Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Equity Among Equity Workers: Public Service Motivation In An Educational Nonprofit Organization, Russell C. West Jr

Theses and Dissertations

What opportunities and challenges arise when an equity-focused educational organization aims to support employee’s individual equity practices while simultaneously developing the organization’s equity practice? In this study, employees of a non-profit educational organization were asked what rationales and expectations played a role in their decision to volunteer in an equity working group. Their responses were used to understand whether Perry’s (2000) process theory of Public Service Motivation helped describe their decision. In a second round of interviews, employees were asked what outcomes they perceived came from their participation. These responses were used to understand whether the outcomes aligned with those …

Improving Financial Resiliency To Provide Accessible Community Services During Emergency Conditions Through Strategic Planning, Maria Elisa Colmenares

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study site organization lacked financial resilience to ensure the provision of social services to populations reliant on these services, including before, during, and after emergency conditions. The purpose of this mixed-methods case study was to provide strategic planning recommendations to increase financial resilience and describe the unique partnership between the client agency and the nonprofit arm. The study addressed strategies to increase the financial resilience needed to sustain the organization’s core mission, and strategies the agency can use to provide community services before, during, and after emergencies such as COVID-19, hurricanes, or severe storms. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and …

La Casita Center: An Accompaniment Based Approach To Social Justice And Social Service., Ben Harlan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

La Casita Center is a Louisville based nonprofit organization that accompanies Latinx immigrants in the Louisville Metro area. and that is led and staffed by Latina immigrants. In this thesis, I investigate how employees of this Latinx-immigrant led nonprofit organization, navigate challenges to both administer service and build community using the model of accompaniment. Organizations like La Casita are critically important for Latinx newcomer communities in the United States and as neoliberal and nativist-inspired policiescontinue to oppress and marginalize, La Casita provides a model for what it means to center inclusion, belonging, community, and solidarity. In a global landscape of …

Power Of Arts & Craft To Support Children With Illnesses, Gerardo Hernandez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services is a non profit agency in Watsonville, California. Providing family-centered care for children and their families in their emotional, practical, and financial struggles. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a need for a laser-focused strategy to meet the immediate needs of children’s health. Childhood cancer greatly affects their upbringing and may create worse problems throughout their adulthood. Without assistance, these families are critically vulnerable to their physical and mental health issues. This project allows children with illness alongside their families to receive mental health assistance throughout their complex journey. With the …

Understanding The Role Of Relationship Management Theory In Fundraising, Laytona V. Butler

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Financial donations are critical to the sustainability of nonprofit organizations. While most nonprofit leaders understand the importance of building lasting relationships with their donors, many nonprofit leaders lack the knowledge and understanding of the strategies necessary to develop and nurture donor relationships. This study was conducted to explore donor management strategies leaders of nonprofit organizations use to retain donors. Ledingham and Bruning’s theory of relationship management provided the framework for this study. An exploratory single case study design was used to answer the research question: How do leaders and staff of a successful community-based college access organization develop and maintain …

Strategies For Improving The Effectiveness Of Internal Control Processes In Nonprofit Organizations, Annie Selorm Dumoga

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Some leaders of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) lack financial strategies to develop and implement effective internal controls for their financial health and the continuation of their organizations’ provision of humanitarian services. The failure of leaders in NPOs to implement adequate internal controls results in insolvency, the inability to pay off debts, and threatens the ability to provide needed social services. Grounded in the Committee of Sponsoring Organization's internal control integrated framework, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies NPO leaders used to develop and implement effective internal controls for their organization's financial health and ability to …

Designing A Standardized Workflow For Improved Contract Administration In Non-Profit Organizations, Shaneva D. Mcreynolds

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored a process that can help nonprofit organizations design and implement a new contract management system with a standardized workflow associated with administering their government contracts. The problem directly resulted in a decrease in efficiency and profitability for the organization. A mixed method study was conducted based on the business process reengineering (BPR) model. Previous studies have indicated that additional knowledge and development is required in the area of BPR implementation. Critical sources of evidence in the study included the partner organization’s stakeholders, its staff, including those of its subsidiaries, and peer-reviewed literature. Qualitative interviews with 10 participants …

