Research

Research on the Nonprofit Sector

Nonprofits depend upon quality research to, among other things, increase their understanding, improve their operations and programs, and advance their public policy and public awareness initiatives.

Numerous diverse organizations conduct research on the nonprofit sector in the United States. In addition to research conducted by the National Council of Nonprofits, and state associations of nonprofits, many other nonprofits, universities, government agencies, philanthropic organizations, and consulting groups conduct research of interest to nonprofits.

Notable Sources of Research on the Nonprofit Sector

• Association for Research on Nonprofits and Voluntary Action (“ARNOVA”)
• Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University
• Congressional Research Service 
• Council on Foundations
• Foundation Center
• Government Accountability Office
• Grand Valley State University, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership
• International Society for Third-Sector Research
• Johns Hopkins University, Listening Post Project
• National Center for Charitable Statistics
• National Committee for Responsible Philanthropy
• Nonprofit Quarterly
• Stanford Social Innovation Review
• Urban Institute

The following list of resources highlights research studies and reports from recent years to inform the public, funders, policy makers, and nonprofits about significant issues tracked by the National Council of Nonprofits.

Selected Topics and Research Reports:

• Advocacy and Civic Engagement Research and Reports
• Capacity Building Research and Reports
• Economic Impact Research and Reports
• Ethics and Accountability
• Boards and Governance
• Government and Nonprofits
• Leadership
• Nonprofit Sector
• Philanthropy
• Volunteers

Other research related resources:

• Websites on Nonprofit Topics
• Books and Articles on the Nonprofit Sector

Research Reports on Advocacy and Civic Engagement

• What Makes an Effective Advocacy Organization? - A framework for determining advocacy capacity, a report by the TCC Group for the California Endowment (2009).
• Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impact of Advocacy, Organizing, and Civic Engagement in Los Angeles National Committee for Responsible Philanthropy (2010).
• Nonprofit America: A Force for Democracy? Johns Hopkins Listening Post Project Communiqué No. 9
• Seen But Not Heard: Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy, Aspen Institute (2007).

Research and Reports on Capacity Building 

See the National Council’s webpage on Capacity Building  for more research on this topic.

• Deeper Capacity Building for Greater Impact: Designing a Long-Term Initiative to Strengthen a Set of Nonprofit Organizations. Connolly, Paul, TCC Group (2007)
• Crossing Borders, Sharing Journeys: Effective Capacity Building with Immigrant and Refugee Groups. Gleason, Sarah. Fieldstone Alliance (2006).  
• Sustaining Nonprofit Performance: The Case for Capacity Building and the Evidence to Support It. Light, Paul C. Brookings Institution Press (2004).

• Paying for Overhead A Study of the Impact of Foundations’ Overhead Payment Policies on Educational and Human Services Organizations, Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University (2007) 
• Nonprofit Overhead Cost Study Project Urban Institute (2001) 
• Various texts and reports on capacity building are compiled in a resource listing on the Foundation Center’s website.  

Research and Reports on Economic Impact on the Nonprofit Sector

The National Council of Nonprofits issued a series of Special Reports in 2009 on the impact of the economic downturn on nonprofits.  

Many state associations have prepared reports about the economy’s effect on nonprofits in their states. Links to research reports in various states appear below:

• Arkansas: The Benefit of Doing Good: the Structure, Contribution and Impact of Arkansas Nonprofits on the State’s Economy Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (2008)
• Colorado: Weathering the Storm: Challenges and Opportunities for Colorado Nonprofits During Recession Colorado Nonprofit Association and Community Resource Center (2009)
• Idaho: Nonprofit Current Conditions Report Idaho Nonprofit Center (2009)
• Illinois: Economic Outlook 2010 Donors Forum (2010)
• Louisiana: Louisiana Nonprofit Sector Fiscal Health Report and Regional Data Supplement Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (2010) 
• Minnesota: Nonprofit Current Conditions Report Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (2010)
• New Jersey: New Jersey Non-Profits 2009: Trends and Outlook  Center for Non-Profits (2009)

Other state/regional nonprofit sector reports about economic impact include:

• Delaware: 2009 Philanthropic Survey Report Delaware Valley Grantmakers (2009)
• Louisiana: Scary Movies – Louisiana’s 2011 Budget describes projections that the Louisiana Governor's budget for the next year will rely almost entirely on deep spending cuts to make up for shortfalls in revenues. Louisiana Budget Project (2010).
• Ohio: Grantmaking Outlook 2009 Ohio Grantmakers Forum (2009)
• New York: Challenges Ahead: Upstate NY Philanthropy and the Economy Grantmakers Forum of New York (2009)
• Tennessee: Downstream and In Demand Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence (2009)

Ethics & Accountability

• Final Report to Congress and the Nonprofit Sector on Accountability, Governance, and Transparency The Panel on the Nonprofit Sector (2005)

Boards and Governance

• Nonprofit Governance - Findings on Performance and Accountability from the First National Representative Study Urban Institute (2007).
• Boards of Midsize Nonprofits: Their Needs and Challenges, Urban Institute, (2008).

Government and Nonprofits

• How Late Payments Harm Nonprofit Providers Connecticut Association of Nonprofits (2008)
• Trends in Government Funding  Michigan Nonprofit Association (2009)
• An Overview of the Nonprofit and Charitable Sector  Congressional Research Service (2009)
• John Hopkins Listening Post Project
  • Impact of the 2007-09 Economic Recession on Nonprofit Organizations (Communiqué No. 14, 6/29/2009)

Research and Reports on Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector

• Peak Performance: Nonprofit Leaders Rate Highest in 350-Degree Reviews Nonprofit Quarterly (Winter 2008)
• Daring to Lead: A National Study of Nonprofit Executive Leadership  Compasspoint and the Meyer Foundation (2006)
• Nonprofit Governance - Findings on Performance and Accountability from the First National Representative Study, Urban Institute (2007)
• Boards of Midsize Nonprofits: Their Needs and Challenges, Urban Institute, (2008)
• Up Next: Generation Change and the Leadership of Nonprofit Organizations, The Annie E. Casey Foundation (2005)

Reports on the Nonprofit Sector from the Federal Government

• Overview of the Nonprofit and Charitable Sector (Congressional Research Service, Nov. 17, 2009) 
• The Corporation for National and Community Service: Overview of Programs and FY2009 Funding (Congressional Research Service, Order Code RL33932, June 12, 2009)
• Lobbying Regulations on Non-Profit Organizations (Congressional Research Services; Order Code 96-809 A; updated May 2009)
• Charitable Contributions: The Itemized Deduction Cap and Other FY2010 Budget Options (Congressional Research Service; Order Code R40518; April 15, 2009)
• Nonprofit Sector: Significant Federal Funds Reach the Sector through Various Mechanisms, but More Complete and Reliable Funding Data Are Needed (GAO-09-193 February 26, 2009)       
• Tax Issues Relating to Charitable Contributions and Organizations (Congressional Research Service; Order Code RL34608; August 2008, updated December 8, 2009)
• Increasing Numbers and Key Role in Delivering Federal Services (GAO-07-1084T; Testimony July 2007)
• Tax-Exempt Organizations: Collecting More Data on Donor-Advised Funds and Supporting Organizations Could Help Address Compliance Challenges (GAO-06-799; July 2006)
• Tax-Exempt Sector: Governance, Transparency, and Oversight Are Critical for Maintaining Public Trust (GAO-05-561T April 20, 2005)
• Economic Analysis of the Charitable Contribution Deduction for Non-Itemizers (Order Code RL31108; updated Sept 2003 and Januaray 26, 2007)
• Tax-Exempt Organizations: Improvements Possible in Public, IRS, and State Oversight of Charities (GAO-02-526; April 2002)

Research and Reports on Philanthropy

• Asset Declines and Investment Strategy Changes by Family, Independent, and Public Foundations Council on Foundations (2009) 
• Giving USA  www.aafrc.org (Annual report on charitable giving in the US issued by AAFRP Trust for Philanthropy, Indiana University)

Volunteers

• Volunteering in America 2010 (20 pages, PDF), issued by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
• Volunteer Growth in America: A review of trends since 1974, issued by the Corporation for National Service, Office of Research and Policy Development (2006).