The Center for What Works

An Evaluation Guidebook for the Arts

Ashoka Innovators for the Public Ashoka's mission is to develop the profession of social entrepreneurship around the world by finding and investing in people (Asoka Fellows). Stipends and professional services are provided.

Blackbaud Blackbaud offers various software programs for nonprofits for fundraising (The Raiser's Edge), fund accounting software and planned giving, plus has other solutions.

Business for Social Responsibility Business for Social Responsibility helps member companies develop and implement socially responsible policies, practices and processes.

Chicago Illinois Business List The Chicago Illinois Business List's goal is to provide a platform that allows small businesses to advertise directly to consumers at little to no cost. No matter what business or provider you are looking for, chances are that you will find them registered with The Chicago Illinois Business List. 95% of the advertisements placed with us are absolutely free, and we give the best possible deal to our members for upgrades

Child Trends Child Trends is an independent, nonpartisan research center focused exclusively on improving children’s lives.

Chronicle of Philanthropy, The The Chronicle of Philanthropy is the newspaper of the nonprofit world. Subscription is required but some articles from the current issue and other information are available on the website.

Community Wealth Ventures, Inc. Community Weath Ventures, Inc. is a social enterprise consulting firm that helps non-profits become self-sustaining and assists corporations with community investment strategies.

Cone, Inc. Cone, Inc., part of Omnicom Group, is a communications company that helps organizations with marketing public relations, cause branding, media services and crisis management.

Digital Divide Network Digital Divide Network (produced and coordinated by the Benton Foundation) offers information, tools and resources regarding digital divide developments. It also serves as a discussion forum.

DocSite Advocacy Evaluation Resource List

Ecoing Green Echoing Green provides seed money to social entrepreneurs. Their mission is to spark social change by identifying, investing, and supporting the world's most exceptional emerging leaders and the organizations they launch.

EntreWorld EntreWorld (Kauffman Foundation) is a magazine/website that provides information on programs and resources for entrepreneurs.

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, The The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation focuses its efforts on entrepreneurship and improving the education for children and youth.

Fast Company Magazine Fast Company Magazine covers entrepreneurial organizations. The website contains various resource centers and information.

Fieldstone Alliance At Fieldstone Alliance our core product is knowledge—solutions to issues facing the nonprofit sector. We publish practical books—with a focus on nonprofit management, funder effectiveness, and community building. We also provide in-depth assessment, strategy development, and capacity-building consulting expertise to help organizations, collaboratives, networks, and intermediaries increase results.

Global Business Network Global Business Network is a membership organization that focuses on enhancing the capacity of organizations. Consulting services, training, tools and other means of support are offered.

GrantCraft GrantCraft offers the chance to sit at a virtual roundtable with experienced grant makers from all kinds of foundations. This site provides you with the tools to shape your role, inside your foundation and with grantees.

GrantCraft Funders Collaborative When it comes to funder collaboratives, is the whole truly greater than the sum of its parts? Can foundations make a bigger impact with grant dollars by working together than by going it alone? Yes, grantmakers say, as long as members define their goals, set clear operational guidelines, and work from the start to make the collaborative function well for grantees. In this guide, contributors share strategies for structuring a collaborative to fit its purpose, building strong relationships and resolving conflicts, and figuring out if the collaborative you're in is working. Contributors also offer ample proof that collaboratives are leading the field in bringing the voices of nonfunders — grantees, intended beneficiaries, experts, and others — into the process of making grants.

Great Nonprofits GreatNonprofits is a place to find, review, and talk about great -- and perhaps also not so great -- nonprofits. The organization makes it easier for you to share your knowledge so that other people can discover the great nonprofits that are out there.

Greenstar Foundation Greenstar Foundation's briefing on how the internet is changing the way of giving. A free newsletter is available.

Guidestar Guidestar is the national database of nonprofit organizations. Profiles of nonprofits, financial overviews and IRS Forms 990 (PDF files) are available.

