With the growing role played by charitable and non -profit organizations in achieving the goals of sustainable development and facing societal challenges, the urgent need for research and studies centers highlights in the non -profit sector. These centers are not just traditional research units, but rather a cognitive axis that provides data, analyzes and recommendations that enhance the quality of decisions, program effectiveness, and sustainability of impact.
OECD Centre on Philanthropy (2023) indicates that 70% of non -profit organizations in developing countries do not depend on scientific research or field studies when designing their interventions, which leads to poor effectiveness, double efforts, and waste of resources. On the other hand, a study prepared by Bridgespan Group shows that institutions that are based on reliable studies centers have a 34% higher development impact compared to others.
Specialized studies centers play a pivotal role in supporting the charitable and non -profit sector at several levels:
1. Reality analysis and measurement measurement: through reliable research tools such as demographic analysis and thermal maps of need, funding can be directed to the most priority sectors and regions.
2. Design programs on scientific foundations: Instead of emotional or seasonal initiatives, research contributes to plans based on clear indications.
3. Evaluating the impact and measuring results: through tools such as SROI (social return on investment), sustainability assessments, and the surveys of beneficiaries.
4. Suggestion of policies and legislation: These centers help official authorities to develop supportive systems for charitable and non -profit work.
5. Monitoring future trends: such as transformations in the priorities of donors, digital volunteering trends, and the impact of crises on giving.
There are a number of international research centers that have established pioneering models that can be used:
• Nesta – UK:
A Social Innovation Corporation established in 1998, working to develop research solutions on research to face complex societal challenges such as early education, health and sustainability. It performs field experiments and analyzes data to support governments and charitable institutions in improving programs and services.
• Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (Stanford Pacs) – America:
This center provides in -depth research on the future of charitable work and social financing, and issues strategic reports used by major donor institutions.
• Harvard Kennedy School – Global Philanthropy Program – America:
He studies the relationship between donors and governmental and non -profit sectors, and provides tools to support partnerships and rational governance in global charitable work.
• Brac Institute of Goovernance and Development – Bangladesh:
One of the most important practical research centers in the world, merges the field evaluation with policy design and serves more than 100 million people in Asia and Africa.
• The Center for Non -profit studies at Singapore National University – Singapore:
A pioneering analytical platform that helped design government policies aimed at supporting influential civil action.
Dependence on reliable data, comparative analysis, and field reports, enables organizations to transform from the “reaction” pattern to “the decision -based decision.” This, in turn, raises the efficiency of programs by more than 30%. The Foundation’s image is improved in front of donors and partners, as well as helping to allocate resources accurately, and reduce financial and administrative waste. Finally, institutional expansion is easy based on measurable results.
In a world in which the measurement of the impact and rational governance has become a requirement, not luxury, the specialized centers of studies represent the cornerstone stone in building an effective charitable, sustainable, and based on knowledge. Without these centers, charitable work remains subject to individual jurisprudence, limited impact, and the absence of social and economic influence circles.
