The nonprofit sector is always learning and pursuing better solutions to  tough social issues.   The Internet makes it possible to tap into what other communities are trying, to hear what the experts say, and to find data  that demonstrates need.   These websites will help you research social issues.   For help using data in grant applications and program planning, read Nonprofits & Data: A How-To Series.

State and Local Sources

Better Lives, Better Ohio from the Ohio Secretary of State

This website makes it easy to find county-level data on a variety of topics, grouped under seven broad categories: Economy, Health, Family, Public Safety, Natural Resources, Government/Civic, and Education.

Dayton Daily News Archive at Dayton Metro Library

Get some local perspective on  an issue by doing a keyword search  of all Dayton Daily News articles from 1990 to present.   This is one of many valuable databases available through the Library.   You can use it from home or office.

Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission

Here you'll find regional maps and the State of the Region Report (2005) with data on population, education, employment, health, crime, income, transportation.   You can search the 5,000+ item library for items of interest and view these at the MVRPC offices.

Montgomery County Community Indicators

Since 1998 the Montgomery County Family and Children First Council has tracked information in six broad categories: Healthy People, Young People Succeeding, Stable Families, Positive Living for Special Populations, Safe and Supportive Neighborhoods, and Economic Self-sufficiency.

United Way of Greater Dayton Community Needs Assessment

Published in 2007, this 70-page report includes detailed data and thoughtful commentary on many local issues.

National  Sources

Academic Search Premiere at Dayton Metro Library

You can search 4,500 scholarly publications in an instant  using this database available through the Library.   To search popular magazines, use Ebscohost MasterFILE Premiere.   Available from home or office.

Catalog of Nonprofit Literature

Did you know The Foundation Center maintains a specialized library with some 30,000 items related to philanthropy and the nonprofit sector?   If you find something you want in the Catalog of Nonprofit Literature, please contact the Grants Specialist.   As a Foundation Center Cooperating Collection, we can request a copy for you.

IssueLab

IssueLab is dedicated to collecting and sharing  research that is  conducted by nonprofits across the U.S.   Learn, connect  and share here.

PubHub

Foundations themselves often sponsor important research on social  problems and proven solutions.   PubHub, a service of The Foundation Center, contains almost 5,000  foundation-sponsored case studies and reports.

Public Agenda

Public Agenda's Issue Guides give snapshots of public opinion and contain a "Sources and Resources" section that will lead you to the top experts  on an issue.   The following topics are available: Economy, Crime, Education, Environment, Health Care, Higher Education, Illegal Drugs, Immigration, Medical Research, Medicare, Poverty and Welfare, Race, and Social Security.

Urban Institute

Each of the following Issue Areas contains hundreds of publications: Children and Youth, Cities and Neighborhoods, Crime and Justice, Economy and Taxes, Education, Employment, Families and Parenting, Health, Housing, Immigrants, Poverty, Race and Gender, and Retirement and Older Americans.

Update: Here's a few more data sources, recommended in a new blog post from the Foundation Center-New York.