In this episode, you'll get a clear, concise, and cogent argument for the unique value of the U.S. nonprofit workforce, with a specific focus on how nonprofit workers contribute to democratic participation and self-governance. Host Rusty Stahl discusses five ways this value manifests:

1. ​Bringing the First Amendment to life
2. ​Delivering services to citizens on behalf of government
3. ​Advocating to government for the public interest
4. ​Last bulwarks of democracy
5. ​Engines of civic participation

This is the third installment in our three-episode miniseries on the Unique Value of the U.S. nonprofit workforce. The first installment focused on our contributions to American community. The second focused on our contributions to the American economy. (You can find links to the prior installments below.) Taken together, we have a powerful picture of how the nonprofit contributes to American society

It's worth noting that, in this framing the 'third sector' contributes mightily to the first sector (the public sector, or government) and the second sector (the private sector, or business).

Download a transcript in .pdf format.

Relevant Episodes:

• ​The Unique Value of the U.S. Nonprofit Workforce - Part 1 of 3
• ​The Unique Value of the U.S. Nonprofit Workforce - Part 2 of 3
• ​S1:E4 - Lester Salamon (including this episode because at about minute 9 and 54 seconds, Dr. Salamon discussed how the federal government massively 'outsources' the delivery of its programs and services to 'third parties', many of which are nonprofits)