Philanthropy and voluntarism are among the most familiar and least understood of American institutions. The oldest American nonprofit corporation -- Harvard College -- dates from 1636, but most of the million or so nonprofits currently in existence were established after 1960. In "Inventing the Nonprofit Sector" and Other Essays on Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Nonprofit Organizations cultural historian Peter Dobkin Hall describes and analyzes the development of America's fastest growing institutional sector.

Philanthropy and voluntarism are among the most familiar and least understood of American institutions. The oldest American nonprofit corporation -- Harvard College -- dates from 1636, but most of the million or so nonprofits currently in existence were established after 1960. In "Inventing the Nonprofit Sector" and Other Essays on Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Nonprofit Organizations cultural historian Peter Dobkin Hall describes and analyzes the development of America's fastest growing institutional sector.

Focusing on nonprofits' growing dependence on public funding, their tendency toward political polarization, their often idiosyncratic missions, and their increasing commercialism, Peter Frumkin argues that the long-term challenges facing nonprofit organizations will be solved only when they achieve greater balance among their four central functions. Probing foundational thinking as well as emergent ideas, the book is an essential guide for nonprofit novices and experts alike who want to understand the issues propelling public debate about the future of their sector.

"It is a delight to seen an anthology on nonprofit history done so well."—Barry Karl, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University "This is a volume that everyone concerned about nonprofits—scholar, practitioner, and citizen—will find useful and illuminating."—Peter Dobkin Hall, Program on Non-Profit Organizations Yale Divinity School "A remarkable book."—Robert Putnam, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University [One to come from John Simon, School of Law, Yale University by Jan. 13th and others are being solicited.] Unique among nations, America conducts almost all of its formally organized religious activity, and many cultural, arts, human service, educational, and research activities through private nonprofit organizations. Though partially funded by government, as well as by fees and donations, American nonprofits have pursued their missions with considerable independence. Many have amassed remarkable resources and acquired some of the most impressive hospital, university, performing arts, and museum facilities in the world. While some have amassed large endowments, many that surpass one billion dollars, there are also hundreds of thousands of small nonprofits, most with no tangible resources at all. How did the United States come to rely so heavily on nonprofits? Why has it continued to do so? What purposes do Americans seek to advance through nonprofits? How have Americans sought to control them? How have nonprofits been effected by the growth of government in the twentieth century? These questions suggest the complexity of the history of nonprofits in the United States. To help explore that history, this reader presents some of the classic documents in the development of the nonprofit sector along with important interpretations by recent scholars. The selections can be considered a representative part of a single extended conversation by the men and women who have taken part in the effort to define America and the American dream, even as they shaped what we now call the nonprofit sector. The statements by participants in the growth and development of the nonprofit sector are accompanied by essays written by historians and social scientists that provide concise surveys of important issues and periods. The essays give voice to those whose contributions to the American debate about voluntary associations and private institutions would otherwise be difficult to find or comprehend. The selections can be considered a representative part of a single extended conversation by the men and women who have taken part in the effort to define America and the American dream, even as they shaped what we now call the nonprofit sector. The statements by participants in the growth and development of the nonprofit sector are accompanied by essays written by historians and social scientists that provide concise surveys of important issues and periods. The essays give voice to those whose contributions to the American debate about voluntary associations and private institutions would otherwise be difficult to find or comprehend. Each selection has been chosen to define or illuminate important questions in the development of the nonprofit sector in the United States. Many include criticisms of particular nonprofit efforts, or of nonprofit activity in general. The intention is to provoke thought, not to establish an official list of readings. Though not every point of view could be included, the reader does reflect a general understanding of the nature of the nonprofit sector and its significance in the development of the United States. Philanthropic Studies—Dwight F. Burlingame and David C. Hammack, general editors

