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Tips and Helpful Hints for Students and Community Members Doing Research in the Nonprofit Sector
This guide was originally published as a print guide titled Nonprofit Research and Resources Guide: Tips and Helpful Hints for Students and Community Members Doing Research in the Nonprofit Sector. It was written by Carrie Munn, a graduate of PSU's Institute for Nonprofit Managment in June of 2001. It has been updated and revised from its original form, and serves the purpose of guiding students at PSU's Institute for Nonprofit Management in doing library research.
The following librarians will be helpful for most nonprofit research projects:
- Emily Ford, Temporary Reference Librarian and Information Consultant to the College of Urban and Public Affairs, forder@pdx.edu, 503-725-3689
- Kerry Wu, Reference Librarian for Business Administration and Economics, wuq@pdx.edu, 503-725-4124
- Claudia Weston, Government Information Librarian, westonc@pdx.edu, 503-725-4542
- A complete list of all PSU subject librarians and contact information
The Institute of Nonprofit Management (INPM) has resided at Portland State University since 1996. Many of the resources that INPM/Masters of Public Administration (MPA) students need are not directly available at the library. However, with a little effort, much of the research in existence can be accessed. When in doubt about where to look or frustrated about dead ends, contact the librarians.
Introduction
The phrase "Nonprofit Sector" brings to mind many things for many different people. There are differences of opinion on how to refer to the field even among those who work in nonprofits or non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as they are known outside of the United States. One may hear nonprofits collectively referred to as the "Third Sector," meaning organizations that fall outside of business or government. With a long history of volunteerism, the name "Voluntary Sector" is also used to refer to these organizations.
Categorized by their tax status, nonprofits share similarity in the U.S. of being organized as corporations under chapter 501 of the Internal Revenue Service codes. Such organizations are tax-exempt, or pay no income taxes on revenues earned in pursuit of the organization's mission. Among the tax-exempt organizations, the majority of people recognize the public serving 501(c)(3) organizations as nonprofits, because 501(c)(3) organizations are deemed to be "charitable" and the tax code allows donors to deduct contributions from their Federal income taxes.
The IRS acknowledges six charitable purposes or missions for which it will grant 501(c)(3) status. To achieve this special status, the organization must operate exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes. Social service, cultural, advocacy, self-help, health, environmental, civil rights, and welfare organizations are all typically approved by the IRS as meeting the definition of the exempt purposes and granted 501(c)(3) status.
By now you may be asking, what does any of this have to do with conducting research? The diverse nature of the sector and its recent emergence as a distinct field of study at colleges and universities presents unique challenges in the research process. The two greatest of these challenges arise from the diversity of content and lack of comprehensive research tools. As noted more fully in this guide's section listing potential search terms, information relevant to the nonprofit sector can be found under headings ranging from education to business, social science to government documents, fundraising to law, and history to psychology. The depth and breadth of pertinent information categorized under other long established fields of study can be mindboggling at times. This situation is only beginning to be remedied by concerted efforts within the nonprofit sector to catalog and organize research and information crucial to building the developing identity of the nonprofit sector as a field of study. So, while students can easily find information in indexes of Sociological Abstracts and Political Science, or look up full-text articles on business management issues through the Business Source Premier database, no such comprehensive tools are available to students of the nonprofit sector. This guide is an attempt to catalog the locations of resources and tools to reduce the time students, nonprofit practitioners, and others spend searching for information. My hope is that students in particular will spend more time reading, analyzing, writing, and synthesizing information to build the knowledge and wisdom of the nonprofit sector and strengthen the sector's role in civil society.
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Selected Nonprofit Electronic Journals
Many, but by no means ALL, of the journals of interest in Nonprofit studies are available online. Below is a selected list of full text journals to which PSU has access. Most of the journals require authentication for off campus use.
