Voluntary Sector Public Policy Toolbox

Part V: Institutes and Lobby Groups
Research on the topic of your choice

Research and policy institutes exist to delve deeply into areas that affect public policy ‹ the economy, social security, the environment, employment, and more. The results of their research are often available on their Web sites, or by mail.

It is important to understand that many institutes are formed with a particular political, economic, or social orientation, and their research tends to reflect those belief systems.

This list includes over 90 Canadian research and policy institutes and broad lobby groups. The criteria for inclusion in this list were that the organization conducts Canadian research, the research is directed to public policy, and the focus of the research is not commercial in nature or industry-specific.

Aboriginal Rights Coalition: Seeks to build alliance and solidarity in the struggle for aboriginal justice in Canada

The Advocate Institute: Research into economic, public, and social policy

AREA Canada: A coalition of industry, labour and municipalities from across Canada, with forty-seven members representing many sectors of the Canadian economy. AREA is striving to reflect the views and represent the interest of a broad cross-section of Canadians in the climate change debate. AREA¹s formation was a direct, broadly based, proactive response to the development of Canadian climate change policy

Asia Pacific Foundation: Promotes understanding of the Canadian people and the Asia Pacific

Assembly of First Nations: National aboriginal lobby organization

Atlantic Institute for Market Studies: Initiates and conducts research identifying current and emerging economic and public policy issues facing Atlantic Canadians and Canadians more generally

Atlantic Provinces Economic Council: Independent, non-partisan research and educational institution whose objective is to promote the economic development of the Atlantic Region of Canada

C.D. Howe Institute: Economic and social policy research institution

Caledon Institute for Social Policy: Seeks to inform and influence public opinion and to foster public discussion on poverty and social policy; and develops and promotes concrete, practicable proposals for the reform of social programs at all levels of government and of social benefits provided by employers and the voluntary sector

Campaign 2000: Public education movement to build Canadian awareness and support for the 1989 all-party House of Commons resolution to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000

Canada West Foundation: Studies the socio-economics of Canada¹s West and North

Canadian Arctic Resources Committee: Provides a voice for citizens on the Canadian north

Canadian Association of Retired People: Canada's Association for the Fifty-Plus

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives: Undertakes and promotes research on issues of social and economic justice

Canadian Centre for Social Entrepreneurship: Strengthens the organizations who serve our social interests and needs

Canadian Centre on Minority Affairs: Focuses on information technology, international cooperation, family literacy, policy and research, community economic development and government relations

Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility: Dedicated to education and research on all issues related to nuclear energy, whether civilian or military ­ including non-nuclear alternatives ­ especially those pertaining to Canada

Canadian Community Reinvestment Council: Advocates for bank accountability in Canada

Canadian Council for the Arts: Fosters and promotes the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in the arts

Canadian Council on Social Development: Promotes better social and economic security for all Canadians

Canadian Employment Research Forum: Improves the level of employment policy analysis and debate in Canada by encouraging policy related empirical research; and to improve interaction among researchers and policy-makers from governments, universities, business, labour and other communities concerned with employment issues

Canadian Environmental Law Association: Uses existing laws to protect the environment and to advocate environmental law reforms

Canadian Family Research Institute: Provides a forum for discussion and research of issues affecting families in Canada

Canadian Health Coalition: works to promote the health of Canadians and the stability of the health care system

Canadian Institute for Child Health: Acts as a voice for children and their well-being

Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy: Provides leadership in the research and development of environmental law and policy that promotes the public interest and the principles of sustainability

Canadian Institute for Research on Regional Development (Institut canadien de recherche sur le développement régional): Susciter un débat public éclairé sur le développement régional; fournir à tous les intéressés des informations et des données objectives à ce sujet.

