A few months back, the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce launched Federal Way First, an effort to promote buying locally.
This is a brilliant and much-needed idea. Federal Way’s economy faces some distinct challenges, and developing a stronger economy means we have to vote with our dollars. This is particularly true in the face of one of the worst recessions of the past century. Money spent outside of the local economy saps struggling Federal Way businesses (and the jobs they provide), along with sales tax revenues that support local government services.
But the local economy isn’t composed solely of for-profit businesses. When putting our dollars to work locally, it’s critical that we don’t forget our not-for-profit businesses. We are all making tough decisions about where to prioritize our expenses, and that includes charitable donations.
When it comes to Federal Wayers’ charitable donations, it’s just as important to put Federal Way first with nonprofits as well as the businesses.
Take a close look at any community, big or small, and you’ll find hard-working, dedicated nonprofits addressing important community needs. Federal Way is no different, or if it is, the difference is in the quality and quantity of nonprofits working here. Our community has an unusually robust cast of organizations, preventing people from falling through the cracks, helping our students learn and, of course, keeping the community green, among other things.
How important is this? Let’s give our nonprofits the “It’s A Wonderful Life” test. You know, the classic Jimmy Stewart movie in which protagonist George Bailey gets to see how his town would’ve turned out without him ever having lived there.
With Federal Way playing Potterville and nonprofits, George Bailey, there’d be fewer safe opportunities after school for kids and teens to indulge in positive supervised activities and sports. As for activities in school, we’d miss out on exceptional programs to mentor students and help at-risk youth successfully navigate adolescence. Transitional housing for those most at risk — seniors, people rising out of poverty, women and their children escaping domestic violence — would not exist. Job training for the poor? GED classes? Adult literacy classes? Gone or greatly reduced.
A certain hospital in the area gets a great deal of support from its nonprofit foundation. Who would be working to preserve and restore our streams and forests without nonprofits? And make no mistake, there would not be a performing arts community — no theater, no symphony, no chorale — without nonprofits.
And of course, we wouldn’t even have a Federal Way First, because the Chamber of Commerce is, of course, a nonprofit.
Thankfully, this isn’t Potterville. It’s Federal Way and our nonprofit community is strong and serving the community well. There is no shortage of good causes, many of them national and even global. But it’s important that we not forget the good causes – the essential good causes that are keeping Federal Way from being a Potterville.
Nonprofit organizations are not often thought of as part of the local economy, but they provide jobs and spinoff economic activity while meeting important community needs that wouldn’t be met otherwise. So, while we’re thinking of Federal Way First, let’s include our nonprofit organizations as well.
