Research - OMB Watch

Research: News Analysis

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Plugged In, Tuning Up (March 2001)

News

Safeguarding Charity in the War on Terror 10/19/2005

Safeguarding Charity Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, federal measures intended to cut off terrorism funding have imposed undue burdens on the nonprofit sector. This report addresses unbalanced anti-terrorist financing regulations and guidelines and suggests a clear, sensible system, under which nonprofit organizations and foundations can pursue legitimate charitable activities.

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Social Justice Grantmaking Rises, Shifts Toward Pragmatism 10/04/2005
A significant proportion of grantmakers who fund public policy, advocacy, and other social-change activities are increasingly moving away from supporting grassroots advocacy and movement-building. Instead, these funders are choosing more "neutral, technocratic, and results-oriented" approaches to social change, like research, policy analysis, and outreach to decision-makers. Read More

Study Points to Improvements in Communication With Congress in Digital Age 08/08/2005
A recent report by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), a nonprofit organization that provides management advice to members of Congress and their staff, described improvements both congressional staff and advocacy groups should implement to improve the quality of communications to and from Congress in the Internet age. Read More

Civic Engagement Conference Summary-Return the Charity to the Citizen! 12/13/2004
The National Conference on Citizenship, held Dec. 3 in Washington, DC, examined the role of citizenship in the post-9/11 world. The conference provided a forum to discuss the important role nonprofits play in encouraging citizenship. Read more for a summary of points made at the conference. Read More

New Report: Continuing Attacks on Nonprofit Advocacy: Death by a Thousand Cuts II 10/26/2004
OMB Watch has published Continuing Attacks on Nonprofit Advocacy: Death by a Thousand Cuts II, which documents a pattern of attempts to limit the policy voice of nonprofits by the Bush administration and its conservative allies. The federal government has used audit powers, funding cuts and other tactics to take action against nonprofits that exercise their right to advocate on issues. See the Executive Summary and download the full report (in pdf format).

Study on Grants by Conservative Foundations Published by NCRP 03/08/2004
The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy has published Axis of Ideology: Conservative Foundations and Public Policy, a follow up to its 1997 report on conservative philanthropy. The research showed that conservative foundations continue to be more likely to provide flexible core operating and long-term support to their grantees than other foundations. In a March 3 press release, NCRP deputy director Jeff Krehely said these foundations “focus their grantmaking on a small number of grantees with an eye toward investing in and sustaining existing politically conservative policy centers, and they fearlessly support and promote organizations that lobby their conservative ideas aggressively in state capitals and in Washington.” Read More

Research on Nonprofit Advocacy Released 05/29/2002

See the Executive Summary and press release.
To download a printable copy of the report in PowerPoint format click here.

The Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy Project (SNAP) was launched by OMB Watch, Tufts University and Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest as the first national research effort designed to investigate the public policy role of nonprofit organizations exempt under 501(c)(3) of the tax code, which are called charities. The goals of the research are to determine nonprofits' level of involvement in public policy issues, and to identify factors that motivate their involvement as well as impede them.

Findings are based on a survey of over 1700 nonprofits from around the country, data from nonprofits? official tax forms from the Internal Revenue Service, and interviews and focus groups with nonprofit leaders.

Press Release: National Study Reveals Nonprofits Face Persistent Barriers in Public Participation 05/28/2002

See the Executive Summary.
To download the report in PowerPoint format click here.

For Immediate Release
May 28, 2002
Contact: David Arons, (202) 387-5072 or Gary Bass (202) 234-8494

Washington, DC Preliminary findings of a three-year study of nonprofit charitable organizations' public policy participation indicate strong recognition by nonprofit leaders of the importance of public policy participation as it relates to serving their mission and community. However, a number of key barriers stand in the way of unleashing nonprofits' civic potential. Read More

Supporting a Public Voice: The Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy Project 10/15/1999
A description of the Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy Project.

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See the Executive Summary. To download the report in PowerPoint format click here.

See the Executive Summary.
To download the report in PowerPoint format click here.