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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press
Secretary
October 22, 1999
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Supporting the Role of Nonprofit Organizations:
Interagency Task Force on Nonprofits and Government
The United States is the most generous Nation on Earth. In 1998, an
estimated $175 billion was given by American individuals, communities,
foundations, corporations, and other private philanthropies to a wide variety
of causes and organizations. Individuals accounted for 85 percent of all
contributions in 1998 and their giving has increased by almost one-third since
1995. And over the next 20 years, approximately $12 trillion in wealth is
expected to be transferred from one generation to the next -- more than $1
trillion of which will flow to nonprofit organizations through charitable
giving.
In many cases it is nonprofit organizations that convert philanthropy
into results -- helping people in need, providing health care and educating our
Nation's youth. The nonprofit sector is an integral component of our national
life, encom-passing more than one and a half million organizations with
operating expenditures in excess of $600 billion. But more telling than the
dollar figures is the new spirit of service and civic activism that nonprofits
of every kind are now exhibiting. We are today in the midst of a nonprofit
boom, a time when the activities of this sector are becoming ever more creative
and entrepreneurial.
Nonprofits are uniquely able to identify problems, mobilize fresh
thinking and energy, care for those in need on a human scale, and promote
social change at the community level. As this sector grows in size and
importance, there is an ever greater opportunity to forge partnerships that
include Government, nonprofit groups, businesses, and citizens to address
pressing public problems. There are already many ways that nonprofits work
closely with the Federal Government. For example, Federal grant programs from
the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health assist
non-profit research institutions that search for cures to cancer. And the
Corporation for National Service works with nonprofits throughout the Nation to
provide after-school and tutoring programs. Our challenge in this time of
burgeoning social entrepreneurship is to encourage Government, nonprofits, and
others to work together more meaningfully.
Therefore, today I direct the Assistants to the President for Domestic
Policy and Economic Policy and the Chief of Staff to the First Lady to convene
an Interagency Task Force on Nonprofits and Government ("Task Force"). The
purpose of this Task Force will be twofold: first, to identify current forms of
collaboration between the Federal Government and nonprofits; and second, to
evaluate ways this collaboration can be improved.
Structure of the Task Force
The Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, the Assistant to the
President for Economic Policy, and the Assistant to the President and Chief of
Staff to the First Lady will jointly Chair the Task Force. The Office of the
Vice President, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Council of
Economic Advisers will be regular participants.
The Task Force shall be composed of the following members:
(1)
Secretary of the Treasury
(2) Attorney General
(3) Secretary of the
Interior
(4) Secretary of Agriculture
(5) Secretary of Commerce
(6)
Secretary of Labor
(7) Secretary of Health and Human Services
(8)
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
(9) Secretary of
Transportation
(10) Secretary of Education
(11) Administrator of the
Small Business Administration
(12) Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation for National and Community Service
The Chairs of the Task
Force may add such other officials and independent agencies as they deem
appropriate to further the purposes of this effort or to participate in
specific aspects of it. The Chairs, after consultation with Task Force members,
will appoint staff members to coordinate the Task Force's efforts. The Chairs
may call upon the participating agencies for logistical support to the Task
Force, as necessary. Members of the Task Force may delegate their
responsibilities under this memorandum to subordinates. During its work, the
Task Force will consult regularly with the nonprofit sector.
Objectives of the Task Force
The Task Force will:
1. Develop a public inventory of "best
practices" in existing collaborations between Federal agency programs and
nonprofit organizations. In cooperation with the nonprofit sector, the Task
Force will work to apply these leading models to other Government efforts. For
example, cross-agency initiatives that reflect the community-wide focus of many
nonprofits could be highlighted and replicated. The Task Force will also
examine ways that Federal agencies can better draw upon the experience and
innovations of nonprofits in the development of public policy.
2. Evaluate data and research trends on nonprofits and philanthropy.
Understanding the significance of the relationship between the nonprofit and
Government sectors requires an understanding of the impact that the nonprofit
sector has on the economy and on public policy. For example, the Council of
Economic Advisers should undertake an analysis of existing data from the
private and nonprofit sectors concerning the role of philanthropy in our
economy, including an examination of the factors that affect giving and an
investigation of trends that are likely to affect future giving. The Task Force
will also coordinate agency efforts to identify the contributions made by the
nonprofit sector and information regarding philanthropic activity.
3. Develop further policy responses. The Task Force will meet to discuss
new findings and to consider new or modified Administration policy responses.
For example, the Task Force will work with the non-profit sector and others to
explore ways to encourage philanthropy and service, efforts to help nonprofits
develop and grow (including "venture philanthropy"), opportunities for closer
collaboration on research and in meeting local needs, and ways to reduce
governmental barriers to innovative nonprofit enterprises.From time to time,
the Task Force will report to me on the results of its efforts.
General Provisions
This memorandum is intended only for internal management of the
executive branch. This memorandum is not intended, and should not be construed,
to create any right, benefit, or trust responsibility, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a party against the United States,
its agencies, its officers, or its employees. This memorandum shall not be
construed to create any right to judicial review involving the compliance or
noncompliance with this memorandum by the United States, its agencies, its
officers, or any other person.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
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