Canadian Institute of International Affairs: Provides Canadians with a non-partisan nation-wide forum for discussion, analysis and debate of international affairs

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society: Helps protect threatened areas and takes the lead to make sure nature comes first in parks management

Canadian Policy Research Network: Creates knowledge and public debate on social and economic issues

Canadian Race Relations Foundation: Committed to building a national framework for the fight against racism in Canadian society

Canadian Research Institute for Social Policy: Improves the effectiveness of social policy in Canada, to help Canadian communities provide better education and care for their children, and to contribute to capacity-building efforts in developing countries

Canadian Research Institute on Law and the Family: Undertakes and promotes interdisciplinary research, education, and publication on issues related to law and the family

Canadian Social Planning Network: A collaborative Internet project that links community social planning councils (SPCs) across the country

Canadian Society of Association Executives: The professional organization of the men and women who manage many of this country's most progressive associations, as well as those who supply the sector with essential products and services

Canadian Taxpayers Federation: Dedicated to being a watchdog on government spending and taxation

Canadian Training Institute: provides training, consulting assistance, promotes collaborative action and undertakes applied research projects in contributing to the effectiveness of services delivered by criminal justice and related human service agencies in Canada

Canadian Unity Online: Promotes Canadian unity

Canadian Urban Institute: Improves policy making and management in urban regions by encouraging a better understanding of contemporary urban issues among business, government and other key institutions

Canadians for Direct Democracy: Promotes the right of citizens to hold referenda on any issue

Centre for Families, Work, and Well-Being: Capitalizes on the expertise of University of Guelph faculty and staff from many disciplines who work in matters relevant to individual and family well-being, the interface between work and family, and contextual factors that affect workplace productivity and community supports

Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis: Produces high-quality, original, socially relevant research in health economics and health policy analysis, and to disseminates research evidence to decision makers in the health sector

Centre for Innovation in Corporate Responsibility: Combines environmental management with corporate social responsibility. Advocates the `triple bottom line' which includes social and environmental considerations as well as financial

Centre for Regional Studies: Promotes research related to the social, political, economic, cultural and historical dimensions of Atlantic Canadian life

Centre for Renewal in Public Policy: Provides a vision of civil society that addresses the fundamental connections between public policy, culture, moral discourse, and religious conviction

Centre for Social Justice: An advocacy organization that seeks to strengthen the struggle for social justice

Centre for the Study of Living Standards: Contributes to a better understanding of trends in living standards and factors determining trends through research; contributes to public debate on living standards by developing and advocating specific policies through expert consensus

Child and Family Canada: Fifty Canadian non-profit organizations have come together under the banner of Child & Family Canada to provide quality, credible resources on children and families

Child Welfare League of Canada: Protecting and promotes the well-being of Canada's children

Childcare Research and Resource Unit: Focuses on early childhood care and education research and policy

Coalition of National Voluntary Organizations: Promotes volunteerism and enhances the profile of Canada's voluntary and charitable sector

Conference Board of Canada: Develops and exchanges knowledge about emerging economic and social trends, key public policy issues and organization strategies and practices

Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs: Increase the awareness and understanding of domestic and international issues amongst people in Canada

Council of Canadians: Lobbies Members of Parliament, conducts research, and runs national campaigns aimed at putting some of the country's most important issues into the spotlight: safeguarding our social programs, promoting economic justice, renewing our democracy, asserting Canadian sovereignty, advancing alternatives to corporate-style free trade, and preserving our environment.

Democracy Watch: Advocates democratic reform, government accountability and corporate responsibility.

Federation of Canadian Municipalities: Dedicated to improving the quality of life in all communities by promoting strong, effective and accountable municipal government

Fraser Institute: Redirects public attention to the role markets can play in providing for the economic and social well-being of Canadians

Friends of the Earth: Serves as a national voice for the environment, working with others to inspire the renewal of our communities and the earth, through research, education and advocacy

Frontier Centre for Public Policy: Undertake research and education in support of economic growth and social outcomes which will enhance the quality of life in our communities

GPI Atlantic: Develops an index of sustainable development and well-being for Atlantic Canada

Greenpeace Canada: Works to protect the environment

Institute for Media, Policy, and Civil Society: Strengthen communications between not-for-profit organizations, government and the media

Institute for Public Economics: Enhance understanding of public policy issues by conducting and disseminating research results through publications, conferences and teaching

Institute for Research on Public Policy: Improve public policy in Canada by promoting and contributing to a policy process that is more broadly based, informed and effective

Institute for Work and Health: Researches and promotes new ways to prevent workplace disability, improved treatment, and optimal recovery and safe return-to-work

Institute of Governance Studies: Pursue multi-disciplinary research into problems on contemporary governance with a special focus on British Columbia

