Collective representation and the founders’ culture in non-profit organisations: the case of Israel’s national association for autism

Abstract

Non-profit organisations (NPOs) have increased in numbers and importance, providing support, services and advocacy. However, who non-profits actually represent is still an open question. To provide an empirical basis for scrutinising how the representational roles of autism advocacy NPOs change (or not) as they develop, in this article we focus on the case of Alut – the Israeli national association for autism. Drawing on documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews conducted in 2015–17 with members, service recipients and office holders, our findings demonstrate the important role of the founders’ culture in setting the NPO’s agenda – in Alut’s case, service provision prioritising ‘low-functioning’ autistic people. The role of the founders’ culture is further highlighted in the context of organisational gaps between the association’s actual agenda and its espoused messages regarding collective representation and advocacy. We conclude by discussing the contributions of the findings to debates on NPOs’ development and the maintenance of stability through representational styles.