Research and Reports


Initiated by Adelphi University President Robert A. Scott in 2004, Vital Signs is a multi-phase project that systematically identifies, tracks, and analyzes the social health of populations and communities in Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island: adelphi.edu/vitalsigns

Latest Reports:

How Much to Pay the Executive Director?
Executive Compensation is a hot topic in the nonprofit sector lately. Ironically the discussion has centered around excessive compensation, a result of several local scandals, when the reality is many nonprofit executives are under compensated rather than over compensated.

Nonetheless boards are responsible for both conducting annual executive evaluations and setting fair and competitive executive salaries.

A precise, interesting, and info-filled discussion of this topic is available at Blue Avocado.

Delayed State Contracts and Late Payments Hurt Service Providers

Storytelling Best Practices: Websites
Andy Goodman shows how online storytelling can help you improve your website and do a better job of telling your own stories.

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Reports

A Guide to Creating Employment Agreements that Protect Both Leaders and Their Charities
Having an employment contract can benefit both your organization and your staff. Thank you to the Chronicle of Philanthropy for letting us use this article.

Two New Guides for Operating Reserves
- White Paper from The Nonprofit Operating Reserves Initiative Workgroup
- Operating Reserve Policy Toolkit for Nonprofit Organizations

Gift Acceptance and Administration Policy (PDF 201KB)

Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) 2011 State of the Sector Survey (PDF 88KB)
Thanks to Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF) for letting us use this report.

Text Giving Donor Survey Report (PDF 1.1MB)

Released by mGive Foundation and CCS, this report reveals valuable information about the demographics, preferences, and habits of text givers.

2010 Fenton Forecast: A survey of leadership and effectiveness among nonprofits (PDF 504KB)


An Overview of the Nonprofit and Charitable Sector (PDF 1.1MB)
Molly F. Sherlock and Jane G. Gravelle, Congressional Research Service present a comprehensive look at the types, demographics and funding composition of the sector and how these factors influence policy decisions.


The Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for
Charities and Foundations
(PDF 367KB), developed by The Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, is designed to help organizations evaluate and improve their operations. The 33 principles focus on four areas:

  • Legal Compliance and Public Disclosure
  • Effective Governance
  • Strong Financial Oversight
  • Responsible Fundraising

The Long island Center for Nonprofit Leadership joins the Panel and hundreds of foundations and charities in recommending that all nonprofits use the principles as a guide for improving governance within each organization and strengthening accountability across the nonprofit community. We encourage you to review the principles and decide how they apply to your organization.

Download the 28-page Guide (PDF 367KB), designed for charities and foundations.

Download the 136-page Reference Edition (PDF 942KB), designed for analysts and scholars.

Visit http://www.nonprofitpanel.org to order copies.


Hunger on Long Island: What is Being Done About It? (by: Dr. Pearl M. Kamer, LIA Chief Economist)
The faltering economy has led to decreased funding for Long Island's non-profits at a time when the demand for their services is escalating rapidly.


Impact of the 2007-09 Economic Recession on Nonprofit Organizations (PDF 2.1MB)
Lester M. Salamon, Stephanie L. Geller, and Kasey L. Spence, Johns Hopkins University
How has the current economy impacted the country’s nonprofit sector. Are nonprofits facing a decline in revenues? Have they been forced to reduce programs and services? How are nonprofits responding to the current financial situation?


Nonprofit Finance Fund Survey: America's Nonprofits in Danger
Survey of 1,100+ Nonprofit Professionals Finds Half Expect the Recession to Have Long-Term or Permanent Negative Effect on their Organizations. Click here to read the report


"Next Shift:  Beyond the Nonprofit Leadership Crisis" - The Annie E. Casey Foundation and Building Movement Project
(PDF 521KB)
This report provides an examination of the issues related to generational leadership changes in the nonprofit sector and potential solutions.


"Daring To Lead" - CompassPoint Nonprofit Services and The Meyer Foundation (PDF 431KB)
Daring to Lead is an exploration of  the changing landscape of nonprofit executive leadership including the escalation of executive turnover and factors which contribute to the success, failure and burnout of executive leaders in the nonprofit sector.


"Ready To Lead 2" - CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Meyer Foundation and Idealist.org
(PDF 555KB) A reporting of the nearly 6,000 surveyed emerging nonprofit leaders in regard to significant trends in the future of leadership in the nonprofit sector.


The Not-for-Profit Sector: A Vital and Growing Part of the Long Island Economy (PDF 456KB) Published in 2006, this report is a study of the significant economic impact that the Long Island nonprofit community makes on the economy of our region. 


"Boards of Midsize Nonprofits: Their Needs and Challenges" - by Francie Ostrower for The Urban Institute (PDF 456KB) An examination of governance issues among midsize nonprofits, including identification of problem areas and suggested strategies that those engaged with midsize nonprofits may find helpful in strengthening their boards.  Mid-size is defined as organizations with budgets between $500,000 and $5 million. www.urban.org


Supporting Next Generation Leadership - GEO Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (PDF 616KB) Nonprofits along with their funders and stakeholders, are experiencing increasing concern over who will assume the leadership of their organization as long time executive directors begin to exit their positions. "Supporting Next Generation Leadership" explores the role grantmakers can take in attracting, developing and retaining the next generation of nonprofit leadership.


The Departing: Exiting Nonprofit Leaders as a Resource for Social Change - Jan Masaoka for GEO Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (PDF 264KB) An exploration of approaches to leveraging departing executive directors to benefit the broader community in which they have worked; suggests ways grantmakers can help seasoned leaders identify opportunities for making future contributions; and carves out a potential role for philanthropy in harnessing the talents, networks and skills of these leaders for the pursuit of broader social change goals.


"Long Island Not-for-Profit Survey 2007" - Cerini & Associates, LLP (PDF 15.7KB) The fourth annual version of this survey provides valuable insight for both the not-for-profit and for-profit communities on the challenges faced by Long Island not-for-profits in a variety of areas including operations and governance.


Executive Summary Report - "Now What? A Nonprofit Community Dialogue in Response to the Economic Crisis" (PDF 648KB)
We welcome your comments, suggestions and questions regarding this report. We hope to establish a Listserv to continue the dialogue around the issues related to the current economy and its impact on the nonprofit sector. If you have comments or questions regarding the report and/or are interested in joining the L
istserv, please e-mail us at linonprofit@adelphi.edu.

4 Planned Giving Myths (PDF 270KB) you should know about.


Recipe for Success: Download the Executive Summary (PDF 25KB) and Four Pillars of Growth for Youth-Serving Nonprofits Report (PDF 332KB).


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Contact
For additional information, please contact:

Ann Marie Thigpen
Director
p - 516.877.4429

A. Brian Leander
Assistant Director
p - 516.237.8571

Peter Chernack
Faculty Director
p - 516.877.4350

Diane Wunderlich
Program Coordinator
p - 516.877.4415

The Long Island Center for Nonprofit Leadership
School of Social Work
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY 11530
e - linonprofit@adelphi.edu
f - 516.877.4352

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This page was last modified on January 17, 2012.
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