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The Center conducts, supports and encourages the development
of knowledge and understanding of programs, strategies, and approaches
that can be used by the community, nonprofits and voluntary associations.
It engages in research to understand the nature of the third sector, its
importance to society and how best to build and maintain it.
The Center helps leaders adapt, synthesize, and apply
research and knowledge from a range of sectors and disciplines. Much is
aimed at building through the third sector strong neighborhoods and communities
that promote positive outcomes in children, youth, families, and the built
and natural environments in which they live. The Center works with leaders
to apply and adapt knowledge and best practices to local conditions and
circumstances. It clarifies understandings of the role of voluntary associations
and nonprofits in building a civil society.
This portion of the site is aimed at two audiences: practitioners
and researchers. So some of the information may not be of interest but
we hope you will find some that is. We feature organizations that are engaged
in building useful information for nonprofit and voluntary association
leadership. Key research reports that inform practice are featured. Current
Center work is also summarized. With time we will contribute to generating
useful information that you tell us you need.
Data sources and formats to develop community profiles
can be found here. Leaders need facts and figures organized around themes
of current concern or interest. Finding this information is time consuming
and difficult. We hope this portion of the site will help cut the time
needed and also help you draw on other's work for suggestions on how to
format and discuss the facts you do find. We have featured over 50 community
quality of life and benchmark reports. There are reports from small rural
groups to large urban groups.
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