Indiana Nonprofits: Impact of Community and Policy Changes

Indiana Nonprofits: Impact of Community and Policy Changes (67 pages, PDF), a new report from Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy and School of Public Environmental Affairs, shows that while Indiana nonprofits are affected by community and policy changes, many are ill-prepared to advocate for their positions on such changes. More than a quarter of the nonprofits in the state participate in some form of advocacy, but only 3 percent say advocacy is one of their most important activities or programs. Moreover, those nonprofits involved in advocacy activities devote relatively little staff, volunteer, or financial resources to them, with 30 percent saying that they invest some staff or financial resources, but not both. Lack of technology also hinders nonprofit advocacy efforts: More than 30 percent of nonprofits involved in advocacy do not have access to the Internet or cannot communicate via e-mail with constituents or policy makers, and fewer than 50 percent have a Web site.