Leaders Of Nonprofit Organizations Research Articles

Bridging the Gap in Policy Implementation through a Health Equity Lens: Insights from a 2-Year Study on Measurement Development

Background: Policy implementation measurement lacks an equity focus, which limits understanding of how policies addressing health inequities, such as Universal School Meals (USM) can elicit intended outcomes. We report findings from an equity-focused measurement development study, which had two aims: (1) identify key constructs related to the equitable implementation of school health policies and (2) establish face and content validity of measures assessing key implementation determinants, processes, and outcomes. Methods: To address Aim 1, study participants (i.e., school health policy experts) completed a survey to rate the importance of constructs identified from implementation science and health equity by the research team. To accomplish Aim 2, the research team developed survey instruments to assess the key constructs identified from Aim 1 and conducted cognitive testing of these survey instruments among multiple user groups. The research team iteratively analyzed the data; feedback was categorized into “easy” or “moderate/difficult” to facilitate decision-making. Results: The Aim 1 survey had 122 responses from school health policy experts, including school staff (n = 76), researchers (n = 22), trainees (n = 3), leaders of non-profit organizations (n = 6), and others (n = 15). For Aim 2, cognitive testing feedback from 23 participants was predominantly classified as “easy” revisions (69%) versus “moderate/difficult” revisions (31%). Primary feedback themes comprised (1) comprehension and wording, (2) perceived lack of control over implementation, and (3) unclear descriptions of equity in questions. Conclusions: Through adaptation and careful dissemination, these tools can be shared with implementation researchers and practitioners so they may equitably assess policy implementation in their respective settings.

Abstract B040: Building a lung cancer awareness event

Abstract Introduction: Lung cancer is the top cancer killer in the United States. Lung cancer screening (LCS) can decrease mortality of lung cancer, but current uptake is low. Concentrated effort during lung cancer awareness month has potential to positively impact uptake. Patient engagement and education are meaningful ways for medical students to make an impact. Methodology: We created a lung cancer awareness event during November (Lung Cancer Awareness Month) that aims to educate and engage regarding lung cancer and LCS. Prior to event day: 1. We secured buy-in from LCS leadership at the hospital, nurse navigators of the LCS program, leaders of nonprofit organizations and lung cancer support group leadership. 2. We recruited medical students to assist with creating informational materials, promoting the event and staffing day-of. All students attended a 1-hour training session on priority messages regarding lung cancer and LCS, engaging people in surveys and connecting eligible patients with LCS. 3. Informational materials and promotional flyers were sent to the lung cancer screening leadership to ensure messaging was in-line with messaging by the hospital and nonprofit organizations. Day-of event prep: 4. Tables with lung cancer educational materials were placed at the hospital entrances where foot traffic was greatest and staffed by medical students, nurse navigators and representatives from the nonprofits and lung cancer support groups. Educational and engagement materials at the table included lung cancer informational pamphlets, smoking cessation pamphlets and surveys to determine LCS eligibility. 5. Each table had a lung cancer and LCS trivia wheel with small give away items to attract and engage people at the tables. Event: 6. Medical students greeted people who approached the table and explained the purpose of the event (e.g. increasing lung cancer and LCS awareness and education). High priority messages regarding lung cancer and LCS (e.g. lung cancer is the top cancer killer, LCS can lower risk of dying from lung cancer, many eligible patients may not be getting screened) was conveyed by the student to the participant. 7. Participants were invited to complete the survey to determine LCS eligibility. 8. Participants were invited to answer a trivia question to win a lung cancer awareness t-shirt prize. After event: 9. Eligible patients identified by event surveys were followed-up by the nurse navigators to connect to LCS. Results: This lung cancer awareness event was successful in engaging people with lung cancer and lung cancer screening education. 73 people were recorded to have stopped by the table; 58 completed the survey in full. This event is within the power of medical students to do and can be set up easily with buy-in from faculty, hospital staff and local nonprofits. Conclusion: A student-run lung cancer awareness event is a feasible and impactful method to quickly engage patients in lung cancer screening. This event model can be translatable to future years and potentially expanded to other institutions and centers. Citation Format: Michelle Gomez-Guevara, Kristine Chin, Anthony Smith Jr., Masashi Azuma, Grace X. Ma, Cherie P Erkmen. Building a lung cancer awareness event [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B040.

