The Congressional Research Service has issued a report that reviews the size and scope of the charitable world and outlines some of the policy questions that affect it.

“An Overview of the Nonprofit and Charitable Sector” covers issues like number of employees, revenues and assets, justification for government subsidies, federal programs in areas like national service and social innovation, and tax treatment of donations and assets.

It also discusses arguments that government grants crowd out private giving, proposals for a nonprofit oversight agency, and ways to help nonprofit groups during economic downturns. The report offers no specific policy recommendations but reviews a range of ideas, studies, and reports.