Board Leadership: a Bimonthly Workshop Electronic Copy available for years 2000-
The Chronicle of Philanthropy Location: PSU Shelves HV85 .C525. Electronic Copy available for years 2000-
Fund Raising Management Electronic Copy available for years 1993-
International Journal of Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Marketing Electronic Copy available for years 2001-
New Directions for Philanthropic Fundraising Electronic Copy available for years 1998-
Nonprofit Management & Leadership Location: PSU Shelves HD 62.6 .N663. Electronic Copy available for years 1998-
Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly Electronic Copy available for years 1972-
Nonprofit World Electronic Copy available for years 1983-
Voluntas : International Journal of Voluntary and Non-profit Organizations Electronic Copy available for years 1988-
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Databases
Academic Search Premier
Provides full text for over 1,250 journals covering the social sciences, humanities, general science, multicultural studies, education, and current affairs.
Business Source Premier
Citations and some full text (approximately one third to one half of publications from dates beginning in the mid 1990's) from business and management periodicals, trade/industry journals, scholarly journals, local area titles, popular business magazines and newspapers; on topics including: finance, acquisitions and mergers, international trade, money management, new technologies and products, local and regional business trends, investments and banking. Coverage: 1980 to present.
Congressional Universe
Web access to Congressional Information. Indexes and abstracts Congressional publications since 1970. Includesfull text of the Congressional Record, Federal Register, Bills, and a number of other Congressional publications. Coverage: 1970- present.
CQ Library
Full text of the CQ Researcher (background analysis reports on current issues addressed in the Congress) and CQ Weekly (current legislative news and analysis).CQ Weekly issues are searchable from 1983 to the present.
CQ Researcher reports are available from October, 1991 to the present.
Lexis Nexis Academic Universe
Provides a variety of full text sources including: regional,national, and international newspapers; magazines; wire services; business publications (trade journals, corporate annual reports, tax sources); legal resources (law reviews, court cases, briefs, federal and state codes); government documents; medical information (medical journals); and reference sources (directories, biographical information). Source list.
Sociological Abstracts
Sociological Abstracts covers the academic and professional literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. The database draws information from an international selection of over 2,600 journals and other serials publications, plus conference papers, books, and dissertations. Citations to journal articles published after 1974 include abstracts. Coverage 1963 - the present.
Statistical Universe
Indexing and citations for statistics gathered by governmental agencies and industry organizations. Scope includes international, U.S. and state and local statistics. Links to online sources of U.S. government statistics are included.
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Local Resources
Multnomah County Library
The main branch of the Multnomah County Library has many books and resources useful to INPM students. Collections primarily focus on nonprofit management, fundraising, and proposal writing. The central library has maintained a regional collection for the Foundation Center since 1973. This collection and most other nonprofit management books and non-circulating reference materials are housed in the in Science and Business room on the second floor. The main library is located on SW 10th Avenue between Taylor and Yamhill Streets in downtown Portland.
Nonprofit Resource Center
The Multnomah County Library houses a regional collection for The Foundation Center, a nonprofit organization specializing in the gathering, analysis, and the dissemination of information on philanthropic foundations. The Grants Library includes publications of the Foundation Center, many fundraising related materials, national foundation annual reports, and a small collection of periodicals. The Grants Library is primarily a reference collection. Reference Materials are shelved along the walls behind the reference desk on the second floor of the Science and Business section with call numbers beginning at 361 or in the Grants Library.
Technical Assistance for Community Services (TACS)
Technical Assistance for Community Services is a Portland based nonprofit technical assistance and service provider. TACS can help students with resource and reference information on topical areas related to nonprofit management. They also sponsor many trainings and workshops for nonprofit professionals. These can be found on their website: http://www.tacs.org. Contact TACS by calling their helpline at: 233-9240 in Portland, or 1-888-206-3076 throughout OR, WA and AK, or by sending email to info@tacs.org.