The Examination Of Small Chicago Nonprofit Organizations In The Voluntary Implementation Of The Sarbanes-Oxley Legislation, Patricia A. Owens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractNonprofit organizations (NPOs) do not have a mandated requirement for implementing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002; however, small Chicago NPOs had voluntarily implemented SOX provisions. The passage of SOX impacted the manner in which NPOs govern, provide disclosures, and audit their records. It was not known what the experiences, including facilitators or barriers, had been in that effort. The accountability mechanism theory by Ostrower and Stone provided the framework for this study. The key research questions focused on what major SOX provisions were most useful to implement and the experiences faced in the voluntary implementation of the SOX provisions. …

Factors Of Employee Retention Within Youth-Serving Nonprofits In The Mid-Atlantic Region Of The United States, Meleny Thomas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Factors of employee retention have been widely researched and examined. However, research on factors of retention in relation to youth-serving NPOs was limited. Turnover was an issue that many organizations face, but the impacts and implications of turnover for youth-serving nonprofits may be greater. Using Herzberg’s two-factor theory of motivation, this study identified the factors that local and national NPO employees in the Mid-Atlantic region of the eastern United States provided as to why they remained at or left NPOs. The aim of this study was to identify the motivator and/or hygiene factors that employees or former employees of NPOs …

Telecommuting Adaptation Of A Nonprofit Organization Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic, Walter Lynn Washington

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disrupted lives around the globe, organizations have transitioned to telecommuting. Further research is required to address gaps in the literature regarding the perspectives of employees and organization leaders of these telecommuting policies. This study examined how leaders and employees of a nonprofit organization in southeast Florida perceived implementation of and adaptation to telecommuting policies in response to COVID-19. The study specifically assessed behavioral and utilitarian variables associated with social exchange theory, such as individual engagement and social settings and effects in the workplace, which related to social distancing and telecommuting policies. The …

Bridging The Generation Gap In The Lgbt+ Community Through Advocacy, Melanie Moore

Honors Projects

HEALTH is a program designed to meet the needs of LGBT+ older adults by connecting them with volunteers of LGBT+ nonprofit organizations. Through HEALTH, LGBT+ youth and older adults can form connections that can extend beyond the structure of the program. By connecting younger volunteers with older adults, HEALTH can help grow the social capital of the LGBT+ community. Fostering friendly relationships between people of all ages can influence the progress of LGBT+ rights moving forward by combining the experience of the elders with the technological and social capabilities of the youth.

“[Don’T] Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor...” A Study On The Trump Administration’S Unprecedented Reforms To The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program And Their Implications, Savannah Day

Honors Theses

From 2017 to 2020, the Trump administration cut United States refugee admissions tenfold. These reforms come unprecedented to the 40-year-old resettlement program (USRAP). By critically reviewing literature on this topic as well as conducting eight original interviews with five national nonprofits contracted by the Department of State to do refugee resettlement casework, this study sought to identify the implications of the Trump administration’s reforms to the program. Once implications were identified, I used the applied frameworks of program model as well as Michael Worth’s sociological and political science theories of American nonprofit-government relations to better inform and guide the study. …

Unfunded Stakeholder Mandates And Nonprofit Performance Impacts, Courtney Lyn Coe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Small nonprofit organizations, with annual budgets of $500,000 or less, are assigned many obligations by external stakeholders while conducting their mission-related work. However, little is known about the impact of these obligations or mandates being received from their external stakeholders, which rarely have funding allocated to minimize any capacity impact they create. The purpose of this study was to learn about whether, and how, the organizational capacity of small nonprofit organizations is impacted by unfunded mandates. Applying the theoretical framework of rational choice theory, the patterns revealed by the data allow the ability to draw conclusions based upon the lived …

Impacting Nonprofit Financial Sustainability And Mission, Jarhal Duncan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nonprofits in the United States have been struggling to maintain financial sustainability and create new pathways to accomplish its mission. The research problem was that there was limited research on leadership strategies for nonprofits to facilitate the balance of achieving the organizational mission and financial sustainability. The purpose of this study was to increase the understanding of how current leaders of niche-based nonprofit organizations use strategies to impact financial sustainability and maintain the mission of the nonprofit organization. Building on this understanding can help address this issue. Theoretical frameworks such as Resource Dependence Theory and General Systems Theory help develop …

Why Do Mentors Stay? Exploring Mentor Experiences, Perceptions And Motivations Within Mentorship Programs, Ann Murphy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Youth mentorship has captured the attention of policymakers as a method of addressing societal issues. A review of the literature highlighted challenges that mentorship programs face regarding mentor sustainability. The purpose of this study was to explore and differentiate the experiences, perceptions, and motivations among paid and volunteer mentors within formal youth mentorship programs. This phenomenological study informs public policymakers how funding should be allocated within the nonprofit sector in order to optimize mentor retention. Structural functionalism and Kingdon’s multiple streams approach composed the conceptual framework for this study. Data were collected utilizing 14 semistructured interview questions. An analysis of …

