Historically, communities relied on government to deliver almost all of their critical social services. The city would own and operate the museum. Mental health was the province of state hospitals. Branches of state and county government would operate facilities for battered women and children, and offer the only outlet for dealing with substance abuse.

But a steady squeeze on public dollars for such services has redrawn the landscape. Today, many of society’s daily needs are met by private nonprofits – independently run, locally focused and governed by citizen boards. Donations from generous citizens are their lifeblood.

In that spirit, the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) is pleased to continue its association with Monterey County Weekly’s Monterey County Gives! campaign, which last year raised more than half a million dollars for community nonprofits. Participating in an initiative that inspires broad-based philanthropy and betters the quality of life for the county’s citizens is precisely what CFMC strives to do.

The list of nonprofits in this year’s campaign is striking. It’s not just the variety; one would expect that from a county as large and richly diverse as ours. Education, the environment, affordable housing, senior services, wholesome food, services for victims of abuse, arts and music: All of these causes, and more, are represented. But what particularly strikes me is imagining life without these organizations that so deeply impact our local community.

The role of nonprofits has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. They are now an indelible part of our landscape. Monterey County’s nonprofit community is a nimble, responsive and, I would argue, market-driven part of our civic life, culture and economy.

What helps define a nonprofit’s viability is a combination of the services it delivers and its public support. Monterey County Gives! provides individual snapshots of more than 71 agencies and a new, user-friendly online platform for donations (www.montereycountygives.com).

Explore the market. Admire the work. Support the incredible outcomes. Your gift helps us all.

DAN BALDWIN is President/CEO, Community Foundation for Monterey County. The Monterey County Weekly’s Community Fund is a donor-advised fund established at the Community Foundation for Monterey County.