The New Role of the Nonprofit Sector

Abstract

For decades, serving the public has been the main function of nonprofit organizations. They have also been involved in
other functions such as participation in the policy process, but not so significantly as to have influence in policy-making and
implementation. In recent years, however, the role nonprofit organizations play in the national economy and political process has
increased. In addition, the relationships between the nonprofit (independent) sector and the public and private sectors have
changed, causing politicians and scholars to rethink the nonprofit sector’s increased influence on the local and national economy
and policy process. This paper explore the new role that the nonprofit sector has begun to play in shaping and influencing the
local and national economy and policy process in the United States in the last few decades. The paper concludes that
legislations and rules that deal with the way nonprofit organizations participate in the policy process need to be updated to
consider the increasing role of the sector.