Peer Review

NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Mar 13, 2025 by Business

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This is a quarterly on-line and print journal, that provides non-peer reviewed research-based articles covering nonprofit management and governance. Topics include philanthropy, racial equity, economic justice; as well as financial management and accounting issues facing not-for-profit organizations. The on-line version includes on-demand webinars, podcasts and PowerPoint slide sets; some covering accounting and financial management topics. The journal is ad-based, but most materials are viewable for free.

Type of Material:

Reference Material

Recommended Uses:

Recommended as additional reading, with the instructor providing link to a specific accounting related article, podcast or webinar for students to read/view outside of class.
This is a good resources for students studying or researching anything to do with non-profits.

Technical Requirements:

Edge, Chrome,

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Understand current issues in non-profit:

Racial justice
Economic justice
Climate justice
Health
Leadership

Target Student Population:

Professional
Business, Accounting, Government and Not-for-Profit, Undergraduate or Graduate

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Basic knowledge of introductory accounting for not-for-profit organizations

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

Provides short additional reading suitable to reinforce concepts covered in a not-for-profit accounting course
Is very current with the latest developments, including preparing accounting practitioners for new accounting standards impacting not-for-profit organizations
High quality content with a variety of media available, including print articles in pdf, podcasts and online webinars

Concerns:

Suitable only for additional directed reading assignments to supplement the main course curriculum for a not-for-profit accounting course, not suitable as a self-contained assignment
Article topics are research-based, but not to the level of a peer-reviewed academic journal. This is more of a trade publication targeted towards practitioners working in the nonprofit field, not just accounting
Material is meant to be brief, with just a summary of the topics covered, so should only be used to supplement main course material for a given topic

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

Directed reading or webinar assigned on a not-for-profit accounting topic would allow instructor to easily integrate into various curriculum assignments
Articles, podcasts and webinars are very short, typically less than 30 minutes to complete
Excellent way to introduce students to the challenges facing practitioners in the field of nonprofit management, not just accounting

Concerns:

Not intended to identify learning objectives or prerequisite knowledge
Provides a brief introduction or summary of the topics only, not intended as formal course curriculum
No student assessment is included with the materials, so the instructor would need to build that into the assignment if needed

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Very easy to incorporate into course material in a variety of formats, pdf articles, PowerPoint slides, webinars or podcasts
High visual appeal, polished magazine format online or print, would be engaging to students, high design quality

Concerns:

As a trade publication supported by advertising, instructors should be alert to any bias or conclusions not supported by factual-based research

Other Issues and Comments:: In addition to the work of Nonprofit Quarterly editors and staff, the publication relies heavily on the contributions of volunteer writers, outside contributors, and advertisers. Instructors and students should add citations noting the source for any material used in a formal classroom setting and consider the material editorial in nature.
Creative Commons: