As a social welfare policy analyst in the Institute's Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy, Carol De Vita has explored the scope and capacity of nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, and demographic change. She spoke about her recent research on three District of Columbia neighborhoods at an Urban Institute forum on youth needs in the District. Additional data indicate the need to build nonprofit organizational capacity.
Nonprofits also can be transient.
About 86 nonprofits were providing youth and family services, and half of those were human service providers. The need to serve a diverse population in multiple languages contributes to this density. The nonprofits themselves demonstrate a commitment to the neighborhood-the average nonprofit has been in the area for 11 years, and half own the facilities in which they work. The nonprofit provider community is very centralized. The Marshall Heights Community Development Organization is the hub, and stands out in terms of size and activity, serving all of Ward 7.