“Timely, unique, and definitive . . . not only chronicles the history of the nonprofit sector but also provides a broad but critical analysis of its current state.” —Vartan Gregorian, President, Carnegie Corporation of New York The nonprofit sector has changed in fundamental ways in recent decades. As the sector has grown in scope and size, both domestically and internationally, the boundaries between for-profit, governmental, and charitable organizations have become intertwined. Nonprofits are increasingly challenged on their roles in mitigating or exacerbating inequality. And debates flare over the role of voluntary organizations in democratic and autocratic societies alike. The Nonprofit Sector takes up these concerns and offers a cutting-edge empirical and theoretical assessment of the state of the field. This book, now in its third edition, brings together leading researchers—economists, historians, philosophers, political scientists, and sociologists along with scholars from communication, education, law, management, and policy schools—to investigate the impact of associational life. Chapters consider the history of the nonprofit sector and of philanthropy; the politics of the public sphere; governance, mission, and engagement; access and inclusion; and global perspectives on nonprofit organizations. Across this comprehensive range of topics, The Nonprofit Sector makes an essential contribution to the study of civil society. Praise for previous editions “Takes a decidedly multidisciplinary approach . . . .invaluable.” —Journal of Policy Analysis and Management “A major contribution to the field.” —Social Forces

"At a time when boundaries between the nonprofit, business, and public sectors have grown increasingly confused and contested, this volume by leading experts on nonprofit organizations offers new ideas and frameworks for understanding the terrain that lies between the state and the market. The chapters span a broad range of emerging issues including nonprofit commercialism, sector-bending hybrid organizational forms, increasingly sophisticated nonprofit advocacy activities, newly hatched forms of volunteerism and philanthropy, tensions in public-nonprofit contracting, and new roles for faith-based nonprofits in social provision.Contents include: Peter Frumkin, ""Charity and Philanthropy After September 11th""; Joseph M. Knippenberg, ""Faith, Hype, and Charity: Constitutional Controversies over Charitable Choice""; Leslie Lenkowsky, ""The Bush Administration's Civic Agenda and National Service""; Mark E. Warren, ""What is the Political Role of Nonprofits in a Democracy?""; Steven Rathgeb Smith, ""Government and Nonprofits in the Modern Age: Is Independence Possible?""; Amy L. Sherman, ""Faith in Communities: A Solid Investment""; Stephen V. Monsma, ""Nonprofit and Faith-Based Welfare-to-Work Programs: Government's Partners or Government's Captives?""; Thomas H. Jeavons, ""The Vitality and Independence of Religious Organizations: A Once and Future Trend""; Estelle James, ""Commercialism--Does It Help or Hurt the Nonprofit's Mission?""; J. Gregory Dees and Beth Battle Anderson, ""Sector-Bending: Blurring the Lines Between Nonprofit and For-Profit""; David Reingold, ""Scaling-up National Service in an Era of Performance Measurement and Accountability.""In Search of the Nonprofit Sector will be essential reading for scholars and practitioners interested in the pressing management and policy challenges facing nonprofit organizations today."--Provided by publisher.

The Nature of the Nonprofi t Sector is a collection of insightful and infl uential classic and recent readings on the existence, forms, and functions of the nonprofi t sector--the sector that sits between the market and government. The readings encompass a wide variety of perspectives and disciplines and cover everything from Andrew Carnegie's turn-of-the-century philosophy of philanthropy to the most recent writings of current scholars and practitioners. Each of the text's ten parts opens with a framing essay by the editors that provides an overview of the central themes and issues, as well as the sometimes competing points of view.

"Examines the private nonprofit sector and the tax-exempt institutions that make up this sector providing important services and benefits to all Americans, with histories behind different institutions and the forces and developments that have buffeted them and what they have done to retain their resilience"--Provided by publisher.

The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector is a collection of insightful and influential classic and recent readings on the existence, forms, and functions of the nonprofit sector—the sector that sits between the market and government. The readings encompass a wide variety of perspectives and disciplines and cover everything from Andrew Carnegie’s turn-of-the-century philosophy of philanthropy to the most recent writings of current scholars and practitioners. Each of the text’s ten parts opens with a framing essay by the editors that provides an overview of the central themes and issues, as well as sometimes competing points of view. The fourth edition of this comprehensive volume includes both new and classic readings, as well as two new sections on the international NGO sector and theories about intersectoral relations. The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector, Fourth Edition is therefore an impressively up-to-date reader designed to provide students of nonprofit and public management with a thorough overview of this growing field.