Massachusetts Nonprofit Database: Tools for Nonprofits and Communities The National Center for Charitable Statistics A Project of the Urban Institute

Key Features and Uses Master List Financial Analyzer Shared Goods and Services Infrastructure Mapping Organizations, Programs and Service-Delivery Areas Community Planning & Analysis Grassroots Community-Building & the Community Inventory

Massachusetts Nonprofits: Overview 37,268 registered organizations (2008) 14,261 public charities filing Form 990s 3,269 private foundations filing 990-PFs 5,518 others filing 990s including 501(c)(7) social and recreation clubs, 501(c)(4) “social welfare” and advocacy organizations, 501(c)(19) veteran organizations Others not registered: congregations, neighborhood associations, community arts

Core: Master List A user can quickly search for any organization based on a number of standard criteria (name, address, size, type) and view a standard report showing the organization’s name, location, size, creation date, and (for most organizations) programs and purpose Capture information on congregations, informal organizations and government units, too. Approved users can add new organizations one at a time or upload a list.

Financial Analyzer Begin with IRS Form 990 data Supplement with audited financial statements or other information on operating revenue and expenses, etc.? (We could find in statements submitted by some orgs to State Charity Bureau, or give orgs option to include in their profiles.)‏ Tool for financial management and long-range planning Organizations can create “peer groups” of similar organizations Benchmarking. Standard report will compare an organization’s finances (and key financial ratios) with its peer group, field, or organizations of the same size within a field (using the NTEE codes)‏ Build on ratios used in earlier Boston Foundation report Include executive compensation info?

Financial Analyzer: Features Popup help Video and written guides to help boards and managers understand basics of financial analysis Other growth rates - revenues, net assets –Efficiency ratios –Balance sheet ratios Revenues, expenses, balance sheet

Version 2 will also show percentages: Contributions52% Program service revenue30% Membership dues10% Other 8%

Shared Services Infrastructure Tools for helping organizations develop partnerships or share resources with other nonprofits, find consultants or other resources –Share HR, accounting, tech. or other “back office” staff or consultants. Share development/fundraising help. (Create a full- time job out of multiple part-time jobs)‏ –Find lower cost options for insurance or supplies through bulk purchases (Mass. Nonprofit Network)‏ Possible partners: Mass. CPA Society, VolunteerMatch, BoardNet, Craigslist Ideal platform could combine “realtime” listings from VolunteerMatch, Craigslist, Boardnet and others

Sample Shared Services Screen

Service Delivery and Performance We begin with IRS Form 990 data on programs Organizations can enhance by creating “service delivery maps” showing where they provide services and more information on the specific type of clients served Organizations can code their programs and clients using the Nonprofit Program Classification system or NTEE Population codes to make it easy for users to find the right resources, even though organizations may use different language to describe the same service or population served. Output maps, organization and program lists.

Service Delivery and Performance Compare service delivery in different areas Combine data from nonprofit organizations with data from congregations, informal organizations, and government Include standardized measures of program performance from Urban’s Outcome Indicators Project and other sources Future versions could integrate automatically with outcome measurement systems such as Social Solution’s ETO product.

Mapping Tool – Find Org.

Show Orgs by Location

Organization Page Map the location of the organization’s main office.

Map a Service Area Registered users can map the program and service locations with a few mouse clicks!

Community Inventory Maps show orgs (including congregations and governmental units) and their service delivery areas along with neighborhood and community needs “Toolkit” to help neighborhoods and communities create community improvement or social capital-building projects: –Identify and prioritize community needs –Find & add nonprofit & government programs or resources –Coordinate efforts among nonprofits: Enlist local congregations and social service organizations to build a new playground, etc. –Sign up volunteers for a park clean-up, tutoring, visiting elderly shut-ins, etc. –Plan events, ranging from cookouts to community services Research teams & student service learning groups can use to map community & coordinate work

KnowledgeBase Resources “Community Best Practices”: Link to successful or model community projects –Create your checklist of best practices that are viable in your community, then check off those that are in place, those in progress, and those worth exploring for the future “How to” section linking to resources on community-building

Create Project Teams

Project Notes & Assignments

Create Custom Lists: Group can share & analyze list of key local organizations, peer groups…

Advanced users only Enter Draft Code, Confidence & Notes

Web 2.0: Building a “Go To” Site Neighborhood needs –Post photos –Mark problems as complete: Red=problem, green=complete! (Like Central Desktop tasklist)‏ “Gold stars” or awards for neighborhood achievements –Ranking level of community engagement Post photos and videos of accomplishments, events, presentations

Building an Open Platform Foundation Center Massachusetts Charity Bureau Mott Foundation GrantsFire Corp. for National & Community Service GuideStar Idealist, VolunteerMatch Others? Data and content could be incorporated from other sources, if providers willing:

Technical Details Links Cultural Logic.Net infrastructure to NCCS mysql database Options: –Separate databases with nightly replication –.Net using odbc or other mysql option –API

Conclusion A cost-effective & practical platform for engaging & connecting Massachusetts citizens and nonprofit organizations What do you think?