Scope of the Nonprofit Sector
This series of publications and reports provides unique insights and clarity on the dimensions of major areas of the U.S. nonprofit sector -- human services, arts and culture, health, education, international development and assistance organizations, environment, and more.
The Outcomes Indicators Project
Everyone from funders to clients wants to know the results of their investment of time and money in nonprofits. Nonprofits, in turn, are eager to get their hands on tools to help them track and report their accomplishments more effectively. The Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, along with the Center for What Works, has developed a common outcomes framework to help standardize approaches to performance measurement in the nonprofit sector. This web site contains a full description of our work, along with detailed lists of outcomes sequence charts and indicators available for download and adaptation by interested users.
The Future of Civil Society Initiative
In this project we are assessing the status of civic participation and advocacy in the United States, analyzing emerging nonprofits across the country, and conducting a pilot study of immigrant-serving organizations in the Washington DC metro region. Preliminary reports include:
Emerging Issues in Philanthropy Seminar Series
Convened twice a year in collaboration with the Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations at Harvard University, these discussion explore policy issues affecting nonprofits and philanthropy from diverse perspectives in a freewheeling exchange. Summaries are released as policy briefs.
Nonprofit Governance
Nonprofit boards are increasingly a focus of those interested in greater accountability and transparency, including policymakers, media, and the public. To help inform current policy debates and initiatives to strengthen nonprofit governance, in 2005 the Urban Institute conducted the first ever national representative survey of nonprofit governance, with over 5,100 participants.
Philanthropy Projects
Limited Life Foundations: Motivations, Experiences and Strategies by Francie Ostrower - Although most foundations are established in perpetuity, the limited life option is attracting more attention. This monograph helps fill a gap in the literature by examining the motivations, strategies, and experiences associated with the decision to "sunset" and comparing the attitudes and practices of perpetual and limited life foundations.
Effective Philanthropy - This study examines grantmakers' approaches to effectiveness and presents a typology of effectiveness models.
Foundation Expenses and Compensation - This is an assessment of the expense and compensation patterns of the nation's 10,000 largest independent, corporate, and community foundations (by giving).
- What Drives Foundation Expenses and Compensation?: Results of a Three-Year Study by Elizabeth T. Boris, Loren Renz, Mark A. Hager, Rachel Elias, and Mahesh Somashekhar
- What Drives Foundation Expenses & Compensation?: Results of a Three-Year Study - Highlights by Elizabeth T. Boris, Loren Renz, Mark A. Hager, Rachel Elias, Mahesh Somashekhar
- Foundation Expenses and Compensation: How Operating Characteristics Influence Spending by Jeffrey Capizzano, Gina Adams, and Jason Ost
- Foundation Expenses and Compensation: Interim Report 2005 by Elizabeth T. Boris, Loren Renz, and Mark A. Hager
Nonprofits after Hurricane Katrina
The Center developed projects to measure, track and provide information on the role of faith- and community-based organizations in rebuilding areas affected by Hurricane Katrina and Rita. We published an assessment report in early 2006 and assembled a comprehensive bibliography of research for a November 2006 conference organized by Urban Institute and the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations.
Arts and Culture
The Center conducted many studies on the status of arts and cultural organizations, cultural participation, the financial health of the arts and the value of artists and arts in communities. In February 2007, the Urban Institute sponsored a forum to discuss rebuilding the arts and culture community in New Orleans.