Nonprofit Studies Program¹
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

The Nonprofit Studies Program (NSP) was initiated in 2001 to bridge theory and practice in the nonprofit sector. The Program’s mission is “to foster academic scholarship in the nonprofit sector, and serve as a conduit between scholars and practitioners in creating and disseminating knowledge.” Its research goals include 1) strengthening the ties between faculty and researchers within the Andrew Young School, across the University, and among other researchers and practitioners external to GSU who have interests in the nonprofit sector, 2) increasing the relevance and visibility of nonprofit research by conducting research in partnership with nonprofit organizations, and 3) providing sound policy analysis that can inform public policy debates on the future of the sector. Within the local nonprofit sector, it aims to promote the interaction of nonprofit leaders with each other, and with nonprofit educators and researchers, by sponsoring communiqués, roundtables, and conferences. Among the community at large, the program works to increase awareness of the nonprofit sector and improve functioning of the sector through better public knowledge of the issues.

Projects

New Evidence about Women and their Philanthropic Activities: Findings from Metro Atlanta. David M. Van Slyke and Sarah L. Eschholz. This study, sponsored by the United Way Women’s Philanthropic Initiative, examined the differences between women and men in their patterns and motivations for giving and volunteering. The project also focused extensively on the differences among women controlling for race/ethnicity, income, education, age, religiosity, and political affiliation. The results suggest differences in giving and volunteer patterns among women that have important implications for cultivating women donors. The final report was released March 2002, and has been featured in several local publications, notably the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Business-to-Business, and Atlanta Woman. The study is being distributed nationally by the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, nonprofit women's organizations and foundations, and a number of trade publications and newspapers. The study was presented on December 10, 2002, to approximately 300 individuals at the Atlanta History Center. The event was sponsored by the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta, Merrill Lynch, and Northside Hospital.

Trends Over Time in Social Capital and Philanthropy. David M. Van Slyke and Janet L. Johnson. This study, sponsored by the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta involves quarterly surveys of households in Metropolitan Atlanta for the period January 2002-January 2003. Building on two previous studies conducted by the Andrew Young School, one a study of individual philanthropy and the other a study of patterns of social capital, this study analyzes how Metro Atlanta’s giving, volunteering, and social capital have been affected by the September 11th tragedies and the recent downturn in the economy. It will also provide a look at quarterly trends in philanthropy, a topic about which there is little known to date. Progress reports were issued in April, September, and December of 2002. The final report will be forthcoming in Spring 2003.

Public Funding of the Arts - Study for the Greater Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Michael Rushton has begun work on a study, to be released in Spring 2003 by Research Atlanta, on options for a dedicated tax-based source of funding for arts organizations in metro Atlanta. The study will be a contribution to the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Task Force on the Arts. Rushton’s other research projects include the implications of cultural diversity on public funding of the arts, the political oversight of arm’s length arts funding agencies, and the introduction of performance measures in nonprofit arts organizations.

Consulting Assistance to the Regional Leadership Foundation on Building Social Capital in Metro Atlanta. September 2002-Present.

Reports

Changes Post 9-11 or One-Time Effects? Examining Trends in Trust, Giving, and Volunteering. David M. Van Slyke and Janet L. Johnson. Commissioned by The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. September 2002.

New Evidence about Women and Philanthropy: Findings from Metro Atlanta. David M. Van Slyke and Sarah L. Eschholz. Funded by the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta’s Women’s Philanthropic Initiative. February 2002.

To Give, To Volunteer, To Trust: How Strong is the Philanthropic and Civic Tradition in Metro Atlanta? David M. Van Slyke and Janet L. Johnson. Commissioned by The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. May 2002.

Activities

2002 Nonprofit Executive Leadership Roundtable. The Nonprofit Studies Program held its second annual Nonprofit Executive Roundtable on May 10, 2002. Approximately 40 nonprofit and foundation presidents and CEOs attended the roundtable.

It featured a keynote address by Dr. Burton Weisbrod, John Evans Professor of Economics and Fellow of the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University, and one of the nation’s most well-known and respected nonprofit economists. Dr. Weisbrod discussed the classic distinctions among institutional forms (private, public, nonprofit) in the U.S., including their relative strengths and limitations in accomplishing various goals. He also discussed the increased blurring of institutional forms, and what this trend suggests about new partnership opportunities and arrangements for building community social capital.

Drs. Johnson and Van Slyke presented the first quarter results of a five-quarter study they are currently conducting for The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta focusing on social capital, individual charitable giving, and volunteering. This study involves quarterly surveys of households in Metro Atlanta for the period January 2002-January 2003.  Building on two previous studies conducted by the Andrew Young School, one a study of individual philanthropy in 1999 and the other a study of patterns of social capital in 2000, Drs. Van Slyke and Johnson presented evidence on how Metro Atlanta's giving, volunteering, and social capital have been affected by the September 11^th tragedies and the downturn in the economy.

In addition, the Nonprofit Studies Program hosted an academic seminar given by Dr. Weisbrod on Thursday, May 9, 2002. Dr. Weisbrod spoke to an audience of approximately 50 faculty and students on his different research projects focused on understanding the comparative strengths and limitations of different institutional forms.