The nonprofit sector makes a major contribution to the quality of life in Wisconsin. They provide support for cultural, environmental, health care and education activities, and foster support to those in need through housing, food, health, child care, and family services programs. Nonprofits are the leading catalyst for social change and incubators for innovation for meeting the needs of all Wisconsin residents. By connecting people, inspiring altruism and giving voice to local and far-reaching concerns, nonprofits bind communities together. Enhancing and empowering the sector involves enhancing and empowering the people who deliver on the organization's missions every day.

UNITED STATES NONPROFIT SECTOR
Fast Facts

• The nonprofit sector has over $2 trillion in assets (excluding foundations). If it were a country, the nonprofit sector would have the seventh largest economy in the world.
   
• The nonprofit sector employs over 14 million people or ten percent of America's workforce.
   
• The nonprofit sector contributes almost $322 billion in wages to the US economy.
   
• The nonprofit workforce outnumbers the combined workforces of the utility, wholesale trade, and construction industries.
   
• Nationally, the nonprofit arts and culture industry generates $166.2 billion in economic activity every year:  $63.1 billion in spending by organizations and an additional $103.1 billion in event-related spending by their audiences.
   
• Nonprofits work in every community: caring for returning soldiers, rebuilding cities, educating children, supporting the workforce, nursing the sick, supporting our elders, elevating the arts, mentoring our youth, protecting natural resources, and more.

WISCONSIN'S NONPROFIT SECTOR
Fast Facts

• There are over 31,000 nonprofits in Wisconsin in 2005 not including foundations or religious congregations.
   
• There were 6,938 reporting charitable nonprofits in Wisconsin in 2005.
   
• The 2,127 foundations in Wisconsin held over $7 billion in assets and gave over $500 million in grants.
   
•  In 2005, the average charitable deduction for itemizing taxpayers in Wisconsin was $2,622 —about 2.0% of their incomes.
   
• Reporting charitable nonprofits had $22.8 billion in expenditures in 2005.
   
• The value of assets held reached $39.0 billion in 2005, which is a 173% increase from $14.3 billion in 1995.