The purpose of this publication is to provide you with a starting point to finding resources on philanthropy and nonprofit studies.
- Reference sources
- Books
- Journals
- Journal databases
- Internet resources
- Sector discussion lists
- Other Australian libraries with philanthropy and nonprofit collections
Reference sources
Reference sources are a good starting point for any assignment topic. They help to clarify concepts and keywords and provide introductory overviews to topics. They include online or hardcopy dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, handbooks, manuals, etc. Some of these are in the 'Reference' collection and are not available for loan, but can instead be used in the library.
| Title | Call number |
|---|---|
| A dictionary of nonprofit terms and concepts | 361.003 5 Gardens Point |
| Encyclopedia of associations : International organizations | 060 41 Gardens Point Reference |
| A dictionary of civil society, philanthropy and the non-profit sector | Electronic Resource |
| Volunteerism : the directory of organizations, training, programs and publications | 361.802573 2 Gardens Point Reference |
To find books on a topic, the best starting point is to perform a KEYWORD search on the library catalogue. Once you have found an item that looks relevant, you can then use the subject headings assigned to that record to refine searches and find other items.
An example of some relevant Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) are:
| Subject Headings | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fund Raising | Nonprofit Organizations | Voluntarism |
| Charities | Social responsibility of business | Philanthropists |
| Social Service | Charity | Grants in aid |
Alternatively, you can browse the catalogue electronically or the shelves at the following locations:
| Call Number | Subject area |
|---|---|
| 060 | General Organizations including Nonprofit Organizations |
| 361.37 | Voluntarism |
| 361.7 | Charities |
| 658.048 | Management of Nonprofit Organizations |
| 658.15224 | Fund Raising |
Journals
(Also referred to as magazines, serials or periodicals.)
The library subscribes to a large number of print and electronic journals. Journals cover articles about current developments and research in a subject area. Browsing relevant journals is a good way of keeping up to date in your area, and often your lecturer will recommend certain journals.
Below are some relevant journals to which QUT Library subscribes:
| Title | Call Number |
|---|---|
| International journal of nonprofit and voluntary sector marketing | Electronic Resource |
| The Chronicle of philanthropy | Electronic Resource 361.7 32 Gardens Point Periodical |
| Nonprofit and voluntary sector quarterly |
Electronic Resource 361.7 33 Gardens Point Periodical |
| Nonprofit management and leadership | Electronic Resource 658.048 24 Gardens Point Periodical |
| Voluntas | Electronic Resource 658.049 37 Gardens Point Periodical |
Journal databases
Locating journal articles is different from locating books. The Library Catalogue will tell you if QUT Library holds a particular journal but it will not provide information about individual journal articles. However, the journal databases will help you to locate references to journal articles, and often the abstract and full-text of the articles.
Journal databases vary in the amount of information which they provide. If you find a reference to a journal article, but not the full text, then you will need to perform a Title search, using the Title of the journal (NOT the article) on the library catalogue. The library catalogue will provide the print and/or electronic holding details if the journal is available to QUT staff and students.
Effective use of the databases requires an understanding of search techniques. The Pilot Information Literacy tutorial provides help on developing search strategies. In addition, library staff offer training sessions on how to use databases throughout each semester. The Tours & workshops page provides further information.
QUT staff and students can access the databases from within QUT libraries or remotely from your School, home or office via the Internet. Most databases require your QUT username and password. Access to the databases is available from the Databases page.
A selection of related databases are listed below.
