The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies

What The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies does

The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies (CommNS) is a university-based center established in 2018 within the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Human Ecology, where it holds Center of Excellence status. It operates as a research, teaching, and outreach hub serving Wisconsin nonprofits, community organizations, public-sector agencies (including the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families), UW-Madison students, and faculty engaged in civic and nonprofit scholarship. Its work spans civic health, nonprofit capacity building, social justice, early childhood education, food security, and family-school programming, with primary geographic concentration in Wisconsin and selective international engagement.

The center delivers no proprietary software technology platform; its value is built on a co-creation methodology that pairs community partners with academic researchers, evaluators, and graduate students using interviews, surveys, and qualitative and mixed-methods evaluation approaches. Core programmatic offerings include Co-Create (collaborative research, evaluation, and facilitation services, scaled to 70+ projects since 2017), the Civic Health of Wisconsin initiative (statewide nonpartisan civic engagement with quarterly bulletins and monthly meet-ups), Gente de la Tierra (youth environmental storytelling), the biennial CommUnity Conference, the Community Fellowship for practitioners, and academic programs and certificates through UW-Madison (Community and Organizational Development major, MS in Human Ecology, Civil Society and Community Research PhD, and capstone and graduate certificates). Distribution is direct via fee-for-service contracts, grant partnerships, university enrollment, conferences, and community events, with bilingual service delivery in Spanish and HMoob.

CommNS runs a hybrid professional-services revenue model with institutional backing. Income is generated through fee-for-service research and evaluation contracts via Co-Create (project values from approximately $1,000 for short engagements to hundreds of thousands of dollars over multi-year partnerships), grant partnerships with foundations and state agencies, university institutional funding as a Center of Excellence, and facilitation of pro bono graduate student capstone projects. The center maintains a core staff of roughly 10 people led by Executive Director Mary Beth Collins and an extended affiliate network of faculty, practitioners, and community partners that amplifies delivery capacity.

Name

The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies

Legal name

University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies

Website

https://commnsknowledge.wisc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies is a UW-Madison School of Human Ecology Center of Excellence providing community-engaged research, evaluation, and teaching services to Wisconsin nonprofits, civic organizations, public-sector agencies, and students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Research and Nonprofit Evaluation Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Policy, Research & Advocacy Organizations (Nonprofit) (BPAGADAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)

Keywords

• Community research services
• Nonprofit program evaluation
• Civic engagement research
• Community-engaged teaching
• Nonprofit capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fee-for-service contracts: The Co-Create initiative is funded through fee-for-service contracts with community organizations, nonprofits, and public sector partners. Projects range from small ($1,000, 1-2 months) to large (hundreds of thousands of dollars over several years).
2. Grant partnerships: Projects may also be funded through grant partnerships, where the center collaborates with funding organizations on research and outreach initiatives.
3. University institutional funding: As a Center of Excellence at UW-Madison School of Human Ecology, the center receives institutional support from the university.
4. Pro bono services via student projects: The center occasionally helps organizations find pro bono services by connecting them with graduate student capstone projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies is a university-based Center of Excellence at UW-Madison School of Human Ecology that delivers community-engaged teaching, applied research, and outreach for the civic and nonprofit sector. Its fee-for-service Co-Create team provides collaborative evaluation, needs assessments, landscape scans, research-to-practice translation, and facilitation services to nonprofit, community, and public sector partners. The center also runs statewide initiatives such as Civic Health of Wisconsin, youth programming, professional development courses, and academic degree/certificate programs.

Product overview

The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies (CommNS) operates as a university-based center with multiple interconnected programs and initiatives rather than a unified software product. Core offerings include Co-Create (collaborative research and evaluation services), the Civic Health of Wisconsin Initiative (statewide civic engagement efforts), Gente de la Tierra (youth environmental storytelling program), the bi-annual CommUnity Conference, the Community Fellowship program, and academic programs/courses through UW-Madison School of Human Ecology. These programs work together to advance the center's mission of community-engaged teaching, research, and outreach focused on the civic and nonprofit sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Co-Create: A CommNS team dedicated to informing community-led social change through collaborative research, evaluation, and facilitation.
• Civic Health of Wisconsin Initiative
• Gente de la Tierra

Products and services

• Co-Create A CommNS team offering collaborative research and evaluation services for nonprofit, community, and academic partners. Services include evaluation and applied research, needs assessments, landscape scans, research-to-practice translation, and professional development, delivered through fee-for-service contracts and grant partnerships. Has completed 70+ projects since 2017.
• Academic Programs and Courses
• CommUnity Conference A biennial conference providing space for community leaders, students, faculty, researchers, and nonprofit professionals to share ideas on building vibrant, democratic, and engaged communities. Delivered in-person at Union South in Madison with satellite sites across Wisconsin and virtual/hybrid participation options. Next edition scheduled for April 27, 2026.
• Civic Health of Wisconsin Initiative A nonpartisan initiative dedicated to strengthening civic health efforts across Wisconsin, working to build more connected, informed, and engaged communities. Includes a steering committee and broader network of organizations involved in democratic participation, volunteerism, and community connection, supported by quarterly bulletins and monthly virtual meetups.

