HIRI’s key areas of work are defined briefly below, and relevant publications are cited for those who want more specific information (please click on Publications to obtain copies - in some cases they can be downloaded directly).

Nonprofit Capacity Building - For the last 25 years HIRI has been a national leader in research and interventions concerning nonprofit capacity building, including some of the first studies about the role of philanthropy in this area. The Institute also has supported the development of local infrastructure for capacity building in Los Angeles, South Florida, Upstate New York and North Carolina. This work is summarized in:

• HIRI’s Nonprofit Capacity Building Projects. download
• Backer, T.E. & Barbell, I. “Models for Local Infrastructure” download
• Backer, T.E., Bleeg, J.E. & Groves, K. “The Expanding Universe: New Directions in Nonprofit Capacity Building” download
• Backer, T.E., Bleeg, J.E. & Groves, K. “Evaluating Foundation-Supported Capacity Building: Lessons Learned.”download

Community Collaborations - The Institute has explored many dimensions of how partnerships or coalitions contribute to the cycle of innovation and change in communities, including strategies for evaluating collaborations and related work on philanthropic partnerships. This work is summarized in:

• HIRI’s Community Collaboration Projects. download
• Backer, T.E. & Norman, A.J. “Partnerships and Community Change” download
• Backer, T.E. (Ed.) “Evaluating Community Collaborations” (Fall 2003, Springer Publishing Company, Edited book) (B-29). To obtain a copy: Contact www.springerpub.com or call (877) 687-7476.

Philanthropy - Over the last 25 years, HIRI has studied and intervened with numerous aspects of how foundations and individual donors contribute to change in communities. The Institute’s portfolio of philanthropy studies has focused on how foundations contribute to dissemination of innovations, and on philanthropic trends in capacity building. Current work also is exploring foundation collaborations, learning networks in philanthropy, how foundations and individual donors interact, and transformational change in foundations. This work is summarized in:

• HIRI’s Philanthropy Projects. download
• Backer, T.E. & Smith, R. “Peer Networking and Community Change: Improving Foundation Practice” download
• Backer, T.E. “The Psychology of Philanthropy and Community Change”
  download
• Backer, T.E., Smith R. & Barbell, I. (2004). “Who Comes to the Table? Stakeholder Interactions in Philanthropy” download
• Backer, T.E. “Nurturing High Impact Philanthropists: Learning Groups for Donors and Small Foundations” download
• Backer, T.E. (2009). “Peer Networking and Community Change: Measuring Impact.” Baltimore: Annie E. Casey Foundation. download
• Backer, T.E. (2008). “Peer Networking and Community Change: Experiences of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. ” download

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Dissemination & Utilization - From its inception in 1961, HIRI has explored the challenges and opportunities of promoting the dissemination and implementation of innovations (especially evidence-based practices), highlighting the complex human dynamics of this process. This work is summarized in:

• Backer, T.E. “Science-based Strategic Approaches to Dissemination” download
• Backer, T.E. “Implementation of Evidence-Based Interventions: Key Research Issues” download
• Backer, T.E. “The Failure of Success: Challenges of Disseminating Effective Substance Abuse Prevention Programs ” download
• Backer, T.E. “Dissemination in a Time of Great Change” (H-93)
• Backer, T.E. “Knowledge Utilization: The Third Wave” (H-50)

Health Communication - HIRI has specialized in the study and facilitation of behavioral approaches to changing individual and group behavior concerning public health issues like substance abuse and HIV prevention. This work is summarized in:

• Backer, T.E. “Mass Media Campaigns for Drug Abuse Prevention”

download (8MB)

Health & Human Services - HIRI’s long-time research interests concerning innovation and change in the health and human service fields, especially regarding services for vulnerable populations, are presented in:

• Backer, T.E. “Managing the Human Side of Change in Managed Care” H-86
• Sechrest, L., Backer T.E. & Rogers, E.M. “Effective Dissemination of Clinical and Health Information” H-82

Arts & Culture - HIRI’s research and interventions have many applications to the arts and culture realm. Projects have included national and regional research on arts programming, and technical assistance consultation on a foundation’s national grantmaking in this realm. This work is summarized in:

• Backer, T.E. “Partnerships As An Art Form; What Works and What Doesn't in Nonprofit Arts Partnerships” download
• Backer, T.E. “Increasing Participation Means Changing Behavior: What Can Be Learned From Behavioral Science?” download
• Backer, T.E. “The Human Side of Implementing Action Strategies to Build Cultural Participation” download

• Backer, T.E. "Balancing Work, Life and Creativity - Lessons From Artists"
  download
• Backer, T.E. "Getting Inside a Dancer's Head - Stresses and Joys of Being a Dancer" download