| Database title | Coverage | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ProQuest Social Science Journals | 1986- |
Indexes 420 titles, with over 220 in fulltext, covering gerontology, economics, international relations, minority studies, and urban studies. Key resource in: Project Management, Youth Services, Aged Services more ... |
| SSRN Electronic Library | Current File | Contains papers under 'Nonprofit organizations and public enterprise'. It also contains the Hauser Centre for Nonprofit Organizations Research Papers Series. The SSRN Library consists of an abstracts database and a fulltext database more ... |
| SwetsWise | Varied | SwetsWise provides searchable table of contents of over 17,000 electronic journals. The Library currently has about 1000 fulltext titles enabled via SwetsWise. You can use SwetsWise in Search or Journal (browse) mode. Use the Access indicators to determine the availability of fulltext. more... |
| Wiley InterScience (Online Journals | Varied | This service provides online access to 500+ Wiley ejournals in PDF format. Content Alerts are also available for all titles, and provide you an email update of the latest table of contents for Wiley titles that interest you. more... |
Internet resources
The Internet provides access to a large range of resources in the philanthropy and nonprofit area. However, the quality of the resources varies, and as part of your research process, you will need to evaluate each web site. There are guidelines for evaluating information which can help you with the evaluation process.
E-print repositories
Eprint repositories and search engines are electronic archives providing free access to reports, theses and dissertations, which are generally of a high standard.
| Repository Title | Description |
|---|---|
| arc Cross Archive Searching Service | This search engine is an Open Archive Initiative, which provides free access to the refereed research literature (or eprints) available through this service. |
| Oaister | The Oaister search engine searches across hundreds of eprint archives, giving access to nearly 2 million eprints. The search engine is the result of a collaboration between the University of Michigan Library and the University of Illinois. |
| QUT ePrints | QUT ePrints is an institutional repository which showcases some of the research output, conference papers and other publications of QUT staff and postgraduate students. Papers deposited in QUT ePrints are freely available via this website. |
Information gateways
Information gateways are usually developed by experts or expert organisations in the relevant field of interest. The resources selected are generally of high quality.
| Website | Type of resource | Description/Access |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Charities | Directory | An authoritative listing of Australian charities links. |
| Charity Village | Directory (Canada) | Includes organisation lists, international links, email and discussion lists. |
| CompassPoint | Resource (USA) | CompassPoint Nonprofit Services is a consulting, research, and training organization providing nonprofits with management tools, strategies, and resources to lead change in their communities. |
| Directory of Scholarly Electronic Journals and Academic Discussion lists Academic Research Libraries |
Directory (USA) |
Includes information about the availability of electronic journals and discussion lists. |
| Free Management Library for For-profit and Non-profit organisations | Directory (USA) |
Lists internet resources by management subject. |
| Idealist Action Without Borders |
Directory (USA) |
Includes searchable directory of over 68, 000 nonprofit and community organisations in 165 countries, searchable by name, location or mission and including description and links. |
| Nonprofit Sector Research Fund | Directory (USA) |
Includes links to lists of publications and other sites of interest. |
| Nonprofit Virtual Library Michigan State University |
Resource guide, Directory (USA) |
A collection of over 150 resources. |
| USA.gov for Nonprofits | Directory (USA) |
Includes links to nonprofit organisations listed via subject. |
Newspaper and journal websites
These newspaper and journal websites enable you to keep up with current trends in the philanthropy and nonprofit sector by publishing relevant feature articles and editorals.
| Website | Type of resource | Description/Access |
|---|---|---|
| The Nonprofit Times | Journal (USA) |
Nonprofit trade journal with articles of interest to researchers. Note: You need to be a paying member to access some of the information from this website. |
| Pro Bono | News portal | Current Australian news about charities and philanthropy. Note:You need to be a member to access some of the information from this website. Membership is free. |
| Trustee | Journal (USA) |
Magazine for healthcare professionals. Includes feature articles and editorial highlights. Some of the information on this webiste is available to paying subscribers only. The associated subscription costs are outlined on the site. Note: You need to be a paying member to access some of the information from this website |
Internet databases and fulltext sources
The following list of Internet databases and electronic fulltext sources offer easy online access to many useful resources in the field of philanthropy and nonprofit organisations.
