Center for Public Policy at the Union Institute

The Center for Public Policy, based in Washington, D.C., is a research division of the Union Institute that promotes equal access to and full participation in the policymaking process. CPP emphasizes collaborative work and values process as an important outcome and a means for promoting change in thought and action. During the last decade, CPP has concentrated on the critical role nonprofit organizations play in promoting democracy, fostering social justice, and addressing human needs.

Center for the Study of Philanthropy and Voluntarism

Established in 1986, Duke University's Center for the Study of Philanthropy and Voluntarism has three major objectives: to support scholarly research on issues related to philanthropy and voluntarism; to 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. Past and current research projects include an examination of the predicted and actual effects of tax reform on charitable giving, research on the implications of entrepreneurial behavior in nonprofit organizations; and a study of the history of philanthropic giving.

Center for the Study of Philanthropy at City University of New York

The Center for the Study of Philanthropy was founded in 1986 to provide an ongoing national and international forum for research, discussion, and public education on philanthropic trends. CSP’s activities are interdisciplinary, with a particular emphasis on multicultural philanthropy; the patterns of giving and voluntarism by different religious, ethnic, racial, gender, and economic groups; and foundations and corporations, both nationally and internationally.

Center for the Study of Voluntary Organizations and Service at Georgetown University

Established in 1997, the Center for the Study of Voluntary Organizations and Service at Georgetown University sponsors and encourages multidisciplinary and public policy research about the nonprofit sector, philanthropy, and voluntary service. The purpose of the Center is to build the future leadership of the nonprofit and voluntary sector; to enhance the abilities of current community sector leaders through professional educational opportunities and applied research; and to provide a broad educational context and understanding to students and faculty involved in voluntary services and community outreach to develop a life-long ethos for supporting voluntary activities and the nonprofit sector through direct service or professional engagement.

Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute

The Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy produces rigorous, nonpartisan research to promote an ongoing dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and policy makers as a means for informed decision-making on public policy. CNP works to build the necessary research tools, contribute to sensible theory, and develop applications that illuminate both policy and practice in the nonprofit sector.