The U.S. Nonprofit Human Service Sector: A Creeping Revolution

Abstract

In this article, the author examines a slow but profound revolution in U.S. human services over the past 50 years. The author provides a general overview of the human service field, its current size and composition, and the role of nonprofit organizations; examines broad trends in these dimensions and the role of government policies; and reviews why and how these developments constitute significant changes in human services and how they compare with those in other fields. The article concludes with a look at the future role of nonprofit organizations in human services and at major developments in the funding and management of nonprofit human service organizations.