| Website | Type of resource | Description/Access |
|---|---|---|
| ACCORD Australian Centre for Co-operative Research and Development |
Professional research centre |
Includes access to fulltext reports and papers, media releases and free newsletter subscription. |
| LA84 Foundation digital archive | Nonprofit organisation (USA) |
Includes searchable database with over 40,000 items in fulltext. Topics include: Sports fundraising, sponsorship |
| Asia-Pacific Centre for Social Investment Swinburne University |
Academic research centre | Includes access to fulltext presentations, lectures, reports and publications. |
| Asia Foundation | Nonprofit organisation (Asia Pacific) |
Includes many resources in pdf format for Asian philanthropy and nonprofit studies. |
| Australian Citizenship Database Deakin University |
Academic research centre | A comprehensive, annotated database of Australian and international literature. Topics include: Sociological, political, policy, welfare and educational dimensions of citizenship |
| Charity Commission for England and Wales Publications |
Government website (United Kingdom) |
Includes a wide selection of pdf documents under the link 'publications' Topics include: Management, governance, fundraising, financial and accounting materials |
| Charities Definition Inquiry | Government website | Includes a wide selection of materials on the regulation of charities and fundraising in Australia, including submissions from a large number of Australian charities. |
| Charity Law Carter & Associates |
Law firm (Canada) |
A collection of pdf documents. Topics include: Charity law, nonprofit organizations |
| Foundation Centre Literature of the Nonprofit Sector |
Nonprofit organisation (USA) |
A searchable database of US material. It contains 18,530 full bibliographic citations (11,647 of which have descriptive abstracts). |
| ISTR International Society for Third Sector Research |
Research Centre (International) |
Includes conference papers, working papers and reports in fulltext. |
| Philanthropic Studies Index Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis |
Academic website (USA) |
A database that cites academic journals, dated 1940 to the present. Also includes dissertations, working papers, web sites and other information sources. |
| Philanthropy and the Third Sector in Asia and the Pacific | Nonprofit organisation (Asia Pacific) |
Comprehensive directory for the Asia Pacific, including fulltext country reports, philanthropic activities grouped by subject and links to research sites. |
| PMCBP The Prime Minister's Community Business Partnership |
Government website | Includes reports, papers and media releases. |
| United Nations | International organisation |
Vast resource. Topics Include: Voluntarism, social capital |
Research centres
These research centres for the philanthropy and nonprofit sector contribute significantly to the body of research being developed in philanthropy and nonprofit studies. The centres assist researchers and those interested in the field by developing collections of relevant resources.
| Website | Type of resource | Description/Access |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate Citizen Research Group Deakin University |
Academic research centre | Includes research papers, and magazine, conference papers.Note: You need to be a paying member to access some of the information from this website. |
| Dorothy A. Johnson Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Grand Valley State University |
Academic research centre (USA) |
Includes access to extensive fulltext reports and papers, a nonprofit directory and the nonprofit good practice guide. |
| London School of Economics Centre for Civil Society | Academic research centre (United Kingdom) |
Includes Global Civil Society Yearbooks, reports, working papers and staff publications, mainly fulltext. |
Associations and consultants
This list provides contact details for professional associations and consultants from the philanthropy and nonprofit sector that are based in different countries, including Australia, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
| Website | Type of resource | Description/Access |
|---|---|---|
| ACOSS Australian Council of Social Service |
Professional association | Includes news, media releases, publications and an archive.Note: You need to be a paying member to access some of the information from this website. |
| NDS National Disability Services |
Professional association | Includes conference papers, reports, news updates, fact sheets, publications and an archive. Note: You need to be a paying member to access some of the information from this website |
| Aged and Community Services Australia | Professional association | Includes conference papers, project and policy reports, fact sheets and publications. Note: You need to be a paying member to access some of the information from this website |
| Civicus World Alliance of Citizen Participation |
Professional association (International) |
Includes a newsletter, media releases, articles, conference papers, publications, FAQ's and annual reports. Note: You need to be a paying member to access some of the information from this website |
| Institute on Governance | Professional association (Canada) |
Includes publications, conference papers, newsletters and media releases. |
| International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law | Professional association (International) |
Includes online publications and free journal subscription. |
| Joseph Rowntree Foundation | Professional association (United Kingdom) |
Includes search of site limited by current research, findings, press releases or responses to government consultation. In addition to the research and papers accessible on the website, the Foundation also offers a list of items that can be purchased. These items for purchase are not freely available. |
| NCPL National Centre on Philanthropy and the Law |
Professional association (USA) |
Includes range of research materials on philanthropy and the law. |
| NCVO National Council for Voluntary Organisations |
Professional association (United Kingdom) |
Includes media releases, an archive, fact sheets, searchable publications, policy papers and reports. Note: You need to be a paying member to access some of the information from this website |
| Philanthropy Australia | Professional association | Includes library catalogue, ask a librarian service, glossary, statistics, publications and fact sheets. Note: You need to be a paying member to access some of the information from this website |
Statistical Resources
These resources contain useful statistical information concerning the philanthropy and nonprofit sector.
