Professional Associations and Networks
American Association of Fundraising Counsel
The American Association of Fundraising Counsel is a membership organization composed of consulting firms that advise nonprofits on fundraising matters. This website has useful data regarding trends in philanthropy, including sources and distribution of funding as well as links to the Giving USA annual publication.
American Association of Grant Professionals
The American Association of Grant Professionals serves grant developers who work for public or private organizations. The website has information about the organization, including a code of ethics and credentialing; useful articles about grantseeking; and links to other sites that contain information related to educational grant writing.
Association of Small Foundations
ASF is committed to building and strengthening small foundation philanthropy by providing quality programs, products and services to foundations with few or no staff. This website provides access to ASF programs and services as well as a members-only section. Users can also access ASF publications, legislative updates, and software from this site.
Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA)
ARNOVA is an international, interdisciplinary network of scholars and nonprofit leaders working to foster the creation, application, and dissemination of research on voluntary action, nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, and civil society. The website includes information on conferences, publications, and research in addition to an active listserv.
Council on Foundations
The Council on Foundations (COF) is a membership organization for grantmakers, which serves the public good by promoting and enhancing responsible and effective philanthropy. The website features links to member websites and affinity groups; publications; job postings; legal expertise, legislative analysis and IRS regulations; news, press releases, media alerts, and issue papers; and conferences and workshops. Much of the site is for members only, and members are required to register to obtain a username and password.
Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers
The Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers (RAGs) is a membership association of the nation's largest RAGs across the country that help more than 4,000 local grantmakers practice more effective philanthropy in their communities. This website includes the Regional Association Locator, which lists contact information for each individual RAG in the United States.
Independent Sector
Independent Sector is committed to promoting, strengthening, and advancing the nonprofit and philanthropic community to foster private initiative for the public good. This site provides an overview of IS programs; a research directory which includes the Nonprofit Almanac and Desk Reference; and links to Giving and Volunteering in the United States. The NonProfit Pathfinder, designed for scholars, researchers, practitioners, funders, and the media, gathers and organizes online information on philanthropy, the nonprofit sector, and civil society organizations.
International Society for Third Sector Research
ISTR is a major international association promoting research and education in the fields of civil society, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector. This website includes information on regional networks and affinity groups, conferences, and publications. Users can also access the ISTR listserv.
National Center for Family Philanthropy
The goal of NCFP is to serve as a resource for family philanthropists by publishing books, conducting research, and offering educational seminars on family foundations. The Center's website includes a set of links to family foundations' sites, resources on foundations and nonprofit organizations, and NCFP publications that can be ordered online.
Nonprofit Academic Centers Council
NACC is a membership association comprised of academic centers or programs at accredited colleges and universities that focus on the study of nonprofit organizations, voluntarism and/or philanthropy. This website links organizational members and provides access to nonprofit resources and press.
Philanthropy Roundtable
The Philanthropy Roundtable is an association of grantmakers founded on the principle that "voluntary private action offers the best means of addressing many of society's needs, and that a vibrant private sector is critical to creating the wealth that makes philanthropy possible." This site features highlights of articles from current and past issues of Philanthropy and provides information about the roundtable's publications, conferences, and events.