The Black United Fund Resource Library
The Nonprofit Resources Library resides at the Black United Fund of Oregon in northeast Portland, 2828 NE Alberta Street. The library is designed to provide access to resource materials and training on nonprofit management to staff, volunteers and community members in the nonprofit sector. PSU students are welcome to use the library. The Resource Library was made possible by a generous grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust and donations of time and materials by other community members. For questions and information call the Black United Fund at 503-282-7973.
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The Foundation Center
The Foundation Center provides the most valuable collection of nonprofit resources of any single source identified to date. The Center's website, the primary source for this section, presents volumes of well-organized resources and links to other nonprofit information. Among the most useful tools for students, is the Foundation Center's online catalog with abstracts called the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature (formerly the Literature of the Nonprofit Sector, or LNPS). The Catalog contains more than 19,000 full bibliographic citations and of these over 12,000 include descriptive abstracts. Recently updated to include the library of residence for sited materials, a student can conduct highly specialized searches of the catalog and use interlibrary loan services to obtain copies of articles or borrow materials. An Online Librarian is available by email to answer questions about conducting research and using the full potential of the site.
Searches of the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature can be conducted according to author, title, subject, journal title, record type (article, book, CD-rom, pamphlet, sound or video recording), year of publication, keyword, or library location (Atlanta, Cleveland, New York, San Francisco, or Washington, D.C.). For further help or introductory information select from the following options in the drop down menu bar on the Catalog homepage: Contents and Scope, New Acquisitions, How to Search, Locate the Sources Cited In Your Search Results, Periodicals and Guided Tour.
In addition to the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature, the Foundation Center website has valuable information on researching philanthropy such as funding trends, the classification of grants, and statistics. The Virtual Classroom, found under the Learning Lab title bar, contains the following tutorials: Orientation to Grantseeking; Guide to Funding Research; Proposal Writing Short Course, Demystifying the 990-PF; FC Search Guided Tour; Foundation Grants to Individuals Guided Tour.
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Useful Search Terms
Searching for documents can be tricky for those not familiar with the variety of terms used by indexes to categorize information. The nonprofit sector itself is known by many different names (voluntary sector, third sector, etc.) and this profusion of terms continues within nonprofit subject areas. The following categories of search terms offers alternatives that may expand your document search results. For detailed searches, use the bolded, general headings in combination with particular subcategories.
Nonprofit Management & Governance
General Management
Fiscal Management
Collaboration
Evaluation
Strategic Planning
Boards of Directors
Human Resources &
Supervision
Program Management
Community Programs
Community Organizing &
Social Justice
Youth & Family
Education
Housing
Health & Human Services
Crime Prevention
Arts & Culture
Fundraising
General Fundraising
Special Events
Grant writing
Funder References
For-profit Enterprises
Planned Giving
Work Skills & Professional Development
Office Management
Time Management
Computers & the
Internet
Career Development
Leadership
Money Management &
Entrepreneurship
Communications
Media Relations
Marketing
Presentation Skills
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Reference sources at PSU Library
Understanding Nonprofit Organizations: Governance, Leadership, and Management (2001) Ott, J. Steven. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Location: HD2769.2 .U6 N65 2001 PSU Reference
Mission-Based Management : Leading Your Not-For-Profit in the 21st Century (2000) Brinckerhoff, Peter C. Nonprofit Law, Finance and Management Series. New York: Wiley. Location: HD62.6 .B74 2000 PSU Shelves
The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector (2001) Ott, J. Steven ed. Boulder, CO: Westview Press. Location: HD2769.2 .U6 N37 2001 PSU Reference
Inventing the Nonprofit Sector and Other Essays on Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Nonprofit Organizations (1992) Hall, Peter Dobkin. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Location: HV91 .H263 1992 PSU Reserve
Charity, Philanthropy, and Civility in American History (2003) Friedman, Lawrence J. and McGarvie, Mark D. eds. New York: Cambridge University Press. Location: HV41 .C48 2003 PSU Reference
