Nonprofit Sector Research Articles

О ВОВЛЕЧЕНИИ ШКОЛЬНИКОВ И СТУДЕНТОВ В ТВОРЧЕСКИЙ ПРОЦЕСС ПО РАЗРАБОТКЕ БИЗНЕС-ПРОЕКТОВ

This article considers one of the forms of involving schoolchildren and students in the creative process associated with the development of business projects of various directions (within the real sector of the economy, the non-profit sector, the service sector and education, etc.). On the example of the competition of business projects, which has been held for almost the last 10 years at the Ural State Mining University, the interest of young people in the design of various kinds of businesses, including social projects, is illustrated. An analysis of the main results of the ongoing competition of business projects (2017-2023) is given. A specific conclusion is made about the expediency and effectiveness of such competitive stage-by-stage events (from organizing competitions in places of youth education to the final competitions at the site of the oldest university in the Urals - the Ural Mining University).

International Foundations, Agenda Setting and the Non-Profit Sector in South Africa

Abstract

Nonprofit Planning and Impact with Regard to the 2018 Tax Law

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) is considered the largest tax overhaul since 1986 and was anticipated to produce declining charitable donations for nonprofits and was expected to create disruption across the nonprofit sector in 2018. This study tests whether small nonprofits (under $250,000 in revenues) or large nonprofits (over $250,000 in revenues) planned differently due to the law and secondly, how they were affected by the law. Utilizing survey data from 50 nonprofits, this research offers qualitative data on both large and small nonprofit organizational awareness as it relates to the rollout of the law.

The influence of the Covid-19 pandemic on municipal meeting places arranging group exercise for older persons

ABSTRACT Purpose Many municipalities today, together with other stakeholders, offer group exercises for the older population via municipal meeting places, focusing on promoting good health. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these group exercises either continued in a modified form or ceased. The aim of this study was to explore involved stakeholders’ experiences of group exercises for older persons arranged via municipal meeting places during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods Six online focus group interviews were conducted with 25 stakeholders, such as decision-makers and representatives from the non-profit sector, from seven municipalities in Sweden. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings The collaboration around the group exercises was challenged due to affected communication and decision-making. The stakeholders described the importance of adapting and finding new ways to offer group exercise. Furthermore, the re-arranging of group exercises created concerns about the well-being of the older persons but also happiness with the older persons ability to act for their own well-being during the pandemic. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of the municipalities exchanging experiences, making the older persons more involved in the decision-making process, enabling a person-centred encounter with the older persons when exercising in groups, and strengthening supportive environments by sharing the ownership of arranging the group exercises with the older persons.

Teaching Spatial Data Analysis: A Case Study with Recommendations

Abstract Learning from data is a valuable skill for nonprofit professionals and researchers. Often, data have a spatial component, and data relevant to the nonprofit sector are no exception. Understanding spatial aspects of the nonprofit sector may provide immense value to social entrepreneurs, funders, and policy makers, by guiding programmatic decisions, facilitating resource allocation, and development policy. As a result, spatial thinking has become an essential component of critical thinking and decision making among nonprofit professionals. The goal of this case study is to support and encourage instruction of spatial data analysis and spatial thinking in nonprofit studies. The case study presents a local nonprofit data set, along with open data and code, to assist the instructors teaching spatial aspects of the nonprofit sector. Pedagogical approaches are discussed.

Transformative Diaconia in China: The Amity Foundation as a Case Study

The last decade has seen keen interest among governments, businesses, academe, and the nonprofit sector in the role religions can play in the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030. In China, until the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020, there were conferences and debates about this that increasingly involved the religious sector. This study looks at Christian social practice among faith-based organizations in China, especially its transformative potential, in contributing to sustainable development. It will highlight some of the best practices of the Amity Foundation, a Chinese FBO headquartered in Nanjing, to illustrate how, through a combination of service delivery and advocacy (Chinese style), FBOs in China can help shift official and religious perspectives and attitudes toward a more participatory and sustainable approach to development. Although the term “transformative diaconia” has not been explicitly used by Amity to describe its work, the values embedded in its practice and the impact it has made on stakeholders and policies can be considered transformative. The UN SDGs 2030, which have been strongly supported by Amity’s ecumenical partners and the Chinese government, provide an important frame of reference for Amity’s advocacy work as well as help to identify some of the content for diaconal capacity building for churches in China. Some of the opportunities and challenges confronting FBOs as they transition from service delivery to advocacy will be explored.

