Telling the story of how ‘nonprofits get it done’

As those of us in the sector know, nonprofits are the first line of response and care, distributing food, providing disaster relief, supporting youth, caring for veterans and seniors, and helping survivors of domestic violence. They’re neighbors helping neighbors. Yet, most people don’t realize how lean, local, and volunteer-powered these organizations truly are, and the public’s understanding of their role has become increasingly distorted. Over the past year, coordinated efforts through legislative proposals, executive actions, and influential voices have undermined trust in nonprofits.  

To counter this trend, the National Council of Nonprofits launched a national campaign, Nonprofits Get It Done. Our goal is to cut through the noise and showcase just how essential nonprofits are by highlighting their impact with local examples that remind Americans what’s at stake by highlighting facts, real stories, and a values-driven message that reinforces the truth of nonprofit impact. The campaign elevates these stories and captures policy makers’ attention through paid digital and print ads and messaging, earned media coverage, and storytelling across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. It also drives audiences to the campaign website, where they can email elected officials and take action in support of local nonprofits.  

Nonprofit organizations can use the Nonprofits Get It Done toolkit to share their stories. The toolkit includes ready-to-use templates, graphics, and messaging guidance that organizations can easily customize with their own photos and examples of local impact to highlight their work and connect with their communities.  

Here are three data points and the stories nonprofits can tell about the essential role they play in communities:  

1. Nonprofits make every dollar count 

People often assume nonprofits are large national organizations with abundant resources, but in reality, 92% operate on annual budgets under $1 million, making every dollar count. Most charitable organizations are small, hyperlocal, and financially constrained. They rely on volunteers, trust, and community support. 

Yet, they make all the difference. In 2024, the Feeding America network supported 5.9 billion meals for families facing hunger. Each year, more than two million survivors of domestic violence receive help and hope from nonprofits nationwide. And in Texas alone, nonprofits delivered $44 million in financial assistance to veterans’ families, showing the life-changing power of local organizations when communities step up to support them. This campaign demonstrates just how essential nonprofits are by putting these kinds of results front and center. 

2. Nonprofits are neighbors helping neighbors 

Nonprofits are neighbors helping neighbors in every corner of the country:  with 62% based in rural and suburban areas, they serve everyone from young families to seniors. In Missouri, the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank supports young mothers and babies by easing the financial burden of a growing family. In Oklahoma, Limbs for Life provides prosthetic legs to patients who cannot afford them, restoring mobility and independence. In Maine, SeniorsPlus empowers older adults and people with disabilities to live safely, independently, and with dignity in their homes and communities.  

By telling these stories of the people and communities they serve—highlighting their programs, achievements, and local impact, and demonstrating the ongoing need for their services in every community—nonprofits can deepen public understanding and trust. 

3. Nonprofits strengthen communities with volunteers 

The sector runs not just on budgets but on people. Volunteering with nonprofits is one of the most common forms of civic participation and community service. In the United States, 75 million people give their time each year, reflecting civic engagement and the spirit of community. This collective commitment provides essential services to those in need and demonstrates the power of shared responsibility. Nonprofits can show how they strengthen communities by lifting up volunteers’ stories, photos, and voices that bring their impact to life and inspire others to get involved. 

Helping nonprofits get it done 

In a time of political instability, harmful rhetoric, and economic uncertainty, nonprofit organizations and their services are more critical than ever. The Nonprofits Get It Done campaign helps organizations call on Americans to speak up for their local nonprofits and remind elected officials that these organizations are providing essential services their own communities rely on.  

Nonprofits are the backbone of our communities. But they can’t do it alone. All of us—neighbors, leaders, funders, and lawmakers—need to stand with local nonprofits. This campaign is about protecting the support systems every community depends on, about making sure nonprofits get the recognition and resources they deserve, because every day across America, nonprofits get it done.  

Photo credit: SDI Productions/Getty Images