Institute of Health Economics: Delivers outstanding health economics, health outcomes and health policy research and related services

Institute of Health Services and Policy Research: Objective is to excel, according to internationally accepted standards of scientific excellence, in the creation of new knowledge and its translation into improved health for Canadians, more effective health services and products and a strengthened Canadian health care system

Institute of Island Studies: Emphasis always on Prince Edward Island, the work of the Institute focuses on the culture, environment and economy of small islands

Institute on Governance: Promotes effective governance

International Development Research Centre: Public corporation created by the Canadian government to help communities in the developing world find solutions to social, economic, and environmental problems through research

International Institute for Sustainable Development: Advances policy recommendations on international trade and investment, economic policy, climate change, measurement and indicators, and natural resource management to make development sustainable

Lester B. Pearson Peacekeeping Centre: Support and enhance the Canadian contribution to international peace, security and stability

Mackenzie Institute: Concerned with issues related to political instability and organized violence

National Aboriginal Health Organization: An Aboriginal designed and controlled body dedicated to improving the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual health of Aboriginal peoples

National Action Committee on the Status of Women: The National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC) is the largest feminist organization in Canada. A coalition of more than 700 member groups, NAC has been fighting for women's equality for 27 years.

National Anti-Poverty Organization: Provides a voice for low-income Canadians and assists other organizations in bringing forth the concerns of those living in poverty

National Children's Alliance: Promotes the development of a National Children's Agenda by the federal and provincial/territorial governments

National Council of Welfare: Citizens' advisory body to the Minister of Human Resources Development Canada on matters of concern to low-income Canadians.

National Council of Women: Improves conditions of life for women, families and communities

National Water Research Institute: Conducts a comprehensive program of research and development in the aquatic sciences, in partnership with the Canadian and international science communities

National Foundation for Family Research and Education: Strengthening families as the core of society

North-South Institute: Conducts research on Canada's relations with developing countries and on a wide range of foreign policy issues

Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition: Works with the diverse communities of Ontario to strengthen their social, environmental, and economic well-being

Ontario Public Interest Research Group: The membership of OPIRG (Provincial) is comprised of a network of 11 autonomous, non-profit, university student-funded and directed organizations that conduct research, education, and action on social and environmental justice issues

Ontario Public Interest Research Group: The membership of OPIRG (Provincial) is comprised of a network of 11 autonomous, non-profit, university student-funded and directed organizations that conduct research, education, and action on social and environmental justice issues

Parkland Institute: Conducts research on economic, social, cultural, and political issues facing Albertans and Canadians

Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development: Committed to protecting the environment and to developing environmentally sound solutions to meet human needs

Public Interest Advocacy Centre: Provides legal and research services on behalf of consumer interests, and, in particular, vulnerable consumer interests, concerning the provision of important public services

Public Policy Forum: Strives for excellence in government; to serve as a neutral, independent forum for open dialogue on public policy, and to encourage reform in public sector management

Queen's International Institute on Social Policy: A program of Queen's University School of Policy Studies

REAL Women: Presents our pro-family, pro-life views to the provincial and federal governments, the courts and the media

Reality Check: An online forum for Canadians with a pro-equality, pro-life, anti-feminist/NAC stance. This forum aims to inform NOT offend. We welcome informed, considered arguments about abortion, equality, feminism, & other issues.

Research Group on Energy Economics, the Environment and Resources (Groupe de recherche en économie de l'énergie, de l'environnement et des ressources naturelles): Une institution de recherche, de formation, de consultation et d'information rattachée

Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy: Stimulates public policy debate and providing expertise, research and analysis on social, economic, fiscal, environmental, and administrative issues related to public policy

Sheldon M. Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership: Promote action which exemplifies ethical principle. This is reflected in the attention of individuals and organizations to the impact of decisions and actions on others affected. The Foundation seeks to advance this purpose in all fields of community life by: fostering the availability of public information and the occurrence of discussion which raises awareness of the ethical consequences of choices and actions.

Sierra Club Canada: Works on matters of public policy and environmental awareness Sierra Legal Defense Fund: Provides free legal services to the environmental community in Canada.

