- Civil society
- Co-Create
- Nonprofit & third sector organizations
- Racial justice & equity
- Social Innovation
Resources for Dialogue and Depolarizing Conversation
October 2023
In partnership with members of the Civic Health of Wisconsin Initiative, the CommNS put together an inventory of resources for dialogue and depolarizing conversation. This living document points toward tools to help groups and individuals of all kinds navigate difficult conversations, so we can move forward in compromise and community.
Civic Health of Wisconsin: Connectedness in Context
June 2020
In partnership with the National Conference on Citizenship and a coalition of nonpartisan Wisconsin organizations, the CommNS presents this inaugural report on Wisconsin’s civic health. The report is based on the 2019 Wisconsin Civic Health Index™, which measures residents’ civic engagement and community connectedness. We present these data alongside Wisconsin demographic information, civics education standards, trends in local politics and news, and current civic health efforts.
What Evaluators Can Learn From Doulas
October 2024
Amy Washbush, Associate Director at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies, explores how the principles of birth doulas can enhance evaluation practices. Drawing from her experience as both a doula and evaluator, the article emphasizes the importance of centering clients’ visions, providing holistic support (instrumental, emotional, social), adapting to challenges, and facilitating reflective debriefing. She argues that evaluators, like doulas, must go beyond simply delivering information by attending to the broader context and emotional needs of their clients, ultimately fostering deeper learning and more effective outcomes.
Madison Public Schools Foundation Teacher Support Network
July 2024
In July 2024 the Co-Create team completed a project with the Madison Public Schools Foundation (MPSF) to map the needs and opportunities for the Teacher Support Network (TSN). MPSF launched TSN in 2019 to assist educators with the costs of their classroom needs and eliminate out-of-pocket spending. Over the past few years, the project has grown and all 52 Madison schools now receive a budget that allows them to purchase needed classroom supplies. Using interviews, surveys, and other qualitative methods, Co-Create mapped current TSN needs and highlighted opportunities for enhancement. These included ways to make TSN more effective, offering opportunities for expanding TSN, and highlighting complementary work that supports the initiative.
Learn about the MPSF Teacher Support Network
Farm Well Wisconsin: Mid-Project Brief
December 2023
In 2020, the Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program (SWCAP) collaborated with the CommNS Co-Create team and the Division of Extension to develop Farm Well, an asset-based, multi-path initiative to support mental health and wellbeing in farming communities. Co-Create produced a mid-project brief in December 2023 to report the reach and impacts of Farm Well’s programs.
Advancing Racial and Social Equity in Wisconsin Farm to School
October 2023
This project was a collaboration between the CommNS Co-Create team, the Department of Civil Society and Community Studies, REAP Food Group, and the UW-Madison Extension Community Food Systems Program. Together, this team led a study to better understand how Wisconsin’s historically underserved producers are participating in farm to school procurement. Based on the results of a statewide survey and six focus groups, their recommendations span policy change, organizational supports, and school/producer partnerships.
Learn more and read the report
Nonprofit Evaluation 101
August 2023
Co-Create is a collaborative research and evaluation team within the CommNS. They work with nonprofits, funders, community groups, and more to help answer the pressing questions facing communities.
Based on her experience leading Co-Create’s work, Amy Washbush put together a presentation on evaluation for non-profits. Topics include an introduction to the CommNS and Co-Create, evaluation approaches, research methods, and evaluation recommendations for nonprofits. Watch the full session and download the slides, below.
Black History for a New Day Impact Evaluation
June 2023
The Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development lifts up Black voices and experiences and provides education, restoration, community and economic development to interrupt cycles of
poverty, racism and discrimination. Since 2016, the Black History for a New Day course revisits the American past with a focus on the African-American experience and with justice in mind. The course provides an opportunity for non-Black people to find roles supporting racial justice in Madison and beyond. The UW-Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies conducted an evaluation of the Black History for a New Day course, focusing on impacts on past participants and the “ripple” effects of this for organizations and more broadly.
