The Third Sector
From the beginning of recorded history, we have been shaped by the written stories of those who recognize the need to improve the human condition. They fought injustice, helped the poor, invented remedies to relieve the sick. They sought Utopian ideals and created beauty through art. Perhaps your life has been shaped by such a story.
These same ideals exist today. I see it all around me in the impactful work of the nonprofit sector - the Third Sector. When the First Sector - Government - has failed to solve the problem, we step up to find innovative solutions. When the Second Sector - Economy - has ignored us, we set aside the strict restraints of money and give of ourselves with no thought of a return. The Third Sector exists because government and business aren’t built upon the foundation of caring for those in need. While our governments hold the primary role of order and safety, and business is responsible for economic profit and temporal security, the Third Sector is tasked with catching us all in its arms and humbly serving each other.
Don’t get me wrong, governments and economies are essential to our well being. All three sectors are vital for the wellness of the human race, and must work together.
The Third Sector reflects the spirit and work of each individual who recognizes unmet needs in the world around them. As a whole, the Third Sector is immense. According to the National Council of Nonprofits, there are more than 1.4 million nonprofits in the U.S. Those nonprofits spend nearly $2 trillion annually and employ more than 10 percent of the total private workforce. Its payrolls exceed those of most other U.S. industries, including construction, transportation, and finance.
When we step back and take a look at what we all do collectively, we can see that we are a force to be reckoned with. We of the lowly Third Sector, are mighty indeed. Our lives intersect in myriad ways and our impact is immeasurable. Yet we don’t often see ourselves in that way. We just see the suffering person in front of us, or the disease that must be cured, or the habitat that cries out for restoration, or an emotion that must be expressed through art. We don’t even see our efforts as heroic. We quietly serve with humility, and without expectation for a personal return.
Perhaps it is time for our Sector, as a whole, to step up to the plate even more, and provide leadership in a world filled with chaos and misfortune. What if we joined together to make big changes, tackle impossible issues, and channel our collective desire to improve the world around us? How about finding a way to ensure clean water for all, to end homelessness and hunger, to make major medical advances? How about locking arms to build a world with more empathy, love and kindness?
Indeed, history is filled with stories of our people, our heroes, our inspiration. I am honored and humbled to work among all of you of the Third Sector as you make history.