A report released by the University of Kentucky Nonprofit Leadership Initiative highlights the social and economic impact of the state's nonprofit sector. "More Than Charity: Kentucky Nonprofit Report" is being released as part of Kentucky Nonprofit Week, April 18 through 24. Kentucky Nonprofit Week is an opportunity to increase the community's awareness of the importance and value provided by Kentucky's nonprofit organizations.

The report features the most recent information and statistics on Kentucky's nonprofit organizations.

"This annual report continues to illustrate how vital Kentucky's nonprofit sector is in our commonwealth, both in services provided and economic impact," said Danielle Clore, director of the initiative, which is an outreach program of the UK College of Agriculture. "In this economy, the demand for services is hitting many organizations harder than ever before and donations for some are decreasing rapidly. It is critical that community leaders, policy makers, the business community and citizens who are volunteers and donors recognize that the nonprofit sector is an essential partner and often takes the lead in improving the quality of life in communities across Kentucky."

The nonprofit sector in Kentucky comprises a vast and diverse set of organizations that include childcare centers, hospitals, food pantries, educational institutions, theaters, faith-based organizations and environmental, advocacy and civil rights groups.

The report draws on 2007 data that nonprofit organizations are required to file with the Internal Revenue Service, among other sources. Highlights include:

• There were 4,009 reporting charitable nonprofits in Kentucky in 2007-up from 3,255 in 2002 and 2,661 in 1997.
• The value of assets held by nonprofits reached $28.1 billion in 2007, which is a 163 percent increase from $10.7 billion in 1997.
• The average charitable contribution of those who itemized deductions was $887 in Kentucky in 2007, a 2.1 percentage of income that is nearly consistent with the national rate of 2.2 percent.
• Human service organizations make up the largest proportion of Kentucky's

reporting charitable nonprofits-39 percent. These organizations provide a broad spectrum of services including youth development, disaster relief, housing services and family support.

The Nonprofit Leadership Initiative's mission is to serve, support and strengthen the nonprofit sector in Kentucky. The initiative provides quality programs and services that encourage nonprofit collaboration, effectiveness, accountability and innovation to strengthen our communities.

The full report, including county specific data, is available at http://www.kynonprofits.org.