Measuring a Nonprofit’s Civic Footprint

It is widely recognized that nonprofit organizations provide benefits to society such as goods and services that promote social well-being, activities fostering social inclusion and cohesion, and community spaces and opportunities for minority interests. To understand these particular civic benefits and the contributions of nonprofit organizations, we use the metaphor of the ‘civic footprint.’ To develop a model of a nonprofit organizations’ civic footprint, this study utilized a cross-sectional research design and surveyed a random sample of nonprofit organizations in Ontario, Canada, to assess the extent to which they promote civic engagement activities. Using principal axis factoring, a three-factor model was found to adequately operationalize the extent of a nonprofit’s civic footprint. Factors included efforts that bring community members together, promote education and awareness, and involve community members in programs and services (such as volunteering and donating). This research provides a valid and reliable measure of a nonprofit’s civic footprint that can be utilized by nonprofit organizations to increase their level of civic engagement.