Sparrow Lake Alliance: Promotes the optimal development of all children and youth

Sustainable Development Research Institute: Undertakes research on sustainable development that advances knowledge and contributes to the solution of real-world problems

Tommy Douglas Research Institute: Redirects public attention to the respective role of both the large business sector and governments in providing for the well-being of Canadians

Vanier Institute of the Family: Advocates on behalf of Canada's 7.8 million families from the point of view that families are the key building block of society and that every Canadian is included in their context

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U.S. Research Centres

Institutional Online Resources for Nonprofit Advocacy

The Nonprofit Advocacy Initiative has compiled a list of organizations that are involved with the study and promotion of nonprofit advocacy. The organizations are presented in five main categories: academic centers, foundations, government agencies, think tank groups, and other nonprofit organizations. By visiting their Web sites, users can access papers, research studies, bibliographies, and other resources related to the role, regulation, practice, and impact of nonprofit advocacy in the United States.

Academic Centers

Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania
The Annenberg Public Policy Center conducts research in four main topic areas: information and society, media and the developing mind, media and the dialogue of democracy, and health communication. The Center has published several reports on the role of the media and the level of the public engagement in public affairs.

Brandeis University Civic Practices Network
The Civic Practices Network is a project led by Brandeis University's Center for Human Resources at the Heller School for Advanced Studies in Social Welfare. The project provides online information with case studies, stories, and other materials about civic education, responsible community action, and democratic policymaking.

Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law
The Brennan Center focuses its work on three areas: democracy, income inequality, and protection of First Amendment rights. The Center has conducted several studies on campaign finance reform, judicial independence, voter choice, and voting and representation.

City University of New York: Center for the Study of Philanthropy
The Center for the Study of Philanthropy administers the Global Network on Women's Advocacy and Civil Society. The Network disseminates information on women's issues among research centers, nonprofit organizations, and advocacy groups. Network users have access to an active bibliography of resources, a discussion listserv, and other research studies.

Electronic Policy Network
A consortium of top public policy organizations and advocacy groups, the Electronic Policy Network provides timely information and leading ideas about the policies and politics that shape our world.

Harvard University: Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations
The Hauser Center for Nonprofit Organizations is part of Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. The Center's research and education activities promote understanding of the nonprofit sector and its role in helping society define and achieve the common good.

Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies: Center for Civil Society Studies
The Center for Civil Society focuses its research on the nonprofit sector and civil society in the United States and abroad. It also examines the ways in which the sector can help solve social problems.

New York University School of Law: National Center on Philanthropy and the Law
The National Center on Philanthropy and the Law sponsors research and conducts conferences and discussion forums on issues that affect the nonprofit sector in America. The Center also publishes materials on nonprofit legal issues.

Tufts University: Lincoln Filene Center for Citizenship and Public Affairs
The Lincoln Filene Center for Citizenship and Public Affairs develops educational and research activities to promote the role of the nonprofit, voluntary, and philanthropic sector. Through its National Focus on Citizenship and Democracy program, the Center promotes nonprofit organizations as vehicles for public participation. Currently, the Center and OMB Watch (listed below) are conducting a project to identify and understand the factors that influence the level of participation of nonprofit organizations in the public policy process.

Union Institute: Center for Public Policy
The Center for Public Policy is currently developing the Nonprofit Leadership and Democracy Project. The project studies the role of the nonprofit sector in strengthening civil society, fostering democracy, and advancing advocacy and other avenues for social justice. The Center's Web site has a collection of papers on nonprofit advocacy and democracy.

University of Maryland: Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy
The Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy has studied the American political system and its tendencies to support or impede public participation. Some research studies have focused on campaign finance, the influence of political consultants in elections, and the role of public deliberation in policymaking.

University of Minnesota: Center for Democracy and Citizenship
The Center for Democracy and Citizenship focuses primarily on the impact of civic participation in the policy process. The Center has developed projects that promote civic engagement and build democracy at the local and state levels.

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Independent Research Organizations

Aspen Institute: The Nonprofit Research Fund
The Aspen Institute funds research to increase the understanding of the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit advocacy and civic participation is one of the research areas of interest for the Nonprofit Research Fund. Research briefings, working papers, and other publications on nonprofit advocacy can be accessed through the Web.

Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution conducts analytical research on three main fields: emerging economic policy, foreign policy, and government and the policymaking process. Brookings has published several reports on civic engagement, campaign finance reform, and Internet voting.

Committee for Economic Development
The Committee for Economic Development is an association of business leaders dedicated to policy research on economic and social issues. The Committee is currently developing projects on campaign finance reform, education and child care, and welfare reform.

Urban Institute - The Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy
The Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy (CNP) explores the role and impact of nonprofit organizations and philanthropy in democratic societies. CNP is developing the Nonprofit Advocacy Initiative, a five-year project that brings together people and institutions with diverse expertise to examine how the advocacy activities of nonprofit organizations affect public attitudes and civic participation, political discourse, public policy, and social change.

Foundations

Benton Foundation
The Benton Foundation supports the use of communication/technology that helps organize people to solve social problems. The Foundation focuses on three interdependent areas: legislative and regulatory policy on communications, technologies, and nonprofit organizations communication practices. The Foundation has built various Web sites with annotated and organized information about nonprofit organizations working on children's, arts, community health, and political campaign issues.

Carnegie Corporation of New York
The Carnegie Corporation supports initiatives that increase public understanding of major social policy issues and foster the public's active participation in political and civic life.

Pew Charitable Trusts
The Pew Charitable Trusts dedicates a portion of its grantmaking budget to increasing citizen participation and citizen confidence in government elections and democratic processes.

The Ford Foundation
A main goal of the Ford Foundation is to strengthen democratic values by increasing citizen participation, monitoring governmental performance, and supporting the philanthropic sector. The Ford Foundation is providing support to the Nonprofit Advocacy Initiative, led by the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, to study how the advocacy activities of nonprofit organizations affect public attitudes and civic participation, political discourse, public policy, and social change.

Foundation for Child Development
The Foundation for Child Development supports research to examine the roles, effectiveness and potential of child advocacy organizations, especially their potential to bring about beneficial policy choices for children.

Nathan Cummings Foundation
The Nathan Cummings Foundation's programs focus on three main areas: arts, environment, and health care. The Foundation has created an interprogram initiative to strengthen the nonprofit sector in the 21st century.

Surdna Foundation, Inc.
The Surdna Foundation supports initiatives in the following areas: the environment, community revitalization, effective citizenry, the arts, and the nonprofit sector support program. The Foundation's Nonprofit Sector Initiative is designed to support research activities to increase knowledge regarding the nonprofit sector and its contribution in American communities.

Other Nonprofit Organizations

This category includes information about nonprofit organizations developing technical assistance and training on advocacy and interest groups lists.

Technical Assistance and Training

Advocacy Institute
The Advocacy Institute focuses on advocacy leadership development, movement building, strategy development and analysis, and advocacy skills building among others. The Institute develops projects in two main areas: capacity building and tobacco control.

Alliance for Justice
The Alliance for Justice is a national association of advocacy organizations dedicated to securing access to justice, strengthening the public interest community, and developing the next generation of advocates. The organization offers training, produces materials, and gives technical assistance to nonprofit organizations through the Nonprofit Advocacy Project.

Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest
The Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest is a project of INDEPENDENT SECTOR. The project's main goal is to educate charitable organizations about the role lobbying can play in achieving their missions. The project's Web site contains information about laws, guidelines, and the benefits of lobbying.

OMB Watch
OMB Watch is a nonprofit research, educational, and advocacy organization that focuses on budget, regulatory, and nonprofit advocacy and information policy. OMB Watch and the Lincoln Filene Center for Citizenship and Public Affairs at Tufts University are conducting a study to identify and better understand the factors that affect nonprofit organizations' participation in the public policy process. OMB Watch is also part of the coalition Let America Speak, a coalition that works to defend the advocacy rights of America's nonprofit organizations.

Interests Groups

Interest groups are a portion of the nonprofit sector and work to articulate positions on social issues and influence the policy agenda. The following Web sites offer annotated interest groups directories:
http://www.policy.com/community/advoc.html
http://polisci.about.com/science/polisci/msubngo.htm
http://reinert.creighton.edu/advocacy/alpha.htm#a

Recommend a link. Recommend an online report. We'll take the best recommendations and add them to the site every month. Send them to info@ginsler.com subject: toolbox recommendations.

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