Taking Advantage of the Non-profit Sector’s Potential: Policy Priorities

This brief identifies the main priorities for public policy if European societies are to take advantage of the potential for the non-profit sector to play a stronger role, especially as complements to public sector efforts in major social policy domains, as population ageing proceeds. In broad terms, these involve finding ways to mobilize private resources, both financial ones (especially gifts and donations) and time (volunteering); and ensuring good governance of organizations in the sector and effective accountability for their management of resources. Many policies designed to strengthen small and medium sized enterprises by making the business environment more attractive, facilitating cross-border activities and building capacity should also be extended to or adapted for the non-profit sector, much of which consists of small organizations.