PAST ACTION: LETTER URGING PRESIDENT BIDEN TO IMPROVE WORKFORCE DATA

Written By Kelsey Rode

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Like with any other sector, the charitable sector relies on data to ensure its health and sustainability.

Nonprofits and philanthropy constitute the economy’s third-largest employer and provide 12.8 million jobs, two-thirds of which are held by women, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in August. Unlike employers in for-profit industries, the charitable sector does not receive quarterly wage and employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Quarterly Census on Employment and Wages (QCEW). Instead, the sector often has to wait five years or longer for this data. Inconsistent and outdated data means the charitable sector is unable to benchmark outcomes against larger trends or help policymakers advocate for responsive policies.  

In Fall 2024, the Aspen Institute and National Council of Nonprofits’ authored a letter urging President Biden to take executive action and instruct the Bureau of Labor Statistics to include the charitable sector in the Quarterly Census on Employment and Wages. The MASSCreative Action Network circulated the letter, which received support from approximately 600 organizations and researchers across the United States.

You can access the letter below.

 
 
Resources
A Guide To Hearing And Giving Testimony

An important part of the governing process is public hearings. These occur on all levels of government (Federal, State, and Local). Understanding the hearing process and how you can participate will make you a more effective advocate for a more equitable and inclusive creative sector.

INSIDE THE STATE BUDGETING PROCESS

Maintaining and increasing public investment in the creative community requires constant and broad grassroots activism throughout the annual budget process.

NonProfit Organizations & Advocacy

There is a lot of misinformation on what a nonprofit can and cannot do when it comes to advocating for its interests and the needs of the communities they serve. Check out our Nonprofits and Advocacy Resource on how your organization effectively and confidently advocate for a more equitable and inclusive creative sector of all residents in the Commonwealth.

6/19/20 - POLICY & ACTION UPDATE WEBINAR

In this webinar, we took time to honor Juneteenth and Pride Month, and talked about the status of arts education funding and voting protections.

6/12/20 - POLICY & ACTION UPDATE WEBINAR

In this webinar, we discussed mapping our roles in a social change ecosystem, talked about proposed legislation to address COVID-19 voting options, the 2020 Census, and reviewed federal and state supports for the creative sector.

6/5/20 - policy & action update webinars

In this webinar, we had a community conversation about mapping our social change roles during times of crisis.

News
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Last week, MOAC for the City of Boston announced that they are establishing a $10M multi-year Cultural Investment Grant funded through local ARPA appropriations.

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“Budgets are a reflection of our priorities: what we choose to spend public funds on is in direct relationship to what we value. The creative sector plays a crucial role in the vibrancy of our cities and towns. Artists, creative workers, and cultural organizations strengthen our connections to each other and our communities.” said Emily Ruddock, Executive Director of MASSCreative

Kelsey Rode
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