Discussion Topic: Large/Small Nonprofits and Identical Nonprofits Between

Polegnyn Nemeara

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This is a topic that popped up while visiting family over Thanksgiving.

My family and I were listening to the local news when the weather segment started. My mom mentioned the meteorologist published a children’s book (sorry, I don’t recall what the book was about), and funds from the book went to the meteorologist’s nonprofit which did something (Again, sorry my memory is crap) related to the children’s book. Immediately following, there was a commercial highlighting a second nonprofit that did the same thing as the meteorologist’s nonprofit. So I asked my mom why she thought people started nonprofits when there were already similar (if not exact) small scale nonprofits in existence.

I understand why one chooses to donate to smaller local nonprofits as opposed to national or international organizations. But why not work with an existing small local nonprofit that does the same thing instead of duplicating the groundwork and overhead necessary for an identical small nonprofit? If you have some local celebrity standing within your community, why not add that to and promote an existing nonprofit? Is it because people want more control over where their time, money, and effort goes toward? Again, seems like being a local celebrity would give a person more weight within said nonprofit. Or would it be because the person didn't like how the established nonprofit was managed? :what:

Multiple small memorial nonprofits or funds are also understandable. One wants that specific person's name to live on. But, as far as I know, there was no such memorial attached to either of these nonprofits.
 

Ruslan Rynar

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A lot of people start something new when what they are looking for isn't an exact match to what already exists. Also, at least in my area, there are not a lot of opportunities to volunteer via nonprofits. For example, an organization that helps the homeless might receive funds/grants that dictate how they are allowed the help, such as by spending money or through programming. Someone else might want to help by donating old clothes but learn that the organization can only accept new items with the tags still attached; thus, they go out and create their own group. Also, it is important to consider that some people want the distinction/honor/status that comes with running their own organization, even if it mirrors the ones that already exist.
 
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