Nonprofits are the Rodney Dangerfields of the economy. They’re celebrated for providing important services or promoting worthwhile causes, but get no respect for their sizable economic contribution to the community.

It’s easy to discount their impact. While most people would agree that nonprofits provide value via their social impact on the community – feeding the hungry or fighting for clean air, for example – few would regard them collectively as a significant economic driver.

But they are. The Community Impact Council, which represents 60 Mesa County nonprofits, conducted an economic impact study based on surveys completed by 31 small to medium-sized 501(c)(3) members.

The study found those 31 nonprofits provide a gross economic contribution of $133.8 million to Mesa County’s gross regional product of $5.4 billion.

Read more at The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.