Wisconsin’s Civic Health: A Snapshot of Recent Years
A new article by CommNS Executive Director Mary Beth Collins appeared in the April issue of the WISCONSIN COUNTIES ASSOCIATION. “Wisconsin’s Civic Health: A Snapshot of Recent Years” provides an update on Wisconsin’s civic health …
June 1, 20262026-2027 CommNS Community Fellowship: Apply by May 19, 2026
The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies (CommNS) is excited to open applications for the Community Fellowship, an opportunity for a community practitioner to collaborate with our center. Through the Community Fellowship, the CommNS seeks …
April 21, 2026The New North: Supporting Community-Led Strategies for a Strong, Sustainable, and Connected Ashland County in Changing Times
Since early 2025, the CommNS has been collaborating with UW-Extension Ashland County on a project titled The New North: Integrating Newcomers and Communities In Northern Wisconsin for Civic Health and Sustainable Rural Futures. Funded by an …
March 16, 2026Building Bridges: The CommNS and Civil Society Capacity-Building in Timor-Leste
How a year-long partnership nurtured connection and exchange, and contributed to capacity-building efforts for civil society organizations and future leaders in one of the world’s youngest democracies A Partnership Across Continents Imagine running a nonprofit …
March 15, 2026Meeting the Moment: Defining Civic Health in Wisconsin
A new article by CommNS Executive Director Mary Beth Collins will appear in the March issue of the WISCONSIN COUNTIES ASSOCIATION.
March 11, 2026Faith-Based Organizations as Community Anchors: Key Insights from the 2/19/26 CommUniversity Session Panel
Last week, The CommNS kicked off our Spring Semester 2026 CommUniversity sessions with a panel discussion on Faith-Based Organizations as community anchor points, which often offer support to communities which go well beyond worship, and …
March 11, 2026By the People and For the People: An Urgent Call to Democratize the Future of AI
The recent, inevitable explosion of the presence of artificial intelligence (“AI”) in our lives has invoked concern and excitement across communities, institutions, and enterprises. The abrupt integration – in just a couple of years – of an entirely new level of technological power most of us don’t really understand is unnerving and yet, already an accepted part of our daily life.
February 4, 2026How will recent and anticipated federal policy changes impact Wisconsin communities and the nonprofits that serve them?
This timely project supported by the United Way of Dane County, the Madison Community Foundation, and the UW-Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies collects and distills information for stakeholders …
November 6, 20252025 Chicago Friends of the CommNS Event Recap
In the fall of 2023, the CommNS kicked off an effort to reach out to our neighbors in Chicago. Staff, faculty and students were able to connect and share what we do and why we …
July 24, 2025Participate in Wisconsin’s 2025 Civic Health Challenge
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Civic Health Challenge in August! And remember, to keep your Civic Health activities going throughout the year! August is Civic Health Month! The Civic Health of …
July 23, 2025Beyond Land Acknowledgements: The Importance of Community History in Honoring Native Voices
The guidance from this brief is derived from The Community and Nonprofit Studies Affiliate and Civil Society & Community Studies and American Indian & Indigenous Studies Associate Professor, Kasey Keeler and her project Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ …
July 11, 2025
Nonprofits and Philanthropy Working Abroad in 2025: Navigating Recent Developments in Government and Regulation
By Mary Beth Collins, J.D., M.A., Executive Director of the UW-Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies, Professor Mark Sidel of the UW-Madison Law School, and Dr. Vincenzo Bollettino of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. On …
April 4, 2025
Community Fellowship: Apply by April 7, 2025
The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies (CommNS) is excited to announce a new opportunity for a community practitioner to collaborate with our center: the Community Fellowship. Through its new Community Fellowship, the CommNS seeks …
March 10, 2025
Save the Date: Chicago Friends of the CommNS Event April 9th!
It’s official, our spring Chicago Friends of the CommNS event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9th, 2025! Our social reception will begin at 4:30 pm with some brief programming around 5:15 pm. Please be on the lookout for an invitation …
February 4, 2025Creating connections on campus to support Wisconsin communities
Recently published on UniverCity Alliance website: https://univercity.wisc.edu/2025/02/03/creating-connections-on-campus-to-support-wisconsin-communities/ When the City of Madison was interested in evaluating a pop-up shop program, UniverCity Alliance connected the project and city staff with an initiative at the Center for …
February 3, 2025Co-Create: Students gain career insights while furthering the Wisconsin Idea
Recently published by the UW School of Human Ecology: https://humanecology.wisc.edu/co-create-students-gain-career-insights-while-furthering-the-wisconsin-idea/ Audrey Treptow x‘25 has always had a passion for public service. After her experience with Co-Create, a community-led research, evaluation and facilitation initiative, she has …
January 27, 2025Going From the Classroom to the Boardroom Helps Students Learn How Nonprofits Work
A class at the University of Wisconsin-Madison business school gives an overview of how nonprofits are structured and regulated, as well as how boards support the transparency and compliance of these organizations, which must serve …
October 9, 2024What Evaluators Can Learn From Doulas
Recently published on AEA365: https://aea365.org/blog/what-evaluators-can-learn-from-doulas-by-amy-washbush/ Hi! I’m Amy Washbush, Associate Director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies. Through our Co-Create team we partner with nonprofit organizations and others to answer the evaluation and research …
October 9, 2024What difference can Co-Create make for your organization? Reflections from our clients and partners
As Co-Create has continued to grow and engage in more projects with nonprofits, funders, and government agencies to lift up and answer the most important questions to advance their efforts, we’ve taken the time …
October 4, 2024
Timely updates on the nonprofit sector, community efforts, and civil society.