Urban Institute: Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy

Central Louisiana in Focus

paffairs@urban.org ( Katie Uttke, Carol J. De Vita) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST

This series of fact sheets provides a quick overview of the nonprofit sector in each of the nine parishes that comprise Central Louisiana Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn. Each fact sheet provides information on the number of nonprofits and congregations found in the parish; the types of services offered; basic financial measures, such as total revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities; sources of revenue; and a measure of fiscal health. The fact sheets also include basic demographic information for the parish, such as total population, median age, race-ethnic composition and median household income. A companion report, A Profile of Nonprofit Organizations in Central Louisiana, provides a detailed analysis of the size, scope, fiscal health, and other dimensions of the sector.

A Profile of Nonprofit Organizations in Central Louisiana

paffairs@urban.org ( Carol J. De Vita) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST

Nonprofit organizations in Central Louisiana are an integral part of community life, helping people in need and providing cultural and civic opportunities to local residents. Yet most people have only a vague idea of the number and types of nonprofits in the region or the financial resources needed to support and sustain this work. This report is a comprehensive study of Central Louisiana's nonprofit sector. It examines the size, scope, and financial underpinning of the sector, and explores the extent to which nonprofits and religious congregations collaborate with each other and with other groups. It also reports the challenges that nonprofit and faith-based leaders see as critical to the region. A companion report, Central Louisiana in Focus, provides a statistical fact sheet for each of the nine parishes in the region.

Cultural Development and City Neighborhoods

paffairs@urban.org ( Carole E. Rosenstein) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST

Cities around the world are building urban cultural life as a way to develop local economies and revitalize urban centers. But they have done less to recognize and systematically promote the cultural lives of urban neighborhoods and their residents. This brief examines four characteristics of city cultural policy that affect cultural development and cultural life in neighborhoods. The brief is informed by policy forums held by The Living Cultures Project in New Orleans in 2008-2009 to address key policy issues confronting neighborhood and cultural life.

Five Questions For Thomas Pollak

paffairs@urban.org ( Thomas H. Pollak) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

Thomas H. Pollak, coauthor of "Washington-Area Nonprofit Operating Reserves" answers five questions about local nonprofits financial health. This first-of-its-kind study looks at the operating reserves of public charitiesfrom soup kitchens to job-training centers to local arts groupsas reported in their 2006 tax filings. The study found that most nonprofits had weak reserves before the downturn, leaving them vulnerable to effects of the recession.

Washington-Area Nonprofit Operating Reserves

paffairs@urban.org ( Amy Blackwood, Thomas H. Pollak) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST

This report, funded by the Meyer Foundation, looks at the operating reservesthe cash and other liquid assetsof public charities in the Washington Metropolitan area. Using IRS Form 990 data, the report found that 57 percent had reserves insufficient to cover three months of expenses, a level that many experts consider the minimum necessary for financial stability. This leaves them especially vulnerable to the rapid declines in revenue or increases in expenses that occur in economic downturns like the present. A substantial perecentage of all types and sizes of organizations lacked adequate reserves.

Trends in Charitable Giving in North Carolina and the Research Triangle 1997-2006

paffairs@urban.org ( Carol J. De Vita, Petya Kehayova) — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 EST

Charitable giving in North Carolina has been on the upswing for nearly ten years, but the economic downturn is affecting individuals' ability and willingness to give. Using tax returns stripped of personal identifiers, the report examines charitable giving by North Carolina tax payers and those in the Research Triangle. Overall, charitable giving by North Carolinians is higher than the national average both in terms of dollars given and the share of gross adjusted income given. Yet, despite its relatively high levels of income, Triangle residents give less to charity than the average Tar Heel. Even among high-income earners (those with adjusted gross income of $100,000 or more), Triangle residents give about the same amount in absolute dollars, on average, but about a half percentage point less than their statewide peers. Regional and county variations in giving suggest that fundraising appeals must be carefully targeted to be successful.

Limited Life Foundations: Motivations, Experiences and Strategies

paffairs@urban.org ( Francie Ostrower) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

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. The report draws on survey data on over 800 private foundations with varied longevity plans, and in-depth interviews with 31 foundations that have considered or plan termination.

