Nonprofit Capacity Building Efforts Across Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Nonprofit Resources Group (WisNRG) was formed to connect programs and organizations that support “front lines” nonprofits across Wisconsin. Over the past few years, WisNRG has organized informal quarterly meetings that bring together nonprofit-serving …
October 11, 2023
New CommNS partnership with Urban Rural Action sparks dialogue across Wisconsin
Through the generous support of the Schlecht Family Foundation, the CommNS began a collaboration this summer with Urban Rural Action (URA). URA is a nonprofit organization which works to bring together Americans across divides to …
September 7, 2023
CommNS contributes to new book on UW-Madison’s global partnerships
Wisconsin in the World (ed. Elise S. Ahn) is a recently published book exploring the long and ongoing story of internationalization at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW). Against that backdrop, each chapter takes a unique …
September 7, 2023
CommNS Executive Director Speaks on Declining Volunteerism in Wisconsin
CommNS Executive Director, Mary Beth Collins, was featured on a NBC 15 news piece, “Study finds volunteering in Wisconsin dropped double digits.”
June 27, 2023
Executive Director Mary Beth Collins speaks on churches’ tax exempt status and political activity
Mary Beth Collins, Executive Director of the CommNS, was featured in a recent news story released by ABC 27, WKOW, “Cottage Grove priest stirs up controversy by urging people to not vote for specific Supreme …
April 20, 2023
CommNS-funded projects foster positive community change through engaged research
At the Fall CommUniversity session, UW-Madison researchers shared out about their CommNS-funded research projects. Each project reflected a deep commitment to community voice and leadership, and to translating research into positive social impact. Session speakers …
December 13, 2022
Apply Now for the Community and Nonprofit Leadership Capstone Certificate Program
The Community and Nonprofit Leadership Capstone Certificate equips both emerging and established change agents working in the nonprofit, community, and civil society efforts with skills and knowledge to expand their impact and develop in their career path. …
June 29, 2022Learn about Top Trends and Promising Strategies in Revenue Model and Funds Development
The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies (“The CommNS”) invites you to join us for our first ever webinar series, Top Trends and Promising Strategies in Revenue Model and Funds Development. Co-hosted by AFP Greater …
June 13, 2022
Join our Summer Book Club on Trends in the Third Sector
As we transition from our academic year to summer, we are looking forward to getting some space and time for catching up on bigger-picture thinking and reflection about community work, nonprofit organizations, social enterprise, and …
June 9, 2022
Follow-up Survey Shows How COVID-19 Continues to Impact Wisconsin Nonprofits
Wisconsin’s nonprofit sector has stepped up to meet increased needs for support in the wake of COVID-19 and have found creative ways to safely pursue their missions. But nonprofit organizations have also faced significant challenges. …
August 17, 2021
Co-Create Connects Community and Campus to Answer Important Questions
The above image shows Co-Create Director Amy Hilgendorf sharing a report generated by a Co-Create facilitated community input process, at the CommNS Spring 2019 event focused on “Where Mission Meets Advocacy.” Since 2018, the Center …
August 16, 2021
Learn More About Organizational Structures Within the Mission-Based Food Production Movement
The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies (CommNS) Executive Director Mary Beth Collins and Co-Create Graduate Research Assistant Allison Hellenbrand recently collaborated on an article entitled “Choosing the Right Structure for Organizations Participating in the …
July 28, 2021
Thank You to Our AmeriCorps VISTA Member!
This past year the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies (CommNS) has been fortunate to host AmeriCorps VISTA member Adrienne Theune as part of the Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA project. AmeriCorps VISTA members help local …
July 12, 2021Recording Available for CommUniversity Session: “Whether and How to Form a Nonprofit”
The CommNS partnered with the UW-Madison Law School and Marquette Law School to offer an in-demand CommUniversity session this past April. The session was titled “Whether and How to Form a Nonprofit,” and presenters were: …
June 14, 2021
CommNS Teams Present at Madison Nonprofit Day
Members of the CommNS Team had a great time once again this year at Madison Nonprofit Day. This event is always a great opportunity to connect and learn with others working in the sector, and …
May 31, 2021
Congratulations, farewells and hellos at the CommNS
The end of the academic year always brings the bittersweetness of bidding farewell — and saying thank you — to our student team members who are graduating. Congratulations to the following Master of Science in …
May 21, 2021
WisNRG Town Hall Informs Development of a Nonprofit Resource Inventory
The Wisconsin Nonprofit Resources Group (WisNRG) is an effort by the CommNS and the Morgridge Center to connect Wisconsin nonprofit organizations to the resources they need. WisNRG participants convene regularly to share events and opportunities …
April 27, 2021
Get to Know the CommNS
The CommNS Knowledge website has been undergoing some big changes over the past few months. The site is now the official online home of the Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies (the CommNS), a Center …
March 24, 2021
Fall 2020
The sixth CommNS Ties newsletter, with updates from the spring and summer of 2020. Download here
November 6, 2020
New Study Shows the “COVID-19 Effect” on Wisconsin’s Nonprofit Sector
The COVID-19 pandemic has had dramatic impacts on Wisconsin communities and nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits are often at the front lines of the COVID-19 response, given that the epidemic has caused a spike in community demand …
July 29, 2020
Timely updates on the nonprofit sector, community efforts, and civil society.