Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Implications Of Welfare Reform: Do Nonprofit Survival Strategies Threaten Civil Society?, Jennifer K. Alexander, Camilla M. Stivers, Renée Nank

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

Nonprofit organizations play a pivotal role in recent efforts to devolve public responsibilities to lower levels of government and other sectors. The capacity of these organizations to serve as the public safety net, however, has come under question. This multiphase research project focused on the impact of welfare reform on community-based nonprofits in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The study includes surveys, focus groups, and a case study. Results to date strongly suggest that, in spite of their importance to the welfare reform effort, the capacity of smaller nonprofits to adopt the business-oriented approach required to meet the expectations of government contracts …