Nonprofit pay has been rising in Minnesota, which has more than 9,000 nonprofits. In 2019, a record 391,000 nonprofit workers made up 14% of the state’s workforce, surpassing the government sector for the first time in the number of employees and share of Minnesota’s workforce.

Nonprofit salaries matched government pay for the first time in 2017. But unlike government jobs, nonprofits don’t have to report salaries publicly beyond top paid leaders in federal tax forms.

“I think there’s a hunger and an appetite for this in our sector,” said John Wurm, the membership and communications director at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.

Tuesday’s announcement comes at a time when nonprofits are struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonprofits lost an estimated $1 billion in revenue just in April because of canceled fundraising events, programs and other cuts. About a third of all nonprofit workers in Minnesota have filed for unemployment as nonprofits have issued furloughs, layoffs and reduced hours.