[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
[October 22, 1999]
[Pages 1860-1861]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Memorandum on an Interagency Task Force on Nonprofits and Government
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, encompassing 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 nonprofit 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

[[Page 1861]]

      (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 on 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 nonprofit 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