The Role of Faith-based and Community Organizations in Providing Relief and Recovery Services after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

paffairs@urban.org ( Carol J. De Vita, Fredrica D. Kramer) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

This research brief examines the relief and recovery services provided by faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) in the Gulf Coast region after hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The study included a telephone survey of 202 FBCOs that provided services and in-depth case studies of eight organizations. The brief explores how FBCOs functioned during this time-i.e., what they did, who they served, and with whom they collaborated-and offers lessons learned for planning for future disasters. The brief summarizes the findings from the full report "The Role of Faith-Based and Community Organizations in Post-Hurricane Human Service Relief Efforts," available at http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=1001245.

The Role of Faith-Based and Community Organizations in Post-Hurricane Human Services Relief Efforts

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

The events surrounding hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 produced one of the largest disaster responses by nongovernmental, charitable organizations, including both faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs). This report is based on a telephone survey of 202 FBCOs that provided disaster-related human services and in-depth, field-based case studies of eight organizational responses after the hurricanes. The survey findings address what types of services were provided, to whom, and the collaborations used by FBCOs to deliver services. The case studies explore what motivated the response in 2005 and suggest how such efforts might connect with the larger disaster response and human service delivery systems to provide needed services in future disasters (For more information, contact Principal Investigators Carol J. De Vita and Fredrica D. Kramer).

Boundaries Between Nonprofits and Business Are Increasingly Blurred, Scholars Say

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Nonprofits and businesses interact in more and newer ways every year as powerful economic and social forces change. Nonprofits adopt more business-like practices, corporations support nonprofits through cause-related marketing, and social entrepreneurs create private businesses to achieve social goals. Nonprofits and Business, a new Urban Institute Press book, explores these and many other ways the two sectors collaborate, compete, and clash.

The Broader Movement: Nonprofit Environmental and Conservation Organizations, 1989-2005

paffairs@urban.org ( Baird Straughan, Thomas H. Pollak) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

This study, the first comprehensive look at IRS data on more than 26,000 environmental and conservation organizations 8,000 of which had revenues of $25,000 or more reveals a core of prominent national organizations and a larger, more rapidly growing universe of regional, local, and other specialized groups. Taken as a whole, the environmental movement expanded in number of organizations, members, and in total revenues almost every year since 1960. It focused less on advocacy than on projects and education, and was younger, more densely networked, and more dependent upon grants and contributions than was the nonprofit sector in general.

A Better Way to Deal With the Leadership Crisis

paffairs@urban.org ( Francie Ostrower) — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

Too few boards are doing a good job of helping nonprofit grops carry out their missions, explains Francie Ostrower in this Chronicle of Philanthropy commentary. They need to be more active in fund raising, monitoring programs, community relations, educating the public, and monitoring the board's own performance.

Civil Society Structures Serving Latinos in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area

paffairs@urban.org ( Guillermo Cantor, Carol J. De Vita) — Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

Over the past decade the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area has become increasingly diverse, driven in large part by the growth of the Latino population. By 2006, almost 610,000 Latinos lived in the region. Today's immigrants, like those before them, contribute to the development of civil society organizations and rely on them for services and activities. Yet little is known about these organizations and the ways they help newcomers build and engage in civil society. This brief provides an overview of nonprofits and religious congregations in the Washington, D.C. region that focus on providing services and support to the Latino population.

Facts and Figures from the Nonprofit Almanac 2008 : Public Charities, Giving, and Volunteering

paffairs@urban.org ( Amy Blackwood, Kennard Wing, Thomas H. Pollak) — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

This brief highlights trends from the seventh edition of "The Nonprofit Almanac 2008", prepared by the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute. The Almanac is the latest in the Urban Institute's series of statistical profiles of the nonprofit sector and focuses primarily on 501(c)(3) public charities. We also highlight key findings on private charitable contributions and volunteering, two vital components of the nonprofit sector. This brief includes the most recent available data (2005 and 2006).

