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Industry Research

Guide to industry research

Nonprofits

Below are some of the top resources for finding market and industry research:

There are various classifications for nonprofits and charities that are designated by the Internal Revenue Service as having a tax exempt status.  The most general EO (Exempt Organization) classification is a 501c corporation, but there are also 501(c)(6) organizations and 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.  For more details, refer to this IRS link.

While non-profits and charitable organizations have tax exempt status, they are required by law to file a Form 990.  Many websites allow you to search for these filings, including the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute (see below under Internet Resources.

Note: For general overviews and market research reports search for terms like: 

  • Nonprofit OR non-profit OR not-for-profit
  • Philanthropy OR charities OR charitable foundation
  • Grant OR endowment

For more specific research, consider adding terms like:

  • Conservation 
  • Human rights

When available, search NAICs codes:

  • 8132 for Grantmaking & Giving Services
  • 813311 for Human Rights Organizations
  • 81331 for Social Advocacy
  • 8131 for Religious Organizations

For even more on Nonprofits, consult links on the Library of Congress' Nonprofit Sector research guide.

Listed below are links to trade publications and relevant industry news:

Note: A trade publication (often a magazine) is an information source that is intended for a very specific audience and will have content that appeals to that audience. The content may come directly from people within the industry, or it may come from freelance or staff writers that have vast experiences writing for that particular trade.

Professionals often subscribe to trade magazines in order to gather valuable information that will help them achieve something within their industry or field. Trade publications are a Marketer's secret weapon and can be helpful for tracking recent industry developments, identifying competitors or uncovering market opportunities. 

Here's a list of important journals:

Below are links to key industry associations:

Note: If your industry is not represented here, search Google with your industry name + "association".  Not all content on these websites is free; you may need to be a member to access exclusive reports and data.

In some industries, associations might be referred to as;

  • Guild OR federation OR society
  • Foundation OR council
  • Bureau OR forum

Here's a short list of university centers and research institutions:

Below are links to find locations and evaluators of nonprofits:

Find key government data, including reports and statistics using the following resources:

Books and Reference Sources