The Nonprofit Sector Research Fund awards research grants and organizes convenings to expand knowledge of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy, improve nonprofit practices, and inform public policy related to nonprofits.

Established at The Aspen Institute in 1991, the Fund seeks to enhance both the quantity and quality of nonprofit research by increasing the legitimacy and visibility of nonprofit scholarship; encouraging new investments in sector research; and supporting the exploration of tough, neglected questions and enlarging the number of creative scholars and practitioners interested in pursuing nonprofit studies. Since its founding, the Fund has awarded a total of $10 million to support more than 400 research projects on a broad range of nonprofit topics.

After an intensive year-long evaluation and strategic planning process, NSRF has now initiated a more targeted approach to research grantmaking. Beginning in 2002, NSRF is focusing its work in three areas:

1) Nonprofits and Public Policy

2) Nonprofit Relations with Business and Government; and

3) Foundation Policy and Practice.

For each of its focus areas, NSRF will assess research gaps and needs; support research and dialogue on priority topics; communicate research findings to appropriate audiences; and work with other organizations to facilitate the use of new knowledge to improve relevant practices and policies.

New advisory committees, made up of nonprofit experts from the research, practice, and policy communities, have now been established and are guiding NSRF's work in each issue area. The committees will decide how to engage interested individuals in NSRF's work on the three priority issues. This may involve circulating requests for proposals (RFPs), commissioning research, organizing convenings, and/or other related activities. NSRF will not be continuing its annual, open-ended call for proposals, except for support of doctoral dissertations. Please do not send NSRF proposals except in response to new issue-focused RFPs that may be circulated.

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