Boards of Midsize Nonprofits: Their Needs and Challenges

paffairs@urban.org ( Francie Ostrower) — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

Nonprofit boards are receiving increased attention from policymakers, media, researchers and the public. Yet most research, policy proposals, and best practice guidelines have been oriented toward large organizations. This brief helps fill a major gap in our understanding by focusing on governance among midsize nonprofits, identifying certain problem areas, and suggesting strategies that those engaged with midsize nonprofits may find helpful in strengthening their boards. The discussion uses data on the subset of 1,862 midsize organizations in our Urban Institute National Survey of Nonprofit Governance, the first national representative study of nonprofit governance.

"Disturbing Levels of CEO Dissatisfaction With Board Performance" at Midsize Nonprofits, Study Finds

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute) — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

Most heads of midsize nonprofits give their trustees low marks for fundraising and monitoring board performance, an Urban Institute study of nonprofits with annual expenses between $500,000 and $5 million has found.

New Edition of Nonprofit Almanac Offers Detailed Portrait of an Expanding Sector

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute) — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 EST

The Nonprofit Almanac 2008, from the Urban Institute Press, offers data and facts charting the sectors recent evolution. The statistics-packed volume can help nonprofit managers, researchers, the press, and the public better understand changes in the sector and its economic role.

Nonprofits Serving the Latino Community in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area : A Portrait of Their Features and Activities

paffairs@urban.org ( Guillermo Cantor) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 EST

This working paper offers a descriptive analysis of the Latino nonprofit sector in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. It examines the extent to which Latino nonprofits are equipped to address the needs of a rapidly growing Latino population. The study finds that both nonprofit organizations and religious congregations that primarily serve Latinos offer a wide range of services. Many of these groups are located in the suburbs. While Latino nonprofits constitute a significant economic presence in the region, the majority of organizations remain small. Data on nonprofits are drawn from the National Center for Charitable Statistics, and data on churches were collected by telephone survey.

What Drives Foundation Expenses & Compensation? : Results of a Three-Year Study -- Highlights

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

This brief presents key findings from the latest report on the Foundation Expenses and Compensation Project - the first large-scale, long-term, systematic study of independent, corporate, and community foundations' expenses and compensation patterns and the factors behind them. It documents how differences in type, size, and operating activities of foundations affect their finances and charitable administrative expenses. This brief highlights the key findings of the full report, "What Drives Foundation Expenses and Compensation?: Results of a Three-Year Study."

What Drives Foundation Expenses and Compensation? : Results of a Three-Year Study

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

This study presents the findings of a three-year study to analyze the expense and compensation patterns of the 10,000 largest foundations in the United States. It finds characteristics such as foundation type, size, and operating activities are important factors for understanding differences in foundation finances. Despite the economic downturn and the volatility of the stock market during the study years (2001 to 2003), the patterns of foundation expenses and compensation are clear and consistent over time. This is the first large-scale, long-term, and systematic study of independent, corporate, and community foundations expenses and compensation patterns and the factors behind them.

New Report Identifies Characteristics That Drive Foundation Spending Patterns : Findings Based on the First Long-Term Study of Foundation Expenses and Compensation

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 EST

Foundation type, size, staffing patterns, and operating activities are the key factors that consistently drive foundation expense and compensation patterns, according to a new report issued jointly by the Urban Institute, the Foundation Center, and GuideStar. Moreover, even under changing or volatile economic conditions, the administrative expense and compensation patterns of U.S. foundations are consistent and predictable, the new report shows.

An Ever-More Charitable Society?

paffairs@urban.org ( C. Eugene Steuerle) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:00:00 EST

As time goes on, more conflicts seem to flair between charities and businesses, but collaboration is also occurring like never before. These new collaborations and conflicts, and consequent legislative attempts to ensure that charities really are "charitable," can be tricky. But before attempting to judge all these attractions and repulsions between the two sectors, let's hold our peace and ask what is fostering these new relationships in the first place.

