Third sector

The third sector refers to organized, collective action in the economic, social and political space outside households, markets and governments. Other closely related terms include voluntary sector, nonprofit sector, independent sector, social sector, non-governmental sector, and civil society. The idea of a third sector should not be confused with the economic concept of the tertiary or service sector of which it is only one part. All third sector services are part of the tertiary sector, as are public services and market-based, or commercial services.

The concept of a third sector currently occupies a multi-disciplinary domain of a dozen or more academic disciplines, spanning sciences, applied social sciences and professions.