Nonprofit Brand Research Articles

Unraveling the Influence of Organizational Factors and Customer Resources on Nonprofit Brand Verdict: A Study of Seva Café

Unraveling the Influence of Organizational Factors and Customer Resources on Nonprofit Brand Verdict: A Study of Seva Café

Managing Brand Relationship Plurality: Insights From the Nonprofit Sector

The nonprofit sector is home to some of the most recognized and trustworthy brands, all competing for financial resources and volunteers. Akin to consumers, volunteers have relationships with nonprofit brands. These relationships have recently become more diverse as individuals increasingly look for more ephemeral and distant forms of involvement. Drawing on an extensive qualitative dataset of the Vienna Red Cross comprising participant observation, archival data, and in-depth interviews, the authors conceptualize this nonescalating, episodic engagement as a neither-growing-nor-fading (NGNF) relationship. This theorization adds to the literature on consumer–brand relationships, which has predominantly focused on the cultivation of strong relationships. Informed by practice theory, the authors elaborate distinct brand relationship practices key to successfully maintaining NGNF relationships (acquiring and activating) while catering to volunteers following the traditional path of relationship intensification (building and cultivating). The analysis identifies constellations of practice elements conducive to managing both types of brand relationships in a symbiotic manner. The authors argue for the importance of moving beyond an exclusive focus on relationship growth and embracing nonescalating relationships. This study thus contributes to nascent theorizing on brand relationships that do not follow an axiology that values growth and intensification.

From warmth to warrior: impacts of non-profit brand activism on brand bravery, brand hypocrisy and brand equity

From warmth to warrior: impacts of non-profit brand activism on brand bravery, brand hypocrisy and brand equity

How sharing of supporters reveals competition amongst non-profit brands

ABSTRACT The traditional method of identifying non-profit competitors places those with similar objectives as forming the competitive set (looking inside out). This research provides a different perspective by looking at supporter behaviour and how this is shared across the non-profit sector (outside in). The research also applies the Duplication of Purchase law to a new context. Four data sets from the US and Australia highlight that the overlap of supporters at cause-based groupings (e.g. children versus animal focused) and brand level (e.g. World Vision versus RSPCA) is largely determined by supporter numbers. This supporter-centric analytic view can highlight key competitors and potential collaborators that would be missed using the traditional inside-out perspective.

Non-profit Brand Orientation as a Strategic Communication Approach

ABSTRACT In the context of an emerging economy, this study aims to identify the factors that shape non-profit brand orientation (NBO). It also seeks to identify the main antecedents, outcomes, and barriers that are involved in its strategy implementation. The focus of this research is non-profit organizations (NPOs) in Brazil. Qualitative exploratory research with NPOs’ employees, donors, non-donors, and partners was performed using data collected from interviews, non-participant observation, and documents. The data were analyzed using content analysis. The results reveal four themes with associated categories: NBO (cause, mission, communication, and symbols); antecedents (internal factors, external factors, and community involvement); outcomes (staff relationships, partners, reputation, and performance), and barriers (a non-commercial mindset, short-term focus, communication challenges, organizational culture, government barriers, and a lack of resources). We suggest that brand strategic communication is a key factor that enables an NPO to disseminate the organization’s mission, cause, and symbols. All these factors together reflect the NBO. An NBO model is proposed, highlighting its antecedents, outcomes, and barriers, and pointing out similarities to and differences from the previous literature based on well-developed economies. This research discuss the peculiarities of NBO strategy in an emerging country context and the central point of brand strategic communication.

You’re getting warmer: examining a “warmth effect” as antecedent to cause-related purchase intentions for sport-themed CRM