Whether Charitable Organizations Serve the Needs of Diverse Communities : Testimony Before the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight

paffairs@urban.org ( Elizabeth T. Boris) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:00:00 EST

While an estimated 40 percent of nonprofits focus on the economically disadvantaged (half or more of their clients), few nonprofits serve that proportion of ethnic and racial populations, Elizabeth Boris told the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee. Her testimony addressed five key questions: Who gives, how much, and to whom? Who benefits from charitable contributions? How do charities and foundations identify the needs of their communities? Are there gaps between needs and services? How can we improve the quality and scope of data on charitable beneficiaries?

The Need for Longer-term Services after Disasters

paffairs@urban.org ( Elaine Morley, Carol J. De Vita) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 00:00:00 EST

The extent of our nation's preparedness to address large-scale disasters will likely receive renewed attention around the anniversaries of Hurricane Katrina and the attacks of 9/11. This commentary recommends that disaster planning address not only the immediate and short-term responses to disaster, but also the longer-term social service needs of disaster victims, such as mental health services and case management. The Urban Institute's study of the American Red Cross September 11th Recovery Program provides a sense of the need for such services and their value to those affected by disaster. Integrating longer-term recovery services into disaster planning can help ensure their availability in the wake of future disasters.

Five Questions for Francie Ostrower

paffairs@urban.org ( Francie Ostrower) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 00:00:00 EST

Francie Ostrower, senior research associate in UI's Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, discusses the challenges of nonprofit governance and the implications of her recently published national survey of nonprofit boards, "Nonprofit Governance in the United States: Findings on Performance and Accountability" from the First National Representative Study.

Nonprofit Governance in the United States : Findings on Performance and Accountability from the First National Representative Study

paffairs@urban.org ( Francie Ostrower) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST

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. This report presents survey findings, discussing: relationships between public policy and governance, factors that promote or impede boards' performance of basic stewardship responsibilities, board composition and factors associated with board diversity, and recruitment processes, including the difficulty experienced by many nonprofits in finding members.

Insular Boards Guide Many Nonprofits

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:00:00 EST

Many nonprofit boards are cut off from the public they serve by an ethnically homogenous membership and a failure to engage in externally oriented activities, says a new Urban Institute study.

After Katrina: Shared Challenges for Rebuilding Communities

paffairs@urban.org ( Carol J. De Vita) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST

This volume of essays presents the thoughts of leading researchers and policy experts regarding models and policies that can help guide the rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast region. The essays focus on six issue areas: affordable housing; services for children and families; strengthening the arts and culture community; public and environmental health concerns; rebuilding financial assets; and the role of nonprofits in preparing for the next disaster. Together, the essays lay an important foundation for developing action plans to address the underlying issues of poverty, inequality, and weak social infrastructures that have been persistent in the region for decades.

The Finances and Operations of Performing Arts Organizations in 2001 and 2002

paffairs@urban.org ( Ronald J. Kushner, Thomas H. Pollak) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 00:00:00 EST

This report summarizes key facts and trends affecting the performing arts sector from 2001 and 2002. The data collected permits managers and observers of nonprofit professional producing companies, and presenters to take a common perspective on how they are financed and operated, to compare organizations of different disciplines and different size, and to explore changes from year to year.

Building a Common Outcome Framework To Measure Nonprofit Performance

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:00:00 EST

The work described in this report first provides suggested core indicators for 14 categories of nonprofit organizations and then expands the notion of common core indicators to a much wider variety of programs by suggesting a common framework of outcome indicators for all nonprofit programs. This can provide guidance to nonprofits as they figure out what to measure and how to do it and will work to ease the looming reporting nightmare that will occur unless a common framework for outcome measurement emerges.

A Profile of Nonprofit Organizations in Erie County, Pennsylvania

paffairs@urban.org ( Carol J. De Vita) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST

Nonprofit organizations affect every facet of our lives through a wide array of services and programs ranging from health care to civic participation to education and beyond. Despite their prevalence, nonprofits are poorly understood and often undervalued for their economic contributions. This study of nonprofits in Erie County, Pennsylvania, takes a systematic look at the county's nonprofit sector, examining its size, scope, and financial underpinning. The report analyzes the dependence of Eries nonprofits on government funding, their financial strengthens and vulnerabilities, their concentration in the Erie metro area, and the availability of services in rural parts of the county.