Watch an info session on the project
Read the full evaluation report
Food Pantries During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of Visitors to Feeding Wisconsin Network Pantries
June 2022
To learn about the role of food pantries during the COVID-19 pandemic, CommNS, UW Extension, and Feeding Wisconsin collaborated on a survey of food pantry clients during Fall 2020. The Food Security Initiative of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) awarded a grant for this work, which looks at the characteristics and circumstances of visitors to food pantries and food distribution sites in the Feeding Wisconsin network. Co-Create also conducted focus groups with food pantry coordinators. Reports highlighting findings from each part of the project are available below.
View the visitor survey report
View the food pantry coordinator focus group report
Published Article: Co-Create Connects Community and Campus to Answer Important Questions
August 2021
The linked blog post includes a snippet of a full article highlighting the Co-Create team and the important work that they take on. View the full piece by clicking the button below, or by visiting this google document.
Preschool Development Grant Analysis: 12 Things That Would Improve Early Care and Education in Wisconsin
August 2021
As part of the Preschool Development Grant with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, the CommNS led a team of researchers in 2020 to understand the perspectives of primary caregivers of young children and child care providers from five demographic populations in Wisconsin: Hmong, Latinx, Black or African American, Indigenous or Tribal, and rural white. View the analysis to see a list of what these caregivers and providers said would make the biggest difference to them for better early care and education (ECE) in Wisconsin. You can also view the analysis by visiting this webpage with the same information.
Statewide Needs Assessment for the Preschool Development Grant
December 2020
The Preschool Development Grant (PDG) was a one-year federal grant that supported a Wisconsin needs assessment and the completion of a strategic plan to improve early care and education (ECE) in 2020. The needs assessment examined ECE accessibility, affordability, and quality as well as workforce needs and challenges in a comprehensive, equity-focused way that prioritized Wisconsin’s most vulnerable, underserved, and rural populations.
The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) contracted with the CommNS Co-Create team to support one piece of this needs assessment. Co-Create led a team of researchers in a qualitative study looking at the experiences and perceptions of primary caregivers and providers from five populations in Wisconsin: Hmong, Latinx, Black or African American, Indigenous or Tribal, and rural white.
Reports from this effort are available for download below. You can also visit DCF’s PDG Sandbox to read the full report.
Experiences and Needs of Underserved Groups
Top Trends and Promising Strategies in Revenue Models and Funds Development
Summer-Fall 2022
The CommNS hosted its first webinar series, Top Trends and Promising Strategies in Revenue Model and Funds Development during the Summer and Fall of 2022. Co-hosted by AFP Greater Madison, this multi-week webinar series supports individuals and nonprofit organizations in designing their revenue models and strengthening their funds development plans. Through the series, we invite our audience to embrace tried and true practices, explore and advance new practices, and encourage forward-thinking approaches to the future of philanthropy. Over the course of six videos, participants complete worksheets that will inform their development work moving forward and help refresh fundraising strategies with current trends. We are happy to share the full archive with our audiences now.
WisNRG Town Hall on Opportunities and Challenges Impacting Wisconsin’s Nonprofits During COVID-19
October 2021
The Wisconsin Nonprofit Resources Group (WisNRG) hosted a virtual Town Hall to provide an opportunity for nonprofit professionals and leaders to discuss strategies they are using to push their work forward during these uncertain times. Attendees also talked about the continuing impacts of COVID-19 on Wisconsin’s nonprofit sector and shared their perspectives on how WisNRG can help address organizational needs.
COVID-19 Effect on the Wisconsin Nonprofit Sector
June 2020; August 2021
This series of reports and targeted briefs is part of a statewide effort to study the response of nonprofit organizations to the COVID-19 pandemic, sponsored by the Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management and the UW-Whitewater Institute for Nonprofit Management Studies. The research team sought to provide real-time data to government officials, foundations, and other decision-makers about the current socio-economic conditions facing nonprofits, and the need for immediate and long-term support to ensure the ongoing provision of critical services throughout Wisconsin. By exploring the pandemic’s effect on the nonprofit sector, we can also better understand what is needed to make a recovery process.