American Philanthropy, 2nd Edition (2004). Bremner, Robert H. The Chicago History of American Civilization, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Managing the Non-Profit Organization: Practices and Principles (1992) Drucker, Peter F. New York, NY: HarperBusiness. Location: HD62.6 .D78 1990 PSU Reference
On Being Nonprofit: A Conceptual and Policy Primer (2002). Frumkin, Peter. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press. Location: HD2769.15 .F78 2002 PSU Reference
The New Nonprofit Almanac and Desk Reference: The Essential Facts and Figures for Managers, Researchers, and Volunteers (2002) Weitzman,Murray S. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Location: HD2769.2 .U6 N47 2002 PSU Reference
Human Resources Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (1997) Pynes, Joan E. Jossey Bass Nonprofit & Public Management Series, San Francisco, Jossey-Bass Publishers. Location: HF5549.2 .U5 P96 1997 PSU Reference
Starting and Managing a Nonprofit Organization : A Legal Guide (2001) Hopkins, Bruce R. Wiley Nonprofit Law, Finance and Management Series Location: KF1388 .H66 2001 PSU Shelves
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Web Based Resources
General Nonprofit Resources | Boards | Fundraising | Government Information and Statistics | Jobs | News and Information | Program Evaluation | Technology and Communications | Volunteerism
General Nonprofit Resources
Alliance Resource Center - www.allianceonline.org/
ARC The website of The Alliance for Nonprofit Management, is dedicated to building and transferring knowledge related to nonprofit management and governance. The Alliance Resource Center's database is searchable in terms of 23 distinct nonprofit areas of management and results can be sorted in terms of websites and organizations, books, videos, newsletters, and educational programs. In addition to the resource, the site contains a Provider database enables searches for management support resources by topic and location, and an online newsletter, PULSE!, with archives.
The Center for Excellence in Nonprofits - www.cen.org
CEN focuses on developing best practices and knowledge management among nonprofit organizations. The site contains publication and articles, suggested readings, archives of newsletters, and information on the organization's programs.
Charity Village - www.charityvillage.ca
Canada's supersite for nonprofits provides helpful resources and news for nonprofits in general, those in the US and internationally based NGOs. Useful sections to be found under Resources include: library, research, online discussions, online resources, online publications, book reviews, venture philanthropy and FAQs.
DMOZ Open Directory Project - dmoz.org/Society/Organizations/Nonprofit_Resources
The Open Directory Project's goal is to produce the most comprehensive directory of the web, by relying on a vast army of volunteer editors who help the site grow as internet resources expand. Nonprofit resources are listed by categories. Most are annotated links by issue area. The limited content is more diverse than many similar sites.
The Foundation Center - foundationcenter.org/
The center of the online universe for information about funding and foundations. Includes the Literature of the Nonprofit Sector and many other resources.
Free Management Library - www.managementhelp.org/
The Free Management Library is a complete library of resources for nonprofit and for-profit organizations. The goal of the library is to provide leaders and managers (especially those with very limited resources) basic and practical information about business, management and organizations. Information is broken down into 72 popular categories and further subdivides into 657 topics. Information is highly integrated, easily searchable, and very practical.
Idealist.org- http://www.idealist.org
Idealist is a project of Action Without Borders, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with offices in the United States and Argentina. Idealist is an interactive site where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities and supporters, and take steps toward building a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives.
Independent Sector - www.independentsector.org
The site gives an overview of IS programs and includes sections on the basics of lobbying by charitable organizations, the executive summary of the IS 1999 survey on giving and volunteering a starter kit to help nonprofits with public relations efforts, a searchable publications catalog, news, and public policy resources.
Interactive Knowledge for Nonprofits Worldwide - www.iknow.org
Developed and maintained by Raffa & Associates, P.C., Interactive Knowledge for Nonprofits Worldwide (Iknow) is a collection of online resource links in the areas of business services, education, fringe benefits, fund-raising, governance, human resources, internet resources and technology, legal issues, legislation, strategic planning, and volunteerism.
