Nonprofits struggle for money

Trader, citing a 2008 study by the National Council for Nonprofits, said charitable nonprofits employ 13.5 million people, or 10 percent of the nation’s workforce and generated $540 billion in annual wages. Rockland County mirrored the national image, with Cornell University reporting 11,000 people employed in the county’s nonprofits, creating an economic impact of more than $1 billion a year.

Like their national counterparts, Rockland’s nonprofits are experiencing “extreme fiscal stress,” said Trader. While they serve an increased number of people, contributions from individuals, corporations have decreased. “They are also experiencing a decrease in endowment values, while the cost of health care continues to go up,” he added.