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6 Worcester Business Journal • Giving Guide 2014 www.wbjournal.com By Phyllis hanlon Giving Guide Editor Nonprofit Status 2014 The National Philanthropic Trust reports that in 2012, the last year for which statistics are available, public charities reported more than $1.65 trillion in total revenues, $1.57 trillion in total expenses and more than $3 trillion in total assets. Fifty-nine-year old Giving USA, a seminal publica- tion that conveys information regarding the sources and uses of charitable giving throughout the country, reported $335.17 billion in charitable donations in 2013, a three percent increase over 2012. In 2013, some 15 million charitable organizations existed across the country, according to the National Philanthropic Trust. Closer to home, Worcester and surrounding towns have a sizeable number of non- profit organizations, which focus on health, education, religious and social service issues. (The Directory at the end of the Giving Guide provides a complete list of Foundations and non-profits in Central Massachusetts.) Standalone organizations are not the only ones that support charitable giving. Foundations have played, and continue to play, a major role in philanthropy. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first ever community foundation; today there are more than 700 such organizations across the United States. Foundation giving totaled an impressive 15 percent or $48.96 bil- lion of total giving, up 4.2 percent from 2012. Locally, the United Way of Central Massachusetts has been a community stalwart since 1920. From its inception, the United Way has been committed to con- necting people and resources with an eye toward improving the community and serves as a leader in encouraging and promoting volunteerism in Central Massachusetts. Focused on the building blocks of Education, Health and Family Stability, the United Way provides a safety net for the community as it assists area businesses in their efforts to give back. United Way's partnerships with community programs, initiatives and coalitions have resulted in creating an environment that honors and embraces the philosophy of "paying it forward." Another local institution, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation (GWCF), which was estab- lished in 1975, has worked diligently to improve the quality of life in the Worcester area. In the last four decades, GWCF has raised more than $107 million from donations; established 497 funds on behalf of individuals, families and non-profit organizations; built a community endowment of $138+ million; and distributed more than $75 million in grants to region- al non-profits. Many of the agencies, organizations and institutions represented in the 2014 Giving Guide have been recipients of the generosity of the United Way and/or the GWCF. The greater Worcester community, in general, epito- mizes a culture of giving. Regardless of size or focus, many area companies share the wealth in terms of financial assistance, manpower and moral support to deserving organizations and individuals. The 2014 Giving Guide presents a snapshot of some Central Massachusetts agencies, which are devoted to a variety of charitable causes. For example, non-profits such as the American Heart Association, the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center and the SHINE Initiative strive to address the physical and psychological needs of children and adults. Other agencies, such as Bottom Line, the Ecotarium and Rainbow Child Development Center, focus on provid- ing educational opportunities in a nurturing environ- ment for local children and young adults. Not only do the non-profits as a whole deserve credit for their charitable efforts, but the individuals committed to these organizations also merit kudos for devoting their time and energy to philanthropic causes. While each one of these non-profits strives to serve the general public, improve living, working and learning conditions, and enhance the overall quality of life for everyone in the city and local area, it is the many individuals who support their efforts through volunteer activities, event sponsorship and financial assistance that make a difference. As volunteers, they set an example for the rest of the community. What prompts individuals to become involved in non-profit causes? Many of the board chairs and lead- ership express gratitude for the opportunity to work for the good of the community. Inspiration fosters excitement and passion, qualities that infuse all who become involved. Champions of worthy causes, true dedication to the welfare of others and a desire to con- tribute to the public good drives these volunteers. Kathryn Green, board chairperson for the American Heart Association asserts that the AHA "…is making an extraordinary impact on our lives." The same senti- ment can be applied to all the non-profits featured in this Guide. As John F. Kennedy once said, "The raising of extraordinarily large sums of money, given voluntarily and freely by millions of our fellow Americans, is a unique American tradition... Philanthropy, charity, giving voluntarily and freely... call it what you like, but it is truly a jewel of an American tradition." The non-profit organizations in Central Massachusetts are one of the area's greatest treasures. The work they do perpetuates a great American tradi- tion. n Philanthropy: An American tradition T he Merriam-Webster dictionary defines philanthropy as "the practice of giving money and time to help make life better for other people." In a broader sense, phi- lanthropy translates to a love of humanity that involves caring, nourishing, develop- ing and enhancing quality of life. Given that definition, philanthropy is alive and well across the nation and in Central Massachusetts – the proof is in the statistics.