What exactly are you thinking of when you hear "public organization"? Do you think of the government automatically? That's a common misconception.
Public organizations encompass a far wider variety of organizations that deliver services and goods to the general public. And they’re not all government departments!
Let’s break down what a public org is and consider 10 examples you’ll probably be exposed to daily. You’re about to learn a little more about the mission of these organizations.
A Public Organization Exists to Serve the Public
Fundamentally, a public institution is anything that:
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Is public in nature and publicly funded.
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Works in the best interests of the whole.
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Offers services, goods or management the public desires.
So it is any group that gets state money for public service! Simple enough so far, right?
This distinguishes public organizations from remunerative companies or corporations. Public agencies are there to be a public good. Some organizations often hire PR agencies to spread the news publicly about their existence.
Let’s take a look at 10 ordinary public agencies you most likely use every day.
1. Government Agencies
Oh yeah, so a big category of public agencies is government departments. Not groundbreaking, but true.
The EPA, FBI, CDC, IRS, Department of Education, etc are all government institutions in the United States.
They’re federally funded and work for the nation in their individual capacities.
State and local public agencies such as the DMV, public health departments, police/fire departments, transportation agencies and so on.
Of these, not ALL public organizations are government, but they are substantial. The more a site ends with ".gov" it is a public site!
2. Public Schools
Here's a big one. Any primary, middle or high school that’s tax-funded is a public institution.
There are indeed about 100,000 public schools in the United States alone, to meet the needs of local students and communities. Without these, education would be very scarce.
From teachers to counselors to janitors, public schools have millions of staff. And they’re totally public for the public good.
Even public charter schools, universities and trade schools are all "public organizations". Education = public service!
3. Public Libraries
What if you had no public libraries? These neighborhood spaces are open-access to all.
Public libraries, for example, number more than 16,500 in the United States alone. They support literacy, education, academic ability, and so on no matter your income.
For instance:
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There are almost 100 NYC branches of the New York Public Library system. No one can pay for their books, databases, courses, job search support, etc.
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The Chicago Public Library has 80 branches in the city. They have programs such as kids' homework help, adult computer classes, and huge printers/scanners that are free to everyone.
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Smaller town libraries such as the Metuchen Public Library in New Jersey offer story hours for children, teen and senior book clubs, immigrant language lessons and more.
These public libraries serve their communities for free, with public money. They give knowledge and information to all.
4. Museums & Cultural Institutions
Most museums are public institutions, funding educational exhibitions and programs with grant funding and public support.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, for instance, is almost four-fifths funded by public money and grants. It is, in return, providing art and history to millions of people each year.
Specific examples include:
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The Met’s 5000 years of art from cultures around the world, free to all.
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Free museum admission for poor New Yorkers (more than 40,000 take advantage of this program).
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Publicly funded educational material such as tour guides and online resources.
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Expositions on tour are distributed across the museums in the US.
But other cultural institutions such as zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens and historical museums also can count as public organizations thanks to these outreach efforts. They open the doors of knowledge!
5. Public Broadcasting Networks
And when you watch PBS or NPR, just remember it’s funded by public media!
The government and public contributions support these nonprofit networks in part, and the government helps pay for part of their budgets. They give us informational, educating resources in return, at no charge.
For example:
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PBS stations such as WNET in New York air-hit programs such as Sesame Street and NOVA that inform all.
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NPR stations such as KQED in San Francisco host podcasts and radio programs of their own about culture, science, politics and so on for public education.
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Local stations are public service announcements — such as in the case of weather disasters or voting periods.
The mission? Broaden imaginations with the right media. What amazing public organizations!
6. Public Transit Systems
Public transport: The majority of bus, subway, light rail and commuter train lines are publicly operated in order to serve communities.
The Chicago Transit Authority, for instance, pays the city for its mass-market buses and trains. Thanks to these public institutions, no cars are needed by cyclists.
There are public-private partnership schemes for some transit. But there’s always public money and non-profit mandates.
7. Public Hospitals & Health Centers
The public health institutions make it a big deal to provide things such as:
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Free or affordable clinics
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Specialized children's hospitals
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Emergency rooms
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Community health programs
These hospitals and health centers are not after money: they serve the community and the sick. Hence their public org status!
8. Utility Companies
You probably don't think of the electric, water, sewage, and waste management companies as "public" necessarily.
But they are often public property, run by the local governments and funded by the state. Their goal = Maintaining the city infrastructure!
So next time you flip on the faucet or lights, say thanks to your municipal utilities.
9. State & Local Parks
Parks may be boring but they have everything, from nature, recreation and health!
Most city, state and national parks are funded by the public to do just that.
So if you go for a peaceful day of nature-walking, sports-playing or attending a public park event, then you have the benefit of a public organization.
10. Public Relief Organizations
Lastly, public assistance programs and other relief agencies serve marginalized people with public money.
The emergency disaster aid that FEMA, for example, provides is welfare/food stamps to the poor financed by the public purse.
What these organizations provide is key to the health and safety of many individuals and communities. How good a thing to do!
Final Thoughts
And the list goes on and on of other public entities out there putting people to one use or another.
The defining traits are:
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Receiving public/government funding
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Serve public good and not profit.
In other words, one does not need to be a government for an entity to be "public" at all. They just have to provide services of use to the public with public money.
These groups are basic fixtures of society, which make the world a better place. But we’re just used to that without understanding how "public" they are!
