Alliance for National Renewal
“The Alliance for National Renewal (ANR) is a coalition of over 200 national and local organizations dedicated to the principles of community renewal. Our diverse group of Partners range from the Study Circles Resource Center in Pomfret, Connecticut — where a small staff has facilitated issue-based discussions in more than 70 communities — to the National 4-H Council and the 33 million member American Association of Retired Persons.”
AMERICANS FOR MORE CIVILITY
a non-partisan, grassroots movement promoting reason, kindness and generosity in public life and private actions.
American Institute of Philanthropy
Provides a “charity watch” service with well-researched information about non-profit groups
Ask More Questions
From the website:” was founded to motivate and assist people to advocate for themselves. believes that our collective quality of life is enhanced when individual participation in public and consumer affairs is increased; is not affiliated with any political party or candidate, but believes that qualified candidates can only be elected by active and informed voters; is not affiliated with any cause, but believes that elected officials should act in the Òpublic interestÓ after considering the interests of all of their constituents, and not just Òspecial interests.Ó
Campus Compact
Campus Compact is a national coalition of more than 740 college and university presidents committed to the civic purposes of higher education. To support this civic mission, Campus Compact promotes community service that develops students’ citizenship skills and values, encourages partnerships between campuses and communities, and assists faculty who seek to integrate public and community engagement into their teaching and research.
Center for Civil Society Studies
Institute based at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies which “seeks to encourage the development and effective operation of nonprofit, philanthropic, or “civil society” organizations. The Center carries out its work through a combination of research, training, and information-sharing both in the United States and throughout the world.”
Center for Democracy and Citizenship
Research Center at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota.
Grassroots Enterprise
“Grassroots Enterprise provides communications and mobilization products and services that enable organizations to fully embrace the Internet and measurably increase the effectiveness of their advocacy efforts.”
Independent Sector
“a coalition of leading nonprofits, foundations and corporations strengthening not-for-profit initiative, philanthropy, and citizen action.”
National Commission on Civic Renewal
Report and information from the influential nonpartisan commission set up to assessss the state of civic decline in the United States.
National Issues Forum
“is a nationwide network of educational and community organizations that deliberate about nation-wide issues. This site offers you an opportunity to learn about NIF concepts, issues and reports. You can also find out how to begin holding forums in your community, schools, churches or civic organizations. NIF is non-partisan and does not advocate a specific solution or point of view. Rather, deliberative forums provide a way for citizens to exchange ideas and experiences with one another, and make more thoughtful and informed decisions.”
NonProfit Pathfinder
University of Maryland Civil Society Initiative: online information resource for civil society organizations.
Pew Partnership for Civic Change
Based in Charlottesville, Virginia: “Our research explores how innovative partnerships, citizen participation, and accessible technology catalyze civic solutions in these areas. We disseminate practical information about what works to citizens and practitioners everywhere.”
SERVEnet.org
“SERVEnet.org is the premierÊwebsite on service and volunteering. Through SERVEnet, users can enter their zip code, city, state, skills, interests, and availability and be matched with organizations needing help.ÊSERVEnet is also a place to search for calendar events, job openings, service news, recommended books, and best practices.
YSA’s commitment to America’s Promise is to have volunteer opportunities on SERVEnet for every zip code in America. SERVEnet is a program of Youth Service America(YSA), a resource center and the premier alliance of 200+ organizations committed to increasing the quantity and quality of opportunities for young Americans to serve locally, nationally, or globally. YSA’s mission is to strengthen the Effectiveness, Sustainability, and Scale of the youth service movement. YSA envisions a powerful network of organizations committed to making service the common experience and expectation of all young Americans. A strong youth service movement will create healthy communities, and foster citizenship, knowledge, and the personal development of young people.”
USA Freedom Corps
The USA Freedom Corps, through its participating agencies and programs– the newly created Citizen Corps, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Peace Corps– will work with local officials and community groups to offer expanded service opportunities for Americans at home and abroad.
Virginia Citizenship Institute
At George Mason University: “a nonpartisan alliance of Virginia educators, students, business, political, and community leaders dedicated to improving public life in America by increasing civic education and engagement among youth.”
Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy
“promotes lifelong learning, literacy, and civil public debate for all Virginians. We fund and produce exhibits, conferences & teachers’ institutes; book discussion series; film, video & radio programs; and other public programs that draw upon the rich resources of the humanities.”
VOTE.Com
“Vote.com is a fully interactive web site designed to give Internet users a voice on important public issues and other topics. The Internet is filled with chances for us to listen and read. This site gives us a chance to speak out and to be heard. When you vote on a topic listed on our site, we’ll send an immediate e-mail to significant decision makers like your congressional representative, your Senators, and the President telling them how you feel.”
Web Resources on Civil Society
Maintained by the Union of International Associations. This is an exhaustive site devoted to resources highlighting both local, national and global dimensions of civil society and the civic renewal debate.
WVTF Public Radio
“Present dayÐWVTF promises to continually offer the best in news, information, public affairs programs, and classical and jazz music. WVTF’s mission statement: To produce and acquire programming and services of value reflecting the culture, events, issues and ideas of our region and the world, and to combine them into an evolving communications service of the highest quality for the people of Virginia and its bordering communities.”
Yahoo: Community Service and Volunteerism
Provides links to a number of sites related to issues of civic renewal, philanthropy, and volunteerism.