The Executive Director Experiences Of African American Women In Mainstream Nonprofit Performing Arts Organizations, Davida S. Gobin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American women are presently underrepresented in mainstream nonprofit performing arts organizations (PAOs) throughout the United States. Despite this inequality, a small number of African American women have overcome the odds and have productively earned senior leadership roles as executive directors in mainstream nonprofit PAOs. Using the conceptual frameworks of intersectionality and critical race feminism, the purpose of this study was to explore the shared lived experiences of African American women in executive director positions and the impact of race and gender on their leadership development and training for advancement in a mainstream nonprofit PAO. Four research questions explored the …

Poverty And Nonprofits: Investigating The Relationship Between Poverty And Nonprofit Activity In The United States, Megan Combs

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

In order to better understand our society and institutions, we can look at the relationships between institutions, social infrastructure, and human conditions. Social and institutional networks can influence the flow of resources on a scale that individuals cannot. These structures can perpetuate or alleviate social and human conditions but, alternatively, social conditions can mobilize and influence institutional structures. As systemic poverty remains a social issue, various US programs and forms of aid continue to be delivered despite limiting and varying levels of success. One such mode of aid is provided by nonprofits. Studies have shown that nonprofits empirically do very …

An Analysis Of Mergers And Acquisitions In Non-Profit Organizations, Shakiyla K. Davis

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

This paper hypothesizes that poor planning of merger or acquisitions will lead to increased issues within the organization. To effectively examine the hypothesis, the paper provides an overview of mergers and acquisitions. The paper highlights the process and considerations of a merger and acquisition and uses examples to provide insight on successful and unsuccessful partnerships.

Role Of Stand-Alone Business Entities In Sustaining Newly Established Nonprofit Organizations, Sharif S. Shamroukh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Thousands of newly established nonprofit organizations (NPOs) with long-lasting and needed missions disappear annually, which negatively impacts the nonprofit sector in general and the potential recipients of the discontinued NPOs' services. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the possible influence that the presence of a strategic resource development plan and the establishment of a stand-alone business entity have on the persistence of newly established NPOs that have long-lasting and needed missions in the United States within the context of the theoretical framework resource dependence theory. Research questions focused on the role of commercial activities, particularly the stand-alone …

A Study Of Rural Nonprofit Board Communication And Collaboration, Angela-Janine C. Crawford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This case study explored the perceptions, experiences, and significant internal communication and collaboration problem(s) faced by a rural nonprofit board of directors experiencing a growth transition. Specifically, this study addressed (a) how a rural nonprofit's board members perceived their communication and collaboration skills and practices, and (b) the training needed to improve board communication and collaboration policies and practices. Ten rural area study participants shared their experiences and made recommendations for board communication and collaboration training. Exploring the perceptions, understandings, and capacities of the rural nonprofit board members revealed how specific communication and collaboration policies and practices affected their organization's …

The Capacity Of Postpartum Depression Resources In Underserved Communities, Brandie Green

Public Affairs Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to assess the resources that are available to women in underserved communities to detect and treat postpartum depression. Postpartum depression continues to be a major public health issue. Although there are screening methods and treatments that are available to address this mental illness, the rates of detection are still low leading to a number of women that suffer from postpartum depression and go untreated. Two populations that have proven to be at a higher risk of postpartum depression are those from underserved communities and minority populations. This research takes a deeper look into …

The Capacity Of Postpartum Depression Resources In Underserved Communities, Brandie Green

Public Affairs Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to assess the resources that are available to women in underserved communities to detect and treat postpartum depression. Postpartum depression continues to be a major public health issue. Although there are screening methods and treatments that are available to address this mental illness, the rates of detection are still low leading to a number of women that suffer from postpartum depression and go untreated. Two populations that have proven to be at a higher risk of postpartum depression are those from underserved communities and minority populations. This research takes a deeper look into …

Hearts And Minds: An Analysis Of Checks And Safeguards, Monitoring, And Performance Review Of Executive Boards And Their Executive Directors Within Select Nonprofit Corporations., John Michael Wagner

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Horror stories of ineffective nonprofit organization management arise in the media far too often. When these stories emerge, the public demands accountability from those responsible. Ultimately, accountability rests with the fiduciaries of the organization. For nonprofit

organizations in the United States, fiduciary responsibility and accountability reside with the board of directors.

