Nonprofit Outreach Services: Using Outreach to Increase Nonprofits’ Capacity and to Provide a Quality Educational Experience for Students

Abstract

The nonprofit sector is growing at an astounding rate. This growth has created unique needs among nonprofit leaders and organizations. Educational institutions are responding to these needs through nonprofit degree programs and outreach services. However, while a considerable amount of research has focused on nonprofit education programs, a limited amount of research has focused on nonprofit outreach services. This article sought to address this weakness by exploring the history, structure, and impact of the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs’ (GSPIA) Nonprofit Clinic in Western Pennsylvania. A unique feature of GSPIA’s Nonprofit Clinic is their use of students and faculty to provide technical assistant to nonprofits. Using this model, nonprofit organizations receive valuable support and students receive valuable educational experiences. This study concluded that GSPIA’s nonprofit outreach program has strong positive benefits and is replicable in other academic institutions.

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