Nonprofits & Research Ashley Coogan, Eileen Norman, Maceo Persson PA 744

Medicine Engineering Technology Policy Laws Government Programs Weapons Environment Stem Cells Nuclear Physics Foundations Education Social Service Global Warming Welfare Cloning Reliability Validity Think Tanks Universities Advocacy

Overview  Introduction and major contributors to NP Research  History of Nonprofit Involvement in Research  Nonprofit Research – A Commitment to Public Good  Why do we care and why ought nonprofits be conducting research?  Threats to Independence  Funding  Audience  Political Agenda  The Research Continues On

Big Contributors: Where Research Happens  Institutions – Universities and Hospitals  Mostly focus on applied sciences and technology  Funded through tuition, fees, and government  Think Tanks  Focus on policy and government  Contribution to government – academic experts, contractors, advocates  Foundations  Not direct researchers, but funders, guides, and advocates of research  Work with all types of other nonprofits, including institutions and think tanks to promote and fund research projects/programs

History  Progressive Era  Evidence based approach to governance  “straddle the gap between basic research and practical applications to make government work better” (Henig, 2008, p.19)  Post World War II Era  Experts at think tanks and universities helping to respond to societal and policy problems  Expansion of research hospitals due to innovations in medicine and pharmaceuticals  Large expansion of think tanks in the 1980s, especially advocacy think tanks  Currently  2000 think tanks, filling in “gap” left by universities  Foundations providing funding  Increase in federal funding of nonprofit research

Why Ought Nonprofits be Researchers?  Support of the public good  Receiving public support to create goods that “enrich human happiness” (Evans, p. 156)  Fill the gap of market and government to conduct research that may address the needs of minorities  Example: Nonprofit pharmaceutical research focuses on diseases often overlooked versus for-profit pharma co.’s that are just looking after the bottom line.

Why Ought Nonprofits be Researchers?  More collaborative than competitive  Nonprofits work together more and share findings more willingly to improve and expand on research.  Availability of knowledge to public  Informed citizens when deciding/voting on suggested policies  Availability of Knowledge to Government  Provide program evaluation and strategic thinking  Provide in-depth policy analysis for policy makers

Debates Objectivity & Political Agendas

Objectivity and Independence AcademicContractAdvocacy FundingDiversifiedGovt. Contracts Diversified & Constituents Agenda SettingResearchers Govt. Needs/Agencies Ideology & Constituents IdeologyNeutral Progressive to Conservative

Threats to Independence  Funders may set the agenda  Foundations  Provide funding to other NPOs in support of their mission  Set the research agenda for other NPOs, determine the research emphasis, and distribute supportive results to the public  Hospitals/Universities  Direct research toward a selective audience- peers and grant awarders

Threats to Independence  Academic Think Tanks—  Diverse (many funders) or Independent (endowment) funding allows for independence.  Contract Think Tanks—  The source of the funding sets the agenda  Advocacy Think Tanks—  Can make the difference between being focused on the ideology or molded to fit a lobbyist agenda

Political Perspective  Debate: what relationship should research have with policy?  Liberal Concerns  Research only serving the “status quo” regardless of the researchers’ intention  Top-down, elitist approach to solve policy issues  Conservative Concerns  Research is naturally anti-traditional and will lead to a more liberal agenda  Findings may lead to more government involvement to solve “problems” defined by the researchers  Research as a weapon

Looking to the Future  Stay focused on the mission  Strive for diverse and independent funding  Develop standards for funding research  Set up issue networks  Utilize technology to educate the public  Avoid being drawn into partisan politics

Any Questions?