Research
Data alone is not enough to support our work on critical social challenges. That’s why our team of researchers decodes Candid’s data, adding context and analysis to reveal patterns and trends. We go beyond the numbers to explain why the data matters.
Read our latest reports
Candid publishes open-access, full-length research reports on Issue Lab. We also produce key fact sheets, blogs, and articles for the popular press. Our research has been cited in news outlets including the Associated Press, The Washington Post, U.S. News & Report, and Stanford Social Innovation Review.
Dollars and Change
A collaborative report with GivingTuesday and Network for Good exploring nonprofit funding flows by cause, location, and economic trends.
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Key Facts About Nonprofits With Majority Black Leadership
Insights on revenue, geography, and more, comparing Black-led organizations with white-led counterparts.
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The State of Diversity in the U.S. Nonprofit Sector
A deep dive into representation across race, gender, and more, highlighting disparities between majority BIPOC-led and white-led organizations.
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Methods and approach
We leverage the latest in quantitative and qualitative best practices to ensure our research is both rigorous and relevant. We’re also transparent about our methods so that others can build on our work.
Our research seeks to increase our collective ability to make data-informed decisions, combining thorough analysis with clear communication to advance equity, transparency, and evidence-based practice. To make sure we study issues that matter, we align with four north stars for which Candid’s data can provide new and valuable insights: 1) the growing size and scope of the social sector; 2) diversity, equity, and inclusion; 3) grantmaking practices and funding flows; and 4) evolving notions of social impact.
Finally, we regularly work with experts in the field, taking a participatory approach that includes research collaborations, interviews and focus groups, and advisory groups.