Growing Civil Society

Jon Van Til is Professor of Urban Studies and Community Planning at Rutgers University, Camden. His books include Critical Issues in American Philanthropy: Strengthening Theory and Practice and Mapping the Third Sector: Voluntarism in a Changing Social Economy.

"This book investigates the role of voluntary action and nonprofit organization in contemporary America. It notes that society contains four sectors – governmental, market, family and nonproft – and argues that the concept of a 'third space' is a more useful way of conceptualizing the area of society that is occupied by nonprofits as well as many individuals and organizations that come together to work for the common good. Van Til is a respected commentator on nonprofit and philanthropic issues and he notes in the preface to this paperback edition that this book has been ten years in gestation. He offers a rounded review of third sector activity, including successes and limitations. But ultimately the author is a champion of his focus of study, arguing that the third space is crucial because it has the potential to be a wellspring for rebuilding a troubled society in an age of rapid change and turbulence."—Beth Breeze, Publications Editor , Philanthropy UK Nwsltr, Dec. 2008, Issue 35"Creatively reframing now-familiar concepts of civil society, third sector, and social capital, Van Til builds a compelling argument for a 'third space,' where individuals and organizations come together to reflect and act to create the community and society they need."—Susan Ostrander, Tufts University"Van Til's book is a valuable and refreshing contribution to the increasingly important question of how, and in what ways, the non-market, non-governmental associations of civil society contribute to social goods and goals."—Mark Warren, Georgetown University

• Preface to the Paperback EditionPrefaceIntroduction: Third Sector, Third SpacePart One: The Uses of the Third Sector1. Building Blocks for the Third Sector2. Mapping the BoundariesPart Two: On the Boundary between Government and the Third Sector3. The Third Sector as a Political Force4. National Service in Theory and in Practice5. The Emerging Field of Nonprofit Policy StudyPart Three: On the Boundary between Business and the Third Sector6. Making Money, Wielding Power, and Other Temptations of Nonprofit Life7. The Art and Business of Nonprofit Organization Management8. When the Business of Nonprofits Is Increasingly BusinessPart Four: On the Boundary between Culture and the Third Space9. Civil Education: Moving to Define an Ambiguous Tradition10. On the Contemporary Hope for Faith and Charity11. Social Entrepreneurship and the End of WorkPart Five: Searching for Meaning and Justice12. Commission Reports on the Third Sector13. Civil Society and the Escape from MadnessPart Six: A Third Space14. Beyond the Myths of Sector15. Growing Civil Society, Using the Third SpaceNotesReferencesIndex