Transformational Leadership And Change Management In Equity-Centered Nonprofit Organizations, Lisa M. Merchant

All Capstone Projects

This qualitative study explores how nonprofit leaders use transformational leadership strategies to respond to rapid or unprecedented change and how these behaviors contribute to resilient change management. Grounded in transformational leadership theory and change management frameworks, including Lewin’s three-stage model and Kotter’s eight-step model, this study examines leadership practices within mission-driven organizations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nonprofit leaders representing organizations advancing equity in areas such as education, healthcare, economic opportunity, and social justice. Findings indicate that leadership during disruption in equity-centered nonprofit organizations is not episodic; rather, it is sustained, relational, and values-anchored. Leaders sustain organizational resilience by anchoring …

Enhancing Military Health System Organizational Efficiency And Quality Of Care Through A Social-Ecological Framework, Eric L. Peipelman

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Timely and fair adjudication of incivility-related actions within the Department of Defense (DoD) and Military Health System (MHS) is increasingly crucial for maintaining accountability, mission readiness, and quality of care. Ongoing delays in resolving workplace complaints and inefficiencies in resource-heavy adjudications highlight the need to shift from reactive complaint handling toward proactive civility promotion and transparent decision-making. This Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) introduces the Peipelman Civility Discussion and Assessment Toolkit (PCDAT)—a comprehensive, evidence-based framework designed to improve civility, optimize resources, and enhance communication, even in the MHS. Based on the Social-Ecological Model (SEM) and adapted from the Workplace Power and …

Becoming Art Itself: A Study On The Generative Logic And Discursive Structure Of Disability Art Incubation Institutions, Gonghui Lu

MA Theses

This study employs “Becoming” as its core analytical concept to examine how disability art incubation institutions operate at the intersection of contemporary art history and social systems as mechanisms that continuously generate both art and subjectivity. Building on Deleuze’s philosophy of becoming and Guattari’s notion of the rhizome, the study constructs a generative model linking art, institutions, and discourse. Through comparative analysis of international cases, it discusses the shift in disability art from a representational logic to a generative logic, and the dynamic oscillation between deterritorialization and reterritorialization within institutional practices. The study argues that disability art should not be …

Don't Walk By: Policy, Advocacy, And The Power Of Reconnection, Ashley Martinez, Isabella Dawkins, Hayley Tarro, Abby Hodge, Lily Stockwell, Grace Culp, Sebastian Lopez, Jesse Hartland

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Through this project, we will utilize dilemma reconciliation to address homelessness in the United States with frameworks implemented from The Netherlands and Finland.

Project Learn Strategic Analysis Project, Isabel Ladaika, Kalpana Ghimire, Noah Johnson, Caleb Keiper

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This honors project involves working in a team to conduct a comprehensive strategic analysis of Project Learn of Summit County. We will evaluate the organization’s external environment (such as industry trends, competition, and community factors) and internal operations (including strengths, weaknesses, resources, and capabilities). Using strategic management frameworks, as a team we will develop actionable recommendations to strengthen the organizations marketing, financial sustainability, and community outreach efforts. Throughout the semester, we will engage directly with the client organization to gather data and insights that inform our analysis. Final deliverables include a formal written strategic analysis paper and a professional presentation …

Design Thinking For Corporate Social Responsibility Program Proposal Creation, Michelle "Mindy" D. Danovaro

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study used action research to explore how the use of design thinking engaged employees in the creation of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) program proposal in a small- to medium-enterprises (SME) in the Sacramento region of California. The purpose of the study was to assess whether employee participation in a design thinking exercise could improve employee perception of engagement, inclusion, and reciprocity during the CSR program proposal creation. The study was grounded in social exchange theory, stakeholder theory, and design thinking methodologies. The iterative research process followed action research cycles (i.e., plan, act, observe, and reflect) integrated with …

Do You Walk On By? The Effects Of Donor Fatigue On Willingness To Donate, Shawn Michael Henry

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Donation solicitation literature validates the successful usage of various solicitation tactics that lead to achieving set donation goals for their associated cause. Yet, while the financial success of “checkout charity” is well-documented, a significant gap remains regarding the impact of high-frequency solicitations on long-term consumer-brand relationship. This research addresses this gap. Over the span of three surveys, this study finds that donation request frequency overall erodes donation likelihood through donor fatigue when donation frequency changes (occasional vs. always). However, this relationship is moderated by the perceived consumer base, with a larger perceived consumer base exacerbating the “diffusion of responsibility.” Further, …

Exploring Management Strategies To Reduce Workplace Violence: Perceptions Of Illinois Healthcare Professionals, Mary Mack

All Student Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how managers of nonprofit healthcare facilities in the Chicago metropolitan area implement strategies to reduce workplace violence, what these strategies are and how they are carried out, and what organizational factors facilitate or impede their implementation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven healthcare professionals in management or safety-oriented roles across seven facilities, purposefully sampled through the researcher's professional network. Findings revealed four recurring patterns across the sample. Prevention infrastructure was installed reactively, following specific triggering incidents rather than anticipating documented risk. Facilities consistently favored lower-cost mitigation measures over more resource-intensive prevention strategies. Reliance on short-tenure contract …

Case Study: The Economic And Legal Challenges Moving From A Township To A City, George F. Dierberger Dr., Ibrahim Keita Dr., Cory Erickson

Journal of the North American Management Society

The paper examines the economic and legal challenges moving from a township to a municipality in the state of Minnesota. One of the authors was a member of the township board as they went through the process of educating the citizens on the risks and rewards of changing from a township to a municipality.