Quantifiable outcome

• 67% of past Civic Health Challenge participants felt it increased their awareness of their community
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Family Insurance Dreams FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunder partner supporting civic health and community engagement initiatives. Listed as a Co-Create partner organization.
• Bayview FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity foundation partner supporting neighborhood revitalization and community development work.
• Community Action Coalition of South Central WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in community action and anti-poverty initiatives in south central Wisconsin region.
• Morgridge Center for Public ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUW-Madison partner in community-campus connectors initiative and civic engagement programming.
• Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in evaluation projects including Black History for a New Day course evaluation.
• Feeding WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in food security research including COVID-19 food pantry surveys and coordinator focus groups.
• Wisconsin Department of Children and FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for Preschool Development Grant needs assessment and early childhood education research.
• Wisconsin Early Childhood AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in early childhood education initiatives and research projects.
• Wisconsin Partnership ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUW-Madison health sciences partnership program supporting community health research.
• YWCA of MadisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in restorative justice and community health initiatives.
• Evident ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization partner in research and evaluation services.
• Family and Schools TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in family and school-based programming research.
• UW-Madison Center for Clinical and Translational ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for clinical and translational research collaborations.
• WEA Member Benefits FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in school-based mental health pilot project evaluation.
• Southwest Wisconsin Community Action ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Farm Well Wisconsin initiative for farming community mental health support.
• UniverCity FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUW-Madison focused foundation supporting campus-community partnerships.
• Wisconsin Philanthropy NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional membership association for grantmakers, co-hosting webinar series on revenue development.
• Lussier Community Education CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for neighborhood-based education and engagement programs.
• Reach DaneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly childhood education partner organization.
• The Gathering SourceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner for resource sharing and networking.
• Be Well Madison CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity health and wellness collective partner.
• Dane County Bar AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegal professional association partner for civic engagement initiatives.
• Community Campus Connectors (C3)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup of UW-Madison units and programs connecting with community partners and advancing the UW-Madison Civic Action Plan.
• National Conference on CitizenshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner for Civic Health of Wisconsin initiative, providing the Civic Health Index methodology and framework.
• Wisconsin Nonprofit Resources Group (WisNRG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide network connecting programs and organizations that support nonprofits across Wisconsin. CommNS coordinates quarterly meetings.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• National Council of Nonprofits: Network of state and regional nonprofit associations providing capacity-building, advocacy, and policy research. Comparable to CommNS in mission to strengthen the nonprofit sector through research, convening, and community-engaged support.
• Independent Sector: National membership-based nonprofit coalition that conducts research, advocacy, and convening for the charitable sector. Comparable to CommNS because it advances the civic and nonprofit sector through research and convening, though at a national rather than regional scale.

Direct peers

• ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation: University-based center providing nonprofit education, applied research, and community engagement. Comparable to CommNS in combining academic programs, community-engaged research, and capacity-building services for nonprofits.
• BoardSource: National nonprofit focused on nonprofit governance, leadership development, and capacity-building resources. Comparable to CommNS's professional development offerings such as the Nonprofit Board Leadership course.
• Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies: University-based research center that produces the Index of Nonprofit Employment and studies of civil society. Comparable as a university-affiliated research center focused on advancing understanding of the nonprofit and civil-society sector.
• Urban Institute - Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy: Research center producing data-driven studies on the nonprofit sector and philanthropic practice. Directly comparable to Co-Create's applied research and evaluation services targeting civil-society organizations.

Regional players

• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits: Statewide nonprofit association serving Minnesota with research, advocacy, and capacity-building. Comparable to CommNS's Wisconsin Nonprofit Resources Group role, but operating as an independent association rather than a university center.
• Wisconsin Nonprofits Association: Statewide nonprofit association serving Wisconsin with advocacy and member services. Comparable to CommNS's regional nonprofit-sector convening and capacity-building role within the same state.

Others

• Candid (GuideStar/Foundation Directory): Major data infrastructure and research provider for the nonprofit sector. Comparable as a research and information backbone for civil society, though operating as a national data vendor rather than a community-engaged university center.

Emerging players

• The Nonprofit Quarterly: Independent nonprofit media and research organization publishing analysis on civil society and the nonprofit sector. Comparable to CommNS's civic-health research translation and resource library activities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CommNS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheCommNS
• Facebookfacebook.com/CommNS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-and-nonprofit-leadership-sohe-professional-skills-students-and-alumni
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_commns

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Center for Community and Nonprofit Studies