By Matilda Le
After months of hard work, we are excited to announce that the NNSI Resource Directory is officially live. This is a comprehensive database where you can access any work produced by NNSI faculty, students, researchers, and alumni, featuring four types of resources spanning ten categories. Through this directory, we offer a one-stop platform for academic researchers, nonprofit leaders, or anyone looking to deepen their understanding of social impact network effectiveness. Each resource has been carefully curated to provide relevant and practical information, making it easier for you to find the tools and insights you need.
Keep reading to learn how to navigate the NNSI Resource Directory interface and unlock a world of knowledge.
Definition of Key Terms
Each item featured in our directory falls under one of the following format, formally known as Resource Type:
- Blogs and Articles: Blog posts written by our in-house editorial team and news articles published on external sites
- Issue Briefs and Reports: Research reports, policy briefs, case studies, and other documents not published in peer-reviewed journals
- Peer-Reviewed Research: Research articles published in peer-reviewed journals
- Videos and Recordings: Webinar recordings, podcast episodes, presentation slides, and other miscellaneous resources
Each resource featured in our directory is categorized under at least one of the following topics, or Focus Area:
- #SystemsofCare: Organizational arrangements designed to support individuals in obtaining valuable benefits, programs, and services; the well-being of citizens depends on the design, organization, and efficiency of these systems as a whole
- Better Know a Network: A brief introduction to various social impact networks across the United States that have demonstrated exemplary practices benefiting their communities and driving meaningful change
- Collective Impact: The process by which governments, nonprofits, and businesses partner to best handle resources and increase their social impact as they work toward common goals
- High-Impact Certification: An initiative launched by the NNSI to highlight research-backed high-impact practices, tools, and rewards of certification
- Nonprofit Capacity: Practices to measure and enhance the facility of nonprofits to produce, perform, or deploy their resources to accomplish organizational goals and mandates
- Research Insights: Originally research conducted by the NNSI team, offering valuable insights into a wide range of topics relevant to social impact
- Sustained Collaboration: Collaborative practices between social impact leaders seeking greater efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability, such as mergers, asset transfers, and alliances
- Teaching Tools: Educational materials designed to help beginners understand and navigate network effectiveness
- Tips & Tools for Network Instigators: A recommendation of specific frameworks, technologies, and strategies that network leaders can apply to augment their organizations’ social impact
- Wicked Problems: Problems that are difficult to define and inherently unsolvable, typically those about governmental, social, or policy planning, such as poverty, homelessness, urban renewal, and school curriculum design
How to Use the Resource Directory
Option 1: Using Category Filters
Option 1 is ideal for those interested in specific themes or topics and seeking a range of relevant resources rather than a specific item. We implemented two filters in the Resource Directory landing page: Filter by Focus Area and Filter by Resource Type. A combination of these filters helps to streamline your research process, ensuring you have access to the most pertinent information.
- Filter by Focus Area: This filter allows you to narrow down resources based on specific topics we often examine at the NNSI. You can select one or more of the ten focus areas to find resources related to particular social challenges or thematic interests.
- Filter by Resource Type: This filter lets you sort resources according to their format. By clicking on one of the four resource types, you can quickly locate the exact type of content you need, whether it be in-depth research, practical tools, or case studies.
You can use each filter separately or simultaneously; the choice is yours. In the picture below, we select “Sustained Collaboration” as the desired Focus Area and “Peer Reviewed Research” as the desired Resource Type. After a few seconds, the web page displays several resources that satisfy both criteria.
Option 2: Using the Search Function
If you want to locate a specific resource and know its exact title or associated keywords, this option would be more suitable. The search function allows for precise searching within our database, helping you quickly find the paper, video, or report you are looking for. Simply type a word or phrase into the search bar and click on the green button or hit “Enter; the page will immediately display relevant results that match your query.
In the picture below, we search for the keywords “Better Know A Network.” This accurately returns a series of blog posts in which we introduce highly efficient and effective nonprofit organizations making a significant social impact across America.
We invite you to explore the NNSI Resource Directory and leverage its insights to drive your social impact efforts. Stay tuned for more updates and new additions to the database as we expand and enhance our offerings. If you have questions about using the library or suggestions about additional resources, do not hesitate to contact us at nnsi@northwestern.edu.