| Website | Type of resource | Description/Access |
|---|---|---|
| ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics |
QUT library database | ABS provides access to a vast amount of statistics and data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It provides access to the full ABS product range including all ABS publications from 1998 onwards. more ... Access using QUT username and password. |
| Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project John Hopkins University |
Academic research centre (USA) |
Includes working papers, statistics including country data and publications. Mainly fulltext. |
| CPNS Nonprofit Statistics Resources Centre of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies QUT |
Academic research centre | Includes links to statistics compiled by CPNS and other sources of statistics on the internet. Mainly fulltext. |
| FC Stats The Foundation Center |
Research centre (USA) |
The Foundation Center's research database contains foundation and grants information updated annually by the Center. This authoritative national data source includes financial and programmatic information on all active U.S. grant making foundations as well as a large sample of foundation grants. The research database is the source for all statistical data published in the Center's reports on funding trends and for producing customized statistical reports. Note: You need to register to access some of the information from this website. Registration is free. |
| Givewell | Consultants | Includes charity statistics and profiles. Note: You need to be a paying member to access some of the information from this website |
NCCS |
Professional association (USA) |
Statistics including state profiles and table wizards, mainly fulltext. |
| O'Keefe & Partners | Consultants | Annual Giving Trends in Australia report. Statistics including graphs and table data. |
| Statistics Canada | Statistical agency (Canada) |
Try searching the following: nonprofit, giving, volunteering, volunteers, philanthropy, governance, philanthropic. Note: Some items are purchase only. |
Sector discussion lists
The following list of directories and discussion groups are for those interested in the sharing information and opinions on issues in the field of philanthropy and nonprofit organisations.
| Website | Type of resource | Description/Access |
|---|---|---|
| Directory of Scholarly Electronic Journals and Academic Discussion lists Academic Research Libraries |
Directory (USA) |
Includes information about the availability of electronic journals and discussion lists. |
| Charity Village | Directory (Canada) |
Includes organisation lists, international links, email and discussion lists. |
| ISTR nternational Society for Third Sector Research |
Discussion list | Follow 'members' link to join free discussion list. |
| CPNS Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies QUT |
Discussion lists | Discussion lists managed by CPNS include the following: |
Other Australian libraries with philanthropy and non-profit collections
There are a number of libraries in Australia servicing those working and researching in the area of philanthropy and nonprofit organisations.
| Library | Type of resource | Description/Access |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteering Australia Australian Volunteering Library Network |
Physical collection (free to view) Online catalogue(includes electronic request form) |
The Australian Volunteering Library Network (Avalon) is a network of libraries across Australia specialising in resources on volunteering. The online catalogue has 7000 resources. Also available is an electronic request form for resources. Requests are fulfilled in accordance with copyright law. |
| Philanthropy Australia Research and Information |
Physical collection (by appointment) Online catalogue |
Melbourne, Vic. The collection consists of approximately 2,000 items covering subject areas such as philanthropy, grantmaking and corporate citizenship. For access if you are non-member/non-subscriber you must contact the library to arrange a day pass, which is available at the cost of $15 per day. |
| Uniting Church Blue Care Library | Physical collection (by appointment) |
The collection is located at 56 Sylvan road Toowong, Qld. The opening hours are 9.00am-4.00pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday. To view the resources you must arrange an appointment. The materials include journals, videos (over 200) and books (over 1000). The subjects covered are pastoral care, fundraising, aged care, community nursing, non-profit management, government policies and information. |