March 6, 2008 | Read Time: 1 minute
NEW BOOKS
Beyond Charity: Recognizing Return on Investment — How the Nonprofit Community Impacts Greater Washington, is the product of a collaboration with the World Bank Group. The report seeks to answer three questions: “What is the evidence to suggest that nonprofits would create a positive ‘return on investment’? What is known about the impacts and benefits created by area nonprofits when serving as stewards of support from government, business, philanthropy, and volunteers? What information exists to substantiate the claim that nonprofits help to strengthen our community?” The publication argues that there are three ways to look at the benefits of nonprofit activity. One perspective, for example, is that charities can save society money: Nonprofit groups may prevent and solve problems, work more efficiently than government, and increase the earning power of individuals and economic strengths of communities. The report discusses other ways that nonprofit groups support society, such as through collaborations with business and government and by encouraging civic engagement, and includes specific examples of organizations in Washington.
Publisher: Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington, 1201 15th Street, N.W., Suite 420, Washington, D.C. 20005; (202) 955-6187; fax (202) 223-0620; http://www.nonprofitroundtable.org; 30 pages; available free for download on the organization’s Web site.
