In the heart of North Central Florida, Alachua County is a largely rural county of abundant natural beauty anchored by the City of Gainesville, home of the University of Florida. Though it is neither a place of great wealth nor great size, it can boast of a robust and well-rounded community of nonprofits that play an important role in the region's social and economic life.

While many factors may contribute to the unique character of Alachua County's nonprofit sector, two stand out.

As home to the University of Florida, Alachua County has become home to dozens of nonprofit entities that are directly and indirectly related to the University, from alumni associations to booster clubs, foundations to auxiliaries, faculty groups to research associations. In fact, at least 13% of all Alachua County nonprofits are connected to the University in some way.

In addition, the University undoubtedly influences the presence of other nonprofits, particularly professional associations that locate in Gainesville because of proximity to the University. Compared with other communities studied, Alachua County has an unusually high proportion of nonprofits that work in the field of adult/professional education and associations.

Alachua County's nonprofit sector is also influenced by the county's geography. The City of Gainesville is the largest municipality in the long arc of Florida between Orlando and Tallahassee and serves as a regional hub, just off of Interstate 75. Many nonprofits serving the surrounding rural areas are located in Alachua County. At least two dozen of Alachua County's nonprofits are organizations that serve an area considerably broader than Alachua County.

For the residents of Alachua County, this robust nonprofit sector brings multiple benefits.

The nonprofits in the sector provide an array of services that improve the quality of life for all of the county's citizens, either directly or indirectly. Organizations that help the needy, improve education and nurture a vibrant arts community create lasting benefits that make Alachua County a more desirable place to live, work and raise families.

These nonprofits also have a significant economic impact, providing the equivalent of 20% of all jobs in the county and generating an annual payroll in excess of $1 billion. They also provide meaningful activities for roughly 26,000 volunteers, whose contributed labor has an estimated value of almost $10 million a year.

Alachua County's nonprofits face their share of challenges -- particularly financial challenges in the wake of the Great Recession. In that regard, they are like their brethren in most other communities. But the strong presence of the University is likely to be a stabilizing force over the long-term, helping Alachua's nonprofit sector to weather challenging times and continue to be a force in the community. [Introduction]

The nonprofits in the sector provide an array of services that improve the quality of life for all of the county's citizens, either directly or indirectly. Organizations that help the needy, improve education and nurture a vibrant arts community create lasting benefits that make Alachua County a more desirable place to live, work and raise families.