The Changing Relationship between the Nonprofit Sector and the State in Japan: Case Studies of NPOs in Fukushima

The Changing Relationship between the Nonprofit Sector and the State in Japan: Case Studies of NPOs in Fukushima

Effects of the minimum wage on the nonprofit sector

Abstract The nonprofit sector’s ability to absorb increases in labor costs differs from the private sector in a number of ways. We analyse how nonprofits are affected by changes in the minimum wage utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Internal Revenue Service, linked to state minimum wages. We examine changes in reported employment and volunteering, as well as other financial statements such as revenues and expenses. The results from both datasets show a negative impact on employment for states with large statutory minimum wage increases. We observe some evidence for a reduction in the number of nonprofit establishments, fundraising expenses, and revenues from contributions.

Understanding social responsibility and relational pressures in nonprofit organisations

Relational pressures across multiple levels push organisations to behave socially responsibly or sometimes irresponsibly. But how do relational pressures across multiple levels influence social responsibility of small nonprofit organisations working with marginalised groups? Nonprofit organisations are increasing in importance owing to their role in development and representation of marginalised groups’ interests, yet their social responsibility is little understood. Using the lens of standpoint theory, we explore social responsibility of small disability arts organisations in the nonprofit sector in Australia drawing on 53 interviews involving actors at multiple levels, supplemented by site visits and observations. We find small nonprofit organisations’ social responsibility in a state of flux, influenced by differing priorities, expectations, and demands from various actors across levels. We provide insights into organisational social responsibility dynamics, identifying three major tensions that small arts organisations face – formality versus informality, agency versus representation, and access versus excellence – in seeking to be socially responsible. Our findings have relevance for organisations in the wider nonprofit sector, underscoring the need to explore their social responsibility from a relational perspective. Further, the resultant tensions from relational pressures, as identified in our study, provide important implications for organisational social responsibility advancing theoretical and practical knowledge in this emerging field.

Role of Non-Governmental Organizations as Developmental Partners in Health Care

NGOs, or non-governmental organizations, are a kind of non-profit private sector provider of the health system. Global health issues include health inequity. Inequity exists in healthcare, vaccinations, and research for developing nations. There are disparities 
 in healthcare access even between nations. NGOs typically focus on underprivileged groups or specific diseases that the government sector frequently ignores. But maintaining financial stability is a significant problem for NGOs. Donors account for the majority of an NGO's funding. The availability of health care can be expanded through NGOs. By 2030, the World Health Organization hopes to have
 universal health coverage.

Can They Build or Not? Nonprofit Housing Development in an Era of Government Re-engagement

In the context of new government investment in housing, this article explores the experiences of nonprofit organizations in securing support for new affordable rental housing development in three regions across Canada. Many challenges were reported, including ones pertaining to administration (extensive proposal requirements, lack of information and communication, and lengthy review processes), and the design of funding programs (such as a lack of flexibility available to proponents). Participants also reported limitations to the amount and nature of support provided, challenges working across different levels of government, and an uneven playing field among nonprofit and for-profit housing developers. Overall, results show that despite significant and recent investments made available for affordable housing, the nonprofit sector faces many barriers in accessing these, and that significant changes are required so that housing organizations may provide rental units to those in greatest need.

Die Bereitstellung von leistbarem Wohnraum in Zeiten der Wohnkrise

Limited-profit housing associations are established players in Vienna’s housing market. The exorbitant rise in land and construction costs in recent years and increasing demand for affordable housing have far-reaching implications for the provision of affordable housing in Vienna. These developments are causing shifts not only in the housing market in general, but also within the nonprofit sector. This paper approaches these shifts at the level of limited-profit housing associations and examines a) which interpretations of affordability and related challenges can be found in the field of limited-profit housing, and b) which practices are applied in the provision of (affordable) housing. Empirically, the article draws on interviews with board members, managing directors and project developers from the limited-profit housing sector, which were conducted between 2020 and 2021. Finally, implications for the limited-profit sector in Vienna and for the provision of (affordable) housing are discussed. English title: The provision of affordable housing in times of the housing crisis. Interpretations and practices of the non-profit sector in Vienna

Governance of the nonprofit sector in Lebanon between theory and practice

ABSTRACT Non Profit associations in Lebanon are governed by the 1909 Law of Associations, an Ottoman law predating the creation of the state that was based on the French law of associations. The main aim of this paper is to assess the extent to which the law offers an enabling environment for associations’ development in Lebanon. Based on 15 interviews conducted with experts and activists in the field, the main argument this paper presents is that although the law itself is fair and supportive to associations, the vagueness of its wording and interference by Lebanese state government are hindering the development of associations in Lebanon. In other words, analyzing the Law of Associations as it is written is inadequate to comprehend the state of associations. Lebanon’s historical, political and social context must be taken into account to shed light on the law’s implementation. The paper argues that the absence of a comprehensive programme of action or a movement to defend the autonomy of association could be encouraging the state administration to interfere in associations’ internal governance. Civil society has a long road ahead of it in order to reach full independence.

Assessing the impact of the charity excellence model on nonprofit organizations in Saudi Arabia: A statistical analysis

Organizational excellence is a dynamic and evolving concept that refers to an organization's capacity to achieve strategic objectives at a fundamental level while consistently enhancing its capabilities to tackle external competition and deliver value to stakeholders. In Saudi Arabia, the Charity Excellence Model has been adopted as a national standard since 2014, aiming to ensure quality and excellence in nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and to enhance the sector's performance. This paper aims to investigate the efficacy of the excellence model and its influence on NPOs. A statistical analysis is presented, examining the results of award assessments carried out over four cycles (2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020). The findings demonstrate that the implementation of the excellence model criteria has positively impacted Saudi NPOs; however, their performance remains below the high maturity level targeted by the sector's leadership. This paper also explores potential improvements to the excellence model, considering recent updates in international and national excellence frameworks, as well as the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies in the nonprofit sector.

STATE AND NON-PROFIT SECTOR RELATIONS: THE FORMATION OF UNIQUE RUSSIAN MODEL

The research studies the relations between the state and non-profit sector. The article aims to analyze the prevalent models of interaction and to describe the emerging Russian model. Based on the system approach the existing models are classified according to the established practices into Western, Chinese and dependent models. The study reveals particular Russian experience and claims that it can be regarded as a new emerging model. The paper emphasized the need for coordinated effort from the Russian government and civil society in order to maintain efficient development of this model. Therefore it can be used for policymaking in relation to NGOs and may serve as a basis for further research to provide recommendations to boost the efficiency of interactions.

THE EFFECT OF HYBRIDIZATION ON THE GOVERNANCE OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) IN THE CONSPECTUS OF MANDATORY AND VOLUNTARY FINANCIAL REPORTING

In the conceptualization and theoretical framework of hybrid organizations and in the construction of a role of key performance indicators, Alter (2004), and Ponte et al. (2017) refer to hybrid organizations as the result of hybridization, between the entities with and without profit. These hybrid organizations operate on the border between the non-profit (or public) and for-profit (or private) sectors and are both market-oriented and mission--oriented. The research project presented in this work shows how a hybrid organization faces the problem/challenge of managing, measuring, and reporting financial information, as well as the tools it uses to prevent possible deviations from mission or revenue. Through a systematic review of the literature, the author intended to contribute to the identification and characterization of performance measurement tools, which allow the control of both objectives, social and financial performance, in the hybrid organizational context, to reduce the risk of unwanted deviations. The performance of a PPP is measured from at least three perspectives: (1) the private aspects, such as a return of investment, (2) the public aspects, such as improvements in quality of life, and (3) the partnership itself, as an organization and management capacity. As a hybrid organization, the company cannot simply look for financial performance, social responsibility issues are also at stake, as well as a set of non-market aspects, such as: ethical behavior, contribution to social development, as well as improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families (Ponte et al 2017). Bearing in mind that performance management is only as effective as its measurements (Grossman, 2012), the measurement tool proposed matches the strategic challenges and control needs of hybrid organizations. The identified model, SBSC, provides a better understanding of the company’s sustainability strategy, inside and outside, associated with a holistic view of the aspects of social responsibility, as well, tracking its impact on the other key performance factors.

Principles of the ecosystem approach: Possibilities for modeling educational ecosystems

Introduction. The article reveals the problem of applying the ecosystem approach for the transformation of education in the face of current global socio-economic and technological challenges. The aim of the article is to identify and summarize the principles of the ecosystem approach to education, to justify the possibilities of their application for modeling the national education system. Materials and Methods. The methodological basis of the study includes systematic approach, socio-environmental approach, comparative analysis and thematic content analysis. In order to achieve the purpose of the research, an analytical review has been conducted in a comparative context: more than 60 full-text sources revealing the features of the ecosystem approach have been studied using the method of qualitative thematic content analysis. The comparative analysis made it possible to identify and clarify different points of view on the ecosystem approach and the prospects for its implementation in modern education. At first, the article examines the operating conditions of ecosystems. The authors have identified and described their key principles in business and entrepreneurship. In the second phase, the logical and methodological method of extrapolation has allowed the authors to implement these principles to education. A conceptual architecture of the educational ecosystem has been designed based on modeling method. Results. The authors have identified the key principles of social ecosystems functioning in business and entrepreneurship, substantiated the possibility of their application to the education sector. The authors have outlined and revealed six fundamental ecosystem principles in their entirety and systematic coherence: customer focus, configuration among participants’ relations, regulation and management, environmental influence, digital technologies and online platforms, symbiosis and co-evolution of participants. These principles have formed the basis for the conceptual architecture of the educational ecosystem. This meaningful mental model explicates inner meanings of ecosystem connections in education. It represents key features, new nature and configuration of relationships among dissimilar participants and stakeholders, such as formal and non-formal education, the state, the innovative business and the non-profit sector. Based on the analytical review and the comparative analysis of international and Russian sources, the authors have substantiated theoretical and practical potential, advantages and limitations of the ecosystem approach to education, as well as designed the model of the educational ecosystem. Conclusions. In conclusion, the authors summarize the identified fundamental principles of educational ecosystems; justify the possibilities of their application for the organizational, technological and content transformation of the national education system.