Joseph and Matthew Payton Philanthropic Studies Library - www.ulib.iupui.edu/special/psl/
This is the online library site for the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus. The site offers a philanthropic studies index searchable by keywords, extensive nonprofit links organized by subject area, and a very useful reference self-help section. Except for the manuscripts and archives, the IUPUI collections are available to students through interlibrary loan.
The Learning Institute for Nonprofit Organizations - www.uwex.edu/li/learner/library.htm
A comprehensive educational program for nonprofit managers, boards and volunteers delivered
through satellite conferences, online learning or videotapes. Included on this website are the extensive library of free materials including articles, classroom items, tools and great links. Eight basic subject areas are covered in depth. These include: Strategic Planning, Resource Development, Board Governance, Marketing, Financial Management, Social Entrepreneurship, Volunteer Management, and Strategic Alliances.
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy - www.ncrp.org
NCRP is dedicated to promoting philanthropy that addresses the unmet needs of disadvantaged populations, including very low-income communities, people of color, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender populations, and other groups facing discrimination or marginalization. The site contains a catalog of the Committee's numerous publications, the majority of articles from their newsletter, Responsive Philanthropy, and offers information about NCRP's advocacy and projects.
The Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York - www.npccny.org/
The databank section of the site includes information on advocacy; lobbying; government/tax issues; financial matters; fundraising; governance and organizational issues; health; disability insurance; workers' compensation; organizational insurance; personnel management; postal issues; resources and NPCC events, projects & editorials.
Nonprofit Genie - www.compasspoint.org/askgenie/index.php
A resource of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, this site, Global Electronic Nonprofit Information Express, includes weekly news, feature articles, the board caf%uFFFD newsletter, FAQs, links and publications. list of answers to frequently asked questions developed by the staff and sorted by management area. Also available: reviews of publications, extensive links, and free bi-weekly newsletter.
Nonprofit Nuts & Bolts - www.nutsbolts.com
Site contains reports, articles, free resources, and an extensive nonprofit resource center that includes links to online publications, directories of nonprofits, listservs and discussion groups, and service providers.
Nonprofit Risk Management Center - www.nonprofitrisk.org
Information and resources to help nonprofit staff and volunteers control risks. Site includes accessible newsletter archives, information about available publications, trainings, and consulting, and risk management links.
Boards
Board Cafe - www.compasspoint.org/boardcafe/index.php
A free electronic newsletter for members of nonprofit boards of directors published by CompassPoint in San Francisco. Back issues and instructions for subscribing to the newsletter can be found on the web site.
BoardSource - www.boardsource.org/
NCNB provides resources, programs, and services to the nonprofit community to help them strengthen their boards. Site contains information on NCNB's publications, membership, training, education, and board resources, including NCNB's large archived of FAQs on board roles and responsibilities.
Carver Governance.com - www.carvergovernance.com
John Carver's site on the Policy Governance Model for nonprofit boards. Includes explanations of the model, reprints of articles, publications, discussion forums, and services.
Free Toolkit for Boards of Directors - www.managementhelp.org/boards/boards.htm
A large collection of helpful tools maintained by Dr. Carter McNamara at the Management Assistance Program for Nonprofits, St. Paul, MN.
Fundraising
Association for Fundraising Professionals - www.nsfre.org
Formerly the National Association for Fund Raising Executives, the AFP's website contains sections on public policy, ethics, and publications as well as an extensive resource center. (In the future the domain name may change to reflect the organization's name change effective on 1/1/01.)
Fund-Raising.com - www.fundraising.com
This site provides nonprofits with information about creative ways to generate contributions. Resources include links to products and service, innovative fundraising ideas, and suggested books.
