Research

Most of the Institute’s work involves conducting applied research on the nonprofit sector. We seek to fill important gaps in current knowledge about the sector and to provide timely and relevant information useful to nonprofit leaders, academics, and funders. Our research areas are:

• California Nonprofit Studies: Anchored by a regional and industry report series on the state of the nonprofit sector in California, the Institute is a leader in documenting California's nonprofit sector. Combining data from multiple sources allows the Institute to do in-depth studies of the California nonprofit sector by region or across a nonprofit industry.
  
• California Foundation Studies: Examining the role of foundations in California, the Institute has recently completed a study of foundation practices and policies in regards to providing general operating support.
  
• Philanthropy and Charitable Giving Studies: Building on groundbreaking examinations of the giving practices of minorities and women, the Institute seeks to support philanthropy by exploring how social justice grantmaking can effect structural change.

The Institute also responds to the needs of community partners by offering Additional Research Services such as:

• Preparation and analysis of state and federal government data on California nonprofits,
• Special studies and surveys of California’s nonprofit sector and the populations they serve, and
• Studies of nonprofits, and of patterns of individual giving and volunteering, in selected regions of California, and in selected immigrant and minority communities in the U.S.

Finally, by encouraging new research by students in the Master of Nonprofit Administration Program, invaluable contributions to our understanding of nonprofits, philanthropy, volunteerism and charitable giving are made through Masters Theses.