Mediatory function of non-profit organizations in health care (based on interviews with leaders of public patient associations)

BACKGROUND: Russian society needs mechanisms to reduce social tension, including with the participation of the “third sector” in the implementation of its characteristic intermediary functions. Intermediaries represented by non-profit organizations (NPOs) in healthcare can become an important element in resolving social conflicts.
 AIM: To justifycation the the possibility of integrating mediation technologies into the activities of public organizations that protect the rights and interests of patients when receiving medical and pharmaceutical care, based on an analysis of the mediation functions they already perform.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: 9 in-depth interviews with leaders of NPOs that protect patients’ rights were conducted.
 RESULTS: One of the tasks of NPOs in healthcare is mediation between patient communities and the public health system at its various levels.
 CONCLUSION: NPOs in healthcare can become the subject of conflict resolution using the mediation procedure. It is proposed to expand the powers of these public associations with the function “to prevent and resolve disputes and conflicts in the field of health care” by amending paragraph 2 of Article 28 of the Federal Law of November 21, 2011 No. 323.

The Competent Leaders of the Saudi Non-Profit Organizations

To attain Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030’s goal of developing leadership, we need to understand the key issues that have emerged in the context of learning skills relating to leadership in non-profit organizations (NPOs) to enhance their efficacy for management positions. This study elaborates upon the relevant abilities of leaders of NPOs. A qualitative approach involving interviews with 15 directors from renowned non-profit Saudi organizations was used. These 15 leaders, together with 6 other employees from NPOs participating in a focus group, were the primary informants. The study involved semi-structured interviews with professionals from non-profit sectors such as education, health, environmental sustainability, and human resources to summarize critical elements that either help facilitate or negatively affect these individuals’ ability to contribute to institutional results. The results revealed six competency groups – namely personal, management, social, industry-specific, work-specific, and academic – which demonstrated the usefulness of the approach in gaining useful insights that would otherwise not have emerged. The results indicate that leaders of NPOs should exhibit these six levels of competencies to counter internal and external difficulties, and to effectively contribute to achieving organizational goals.

Developing Workforce Capability in Nonprofits Through Effective Leadership

Leaders of nonprofit organizations in the United States must build workforce capabilities to meet increasing demands for services. This single-case study explored strategies nonprofit leaders used to build workforce capability to address increasing service demands. The conceptual lens for this study was the full-range leadership theory. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with senior executives of a single nonprofit organization located in the Midwestern region of the United States, which included internal organizational and workforce performance data, strategy plans, annual reports internal and external financial documents, and publicly available information. Four major themes related to building workforce capacity emerged from a thematic analysis of the data: (1) an emphasis on employee development, (2) the expansion of technology systems, (3) a concentration on developing a culture of autonomy and trust, and (4) the introduction of processes and measurements. The findings from this study might contribute to positive social change by providing nonprofit leaders with strategies and data to support a deeper understanding of how to effectively build workforce capability to address increasing service demands.

Development and transformation of collaborative networks in events

ABSTRACTThis study examines the mechanisms by which and the reasons that leaders of non-profit organizations transform interorganizational collaborative networks through event attendance. Drawing from a two-wave survey, this study examines the interorganizational networks of 30 individuals who participated in both waves, along with the reported activities of 121 individuals who participated in the second wave of the survey. This mixed methods study found that events transformed participants’ weak ties into strong ties and promoted development of collaborative networks. Further, the study found that participants’ motivations for attending the event and following up with contacts afterward focused on sharing resources and deepening connections. Implications for understanding how events promote formation and transformation of collaborative networks are discussed.

Social Enterprise Academy: Enhancing the Impacts of the Non Profit Sector on Leadership and Job Creation Thru Research Models

The Social Enterprise Academy (SEA) is a new unit in the existing Melton Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of South Alabama. SEA is focused on capacity building and developing new leaders with an entrepreneurial mindset. These entrepreneurial leaders are the future job creators and provide services to sectors that are underserved or omitted from government programs. A research project focusing on measures of entrepreneurial self efficacy, entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial intent are used to develop a baseline for leaders of nonprofit organizations in mid market cities in the United States.

"Words, Presence, and Self-Compassion: Researching the Impact of Mindfulness at Work"

This symposium presents four empirical research projects using different methodological approaches to research mindfulness or presence in the workplace and how it interconnects with self-compassion. These four studies are juxtaposed to highlight what is now being done, how studies may influence one another when communication exists across fields of inquiry, and ways that research and practice can be mutually nourishing in this arena of inquiry. It will focus attention on the ways that such research impacts the practice of leadership. Each uses words and language to access states of mind or being, so explore the theme of this year’s conference from the perspective of the role of words in communicating with oneself and then sharing this communication with others. They are grounded in Chris Argyris’ admonition to practitioners always to make research a part of practice, as well as his deep interest in the critical contribution of authentic behavior to organizational and management change. They help us think about the value of first, second, and third person research for understanding a phenomenon as complex as mindfulness or presence. The session is cross-cultural and global: with researchers from the United States, Chile, and Finland, and participants in one study collaborated actively across the globe. It is also diverse in addressing different populations: from professors and consultants to an internet-based sample to prison workers in Maine and leaders of non-profit organizations. The research methods include a participatory action research study, a mixed methods study, a case study, and a phenomenological study. Beyond Rehabilitation: Prison Hospice and the Future of Leadership Presenter: John Eric Baugher; U. of Southern Maine Presenter: Kandyce Powell; Maine Hospice Council & Center for End-of-Life Care

