LibGuides: Economics Research Guide: Non-Profits

Nonprofit Organizations

Like private companies, it can be difficult to find information on nonprofit organizations. In addition to searching for articles and looking at the organization's website, the following websites (mostly free, some with additional subscription content), can be useful resources:

GuideStar
Guidestar is the go-to resource for nonprofit research. The free version provides access to a nonprofit's IRS Form 990 filings which can be great sources of information on a nonprofit and include revenue info as well as money spent on top outside consultants and top highest-paid executives.
Chronicle of Philanthropy National Center for Charitable Statistics
Another great resource for nonprofit research (including 990 forms). Lots of great top-level statistics, like how many tax-exempt organizations exist broken out by charities, private foundations and other nonprofit groups.
Charity Navigator
A good site for researching the reputations of various charities and to see who is ranked high (or low) among categories such as education, human and civil rights and arts, culture and the humanities.
Better Business Bureau for Charities and Donors
Another good site for researching the reputation of charities.
Association for Research on Nonprofits and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA)
ARNOVA offers publications and research related to nonprofits and volunteerism.
Free Management Library
The Free Management Library is a resource for nonprofits. It offers tips and toolkits related to various topics that are relevant to nonprofits, including Boards of Directors, Leadership Development, Mentoring, Decision Making, Growing Organizations and more.
BoardSource
BoardSource is similar to the Free Management Library in that it offers support to nonprofit boards related to governance practices.

*List compiled by Celia Ross, 2015. ALA Online Learning Business Reference 101.