Nonprofit, NGO, and Aid Agency Resources

Engaging with different types of resources will help you understand your industry on a deeper level.

Caution

When using resources on this guide, continue to evaluate credibility and relevance for your audience. A resource can be considered credible in one situation but questionable in another, or its quality can suddenly degrade. Additionally, credible resources can still contain problematic content like content marketing, inaccurate opinion pieces, flawed research, or misrepresented evidence.

Professional Organizations

Professional organizations and trade associations promote their industries and provide networking opportunities to members. Their websites offer information and educational materials for professionals in the industry.

The following examples are organizations for professionals in philanthropic fields:

Trade Publications

Trade journals or trade magazines provide industry-specific insights, giving prospective professionals an insider’s view of the field.

The following examples are trade publications with a focus on philanthropy:

Popular Magazines

Popular magazines, although aimed at a general audience, can be useful for understanding an industry in a larger context or from a consumer’s point of view. They can also help professionals understand issues that could affect their work, such as global affairs and business strategies.

Popular magazines that could be useful to professionals in nonprofit fields include:

Newspapers

Newspapers cover current events relevant to professionals in all fields.

Newspapers with useful coverage include:

New York Times

UW-Madison students can create a free personal account through the library

Wall Street Journal

UW-Madison students can create a free personal account through the library

Podcasts

Most industries have reputable experts who podcast about their chosen field, providing an insider’s look. These types of information resources vary widely and require vetting, but can be credible.

The following resources might offer useful perspectives on nonprofits:

The Nonprofit Reframe

Websites

You can find information from resources that don’t fall into a particular category of publication, though many of the most influential websites started as blogs.

The following resources may be relevant for professionals working in nonprofits:

Newsletters

Newsletters have become an increasingly popular way to follow specific topics or industries.

Here are some examples of newsletters that might be useful for professionals in the nonprofit sector:

Nonprofit Champion

Books

Most industries have notable books that insiders find useful or that have had an influence on that industry. Asking insiders is the best way to find out which books are considered essential in your field.

Here are a few examples of books that focus on nonprofits:

Charity Case: How the Nonprofit Community Can Stand Up for Itself and Really Change the World (Dan Pallotta)
Good To Great And The Social Sectors: Why Business Thinking Is Not the Answer: A Monograph to Accompany Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap–And Others Don’t (Jim Collins)
Run It Like a Business (Aubrey Bergauer)
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (Simon Sinek)

Scholarly Journals

Scholarly journals publish in depth research, usually conducted by professors.

The following resources offer academic perspectives on nonprofit and aid organizations: