Nonprofit organizations are a vital part of Southwest Florida’s economy.

About 1,500 nonprofits employ more than 19,000 people in Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties, according to a 2023 report by the Florida Nonprofit Alliance. For comparison, that’s more jobs than the manufacturing industry (~13,000) in the region.

The types of organizations range from groups supporting the arts to those providing health care to those advocating for the environment. About one-third of those nonprofits are categorized as relating to a public of societal benefit (such as Empty Bowls or The Immokalee Foundation), according to the alliance.