Resources

Research and Education Centers

UNIVERSITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

Boston College, Center on Wealth and Philanthropy

The Center on Wealth and Philanthropy (formerly the Social Welfare Research Institute) is a multidisciplinary research center specializing in the study of spirituality, wealth, philanthropy, and other aspects of cultural life in an age of affluence. The website provides access to CWP research, press releases and articles, and events.

http://www.bc.edu/research/cwp
City University of New York, Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society

An integral part of The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, the Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (CPCS) focuses on giving, volunteerism, and nonprofit entrepreneurship by individual donors, foundations, and corporations in the United States and around the world. Programs focus on corporate philanthropy, multicultural philanthropy, and voluntarism. The website provides access to CPCS publications including working papers, press releases, and Volunteer!!!, a guide designed to assist and encourage the building of stronger Latino, African American, and Asian American communities within the metropolitan area of New York.

http://www.philanthropy.org
Duke University, Center for the Study of Philanthropy and Voluntarism, Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy

The Center was created to support scholarly research on issues related to philanthropy and voluntarism; stimulate the exchange of ideas and research findings among scholars and practitioners; and to encourage the development of university courses in the area of philanthropy. The website provides an overview of Center research and faculty and staff involved with Center projects. Users can also access a working papers archive.

http://www.pubpol.duke.edu/centers/philvol
Georgetown University, Center for Public & Nonprofit Leadership

The Center for Public & Nonprofit Leadership provides advanced education in public policy, public and nonprofit management, advocacy and philanthropy, with domestic and international applications. The Center focuses on four program areas: graduate education, executive and professional training, research, and community involvement. The website provides information on these program areas and links to upcoming lectures and events.

http://cpnl.georgetown.edu
Grand Valley State University, Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership

The Johnson Center's current work focuses on community research, nonprofit leadership and management, and philanthropic and nonprofit knowledge management. The website provides information on these three research areas and includes links to publications and The Grantmaking School, the first university-based program for teaching the techniques and ethics of grantmaking specifically to foundation grantmaking professionals.

http://www.gvsu.edu/jcp
Harvard University, The Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations, John F. Kennedy School of Government

The Hauser Center is a university-wide research center created to expand understanding and accelerate critical thinking about civil society among scholars, practitioners, policy makers and the general public, by encouraging scholarship, developing curriculum, fostering mutual learning between academics and practitioners, and shaping policies that enhance the sector and its role in society. The website provides information on nonprofit programs and links to Center publications and the research archives.

http://www.ksghauser.harvard.edu
Indiana University, Center on Philanthropy

The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University increases the understanding of philanthropy and improves its practice through programs in research, teaching, public service, and public affairs. The website provides access to education and training programs, research, philanthropic links and information on The Fundraising School, The Lake Family Institute on Faith & Giving, and the Women's Philanthropy Insitute.

http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu
Johns Hopkins University, Center for Civil Society Studies

The Center for Civil Society Studies seeks to improve understanding and the effective functioning of not-for-profit, philanthropic, or "civil society" organizations in the United States and throughout the world in order to enhance the contribution these organizations can make to democracy and the quality of human life. The Center conducts research on both national and international trends in philanthropy and nonprofits in addition to research on nonprofit capacity building. The website provides access to Center publications and seminars.

http://www.jhu.edu/~ccss
New York University School of Law, National Center on Philanthropy and the Law

The Center was established to explore a broad range of legal issues affecting the nation's nonprofit sector and to provide an integrated examination of the legal doctrines related to the activities of charitable organizations. This site provides access to NCPL curriculum, career resources, library resources, and events.

http://www.law.nyu.edu/ncpl
Stanford Graduate School of Business, Center for Social Innovation

CSI supports three integrated activities: research, teaching, and engagement. Research focuses on environments in which social innovation occurs; benefits and limits of adapting business approaches to social- and public-sector organizations; impact of increased interaction and competition across the sectors; and creation and measurement of social and environmental value. This website provides access to CSI publications and information on programs and faculty research projects.
resources, library resources, and events.
http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/csi
UCLA School of Public Affairs, Center for Civil Society

The Center for Civil Society is the focal point for the School of Public Affairs' programs and activities in nonprofit leadership and management, grassroots advocacy, nongovernmental organizations, and philanthropy. This site provides access to Center research and courses offerings as well as information on executive education programs, nonprofit clinics, and briefings.

