The financial impact of local nonprofits has come to the fore of political discussions in recent years, as state and federal funds dwindle and the Haines Borough questions what role it should take in supporting the organizations.

A new report released by the Haines Chamber of Commerce offers perspective on how nonprofits contribute to the community through employee payroll, grant revenue and volunteer labor.

Chamber executive director Debra Schnabel said she started working with local nonprofits more than a year ago after the assembly repeatedly cut its annual contribution to the groups. “The climate was an attitude that nonprofits didn’t have the stature to be considered for funding,” Schnabel said.

That climate persists today, with several assembly members threatening to cut some or all of the “community chest” funds dedicated for nonprofits during the current budget cycle.

Schnabel said she hopes the chamber’s document will at least give the group some concrete numbers to work with when discussing the issue.

“I’m at least hoping to reduce the amount of time the assembly engages the public and nonprofits arguing about what’s important and what isn’t. These are facts. They can make their own assessment about whether it will have impact or not,” she said.

The report used survey information and IRS documents from 2013-2015 to compile figures for 16 local nonprofits. It breaks down the number of volunteers, number of employees, wages/benefits, total revenue (including grants, memberships, etc.) and total expenses.

Combined, the 16 nonprofits employ 64 people, paying out $1.81 million in payroll and benefits. In grants, membership fees, and other revenue streams, they bring in $3.5 million. They also boast nearly 500 volunteers.

“I was pleasantly surprised to see the volume of engagement,” Schnabel said. “(The) $1.8 million in salary is pretty significant, even if many of the positions are part-time. People are able to augment or cobble together a living by working with nonprofits.”

Schnabel also clarified that “in-kind donations,” which many nonprofits accept in the form of labor or supplies, is not included in the revenue. “It’s really the amount of money that is circulating in the economy.”

Nonprofits included in the report were: Haines Assisted Living, Lynn Canal Human Resources, Lynn Canal Broadcasting, Southeast Alaska State Fair, Takshanuk Watershed Council, Alaska Arts Confluence, American Bald Eagle Foundation, Senior Citizens Center, St. Lucy’s Senior Living, Haines Animal Rescue Kennel, Haines Chamber of Commerce, Haines Friends of Recycling, Chilkat Valley Preschool, Lynn Canal Conservation, Hospice of Haines and the Haines Dolphins Swim Club.

Schnabel said she didn’t include nonprofits that are regionally or nationally based (like Southeast Alaska Independent Living or Big Brothers Big Sisters), though local arms of those organizations also employ a considerable number of people locally.

The Southeast Alaska State Fair employs seven people, has 150 volunteers, pays out $91,000 in wages and benefits annually, and brings in $344,500 in revenue. Fair executive director Jessica Edwards said the report represents a starting point for policy makers to make educated decisions about the impact of nonprofits on the economy.

“I think what it starts to do is recognize the nonprofit organizations as an economic sector of our local economy that can be quantified and is not just taking, but is actually bringing money in and making contributions,” Edwards said.

Schnabel said she doesn’t have political motivation for compiling the report.

“We didn’t put it together to make an argument, but because no one had ever done it before,” she said. “I would think that this information would help to satisfy people who have questions or no idea about the role that the nonprofits serve.”

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