Choosing the Right Structure for Organizations Participating in the Mission-Based Food Production Movement
July 2021
The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies (CommNS) Executive Director Mary Beth Collins and Co-Create Graduate Research Assistant Allison Hellenbrand collaborated on this article, outlining entity choice considerations for mission-based food production efforts. View a PDF of the full article by clicking the button below.
Whether and How to Form a Nonprofit
April 2021
The CommNS partnered with the UW-Madison Law School and Marquette Law School to offer this in-demand CommUniversity session. If you want to form a nonprofit and are curious about where to begin, wonder if it’s a good idea, or just want to know what it takes, check out the recording. Presenters were:
- Tami Patel, Supervising Attorney, Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Kathryn Mertz, Director of Pro Bono and Public Service at Marquette University Law School
- Mary Beth Collins, Executive Director, Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Nonprofit Resource Needs: WisNRG Town Hall on a Wisconsin Nonprofit Resource Inventory
January 2021
The Wisconsin Nonprofit Resources Group (WisNRG) hosted a virtual Town Hall to gather ideas and feedback on an inventory of nonprofit resources. WisNRG developed this inventory, recognizing that nonprofit organizations often rely on supports, training, and resources to meet their organizational needs. The convening drew forty-eight professionals from nonprofit organizations and affiliated sectors. Participants identified gaps in resources and supports for Wisconsin nonprofit organizations and shared their ideas for structuring an effective inventory.
CommUnity Conversations on COVID-19 and the Third Sector
April 2020
These briefs summarize themes from a series of conversations that brought together nonprofit professionals and their allies to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on their work. This series was a partnership between the CommNS and UW-Extension Organizational and Leadership Development Program.
Community and basic needs organizations
Community and basic needs organizations
IDEA, DEI, and JEDI Training for Organizations: Consultants’ Perspectives
July 2021
This virtual CommUniversity session featured several consultants who specialize in helping organizations implement IDEA, DEI, and/or JEDI training. Speakers discussed their unique approaches, why this work is important, and what they have learned throughout their careers. Panelists were:
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- Annette Miller, EQT By Design
- Undraye Howard, Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
- Nasra Wehelie, Empathy 4 Equity
- Dr. Siphokazi J. Ntetha, Deloitte Africa Consulting
- Dikeledi Seleka, Dynamic Timz Coaching
- Kelvin Alfaro, Office of Strategic Consulting at UW-Madison
Work Plan: Sustained Engagement for Racial Justice
Summer 2020 – 2021
This resource was developed by Annette Miller of EQT By Design in collaboration with the CommNS, for the CommNS Sustained Engagement for Racial Justice conversations. The work plan provides an outline for individuals and organizations to plan and track their progress on racial equity goals and can be used in conjunction with the video series and resources document linked below.
Sustained Engagement for Racial Justice Video Series
Summer 2021
Our partners at the Morgridge Center for Public Service compiled this video series, which includes recordings of discussions from our Sustained Engagement for Racial Justice events held in summer 2020. These community conversations include key tips and inputs from community contributors, helping individuals and groups with their sustained action plans for racial justice.
Sustained Engagement for Racial Justice: Ideas and Resources for Ongoing Inquiry and Action for Social Change
Summer 2020
CommNS staff and collaborated developed this document, highlighting resources for sustained racial justice work. Topics covered include learning, self care and community care, exerting influence in our spheres, supporting organizations and change agents, taking action, and sustaining engagement.
CommNS Social Innovation Book Club
September 2024
The CommNS held a virtual summer book club focused on topics around Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship from June through August 2024. Grad student Mary Thao compiled major takeaways from the group into a website as part of a final project. Check out her website Reflections on Social Innovation to view the reading list and summaries of conversations.
View the Book Club Website
*Please note that the website may be difficult to access depending on internet security settings.