Financing the third sector: Introduction

Civil society organizations (nonprofits, social enterprises, voluntary, community and charitable organizations) are not only an integral part of the delivery of health, education, social, and other services in most developed countries, but also critical contributors to a healthy democracy and a strong economy. How civil society organizations are financed is a key aspect of their sustainability. Such financing is undergoing significant innovation and transformation. This financing ranges from traditional government funding and philanthropic support to new forms of revenue-generating social enterprises. In this themed issue of Policy & Society we bring together international scholars to critically examine the current changes underway in financing the third sector. The volume identifies and analyzes particularly innovative and effective strategies for financing this sector and assesses the implications for public policy through an intentionally broad range of cases that draw on the experience of a number of different countries in financing the third sector.