Nonprofits as an economic force in Montana – Montana Nonprofit Association

Study outlines impact on Montana economy

In this season of charitable giving, Brian Magee hopes to highlight the contributions Montana’s nonprofit organizations make to the state’s economy and quality of life.

Magee is executive director of the Montana Nonprofit Association http://www.mtnonprofit.org , which recently completed a detailed study of the scale and effect of the state’s nonprofit sector.

Historically, nonprofits have never been tracked as a separate segment of the economy, such as agriculture or construction. Consequently, it’s been difficult to pinpoint their overall significance.

"Nonprofits have always been the ‘invisible’ sector," Magee said. "They’ve generally been buried in other categories."

The association’s report found that Montana was home to more than 5,600 charitable nonprofit organizations and private foundations. Most of those were small, volunteer-based groups with limited revenue.

By WILLIAM L. SPENCE
The Daily Inter Lake

Full Story: http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2005/12/05/business/bus01.txt