Homeless Shelter Directory The Homeless Shelter Directory offers a complete list of Illinois shelters and a map pin-pointing each location.

Information Technology Resource Center, The The Information Technology Resource Center is transitioning to an organization that will be called Lumity. They are dedicated to helping nonprofits effectively utilize computers and other technology. The site contains links to sites of interest to nonprofits.

Joint Venture: Silicone Valley Network Joint Venture: Silicone Valley Network is a nonprofit organization that brings together leaders from many sectors to analyze and act on issues affecting the economy and quality of life in Silicon Valley.

National Foundation for Teaching Social Entrepreneurship National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship is committed to teaching entrepreneurship to low-income individuals ages 11 through 18 so they can become economically productive members of society.

Net Impact Net Impact, formerly Students for Responsible Business, is an international network of new leaders who are changing the world through business.

NetAction NetAction offers a training course on internet outreach and advocacy plus the site has links to publications of interest to nonprofit organizations.

New Profit Inc. New Profit Inc. is a nonprofit venture philanthropy firm committed to both the practice of venture philanthropy and the evolution of a new market for social change.

New Schools Venture Fund New Schools Venture Fund is a venture philanthropy fund focused on transforming public education through ideas and entrepreneurs so all children have a chance to succeed.

Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network's mission is to support and serve the diverse people and organizations that help non-profits understand and employ technology effectively.

Npower Npower is a network of non-profits that are dedicated to enhancing technological knowledge and use among nonprofits in the Greater Puget Sound area.

OMB Watch OMB Watch Non Profits Policy and Technology contains news on research, technology and advocacy issues relative to nonprofits.

Philanthropic Initiative, Inc., The The Philanthropic Initiative, Inc. is a consulting firm that helps donors (individuals, families, foundations and corporations) enhance the impact of their philanthropy.

Philanthropy Journal Philanthropy Journal reports the latest news on nonprofits throughout the U.S., and on social issues and policy change in North Carolina. There is no charge to subscribe.

Project Streamline Project Streamline is a collaborative effort of organizations from both sides of the grantmaker/grantseeker divide who are studying grant application and reporting practices, their impact on grantseekers and grantmakers, and the implications for the field

REDF REDF, formerly the Robots Enterprise Development Fund, provides social organizations with financing, access to additional funds, networking opportunities, social outcomes measurements, technological tools and training.

Resources for Methods in Evaluation and Social Research This site links to on line books, manuals and guides about evaluation and social research methods, such as surveys, observations, and others. There are also links to sites about data quality, statistical analysis, presenting statistical analysis, and free software such as statistical, office suites, spreadsheets and more.

Root Cause Root Cause develops and supports enduring solutions to social problems through strategy consulting, knowledge sharing, social impact research, and the building of sustainable social enterprises.

Social Venture Network, The The Social Venture Network is a nonprofit network that promotes new models and leadership for socially and environmentally sustainable initiatives.

Success Measures Data System The Success Measures Data System (SMDS) is an outcome-based evaluation module for conducting full-scale participatory evaluations of programs to improve neighborhoods and communities. It provides everything needed, from start-to-finish, to do credible, useful evaluation.

TCC Group TCC Group, formerly The Conservation Company, is a consulting firm that develops strategies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of nonprofit organizations.

TechSoup.org TechSoup.org is powered by CompuMentor, one of the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit technology assistance agencies. The site offers nonprofits with one-stop shopping for their technology needs.

Tutor Mentor Connection The T/MC is a Chicago-based nonprofit. This organization's blog connects people from around the world with information and networks that help support the growth of comprehensive, voluteer based tutor/mentor programs.

Urban Institute's Outcome Measurement website This website includes logic models from The Center's joint research project with The Urban Institute on Performance Measurement Outcome Indicators.

Urban Institute, The The Urban Institute is an economic and social policy research organization. News, research reports, and other information is available through the website on various topics.

Visionaries, Inc. Visionaries, Inc. uses media and education to change lives. The organization has a television series, videos, workshops and other information.