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The voluntary sector of a nation's economy consists of those entities which are not for profit and yet, at the same time, are not agencies of the state - e.g. charities, volunteer community centres and religious organizations. They may, in some countries, be subject to state scrutiny if they wish to qualify for charitable status.

In Japan since the 1980s, the third sector (第三セクター, pronounced Daisan sector) refers to joint corporations invested both by the public sector and private one.

The UK government sees the Third Sector as "the place between State and (the) private sector" : see Cabinet Office - Office of the Third Sector Organisations within the Third Sector have social goals that are their main reason for being. The term 'voluntary sector' is restrictive to the extent that it excludes certain activities such as social enterprise, and social entrepreneurship, both of which are ways of addressing social problems.

• Civil society
• Alternative society
• Non-governmental organization
• Private sector
• Public sector
• Nonprofit organization
• Mission-based organization
• Social economy

• The Wheel is a leading support and representative network for the community and voluntary sector in Ireland.
• Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations SCVO is the national infrastructure and representative body for voluntary sector organisations in Scotland.
• Wales Council for Voluntary Action WCVA is the national infrastructure body for the voluntary sector in Wales.
• Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action is the national infrastructure body for the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. NICVA also run *Community NI as a home for Northern Ireland's voluntary and community sector online.
• [1] Working Together Project is a local learning and training infrastructure body for the voluntary and community sector in Sussex. Also involved in ChangeUp in Brighton and Hove.
• Vale Centre for Voluntary Services is the infrastructure body for the voluntary and community sector in the Vale of Glamorgan

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