Challenges to Philanthropy

Social Service 2: History of Social Service Non-profits and Government Funding

A large increase in social service philanthropy occurred during the Great Depression on a community level. “These agencies provided services that ranged from institutional care for juvenile delinquents, orphans, or the aged, to boys clubs, summer camps, counseling, and emergency assistance (fuel, food, clothing).” (Grønbjerg) These essential agencies and nonprofits grew in numbers but remained small in size and underfunded for some time. 

In the 1960s,  federal aid became substantial and about 4.4% of the public social welfare budget started to go into social service organizations. There are disputes of how much of social service philanthropy is government-funded, an accepted estimation, made in 1999, is shown by the following diagram: 



Around this boom of funding and social services agencies, Cleveland's own Bellefaire JCB grew in size and reoriented its mission to tend to children’s mental health, rather than just functioning as an orphanage like it had for decades prior. Now they provide a range of mental health services and social services to children and their families. Similar to many social service agencies, a large portion of Bellefaire's funding comes from government entities at a local, state, and federal level. 

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