For a continuing source of news and developments in the field of philanthropy, go to the bottom of our home page http://www.eastbaycf.org/

For information on different aspects of philanthropy and related subjects, here are authoritative sources listed in alphabetical order:

The Association of Fundraising Professionals represents nearly 28,000 members in more than 190 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through advocacy, research, education and certification programs. It fosters development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession. www.afpnet.org/index.cfm

Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator, works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of America's largest charities. http://www.charitynavigator.org/

The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University is a leading academic organization dedicated to increasing the understanding of philanthropy and improving its practice through research, teaching, public service and public affairs. Founded in 1987, the Center is a part of the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/

The Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at University of Southern California promotes effective philanthropy and strengthens the nonprofit sector through research that informs philanthropic decision making and public policy to advance public problem solving. The Center is an especially good source of interesting and important trends in philanthropy appearing in California and the West. www.usc.edu/schools/sppd/philanthropy

CompassPoint Nonprofit Services is a consulting, research, and training organization providing nonprofits with management tools, strategies, and resources to lead change in their communities. With offices in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, it works with community-based nonprofits in executive transition, planning, boards of directors, finance systems and business planning, fundraising, and technology. http://www.compasspoint.org/

The Council for Nonprofit Innovation (CNI) enhances the transparency, accountability and overall performance of organizations in the nonprofit sector. By identifying best management practices in leading nonprofit organizations and disseminating them to others, CNI improves the capacity of foundations and nonprofit organizations to manage, evaluate and improve their impact and performance. http://www.cniweb.org/

The Council on Foundations (COF) is a membership organization of more than 2,000 grant-making foundations and giving programs worldwide. It provides leadership expertise, legal services and networking opportunities - among other services - to members and to the general public. http://www.cof.org/

The Foundation Center supports and improves institutional philanthropy by promoting public understanding of the field and helping grant seekers succeed. The Center maintains a comprehensive database on U.S. grantmakers and their grants. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance philanthropy. http://foundationcenter.org/

The Giving Institute educates and engages members in the ethical delivery of counsel and related services to non-profits through research, advocacy, and best practices to promote ethics in the fundraising profession. http://www.aafrc.org/

GuideStar is the leader in providing comprehensive data on more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations, connecting them with donors, foundations, businesses, and governing agencies in a nationwide community of giving. http://www.guidestar.org/

The Institute for Nonprofit Organization Management at The University of San Francisco conducts and publishes research on the nonprofit sector for use by managers, leaders, policymakers, and scholars; by improving and supporting professional education in nonprofit management; and by convening practitioners, scholars, and community leaders on current issues in nonprofit management and philanthropy. http://www.inom.org/

National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS) is the national repository of data on the nonprofit sector in the United States. It develops and disseminates data on nonprofit organizations and their activities for use in research on the relationships between the nonprofit sector, government, the commercial sector, and broader civil society. Working with the IRS and other government agencies, private sector service organizations, and the scholarly community, NCCS builds compatible national, state, and regional databases and develops uniform standards for reporting on the activities of charitable organizations. http://nccs.urban.org/

PACE (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagment) inspires interest, understanding, and investment in civic engagement within the philanthropic community as a way to encourage participation, collaborations, and investments in community, civic and political life. http://www.pacefunders.org/

Stanford University’s Center for Social Innovation, in the Graduate School of Business, teaches students to be innovative, principled, and insightful leaders who can change the world. Its activities are designed to enhance the leadership and management capacity of individuals who strive to create social and environmental value, bringing community leaders together with faculty, students, and alumni to address social problems on several fronts. http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/csi/about/index.html

The Wise Giving Alliance of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports on nationally soliciting charitable organizations that are the subject of donor inquiries. These reports include an evaluation of the subject charity in relation to the voluntary BBB charity standards. http://www.give.org/