Remarks, ARNOVA Award for Distinguished Achievement and Leadership in Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Research 2006

paffairs@urban.org ( Elizabeth T. Boris) — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:00:00 EST

At the Association for Research on Nonprofits and Voluntary Action 35th Annual Conference, Elizabeth Boris received the 2006 Award for Distinguished Achievement and Leadership In Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Research. In addition to expressing her gratitude, her remarks challenge ARNOVA researchers to address three policy challenges: defining charitability, developing realistic performance indicators, and tackling issues related to nonprofit financing.

How Cultural Heritage Organizations Serve Communities : Priorities, Strengths, and Challenges

paffairs@urban.org ( Carole E. Rosenstein) — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 00:00:00 EST

Across the United States, nonprofit cultural heritage organizations serve communities by helping people to remember their shared experiences and aspirations, building and sustaining a sense of community through fairs, folklife programs, public celebrations of music, food, and holidays. This brief uses NCCS Form 990 data to examine the finances and programs of these organizations. It finds that cultural heritage organizations tend to be small, to blend program areas, to make cultural difference central to their work, and they show important program and organizational variation across ethnic groups. These key characteristics should be taken into account when supporting cultural heritage organizations.

Nonprofit Governance and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

paffairs@urban.org ( Francie Ostrower, Marla J. Bobowick) — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EST

This brief presents the first wave of findings from the Urban Institute's National Survey of nonprofit governance. The study--the first national representative survey of nonprofit governance--probed a variety of governance issues and includes responses from over 5,100 nonprofits. This brief explores a subset of findings related to the potential impact of extending some Sarbanes-Oxley provisions to nonprofits. It confirms the importance of acknowledging the potentially different impact, cost, and value of applying provisions to nonprofits of different size.

The International Charitable Nonprofit Subsector : Scope, Size, and Revenue

paffairs@urban.org ( Janelle Kerlin, Supaporn Thanasombat) — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 00:00:00 EST

This brief provides an overview of the report, The International Charitable Nonprofit Subsector in the United States. It provides a snapshot of the international subsector through an analysis of trends in their size, resources, and scope from FY 2001 to FY 2003 in three major areas of operation: international development and assistance, international understanding, and international affairs. The brief confirms the central role of private support and financing for foreign aid and provides a window into the financial health of these organizations. It also gives an overview of the geographic concentrations and the depth of U.S. international nonprofit activities and enumerates the importance of small organizations.

U.S. Government Funding of International Nongovernmental Organizations

paffairs@urban.org ( Janelle Kerlin) — Tue, 30 May 2006 00:00:00 EST

Since the 1970s, U.S. government funding of international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) has risen dramatically, however, there is little research examining this trend. This analysis of U.S.-based INGOs uses the Urban Institutes National Center for Charitable Statistics/GuideStar National Nonprofit Database to provide new insight into the government funding of these organizations. Analysis finds that despite a steady increase, government funding is still limited to a relatively small percentage of INGOs and federal dollars only contribute about a fifth of the overall revenue for the sector. Also, government funding varies across different types of INGO activities and regions. Findings additionally show that changes in foreign policy after 2001 affected foreign assistance funding for INGOs.

After Katrina: Public Expectation and Charities' Response

paffairs@urban.org ( Elizabeth T. Boris, C. Eugene Steuerle) — Tue, 30 May 2006 00:00:00 EST

The essays in this collection grew out of the 14th Emerging Issues in Philanthropy Seminar, "Charities' Response to Disasters: Expectations and Realities," held on December 2, 2005. Authors discuss the strengths and weaknesses of charities responses to the Gulf Coast hurricanes, lessons learned from previous disastersthe September 11th attacks and the Asian Tsunamiand how well those lessons were applied. Authors note the need to have realistic expectations of charities' role in disaster relief and rebuilding, given the resources of the charitiesparticularly small local secular and faith-based agenciesand their inability to control the content or amount of voluntary assistance. The critical role of government in coordinating and leading disaster response efforts is a major theme.

Findings from a Survey of 9/11-Affected Clients Served by the American Red Cross September 11 Recovery Program

paffairs@urban.org ( Elaine Morley, Carol J. De Vita, Jennifer Auer) — Fri, 26 May 2006 00:00:00 EST

This report presents findings of a telephone survey of 1,500 clients who received services under the American Red Cross September 11th Recovery Program. The program provided longer-term assistance, such as case management, financial assistance, and mental health services, to individuals and families with continuing needs related to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Over 80 percent of those who received mental health services said that it helped them cope with stress and other issues, although two-thirds indicated grief continues to interfere with their lives to a large or moderate extent. Additionally, 43 percent said they or their families still needed services to further their recovery.

Cultural Heritage Organizations : Nonprofits That Support Traditional, Ethnic, Folk, and Noncommercial Popular Culture

paffairs@urban.org ( Carole E. Rosenstein) — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 00:00:00 EST

This monograph provides an overview of nonprofit cultural heritage organizations in the United States and a snapshot of their structure, finances and programs. The monograph confirms that cultural heritage organizations are fundamentally community oriented, and that their primary intent to preserve and benefit youth, elders, immigrants, ethnic groups, neighborhoods, towns, and cities is both explicit and reflected in a broad programmatic range of activities beyond the arts. It also finds that cultural heritage organizations are small and lack financial resources compared with the nonprofit arts, culture and humanities subsector. Organizations affiliated with Black/African American and Hispanic cultures are shown to be particularly vulnerable financially.

Foundation Expenses and Compensation : How Operating Characteristics Influence Spending

Fri, 03 Feb 2006 00:00:00 EST

This study documents how foundation characteristics such as giving amount, asset size and staffing, and activities such as international giving and operating a "charitable" facility or research program, affect the expense levels at the 10,000 largest independent, corporate, and community foundations. The report shows that most foundations report modest expenses; the vast majority are unstaffed; and many are run largely by unpaid trustees. Staffing is the most significant factor affecting expenses, regardless of type. The largest foundations tend to compensate at the highest amounts, but their median percentages of compensation to giving are among the lowest.

Open and Operating? An Assessment of Louisiana Nonprofit Health and Human Services after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

paffairs@urban.org ( Jennifer Auer, Linda M. Lampkin) — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 00:00:00 EST

Louisiana's nonprofits are poised to play pivotal roles in the state's recovery through job training, health care provision, affordable housing construction and more. This brief presents survey results, detailing the operating status and needs of Louisiana's charitable organizations in hurricane-affected areas. It finds fewer than half of the nonprofit health and human service providers surveyed are fully operational--and in the New Orleans area, fewer than half are providing any services at all. They expect their recoveries to be slow, despite an initial influx of donations, and cite providing housing for staff and volunteer reinforcements as necessary to meet community needs.

The International Charitable Nonprofit Subsector in the United States : International Understanding, International Development and Assistance, and International Affairs

paffairs@urban.org ( Elizabeth Reid, Janelle Kerlin) — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

This report describes the capacity of U.S. nonprofits to mobilize in international development and assistance, promotion of international understanding, and international affairs. It is the first systematic national study of international nonprofits using descriptive statistics and data on charitable nonprofits obtained from the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) at the Urban Institute. Findings confirm the central role of international nonprofits in supporting foreign causes and distributing aid around the world. Government's increasing reliance on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to carry out foreign aid programs is also detailed.

Community Anchors East of the River : An Analysis of the Charitable Infrastructure in Wards 7 and 8 in Washington, D.C.

paffairs@urban.org ( Eric C. Twombly, Jennifer Auer, Kanisha Bond) — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 00:00:00 EST

Nonprofit organizations act as community anchors in neighborhoods across the United States, providing a place for residents to meet and visual evidence of investment in the area. The importance of nonprofits is particularly evident in low-income communities like Wards 7 and 8 in the District of Columbia. This study uses telephone surveys and site visits to compile a profile of the charitable organizations that are headquartered in these two wards. The study examines the types of services offered by local nonprofits, the populations they serve, as well their tenure, annual budgets and sources of income. The findings show a relatively underdeveloped nonprofit sector that exhibits some unexpected characteristics.

