A collection of 37 working papers for presentation at a research forum on philanthropy, voluntary action, and the public good is presented. Thirteen sections provide information on the following subjects: (1) philanthropy, voluntary action, and the public good ("Partners in Public Service: Government and the Nonprofit Sector in the American Welfare State," by Lester M. Salamon, James G. Musselwhite, Jr., and Carol J. De Vita); (2) how foundations are faring (e.g. "A Survey of Private Foundations," by Margaret Riley); (3) the impact of foundation philanthropy on society here and abroad ("The Moral Basis of Capitalist Philanthropy," by Barry D. Karl); (4) corporate giving (e.g. "The Environment and Corporate Giving Behavior," by Joseph Galaskiewicz); (5) individual giving and volunteering (e.g. "The Charitable Behavior of Americans Management Summary," by Arthur White); (6) who volunteers and why (e.g. "Volunteerism in America: Who Volunteers and Why?" by Harry E. Cotugno); (7) size, scope, and dimensions of the independent sector (e.g. "Toward a National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities," by Russy D. Sumariwalla); (8) the management and distribution of resources of the independent sector (e.g. "Philanthropy Rights and Entitlement," by Julian Wolpert and Thomas A. Reiner); (9) philanthropy abroad (e.g. "American Jewish Philanthropy Abroad," by Marc Lee Raphael); (10) advocacy organizations (e.g. "Advocacy Organizations and Community Movements," by Robert Fisher); (11) current public policy and voluntary organizations (e.g. "Privatization as a Social Issue," by Forrest P. Chisman); (12) public policy among the subsectors (e.g. "Donors to Higher Education: Implications for Tax Policy," by Frank J. Balz); and (13) giving, volunteering, and public policy (e.g. "Tax Reform and Charitable Giving," by Lawrence B. Lindsey). (SM)