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how exposure to a cause-related marketing (CRM) initiative involving sport teams affects attitude formation for the team and its amplification of purchase intention for team-branded merchandise. Specifically, this paper assessed the role of distinct measures (warmth, brand attitude, admiration and success) on purchase intention.Design/methodology/approachThe hypothesized model was tested using a 2 (promotion: CRM vs non-CRM) × 2 (team: successful vs unsuccessful) between-subjects design. Following MANCOVA analysis, the moderating effect of success was explored within the sequential moderated mediation model where perceived warmth and brand attitude explicated the effect of CRM exposure on purchase intention.FindingsThe results of this paper suggest that a “Warmth Effect” played a prominent role in shaping consumer perception for sports teams when partnered with a non-profit brand in a CRM appeal. Perceived team success was revealed as moderator, while warmth, brand attitude served as serial mediators on purchase intention.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides evidence-based insights to sport marketers to leverage CRM strategy in strengthening brand-related outcomes. Sport marketers may find the CRM strategy useful for engaging “casual” fans. Further analysis is needed to determine the generalizability of this consumer response to CRM in other product domains.Practical implicationsPractical implications include leveraging CRM strategy to strengthen brand-related outcomes (i.e. perceived warmth, brand attitude and purchase intention), while also being mindful of the timing of CRM initiatives to optimize engagement. Sport marketers may find the CRM strategy useful for engaging “casual” fans.Originality/valueThis paper lends clarity to brand attitude formation in the context of CRM. The findings of this paper demonstrate the influence of perceived warmth, brand attitude and success on purchase intention.

Elements that compose the non-profit BRAND orientation in an emerging country

This study grouped and systematized the elements that make up non-profit brand orientation (NBO) in an emerging country, as well as the elements that precede non-profit brand orientation, and the consequences of, and barriers to, the implementation of this strategy. The country studied was Brazil. We carried out an exploratory quantitative study based on the theoretical concept of brand orientation, with data collected from a questionnaire with statements generated in qualitative initial research. We collected 223 valid questionnaires and submitted them to exploratory factor analysis (EFA). We found that NBO in an emerging country is a higher-order reflective construct composed of two lower-order reflective constructs (communication and cause). The antecedents of NBO resulted in a set of reflective constructs of the first order (organizational factors, market factors, and action). We also found four first-order reflective constructs as a consequence of NBO (fundraising, partnerships, staff relationships, and social influence). The barriers to NBO constitute a higher-order reflective construct, composed of four lower-order reflective constructs (communication challenges, commercial aversion, barriers to donation, and economic context). We conclude that, in the presence of the antecedents of NBO in an emerging country, a non-profit organization tends to develop NBO and thus achieves several benefits. However, barriers to NBO hinder both the implementation of NBO and the achievement of the benefits resulting from this strategic orientation.

Revitalizing the non-profit brand personality through brand experience and brand relationship dimensions

Revitalizing the non-profit brand personality through brand experience and brand relationship dimensions

How Affective Displays and Self-Construal Impact Consumers’ Generosity

ABSTRACT Nonprofit brands vary widely in their positioning to consumers, ranging from crisis and desperation to joy and optimism. The literature, however, provides limited direction for the many nonprofit organizations that seek to align their brand with positive emotions. Herein, we examine the relationship between affective displays (sad vs. happy) portrayed in charitable advertisements and consumer self-construal in shaping consumer generosity. We employ one field study (study 1) and one lab experiment (study 2), using different charitable causes (i.e., Kiva.org [study 1] and a fictitious children’s cancer charity [study 2]) and currencies (i.e., lending money [study 1] and volunteering time [study 2]). Taken together, we find that happy (sad) affective displays are most effective for consumers who hold an independent (interdependent) self-construal, and that this alignment heightens empathy and in turn increases perceptions of efficacy, which increases generosity. Implications for future research and nonprofit practice are discussed.

Brand scandals within a corporate social responsibility partnership: asymmetrical effects on for-profit and non-profit brands

ABSTRACT This research explores the effects of a brand scandal that affects a for-profit brand collaborating with a non-profit organisation. Two experimental studies demonstrated that the effects on the for-profit brand were driven by the domain of the partnership and the crisis, while the effects on the non-profit brand were not. A crisis in the same domain as the partnership had stronger effects on the for-profit brand (intention to buy and negative word of mouth). These effects are mediated by perceptions of brand hypocrisy and a decrease in for-profit brand equity. The non-profit brand is equally hurt by the for-profit brand crisis, regardless of the partnership-crisis consistency. Our results indicate a strong asymmetry: the non-profit brand, despite its innocence, is more vulnerable than the guilty for-profit brand.

Exploring individual predictors of variation in public awareness of expressive and instrumental nonprofit brands

AbstractExpressive and instrumental functions provide a way to classify activities that take place in the nonprofit sector. These functions also provide a way to better understand individual's philanthropic involvement with certain types of nonprofit organizations. Despite the usefulness of these classifications, only a few studies have explored demographic, social, and ideological differences in individuals' philanthropic involvement along expressive and instrumental dimensions; and, no studies have explored differences in public awareness of nonprofits along these dimensions. Such awareness, though, could likely be an important precursor to an individual's philanthropic involvement. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore whether variables known to be associated with variation in philanthropic involvement are also associated with variation in awareness of, what we categorize as, expressive and instrumental nonprofit brands. Using data from a survey of public awareness of, and attitudes toward, nonprofit organizations in San Diego County (n = 1002), our findings show that individuals are more aware of instrumental nonprofit brands than they are of expressive nonprofit brands. However, there are important individual differences to consider. We discuss the theoretical relevance of our findings and offer several practical recommendations for nonprofit administrators.

Rethinking non-profit brands through a volunteer lens: time for B2V

ABSTRACT Many non-profit organisations (NPOs) deliver their services and mission through volunteers. Brand has been shown to be a powerful influence on the decision to volunteer. What was not known was the role that brand plays in volunteer choice between NPOs. Understanding this enables NPOs to be more effective at attracting the volunteers they need, particularly given limited budgets. Using Framework Analysis with a large qualitative sample, this paper contributes to that gap in knowledge. The research identifies three constructs driving volunteer choice of NPOs, sources of Brand Knowledge, level of Brand Engagement, and the behavioural process of choice, labelled Brand Discovery. Through exploring the relationship between these constructs, the study points to significant implications for NPOs for volunteer recruitment, importance of brand presence, and competitive set. The study makes several contributions to theory and practice. It extends volunteer motivation theory to examine non-profit brand choice. It builds on Symbolic Consumption Theory and Decision-Making Theory to define patterns of volunteer decision-making behaviour. It describes automatic, explicit, or considered decision-making despite high-involvement behaviour. As a result, the research calls for a new perspective on non-profit brands when seen through a volunteer lens, described as Business to Volunteer (B2V).

Basics of brand building

According to Roger Sametz, board members need to understand the basic tenets of nonprofit brand building, which include the following.

Nonprofit branding: a bibliometric analysis

PurposeThis study aims to examine articles on nonprofit branding over an 18-year time span to develop an overview and better understanding of the subject.Design/methodology/approachThis study used the Scopus database in a search for studies that deal, regardless of the approach, with branding in a nonprofit context. Subsequently, through a systematic review, a database with 84 articles was generated and 77 articles were submitted to bibliometric analysis.FindingsThis study identified six main research areas (brand and donation, brand management, brand orientation, nonprofit and for-profit partnership, communication strategies and stakeholder management), which were analyzed and discussed, seeking to identify the relationship between research in each area. In addition, this study presents the limitations of the research and thus verify that, although this body of literature is growing, the complexity of the nonprofit sector offers several opportunities for future research, which are pointed out at the end of the study.Practical implicationsThis study contributes to the academic literature on the topic by providing a systematization of knowledge about branding in the nonprofit sector and also offers insights about nonprofit branding to institutions and managers in this industry.Originality/valueThis is the first study, to the authors’ knowledge, to evaluate and quantify the progress of brand literature in the nonprofit sector.

Does non-profit brand image mean the same across cultures? An exploratory evaluation of non-profit brand image in three countries

PurposeThe current challenges international charities face with regards to their deteriorating image, as a result of recent scandals (e.g. Oxfam, Save the Children), provide the impetus for this exploratory research, where the purpose of this paper is to examine the conceptualization and dimensionality of non-profit brand image across national cultures.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a quantitative research design, using multi-country samples from India, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the UK. The authors first examine the psychometric properties of the non-profit brand image scale via confirmatory factor analysis across countries, identifying the optimal model for invariance testing. Further, the authors use multi-group invariance analysis to evaluate whether non-profit brand image (using an 18-item scale and six factors) provides equivalent measurement across cultures.FindingsThe study shows that individuals in the three countries perceive non-profit brand image equally, and as consisting of perceptions of usefulness, efficiency, affect, dynamism, reliability and ethicality. However, the results also indicate that the means of the dimensions of non-profit brand image are not comparable across different cultures.Originality/valueThe study extends limited current literature on non-profit brand image in international contexts, deriving insightful suggestions for further theoretical approaches in this under-developed research domain. It also yields key implications for charities and other non-profit organizations operating internationally, as they can use non-profit brand image and its dimensions as actionable tools in their communication campaigns to shape their brand image.