Motivations Matter : Findings and Practical Implications of a National Survey of Cultural Participation

paffairs@urban.org ( Francie Ostrower) — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 00:00:00 EST

Those who wish to understand or expand cultural participation need to pay much greater attention to its diversity. People attend different types of cultural events for different reasons, with different people, in different places, with different experiences. The diversity of arts participation is examined in this brief, which reports on findings from a national survey of cultural participation commissioned by The Wallace Foundation and conducted by the Urban Institute. The survey was administered by phone to a random sample of 1,231 American adults. [View the corresponding full report]

The Diversity of Cultural Participation : Findings from a National Survey

paffairs@urban.org ( Francie Ostrower) — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 00:00:00 EST

This monograph presents findings from a national survey of cultural participation conducted by the Urban Institute and commissioned by The Wallace Foundation. The study's overarching conclusion is that arts research, policy, and management need to be reoriented to pay greater attention to the diversity of cultural participation. People attend different types of cultural events for different reasons, with different people, in different places, with different experiences. The survey was administered by phone to a random sample of 1,231 American adults. [View the corresponding report summary]

Diversity and Participation in the Arts : Insights from the Bay Area

paffairs@urban.org ( Carole E. Rosenstein) — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EST

As the nation's ethnic and racial composition fundamentally shifts, the leading national source of data on arts participation has a critical shortcoming: it does not provide a clear picture of arts participation among Hispanics and people who aren't white. Conducted every five years by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts (SPPA) consistently reports that non-Hispanic whites have the highest rates of arts participation (with two exceptions: African Americans have the highest attendance at live jazz performances and Asian Americans have the highest museum attendance). However, the types of arts participation measured by the SPPA systematically bias its results. Examining the particular demographic characteristics of ethnic and racial populations in the United States makes apparent how these biases disproportionately affect SPPA findings on arts participation among Hispanics and people who aren't white.

The Aftermath of Katrina : State of the Nonprofit Sector in Louisiana

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute) — Wed, 21 Sep 2005 00:00:00 EST

As donations pour in following Hurricane Katrina, charitable organizations in and around the Gulf Coast are beginning to pick up the pieces of loss and devastation. This fact sheet provides data on nonprofits in New Orleans and the cities hosting many evacuees.

Foundation Expenses and Compensation : Interim Report 2005

paffairs@urban.org ( Elizabeth T. Boris, Loren Renz, Mark A. Hager) — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 00:00:00 EST

This interim report summarizes the findings to date from the Foundation Expenses and Compensation Study, a partnership of the Urban Institute, the Foundation Center, and GuideStar. Examining the expense and compensation patterns of the nation's 10,000 largest independent, corporate, and community foundations (by giving) circa 2001, this report documents how major differences in operating styles affect the expenses of philanthropic foundations. The findings suggest that, along with foundation type and size, the missions and goals of foundations that lead to different staffing levels and types of expenses should be considered when assessing foundation expenditures.

The Scope and Activities of 501(c)(3) Supporting Organizations

paffairs@urban.org ( Thomas H. Pollak, Jonathan D. Durnford) — Sun, 05 Jun 2005 00:00:00 EST

Supporting organizations provide a broad array of services, including grants and other financial benefits, to 501(c)(3) public charities. This study found that nearly 92 percent of the large supporting organizations with no apparent grants in our sample provided significant financial services and benefits to their supported organizations. Complex business and legal factors like those at work in the for-profit world appear to drive such activities in most of these organizations.

Vital Signs : Indicators of the Nonprofit Safety Net for Children in the Washington, D.C., Region

paffairs@urban.org ( Eric C. Twombly, Jennifer Auer) — Thu, 31 Mar 2005 00:00:00 EST

From organizations that provide child care and early childhood education programs for preschoolers to groups that offer after-school and computer literacy programs for teenagers, nonprofits play crucial roles in the lives of children in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Vital Signs, a series of community profiles, compares the nonprofit resources and fiscal health of organizations serving children in the region's 11 jurisdictions. Taken together or individually, the profiles are a tool for the region's policy-makers, philanthropists and child advocates.