http://www.spa.ucla.edu/ccs
The University of Texas at Austin, RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs

Guided by a three-part mission of education, research and outreach, the Center supports civil society, volunteerism, and the nonprofit-philanthropic sector by expanding the academic base for the growing study of its practices and by advancing awareness of the sector within academic and professional communities. The site provides links to Center publications and programs.

http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/rgk

NON-UNIVERSITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

Aspen Institute, Nonprofit Sector and Philanthropy Program

This program seeks to expand knowledge of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy through research and dialogue focused on public policy management and other important issues affecting the sector. The program currently has four major initiatives: the Nonprofit Sector Research Fund, Nonprofit Sector Strategy Group, Seminar for Mid-America Foundation CEOs, and The State of America's Nonprofit Sector project.
Capital Research Center

CRC was established in 1984 to study non-profit organizations, with a special focus on reviving the American traditions of charity, philanthropy, and voluntarism. Users can access CRC's Searchlight database, a comprehensive online resource on corporate giving to non-profit organizations and access publications and news stories on the sector.
The Center for Effective Philanthropy

The Center for Effective Philanthropy is a nonprofit organization focused on the development of comparative data to enable higher performing foundations. Published research from the Center includes reports on foundation performance assessment, foundation governance, and foundation-grantee relationships. The Center has also created new data sets and assessment tools such as the Grantee Perception Report® (GPR), the Comparative Board Report (CBR), the Staff Perception Report (SBR), and the Operational Benchmarking Report (OBR). The website provides access to these tools and other research, publications and data.
Foundation Center (New York, NY)

Fosters public understanding of the foundation field by collecting, organizing, analyzing, and disseminating information on foundations, corporate giving, and related subjects. They have a wide range of information for grantmakers and an online library of training and resources.
Hudson Institute, Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal

The Hudson Institute provides a major forum for leading policymakers and others of national and international acclaim to discuss important issues. The website includes a comprehensive listing of more than 800 articles, op-eds, and book reviews; a complete list of the institute's scholars and their areas of expertise; a standalone site for all 10 policy centers, including subjects such as welfare, the Middle East, national security, European and Eurasian studies, global food issues, and crime policy.
The Institute for Family Foundations

Provides long-term strategic planning to individuals and family foundations (both private and support organizations), and administrative services to facilitate implementation and operation of family foundations, donor advised funds, and family philanthropy. The Institute provides a gateway to experienced and respected professionals and service providers, and an independent and objective source of analysis, monitoring and advice.
National Center for Family Philanthropy

A nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, established in September 1997 by a group of family philanthropists to encourage families and individuals to create and sustain their philanthropic missions. It focuses on matters of importance to families engaged in philanthropy and their effective giving. They offer an excellent resource on family philanthropy called "Splendid Legacy" as well as a valuable email newsletter.
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy

NCRP promotes philanthropy that addresses the unmet needs of disadvantaged populations through action research, providing technical assistance to nonprofits, and engaging in policy advocacy. NCRP's reform activism targets foundations, corporate grantmakers, individual donors, and workplace giving programs. In addition to information about the committee's projects, publications, and advocacy program, the website links to the current issue of the NCRP newsletter, Responsive Philanthropy, as well as a selection of articles from past issues.
Philanthropic Initiative (Boston, MA)

A not-for-profit organization offering philanthropic design and management services to corporations, foundations, individuals and families. In addition, TPI conducts a number of educational programs, publications, and research studies designed to help donors make their giving more effective. One publication of interest is "Philanthropy For the Wise Investor: A Primer for Families on Strategic Giving," a work-in-progress which comprises the editorial advice of fifteen families representing a wide range of philanthropic interests, resources and geographic focus that find their work to be effective and satisfying.
Small Foundations Association (Washington, DC)

Provides information and assistance related to quality philanthropy to those Foundations having five or fewer persons and a portfolio that includes all aspects of foundation work: public relations, writing letters, cutting checks, mailing and processing grant applications, working with trustees and grantees, doing site visits and evaluations, managing assets, tax matters, etc.
Urban Institute, Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy

CNP conducts and disseminates research on the role and impact of nonprofit organizations and philanthropy. In addition, CNP conducts research on and analyzes trends in the operations and finances of U.S. charitable organizations through data developed and maintained by its National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) and other sources. This site provides access to CNP reports and publications a direct link to NCCS