Exploring Challenges to Nonprofit Status

Abstract

Individual nonprofit organizations, groups of similar organizations, or the people being served by these organizations have typically been the focus of community-based research efforts. Common research questions might include how to better identify service needs, how to improve the actual delivery of services, how to better access clients, or how to assess effectiveness in various service delivery models. While these individual organizational or client issues have dominated the community-based research methodological literature, the structure of the sector, and the degree to which structural changes might impact the capacity of individual nonprofit, community-based organizations have been neglected. This article explores the results of a research project to determine the extent of challenges to tax exempt status occurring throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Conclusions from the research effort point to not only the complexity of this particular policy issue but also the problems and constraints of community-based research involving the nonprofit sector. Suggestions for the continued improvement of community-based research are offered.

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