Government
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance - www.cfda.gov
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance is a government-wide compendium of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities which provide assistance or benefits to the American public. It contains financial and non-financial assistance programs administered by departments and establishments of the Federal government. The site features catalog highlights, types of assistance, application information, proposal writing guidance, and a list of programs as well as a searchable database of assistance programs.
Federal Government Resources on the Web - www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/federal.html
Housed by the University of Michigan Documents Center, this site is a major portal for government information. Over 100 topics are listed in the main index and related resources links.
Federal Register - www.archives.gov/federal_register/index.html
The no-frills Federal Register site provides access to federal regulations, public laws, and presidential documents. Visitors to the site can search the web pages and databases within the site and search help and tools are available.
IRS Tax Statistics - www.irs.ustreas.gov/taxstats/index.html
Users can download information on exempt organizations, foundations, charitable trusts, and products and services including statistics of income for organizations.
Nonprofit Gateway - www.usa.gov/Business/Nonprofit.shtml
Links to government agency homepages for information on grants and non-financial support. Sections include: Department/Agency gateways, Directory of Federal Government, Information services and links, and nonprofit resources.
OMB Watch - www.ombwatch.org
As the name implies, OMB Watch monitors governmental processes at the Office of Management and Budget. The organization focuses on five main areas: Budget and government performance issues; Regulatory and government accountability; Information for democracy and community; Nonprofit advocacy and other cross-cutting nonprofit issues; and Nonprofit policy and technology. The comprehensive Nonprofit Issues section presents news and analysis on issues affecting nonprofits. An online newsletter, OMBWatcher is available.
Information & Statistics
GuideStar - www.guidestar.org
GuideStar's mission is to promote philanthropy by helping donors, institutional funders, and charities become more informed, effective, and efficient. Site contains GuideStar's searchable database of more than 700,000 U.S. nonprofit organizations, donor resources, news and information.
The National Center for Charitable Statistics - nccs.urban.org
The National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) is the national repository of data on the nonprofit sector in the United States. Its mission is to develop and disseminate high quality data on nonprofit organizations and their activities for use in research on the relationships between the nonprofit sector, government, the commercial sector, and the broader civil society. The site provides access to information derived primarily from data supplied by tax-exempt nonprofit organizations to the Internal Revenue Service.
Jobs
Idealist - www.idealist.org
Searchable database of nonprofit organizations, jobs, volunteer opportunities, programs, and internships around the world. Visitors can review career resources, news, and subscribe to a free job e-mail list, and nonprofits can register and post job openings at no charge.
Opportunity NOCs - www.opportunitynocs.org
The Web's leading source of nonprofit job listings for administrative, staff and professional positions, with an estimated half million hits per month. Search for a nonprofit sector job, post a job, find career resources in the library, or subscribe to a monthly e-mail newsletter.
News and Information
Chronicle of Philanthropy - www.philanthropy.com
The Chronicle is a widely-read resource for all sectors of the nonprofit arena. The site contains much more than news, although access to the majority of content is restricted to subscribers. Check with the library for electronic access.
Nonprofit Online News - news.gilbert.org
Daily news for the nonprofit online community. Weekly news available free by email subscription. Current news with links for more in depth information. Index of news features.
NonProfit Times - www.nptimes.com
NPT is a monthly newspaper dedicated to current issues in the nonprofit sector. The site includes searchable archives, access to special reports, and a well developed resource directory. NPTimes has two alternative versions: Direct Marketing Edition and Financial Management Edition.
Philanthropy News Digest - foundationcenter.org/pnd/
PND contains abstracts of news, surveys and reports, and other items related the world of philanthropy. offers a comprehensive weekly update on philanthropic news that is also available for free via email. The site contains searchable archives.
Philanthropy News Network - pnnonline.org
The online version of the Philanthropy Journal of North Carolina is a comprehensive source of nonprofit news. Articles are divided into sections on corporate giving, education, foundations, fundraising, giving, innovations, law taxes & money, people, technology, and volunteers. The site also includes general information, job listings and links.
Program Evaluation
InnoNet - www.innonet.org
Innovation Network, Inc. (InnoNet) is dedicated to building evaluation knowledge and skills, enhancing capacity to improve and learn through the use of participatory evaluation, and helping organizations embrace, celebrate, and implement change. The site features an evaluation resources, a glossary, downloadable publications, a bibliography, and links.
United Way Outcome Measurement Resources - national.unitedway.org/outcomes/
The Outcome Measurement Resource Network's purpose is to provide outcome measurement resources and instruction. Sections include: United Way Resources, publications, current initiatives and activities, an outcome measurement resource library, and links.
Technology & Communications
CompuMentor - www.compumentor.org
CompuMentor provides person-to-person services, low-cost software and online resources to nonprofits and schools. The site provides information on CompuMentor's affordable software redistribution program and consulting services. The site contains information on computer basics, databases, networks, hardware recycling, volunteers and websites.
Coyote Communications - www.coyotecom.com
Coyote Communications is a consulting service for nonprofit and public sector organizations that specializes in online and offline communications services. The site provides a number of Technology Tip Sheets on databases & software, internet outreach, community relations, and web development and maintenance.
LINC Project - www.lincproject.org
The LINC (Low Income Networking and Communications) Project is a site dedicated to fostering connections, cooperation, and information exchange between grassroots organizations working for the benefit of low-income people. The site includes a directory of low-income organizations in the U.S., an organizers' online toolkit, events calendar, links to online newsletters and news. Could also be in advocacy.
MediaNet - www.internetnewsbureau.com/medianet/
An online tutorial to help nonprofits manage the traditional and online media campaigns. Sections include Ways to woo the media, Promoting your website, and great links to online media resources.
Network for Good - www.networkforgood.org/npo/
Site provides tools and resources for helping your nonprofit make the most of the internet. Primary sections include: day to day operations, getting the help you need, working the web, learning from others, and links. The site also provides online resource to help people find volunteer and giving opportunities in their local communities and beyond.
Npower - www.npower.org
NPower's mission is helping other non-profits use technology to better serve their communities. The site features an extensive resource library including technology tools, tech planning, tech training, how to's, fundraising for technology, technology volunteers. The NpowerLine newsletter is archived and available for download. Newly added, the Tech Surveyor, is an extensive online technology assessment for nonprofit organizations.
Techsoup - www.techsoup.org
TechSoup.org offers nonprofits a one-stop, ultra- comprehensive portal to learn and obtain help with technology issues. Categories include: nonprofit discounts on technology, tech planning, using the web, software reviews, a community networking center, and tools for technical support. A free, monthly publication, By the Cup offers links and stories related to nonprofit technology, feature articles written by specialists, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to recommended resources.
Volunteerism
The Nonprofit Matrix - www.nonprofitmatrix.com/
The Nonprofit Matrix is an online directory and guide to selecting and integrating dot-coms (commercial service providers of components such as online donation processing, charity auctions, affinity shopping and more) into a nonprofit organization's web and internet strategies. Includes some user reviews of services.
Service Leader's Virtual Volunteering Project - www.serviceleader.org/new/virtual/
The Virtual Volunteering Project works to encourage and assist in the development of volunteer activities that can be completed via the Internet. The site provides resources and information on virtual volunteerism and a monthly electronic newsletter on virtual volunteering called Virtual Verve.
Veritas Information Services - www.veritasinfo.com/
Veritas Information Services provides sophisticated research services to non-profit organizations to assist in fundraising. Information and links provided on corporate giving programs, demographics, donor listings, foundations, government funding, and prospect research sites.
Volunteer Match - www.volunteermatch.org
Created by Impact Online, this site utilizes the power of the Internet to help individuals nationwide find in person and "virtual" volunteer opportunities posted by local nonprofit and public sector organizations. Visitors can search the opportunities database according to distance from home, time of event, duration of commitment, and category of organization.
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