By Jon Parker, Executive Director, AVOL Kentucky (Lexington, Kentucky)
When people ask me about what nonprofits do, sometimes the first response that comes to mind is a list of programs like housing, HIV prevention, PrEP access, health outreach, advocacy. But there is a deeper impact that often is glossed over during a fast pitch or elevator speech. It’s also about the way nonprofits shape communities, build trust, and give hope.
So rather than reciting a list of services, I want to share five things nonprofits contribute to our communities; these things make me proud to be part of this work and grateful to keep striving alongside so many incredible organizations across Kentucky.
- Nonprofits are Connectors
At AVOL Kentucky, we often describe our work as “connectivity to care.” It means helping people find their way through complicated systems, whether that’s finding a doctor who understands their needs, navigating insurance, or locating affordable housing. Nonprofits across Kentucky serve that same purpose: trusted guides helping people connect to what they need most.
We all know someone who has struggled to find help, and it’s often a nonprofit that steps in to light the path forward. Whether it’s God’s Pantry helping families put food on the table, the Hope Center connecting people to addiction recovery, or GreenHouse17 supporting survivors of domestic violence, these organizations serve as the compass when someone feels lost. They are the connectors of care and the keepers of hope.
- Nonprofits Actively Contribute to Local Economies
Nonprofits aren’t just service providers; we’re also job creators, community investors, and engines of local growth. We employ Kentuckians, pay salaries, provide health and life insurance, invest in retirement plans, and purchase local goods and services. We hire contractors, buy materials, and create projects that strengthen the economic backbone of our region.
When AVOL Kentucky developed Stonewall Terrace, an affordable housing community in Lexington, it wasn’t just about building homes, it was also about building opportunity. The project created jobs, new housing stock, and long-term stability for residents. Nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity, Community Ventures, and developers like Winterwood, Inc. and AU Associates share this vision, proving that community investment can be both compassionate and practical.
Together, we bring people from many sectors to the same table. It’s this cross-pollination of ideas that keeps Kentucky’s nonprofit sector dynamic, creative, and grounded in service. Organizations like the Kentucky Nonprofit Network play an essential role in keeping this momentum going by advocating for the policies and support that allow nonprofits to continue driving local prosperity.
- Nonprofits Drive Innovation and Problem-Solving
When new challenges emerge, nonprofits are often the first to respond. We don’t wait for perfect conditions or policy directives; we roll up our sleeves and figure things out. Many of the country’s most impactful social innovations like food banks, telehealth, housing-first models began in the nonprofit sector.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was nonprofits that pivoted fastest. Clinics and community groups launched virtual visits, food banks redesigned distribution, and organizations like AVOL Kentucky expanded access to at-home HIV testing and tele-PrEP programs. These pivots quickly paved a new way forward, changing our service modalities permanently. Nonprofits are nimble, creative, and driven by need rather than profit.
Our flexibility is our superpower. We pilot new ideas, test them in real time, and adjust until they work often paving the way for larger systems to follow. Supporting nonprofits means fueling innovation where it matters most: close to the ground, where people live, work, and seek help.
- Nonprofits Set an Example of Philanthropic Spirit
Nonprofits remind us of what it means to be human. We stand for generosity, fairness, equity, and empathy. In a world that often measures success in profits and margins, nonprofits invite us to measure it in impact, healing, and change.
Every dollar donated, every volunteer hour given, every act of compassion through a nonprofit is a reflection of the values we want to see in communities. At our best, nonprofits mirror back the best parts of us. We keep communities grounded in kindness and shared responsibility. When you support a nonprofit, you’re not just supporting a mission, you’re investing in the moral infrastructure of our society.
- We Amplify Local Voices
Nonprofits are rooted in their communities. We know our neighbors by name, and we listen before we act. That’s why nonprofits are often trusted to speak on behalf of those whose voices might otherwise go unheard like people who have experienced poverty, stigma, illness, or marginalization.
At AVOL Kentucky, we see this daily. We help amplify the voices of people living with HIV, LGBTQ+ individuals seeking affirming care, and families striving for safe, affordable housing. But we are far from alone. Whether it’s Black Soil promoting equity in agriculture, Appalshop giving a platform to Appalachian storytellers, or Mission Lexington offering free medical care to the uninsured, Kentucky’s nonprofits lift up voices that shape policy and public understanding.
When we support nonprofits, we’re not just funding programs; we’re empowering people to shape their own futures.
The next time someone asks, “What do nonprofits do?”, we can confidently answer with nonprofits help make communities whole. They connect, innovate, employ, inspire, and amplify. They weave together compassion and purpose in ways that strengthen all of us.
Here in Kentucky, I see it every day in the partners who collaborate rather than compete, in the donors who give without fanfare, and in the volunteers who show up rain or shine. Together, we’re building a common good that endures. And, that folks, is what nonprofits do.
AVOL Kentucky https://www.avolky.org
God’s Pantry https://www.godspantry.org/
Hope Center https://hopectr.org/
Greenhouse 17 https://greenhouse17.org/
Stonewall Terrace https://avolky.org/stonewall-terrace/
Habitat for Humanity https://www.lexhabitat.org/
Community Ventures https://cvky.org/
Winterwood Inc. https://winterwoodinc.com/
AU Associates https://www.auassociates.com/
Kentucky Nonprofit Network https://kynonprofits.org/
Mission Health Lexington https://missionhealthlex.org/
Appalshop https://appalshop.org/
Black Soil https://www.blacksoilky.com/