The Relationship Between Public Administration and Third Sector Organizations: Voluntary Failure Theory and Beyond

Abstract Among Lester Salamon’s early theoretical contributions was the introduction of the “Voluntary Failure” concept. In a series of articles published in the second half of the 1980s (Salamon, L. M. 1987a. “Of Market Failure, Voluntary Failure, and Third-Party Government: Toward a Theory of Government-Nonprofit Relations in the Modern Welfare State.” Journal of Voluntary Action Research 16 (1–2): 29–49. Reprinted in Salamon (1995): 33–49, Salamon, L. M. 1987b. “Partners in Public Service: The Scope and Theory of Government-Nonprofit Relations,” In The Nonprofit Sector. A Research Handbook, edited by W. Powell Walter, 99–117. New Haven: Yale University Press, Salamon, L. M. 1989. “The Voluntary Sector and the Future of the Welfare State.” Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly 18 (1): 11–24. Reprinted in Salamon (1995): 203–19) Salamon rejects the existing theories concerning the existence and the growth of nonprofit entities, both demand-side theories such as “government failure” (Weisbrod) and “contract failure” (Hansmann) and supply-side theories (James). He introduces the so-called “third-party government” approach underlining the interdependence between the state and various other (profit and nonprofit) social actors (Salamon Lester M. and Toepler S. 2015. “Government–Nonprofit Cooperation: Anomaly or Necessity?” Voluntas 26: 2155–77). The “voluntary failure theory” is based on the recognition of four limits of nonprofit organizations’ action: (a) philanthropic insufficiency; (b) philanthropic particularism; (c) philanthropic paternalism; (d) philanthropic amateurism. These shortcomings can be overcome by the creation of an institutional framework of collaboration between the public administration and the most organized part of civil society, namely the so-called third-sector organizations. The aim of this paper is to open a discussion around the adequacy of the above-mentioned approach to explain the complex configurations that current relationships between public administration and third sector organizations have assumed in Western democracies, especially in the field of welfare policies. We will do so through the analysis of the recent scientific literature on government-nonprofit relationships, with a particular focus on the so-called “new public governance” (Osborne Stephen, P. 2006. “The New Public Governance?” Public Management Review 8 (3): 377–87, Osborne Stephen, P. ed. 2009. The New Public Governance? Emerging Perspectives on the Theory and Practice of Public Governance. London: Routledge) and the co-creation and co-production paradigm (Torfing, J., E. Sørensen., and A. Røiseland. 2016. “Transforming the Public Sector into an Arena for Co-creation: Barriers, Drivers, Benefits, and Ways Forward.” Administration & Society: 1–31), that emphasize the involvement of citizens (i.e. users or clients) and their associations in the definition of the policies, programs, and services directed to them.

One Foundation’s Journey towards Centering Community-Led Work

For decades, the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors have been trying to solve issues in communities that have been harmed for hundreds of years by the impacts of colonization, capitalism, and other isms. One thing has become abundantly clear: if nonprofits and foundations continue determining solutions, the changes in communities will be mostly slow and unsustainable. Embracing this truth, Mortenson Family Foundation has been working to share power with communities for decisions about how and where resources should be allocated. We are doing this because people in and close to communities are best situated to define and implement solutions in the most meaningful, relevant, and sustainable ways. This article highlights some of our learnings as we embrace our emergent journey to build a more equitable partnership among our foundation, the nonprofits we partner with, and the communities we all care about.

Factors Influencing Employees Job Satisfaction in Non-Profit Organizations

This research seeks to define job satisfaction and identify its influencing aspects among Saudi non-profit sector employees. Numerous variables, including wages and salary, the relationship with supervisors and co-workers, the benefits granted by the organization, and work tasks have been shown to affect job satisfaction. Initiating a survey with 200 employees, a descriptive technique was employed to analyze these interactions for the workers at these organizations. The results found that non-profit sector workers in Al-Qunfudah Governorate had a level of satisfaction with their job, with the areas in this order of wages, salaries, compensation, and relationship with a co-worker, professional development opportunities, and finally job tasks. In addition, incentives and relationships with managers were proven to have a detrimental impact on job satisfaction.