Making Policy Without Parameters: Obtaining Data on the Nonprofit Sector in a Local Community

This study began with an effort to obtain data on the economic contribution of the nonprofit sector in a large, metropolitan community to inform policy-makers. Despite the growing interest of policy-makers in the nonprofit sector, and the importance of accurate, reliable, and timely data to make sound public policy decisions and to evaluate their effects, we encountered considerable difficulty and gaps in assembling the necessary information. Based on our experience and the scholarly literature, we detail the problems and how scholars might address them in preparing reports on the local nonprofit sector. We conclude with recommendations to improve the collection, availability, and reliability of data on the nonprofit sector to guide public policy-making.