Links to Selected Web sites

Organization with information regarding what a nonprofit can and cannot do, especially in regard to lobbying.

The ABA is an organization that, among other things, provides programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public. There are three ABA Sections dedicated to the issues affecting philanthropy and the law:

Aspen Institute Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation: The Program focuses on leadership initiatives to maximize the impact of the nonprofit sector and provides a list of publications.

Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Nonprofit and Philanthropy Law Section: An on-line forum that contains topics relevant to nonprofit and philanthropy legal issues and information about the Nonprofit and Philanthropy Law Section of the AALS.

BoardSource: A membership organization addressing nonprofit governance issues. Services include referrals, customized board development training, and programs for practitioners.

Candid

Foundation Center and GuideStar combined to formCandid. Candid offers data tools on nonprofits, foundations, and grants.

Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest: Disseminates information on lobbying and advocacy for nonprofit organizations.

Charities Law Project of the of the State Attorneys General Program at Columbia Law School: A resource for Attorneys General in fulfilling their charities enforcement responsibilities that makes available publications, best practice guides, and other sources of information.

Council on Foundations: Includes a directory of community foundations and FAQ’s about foundations, finding foundation grants, and starting a foundation. The COF provides members with technical assistance, research, publications, conferences and workshops, legal services, and a wide array of other services.

The Foundation Center: Offers a digest of fundraising news, grantmaker information, an online library, and a marketplace of fundraising-related books and seminars.

Giving USA Foundation: Publishes an annual report on philanthropy and giving trends in the United States. Giving USA’s Web site also provides a useful list of Web sites relevant to the nonprofit sector under “Philanthropic Resources.”

GuideStar: A searchable database of more than 620,000 nonprofit organizations in the United States. GuideStar’s mission is to help improve the effectiveness of the nonprofit sector through the collection and presentation of comprehensive information about nonprofit organizations.

Guidestar International: Provides a detailed catalogue of reports and news items on civil society organisations (CSOs) throughout the world.

Independent Sector: A membership organization that brings together foundations, nonprofit groups and corporate giving programs to support philanthropy, volunteering and citizen action.

The Indiana University Center on Philanthropy: The Center seeks to increase the understanding of philanthropy and improve its practice through research, teaching, and public service.

International Center for Civil Society Law: A legal resource that makes available free publications and other resources to protect human freedoms by improving laws of belief, expression, association, assembly, information, and participation.

International Center For Not-For-Profit Law: Offers a library, archive, resource center, and clearinghouse of information on legal, regulatory, and administrative developments regarding the not-for-profit sector.

International Society for Third-Sector Research: Promotes research and education in the fields of philanthropy, civil society and the nonprofit sector. The organization hosts conferences, publishes the journal Voluntas and other papers, and provides an extensive list of Web sites relevant to nonprofits and philanthropy.

IRS Information for Tax-Exempt Organizations: This site provides information regarding the requirements for tax-exempt organizations, how to apply for recognition of tax-exempt status by the IRS, and the annual filing requirements for tax-exempt organizations.

National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO): NASCO is an association of state offices charged with oversight of charitable organizations and charitable solicitation in the United States and provides information about and resources for charitable organizations.

National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy: Extensive list of links to philanthropy-related resources.

National Council of Nonprofits: Network of state and regional nonprofit associations.

Nonprofit Academic Centers Council: A membership association comprising academic centers or programs at accredited colleges and universities that focus on the study of nonprofit organizations, voluntarism and/or philanthropy. Visit this site for the membership listing, by university, of many academic research centers.

Nonprofit Coordinating Committee of New York (NPCC): NPCC was established in 1983 to help nonprofits meet common challenges and problems, to serve as a meeting ground, and to strengthen the nonprofit sector as a whole. NPCC currently has over 1,000 members in the New York metropolitan area, ranging from all volunteer groups to major institutions.

Nonprofit Law Prof Blog: A Blog contributed to and edited by law professors across the country on several topics relating to nonprofit law.

Panel on the Nonprofit Sector: A panel formed by the Independent Sector that publishes reports with recommendations on governance, accountability, transparency, and ethical practice for charitable organizations. The reports can be downloaded for free.

The Philanthropy Journal Online: A comprehensive source of nonprofit news, information, and links.

SSRN, Nonprofit & Philanthropy Law Journal: Contains abstracts and articles published in the Nonprofit & Philanthropy Law Journal.

The Urban Institute, Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy: A nonprofit policy research organization established in Washington, D.C., in 1968. The Institute investigates social and economic problems confronting the nation and analyzes efforts to solve these problems. The Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy is dedicated to analyzing the size, scope, and performance of nonprofits.