who I am and what I want. And all along I thought you were supposed to already know those things before starting grad school. I thought I did. But leave it to me to do things backwards.

The more I live and learn, the more I realize how messed up things are (things referring to a multitude of issues). I want to change them. I want to make a difference. I want to make this world a better place. I want to ease the burden of suffering carried by so many. After all, if I don't, then why am I here? Surely not for myself. If I die, I want to know that someone's life is better because I lived. And the only way to make this happen is to MAKE IT HAPPEN. Sitting around thinking about doing something is pointless if you don't follow through. You might as well be dead. I mean seriously, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? If your answer is nothing, then you're not living - you're just existing. It sounds harsh, but the truth usually is.

I've always known that I wanted to help people - I just wasn't sure how. This year I've discovered the beautiful world that is the non-profit industry. I feel silly because I'm discovering something that's been under my nose my entire life. All I can say is, the pieces didn't come together for me until recently. I'm still interested in going into ministry, but the way I look at it, I'm in ministry as long as I'm focused on God and sharing Him with others.