Mapping Third Sector Organizations in Ireland

1. Mapping Third Sector Organizations in Ireland Geraldine Prizeman Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland Email: prizemag@tcd.ie Articles, papers and presentations published on the website may be reproduced as long as the author and the CNM website is fully acknowledged.

2. References Donnelly-Cox, Gemma, Donoghue, Freda and Hayes, Teresa (2001). ‘Conceptualizing the Third Sector in Ireland, North and South’, Voluntas, Volume 12, No. 3, pp. 195-204 Donoghue, Freda, Salamon, Lester and Anheier, Helmut (1999). Uncovering the Nonprofit Sector in Ireland: Its Economic Value and Significance, Dublin: The Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies and the National College of Ireland Donoghue, Freda (1998). Defining the Nonprofit Sector in Ireland, Working Papers of the Johns Hopkins University Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project, No. 28, edited by LM Salamon and HK Anheier, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies Morris, Susannah (2000). ‘Defining the Non-profit Sector: Some Lessons from History’, Civil Society Working Paper Series Number 3, London: Centre for Civil Society, London School of Economics Salamon, Lester and Anheier, Helmut (1997). Defining the Nonprofit Sector: A Cross National Analysis, Manchester: Manchester University Press Geraldine Prizeman Trinity College, Dublin

3. Context and Background • While there is a long history of voluntary activity in Ireland and an awareness of the existence of thousands of voluntary organizations, to date the true size and scope of this sector is unknown. • The recent decade has seen much research produced on various aspects of the sector that have contributed significantly to our knowledge of the sector. • However, there is a dearth of basic organizational data on the third sector in Ireland creating a clear gap in our knowledge of the sector.

4. Aims and Objectives • At present there is no nationally available or complete database of third sector organizations in Ireland. • A number of administrative agencies keep registers of third sector organizations. • The development of a ‘map’ will contribute to existing knowledge at a number of levels: • provide baseline data on size, geographical spread and age of Irish third sector organizations. • outline the types of organizations in the sector and the environment in which they operate. • add to the current debate on definition, classification and typology of the ‘third’ sector in Ireland.

5. Definition and Legal Structure in Ireland • When mapping third organizations we need to ask what is the meaning of ‘third sector’ in an Irish context? • The structural-operational definition has been used in work on defining and uncovering the significance of the sector in Ireland. • While this definition is a valuable tool it does not allow for ‘fuzzy’ organizations who do not fit neatly into the five criteria. • The problem is compounded by the fact that (a) there is no one legal status in Ireland for third sector organizations and (b) there is no appropriate regulation or registration • in place.

6. ‘Fuzzy’ Boundaries

7. Research Question • The challenge therefore is to map the ‘hidden’ sector that is the third sector in Ireland. • This research takes up the challenge and aims to complete a comprehensive map of Irish third sector organizations. • The Key Question that the research will focus on is: • ‘Irish third sector organizations: • Who are they and what shape do they take?’

8. Planned Methodology MappingProject Qualitative Quantitative Stage I: Development of a Sampling Frame In-depth exploration of research question using sub-sector Stage II: Data Collection (Postal Survey) ‘Irish third sector organizations: Who are they and what shape do they take?’

9. Progress to Date • Stage I: Development of a Sampling Frame • collection and collation of available lists and databases from statutory and voluntary organizations. • on-going cleaning of sampling frame using telephone directories and web searches. • currently have a sampling frame listing 20,000 plus organizations. • Stage II: Data Collection • planned large-scale organizational survey • draft questionnaire prepared • incorporated measures to increase response rate • identified elements to be outsourced

10. Issues Arising • Inclusion/exclusion in sampling frame? • How ‘clean’ should the sampling frame be? • Verification of information – to what lengths do we go? • Definition of third sector organizations. • Classification of third sector organizations. • Logistics of large-scale postal survey. • Data protection issues.

11. Next Steps • Plan of work for the next nine months: • On-going cleaning of sampling frame • Finalise questionnaire • Pilot Study • Prepare sampling frame for phased mail out • Design coding frame • Print questionnaire/cover letter • 1st mail out of questionnaire (with cover letter) • 2nd mail out - reminder letter only • Log returns • Conduct follow-up telephone interviews • Code questionnaires • Begin data entry