"Is Growth a Dirty Word? How Non-Profit CEOs View Growth, Finance, and Strategy"

Central to the discussion of strategies for achieving sustainability within non-profits is the interpretation of the contribution of concepts such as growth and profit to success measures. This qualitative study examines how leaders of non-profit organizations view the concepts of profit (efficiency) and growth within the context of their organizations, particularly when certain types of resources are considered. It is a follow-up to an initial quantitative analysis of historical IRS data for 147 animal shelter non-profit organizations that compared metrics for these concepts to similar metrics produced from commercial venture analyses (Authors hidden, 2011). From this initial sample, 30 CEOs were randomly selected and interviewed via phone about their perceptions of strategy, growth versus profit, their use of financial metrics, and how they define growth in the context of their organization. The results indicate that the CEOs themselves may not have strategic control over their resources as over half of...

Industry progress report on neuro-oncology: Biotech update 2013

For the second time, The Brain Tumor Center of the Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center, in collaboration with Voices Against Brain Cancer, hosted The Brain Tumor Biotech Summit in New York City in June 2013. After a very successful first summit in 2012, this innovative event has established a platform for intensive networking between neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, neuroscientists, members of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical communities, members of the financial community and leaders of non-profit organizations. This year's summit highlighted dendritic cell vaccines, novel antibody, heat shock protein and targeted therapies as well as exosome technologies, MRI-guided therapies and other novel drug delivery tools. This report presents a short overview of the current progress in brain tumor research and therapy as presented at the 2013 Brain Tumor Biotech Summit.

Encouraging Volunteer Participation in Health Research: The Role of Nonprofit Organizations

Health research mainly relies on volunteers to generate data. Volunteer participants not only help provide necessary information to solve problems but also contribute to free participation which in turn helps the research wheel to continue. People mainly contribute to different nonprofit organizations by giving money for charity. Nevertheless, volunteering in health research (for example, as participants and data collectors) is considered a way of supporting these organizations. This article discusses the projected role of nonprofit organizations in encouraging people's voluntary participation in different types of research. Leaders of nonprofit organizations are encouraged to spend some of their budgets to increase people's awareness on research through different means including media advertisements. Research on this matter should also be encouraged to inform future practice.Keywords: Volunteering; Health research; Nonprofit organization.

Collaboration and Professionalization: The Contours of Public Sector Funding for Nonprofit Organizations

The nonprofit sector is evolving rapidly as organizations expand their focus on efficiency, sustainability, and accountability. Public agencies are changing as well, embracing collaborative public management and fostering stewardship-based contracting approaches. But how have all these developments influenced government funding for nonprofit organizations? Which types of nonprofits procure public funds, and how do patterns change over time? Based on 200 interviews with leaders of nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, I argue that standard management strategies for achieving mission have become increasingly relevant for procuring government grants and contracts. Results indicate that professionalization and collaboration are consequential for receiving government support, net of prior funding, and collaboration also contributes to total support from government. Building from these results, I conclude by discussing the opportunities and challenges of public–nonprofit relations. 协同合作与专业分工：公共部门对非营利组织的补助结构分析 摘要 随着在组织管理上逐渐强调效率、可持续性和责任机制, 非盈利部门 (The Nonprofit Sector) 迅速演变。政府部门也在发展变化，越来越多的采用合作管理和责任承包的公共服务外包机制。然而所有这些新的发展如何影响政府对于非盈利组织的拨款呢？政府主要采用怎样的方式来向非盈利组织拨款？这些拨款方式又是怎样演化的？我就这些问题在旧金山湾区采访了200 多位非盈利组织的管理者。本研究表明，采用标准化管理战略对与非盈利性组织赢得政府的拨款和合同非常重要。本研究还发现, 机构管理职业化以及参与合作对获取政府拨款至关重要。过往的拨款渠道及合作管理经验同样有助于获得更多的政府资助。基于这些研究结果, 我在结论部分讨论了政府和非盈利组织之间关系的机遇和挑战。

Are Women Underrepresented as Leaders of Nonprofit Organizations?

Despite the predommance offemale employees and volunteers in nonprofit organizations, research indicates that there are fewer women serving as chief executive officers and board members when compared to the number of men in those positions This exploratory study revealed that in this sample of respondents there were more female duef executives and fiscal officers heading nonprofits than men. However, consistent with other studies, there were fewet female board members and fewer women serving as board presidents and treasures. This issue is relevant for public administrators as more and more government services are being contracted out to nonprofit organizations. Public administrators must not forget the importance of social representativeness in promoting the legitimacy of public service The article con cludes with suggestions for future research on recruiting female board members