Abstract: A qualitative simulation for nonprofit group behavior is proposed by integrating QSIM(Qualitative SIMulation) and CA(Cellular Automata).CA based method is used in description for group behavior,characteristic of member and environmental factor.Based on it,transition of successor behavior state,filter and simulation engine are proposed in terms of notions in QSIM.The concept of fidelity-cost equilibrium is presented to design filter.The proposed method is coded by Visual Basic 6.0.Validation of the proposed method is tested by simulation with eight naive experimental designs.Simulation results in application show that the proposed method can be served as a virtual experiment tool for decision making in management of nonprofit group.

Key words: cellular automata, qualitative simulation, fidelity-cost equilibrium, fidelity gravitation, cost gravitation