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Using
the Web for Research:
Organization Web Sites
Organization Web Sites
Organization Web pages can be a good source of information on the issues an organization advocates and the general organizational structure of the organization. Typically organization Web pages:
- have Web addresses
that end in .org
- advocate a
position and the material on a Web site is intended to garner support
for that position
- are not for profit
From an organization's Web page you may find:
- mission
purpose and focus of the organization
- news/press releases
recent news and/or promotional information about the organization
- support
make a contribution or learn about how you can support them or get involved
- alerts
sign up for updates about what the organization is doing or issues affecting them
- events
conferences, panels and other events sponsored by the organization
- documentation
proceedings, reports, working papers and documents relating to their work
- FAQ
frequently asked questions about the organization
- contacts and policies
staff, hours of operation, location and information about visiting
Much of this information is available just by scanning the front page of the Web site and following the appropriate links. But there are tools available on most organization web sites you may also find helpful to use to find information.
Site maps are organizational maps of an entire Web site. Use the site map to see what content is available across the entire Web site, without having to guess or navigate through lots of links.
Many organization Web sites also have an internal search engine that you can use to find documents or other resources that may be buried in the Web site.
Examples of Organization Web Sites
- United Nations
http://www.un.org
Includes archival committee resolutions, documents and agendas and a variety of maps and links to treaties.
- Modern
Language Association
http://www.mla.org
Includes MLA committee reports, lists of MLA committee members, and an FAQ on the MLA citation style.
- National Right to Life Committee
http://nrlc.org
An example of an advocacy page that includes legislative updates, press releases, and information on how you can support them.
Tools to Find Organization Web Sites
- Search Engines
Most Web search engines can be used to find organization Web sites. Some of the larger search tools are:
- Specialized
Search Tools
- Idealist.org
http://www.idealist.org
Organizations working to solve environmental and social problems by country and area of focus.
- Idealist.org
- The About Us section of a Web site is a good source to find out more information about the sponsoring organization.
Issues to Consider
A .org site registers for the domain .org. Not all .org sites are organizational web sites, i.e. Helpguide.org (http://www.helpguide.org).
Advocacy pages can be excellent sources of information but in particular pay attention to the following criteria when evaluating organization web sites:
- legitimacy
of the organization
- objectivity
(whether they are biased in the presentation of information)
- verifying information presented
For additional information, visit Widener University's How to Recognize an Advocacy Web Page.
Practice
The search engine Google has a feature that allows limiting of a search by domain name.
Select Advanced from the main Google search page (http://www.google.com) and type philanthropy (or another type of organization you are interested in finding out more about) in one of the search boxes. Limit to .org in the Domain drop down menu to view philanthropy related web sites with .org in the web address (URL).