Independent Sector

Communications:communications amplifies critical information, analysis and stories for a broad, diverse audience to advance a healthier charitable sector. This work includes digital and print publications, analysis and perspectives, and other resources disseminated across proprietary and social or other media channels. Sample resources include the weekly member newsletter the digest, which includes news and events of interest to our member organizations; voices for good, which primarily focuses on the organization's public policy work on behalf of the sector; and changeworks, which lifts the work of our member organizations. This work also brings voice and visibility to key charitable sector research is conducts or commissions, including the pursuit of influence: interviews with nonprofit leaders about advocacy; alice in the nonprofit workforce: a study of financial hardship, the first-ever research report that found that more than one in five nonprofit employees in the united states struggle financially; and independent sector's 2024 health of the u.s. Nonprofit sector: annual review, which provided data, analysis, and recommendations about the key areas powering more than 1.9 million u.s. Nonprofits, including economy and finances, workforce, trust and governance, and public policy advocacy. Is also produced harnessing our collective power, a comprehensive report summarizing key insights from a national listening tour, capturing nonprofit and philanthropic sector challenges, trends, and opportunities.

Sector health:independent sector's work analyzes and shares insights on four core aspects of the charitable sector's health: (1) finances; (2) workforce; (3) public trust and good governance; (4) policy advocacy. Research from various authoritative sources is compiled in the health of the us nonprofit sector annual report, which was released in december 2024. Data findings and analysis in the report are then used to inform policy and practice interventions needed to build a healthier charitable sector. Is also commissions and conducts original research. In 2024, we conducted our fifth annual survey on public trust in nonprofits and philanthropy, conducted in partnership with edelman data and intelligence. In 2024, we found that the nonprofit sector is the most trusted sector of american society, in part due to concerning losses of public trust in small businesses and local communities. In 2024 we concluded another significant body of research, also commissioned by independent sector and mentioned above, examining advocacy activities by nonprofits. The quantitative study, released in 2023, indicated concerning downward trends in policy advocacy by nonprofit organizations. In 2024, we released a complementary qualitative study that provided more insight into how and why nonprofit organizations do or do not advocate. All of independent sector's research, true to is practice, is intended to inform tools, trainings, and other interventions to strengthen the health of the nonprofit sector.

Capacity building:capacity building activities in 2024 strengthened leadership development and advanced community transformation across the nonprofit and philanthropic landscape. Through intentional convenings we cultivated transformative learning spaces and cross-sector collaboration to support leaders and organizations working at the intersection of equity, justice, and impact.

Membership:membership at independent sector provides full access to opportunities to meet, collaborate with, and learn from fellow changemakers and thought leaders at independent sector events and convenings; virtually and in-person. Members hear directly from policy and other charitable sector experts on issues impacting the sector and increase individual and organizational knowledge and skills through webinars and workshops.