The School of Public Policy at the University of Connecticut recently unveiled a free-to-use online tool that aims to help local nonprofit organizations better serve their communities.
Named the “Connecticut Nonprofit Asset Mapping Tool,” it’s a digital utility that the School of Public Policy says is the first of its kind.
“It’s a tool for leaders of nonprofits to see who is providing services and who they can collaborate with,” said Mohamad Alkadry, a UConn public policy professor and the leader of the project. “Co-operation between nonprofits is a source of empowerment, since [public] services are largely provided by them.”
The tool, which is available on the School of Public Policy’s webpage, is anchored by an interactive map and a large dataset from the IRS and U.S. Census. Registered users can browse and search using a variety of geographic and data-driven filters, and listings include information like the groups’ mission, contact details and revenue metrics.
“The tool’s map overlays and advanced filters make it easier than ever to connect needs with services, and to build stronger partnerships statewide,” the project brief states.
Also featured as selectable overlays are “key indicators” such as poverty rate, unemployment and education level, which the utility documentation describes as a way “to help users understand community needs, identify service gaps, and plan strategic collaborations.”
“This tool was created to strengthen strategic partnerships between Connecticut nonprofits and inform strategic decision-making that advances the public good,” Alkadry said.
Development of the webpage was funded by the Education Committee of the State of Connecticut legislature, as part of the School of Public Policy’s initiative to build equitable, data-driven solutions to strengthen Connecticut communities, the project brief said. Alkadry and David Garvey, the director of nonprofit outreach for the School of Public Policy, oversaw the project.
“This project is yet another example of the impact of the School of Public Policy and the ongoing contributions our faculty make that can enhance the well-being of people and public and nonprofit organizations in the State of Connecticut,” said Angela Eikenberry, the director of the School of Public Policy, in a press statement. “We are proud to serve the state through our community engagement, teaching, and research.”
Alkadry says that there are some gaps in the available data, so the tool allows nonprofit leaders to update their listings to ensure accuracy and relevance.
“We had data on where they [nonprofit organizations] were based, but not necessarily where they provide services… We had to find solutions,” he said. “It’s one of those challenges in public policy… what we wanted to do was design the tool so that it gets closer to an ideal [data] goal.”
The tool maps over 8,300 organizations who qualify as 501(c)(3) nonprofits under the IRS’ rules. Corporations with that designation are exempt from paying federal taxes because they are operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, according to the IRS; state laws usually also exempt qualified organizations from state taxes.
Alkadry said he envisions the tool as a crucial item in the toolbox of multiple groups, including the government, research and funding stakeholders.
“Hopefully the tool provides information to policymakers about the spread and impact of nonprofits,” he said.
The mapping utility is accessible on the UConn School of Public Policy’s webpage under its “engagement” heading, with access to resources and tutorial information. A simple and free registration for the tool unlocks all of its features, the project splash screen says.