San Diego’s nonprofit organizations play a crucial part in the city’s economy, and many are established strictly to strengthen the economy and help entrepreneurs and small businesses succeed.

“When nonprofits are successful from both a business and mission perspective, our community’s economic picture improves … nonprofits make vital contributions to our region’s economic well-being,” said Leslie Hine-Rabichow, the executive director of the San Diego Association of Nonprofits.

The San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp. is just one of the many nonprofit organizations in San Diego that has a role in boosting the local economy.

The EDC is dedicated to foster the growth of jobs in the technology industry. To increase economic development, the organization promotes San Diego to local companies by creating community involvement, services and programs.

In an effort to strengthen the economy and create additional high-paying jobs, the EDC has established the Partnership for the New Economy. This group of leaders brings attention to the limitations that hamper the growth of San Diego’s technology-driven companies.

The partnership has organized a forum for leaders and officials in the community to address issues that are facing San Diego’s economy and to find resolutions to problems. The EDC also created a program called Corporate Leaders Advocating Success Skills, where business leaders teach students work-readiness skills.

Getting The Inside Track

According to the San Diego Association of Nonprofits, the EDC has helped create 11,253 jobs and generated $584.7 million in payroll and $30 million in state and local revenue.

The San Diego Association of Nonprofits was created to give nonprofits in the region the inside track to any changes in the community, and to bring attention to any trends and issues that may affect the efforts of an organization, according to SANDAN.

“SANDAN connects San Diego nonprofit organizations to information and opportunity that helps them grow and thrive,” Hine-Rabichow said about the association. “SANDAN works to ensure that the nonprofit sector serving the San Diego region is strong, enduring and effective. To this end, it advocates, educates, communicates and connects.”

In addition to all the work nonprofits put forth to help businesses flourish, they also contribute to other economic factors.

According to the 2002 SANDAN Economic Impact report, its most current report available, more than 61,000 San Diegans, 5 percent of the local work force, are employed by nonprofit organizations. Their wages and salaries totaled $2.4 billion. More people are employed by nonprofits than the fields of transportation, utilities and agriculture combined. In 2002, the city’s 7,976 nonprofits generated $7.2 million in revenue.

The Service Corps of Retired Executives, a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, has more than 10,500 volunteer business counselors and 350 chapters nationwide. SCORE’s San Diego chapter is the largest chapter and has more than 70 counselors. These counselors are business owners and retired corporate executives who offer expertise and training for small businesses and entrepreneurs.