Board governance has been widely studied in the for-profit sector. Due to the critical nature of the work nonprofits perform, there has been an increasing effort to study board governance in nonprofit organizations. Employing in depth interviews, with both executive

directors and board members, checks and safeguards such as …

Covered International: A Proposal For Growth, Sarah Shumaker

Honors Projects

The following proposal examines the operation of Covered International, a nonprofit organization committed to helping women who have been victims of domestic violence, sexual exploitation, and trafficking, Contemporary ideas and suggested changes are detailed that will foster the growth of the organization through education and awareness, funding, and expansion.

Nonprofit Hospital Community Benefit Requirements: An Exploration Of National Health Policy Models, Justin P. Swearingen

Dissertations and Theses

Introduction: Nonprofit hospital organizations are public charities with complete tax immunity. Such exemptions are worth $24.6 billion and impact the health of hundreds of millions of people, yet what these charities must do to meet the current “community benefit standard” to maintain their tax-exempt status remains a policy debate. To help inform policymaking, an evaluation of four national requirement models was performed: Tax Value Requirement (at least the value of the tax exemptions must be spent on community benefit), Grassley Requirement (at least 5% of revenue must be spent on community benefit), Expense Requirement (at least 3% of expenses must …

Literature Review And Accompanying Analysis Of Diversity On A Nonprofit’S Board Of Directors: Does Diversity Impact Organizational Effectiveness?, Jessica Christoffel

Public Administration & Policy

The potential benefits of diversity in board members are increasingly recognized in both diversity and public administration literature, in that the innovative ideas and diverse perspectives of board members may translate into business-related gains for the organization. Following a literature review and theories that discuss diversity on boards, the paper uses financial data from two nonprofit organizations in order to test the assertion that nonprofits with more diverse boards will show signs of greater organizational effectiveness. Results from several comparison ratios show a lower level of donations, but greater operating, fundraising, and programming efficiency, in a nonprofit with a more …

Leader - Member Exchange And Performance In Nonprofit Human Services Organizations, Charles A. Archer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Success of nonprofit human services organizations depends upon the ability to cultivate high quality performance among staff members. Employees of such organizations experience lower job satisfaction when managers disregard their opinions or treat them as unimportant. The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory case study was to explore employees' perspectives on the quality of their relationships with their supervisors and impacts of that perception on job performance. The central research questions regarded how employees understood those relationships and their impact on their work success. Using the framework of leader-member exchange (LMX) theory, which centers upon the employee-supervisor relationship, data were collected …

Nonprofits, Governance Arrangements, And Outcomes For Society In Brazil, Marcelo Marchesini Da Costa

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation analyzes the contribution of nonprofit organizations to society. The main goal is to discuss through which conditions nonprofits present beneficial results to society, exploring mainly the alternatives of collaboration with the government or a more autonomous action. Using data from Brazil, the first essay discusses nonprofit location. Despite great regional variation, the previous density of nonprofits existing in a municipality has a stronger positive effect that is larger than the effects of social needs or resources available in explaining why new nonprofits choose to locate in certain sites. The second essay analyzes the effect of nonprofits on the …

Information & Communications Technologies Investment Decisions And Organizational Performance In Major Nonprofits In Kenya, Sylvester Musyoki Kisonzo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The levels of organizational performance (OP) achievable from a dollar investment in information and communications technologies (ICT) remains elusive. A consensus exits among scholars and organizational leaders that effective use of ICT improves OP yet managers continue to struggle to justify investments in ICT. The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore and explain how investments in ICT related with OP. The study built on the resource-based view of the firm theoretical framework. A key question in the study was whether there existed a consistent, positive correlation between ICT investments, decision-making performance, and OP, and if so, explain the …

Nonprofit Leaders' Strategies In Capturing The Attention Of Committed, Large Donors, Aneatra Holland

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Few U.S. nonprofit organizations meet annual operational costs. Facing government funding cuts, U.S. nonprofit leaders have had to seek other revenue streams to remain operable and ensure that the clients they serve continue to receive support. Leaders often seek out large donors but lack strategies for successfully doing so. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies successful nonprofit leaders have used to capture the attention of committed, large donors in Southern California. Government failure theory and independence theory constituted the conceptual framework. The purposeful sampling method consisted of 3 nonprofit agency managers who had operated …