Refuting fake news on social media: nonprofits, crisis response strategies and issue involvement

PurposeThe dissemination of fake news has accelerated with social media and this has important implications for both organizations and their stakeholders alike. Hence, the purpose of this study is to shed light on the effectiveness of the crisis response strategies of denial and attack in addressing rumors about consumer privacy when non-profit organizations are targeted on social media.Design/methodology/approachTo test the hypotheses, a 2 (response type: denial vs attack) × 2 (privacy concerns: low vs high), between-group online experiment was conducted via Qualtrics.FindingsThe results indicated that one’s involvement level in the issue determines the effectiveness of the crisis response strategy. Data showed that attacking the source of fake news (as a crisis response) reduces the message’s credibility more than denying fake news. Furthermore, highly involved individuals are more likely to centrally process information and develop positive supportive intentions toward the affected non-profit brand. High issue involvement also predicted organizational and response credibility. Conversely, an attack rebuttal message increased the credibility of the circulated malicious rumors for low involved individuals.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings suggest that issue involvement plays a key role in message perceptions of false information regarding consumer privacy in social media.Practical implicationsPractically, this study offers insights for organizations that are developing response strategies in the current environment of fake news. Findings from this study suggest that organizations need to consider the degree to which audiences are currently involved in an issue before deciding how aggressively to respond to perpetrators of fake news.Originality/valueThe present study examines the intersection of fake news and crisis management in the non-profit sector, with an emphasis on various response strategies and issue involvement. This is one of the first attempts to experimentally investigate how social media strategies can defend and protect non-profit reputation in the fake news era.

Study: Nonprofit brand awareness differs depending on income levels

Research from marketing research firm Zion & Zion shows that household income correlates strongly with nonprofit brand awareness, with higher earners reporting much different levels of brand awareness than those earning less.

Brand prominence in cause-related marketing: luxury versus non-luxury

PurposePast research on cause-related marketing (CRM) suggests that these socially beneficial initiatives can be implemented as co-branding strategies. Little is known, however, about the role of brand prominence, in terms of visual conspicuousness of the two brands that are partner-involved (for-profit and non-profit brands). This study aims to advance a model of moderated mediation that explains how and under what circumstances brand prominence disparity enhances consumers’ attitudes toward CRM co-branded products and increases purchase intentionDesign/methodology/approachThe authors test a model of moderated mediation in two studies. Study 1 shows that the effectiveness of brand prominence disparity is explained by the mediating role of attitude toward a CRM co-branded product. Study 2 demonstrates that this mediation is moderated by the positioning of the for-profit brand partner (luxury vs non-luxury positioning).FindingsResults show that brand prominence disparity has a role in defining consumers’ purchase intention toward a CRM co-branded product through mediation of attitude. Moreover, positioning of the for-profit brand partner moderates the cognitive processes activated by the visual brand prominence. In luxury positioning, a loud visual prominence of the for-profit brand significantly improves consumers’ attitudes and intentions to buy the CRM co-branded product.Originality/valueThe study extends our understanding of how visual brand presence can promote the effectiveness of co-branded CRM initiatives, and it offers practical guidelines for marketers wishing to partner with social causes, while promoting products with luxury or non-luxury features.

Brand Strategy Co-Creation in a Nonprofit Context: A Strategy-as-Practice Approach

Literature increasingly acknowledges stakeholders’ voluntary involvement in formerly internal processes and structures of nonprofit organizations. This article contributes to extant literature by investigating how stakeholders get involved in and co-create brand strategy, a core intangible asset for nonprofit organizations. To this end, the article conceptualizes the process of nonprofit brand strategy co-creation from a strategy-as-practice perspective and empirically investigates this process in the context of a child care facility. The article identifies four processes characterizing strategic branding praxis—informing, relating, caring, and reassuring—that manifest in a variety of situated practices and foster the maintenance of a strategic status quo. The data further show a dynamic interplay of stability and adaptation shaped by individual, organizational, and market contexts. These findings provide the basis for proposing a model of brand strategy co-creation that synthesizes the social and contextual dynamics characterizing brand strategy development in a nonprofit context.

Introduction to the Special Issue: Brand Relationships, Emotions, and the Self

Introduction to the Special Issue: Brand Relationships, Emotions, and the Self