Maximizing Online Intersession Enrollment Through Targeted Course Offerings, Heather S. Mcmillan, Charles D. Mcallister

Journal of the North American Management Society

Abstract

Online winter intersession courses have become an increasingly important strategy for universities seeking to support accelerated student progression while generating incremental tuition revenue. This study examines ten years of winter intersession enrollment data from a public, master’s-level comprehensive university in the Midwestern United States to identify course characteristics associated with higher student enrollment. Using 12,520 individual enrollment records, the analysis focuses on course type (general education versus major requirement), course classification (lower level, upper level, blended undergraduate/graduate, and graduate), and course discipline. A series of ANOVAs and Bonferroni post-hoc tests reveal significant differences in enrollment across these dimensions, with …

Organizational Pitfalls Of The Dual-Identity Leader, Yvonne Randolph, Asa Wilson

Journal of the North American Management Society

The dual-identity leader (D-IL) is an individual assigned to one job description yet is, in practice, fulfilling an additional position’s role. This secondary role is self-determined; has not been assigned yet is being allowed by those with governance and/or executive authority. Three case examples of the D-IL are presented and discussed as a problematic leadership configuration for an organization. The personal characteristics driving this approach are identified as a foundation for clarifying the organizational consequences of such an executive leader. Preventative and corrective tactics are discussed that eliminate or minimize the adverse impact of the D-IL’s organizational behavior.

Reflections At The Close Of My Freshman Year As Editor, Heather S. Mcmillan

Journal of the North American Management Society

No abstract provided.

Análisis De La Accesibilidad Mundial De Los Datos Sobre Organizaciones Sin Fines De Lucro: Hallazgos Preliminares De Un Estudio Comparativo Transnacional, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Este artículo presenta hallazgos preliminares de un estudio global y comparativo de carácter transnacional que examina la accesibilidad, la estructura y la transparencia de los sistemas de registro de organizaciones sin fines de lucro en todos los países del mundo. Además de determinar si existe una base de datos nacional en línea para organizaciones sin fines de lucro en cada país, el estudio evalúa quién opera estos sistemas —autoridades gubernamentales u organizaciones de la sociedad civil— e identifica los casos en los que se mantienen múltiples registros. El análisis también incorpora indicadores de contexto nacional, —como población, calificaciones en derechos …

Analyzing Global Nonprofit Data Accessibility: Preliminary Findings From A Cross-National Comparative Study (Hindi Version), Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Abstract (अमूर्त)

यह लेख दुनिया भर के सभी देशों में गैर-लाभकारी रजिस्ट्री सिस्टम की पहुंच, संरचना और पारदर्शिता की जांच करने वाले एक वैश्विक, क्रॉस-नेशनल अध्ययन से प्रारंभिक निष्कर्ष प्रस्तुत करता है। यह निर्धारित करने के अलावा कि क्या प्रत्येक देश में एक ऑनलाइन राष्ट्रीय गैर-लाभकारी डेटाबेस मौजूद है, अध्ययन मूल्यांकन करता है कि इन प्रणालियों को कौन संचालित करता है - सरकारी प्राधिकरण या नागरिक समाज संगठन - और उन मामलों की पहचान करता है जिनमें कई रजिस्ट्रियां बनाए रखी जाती हैं। विश्लेषण में राष्ट्रीय संदर्भ संकेतक भी शामिल हैं - जैसे कि जनसंख्या, मानवाधिकार रेटिंग, इंटरनेट का उपयोग …

Analyse Der Globalen Zugänglichkeit Von Nonprofit-Daten: Vorläufige Ergebnisse Einer Länderübergreifenden Vergleichsstudie, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Dieser Artikel präsentiert vorläufige Ergebnisse einer globalen, länderübergreifenden Studie zur Untersuchung der Zugänglichkeit, Struktur und Transparenz von Nonprofit-Registersystemen in allen Ländern weltweit. Neben der Erhebung, ob in den einzelnen Ländern eine nationale Online-Datenbank für Nonprofit-Organisationen existiert, analysiert die Studie, wer diese Systeme betreibt – staatliche Stellen oder zivilgesellschaftliche Organisationen – und identifiziert Fälle, in denen mehrere Register parallel geführt werden. Die Analyse berücksichtigt zudem nationale Kontextindikatoren wie Bevölkerungsgröße, Menschenrechtsbewertungen, Internetzugang und Governance-Strukturen; diese Variablen werden in diesem vorläufigen Beitrag jedoch noch nicht vertieft ausgewertet.

Darüber hinaus variieren die Anforderungen an die Registrierung von Nonprofit-Organisationen zwischen den Ländern erheblich, wobei viele …

Replanteando Wash: Vías Innovadoras Para Abordar El Agua, La Salud Y La Pobreza, Erica L. Jensen, Emma Indart, Faith Manchester, Sebastian Dorantes, Isabelle Stoddard

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

El acceso al agua potable y a un saneamiento adecuado (WASH) es un tema fundamental para la salud global y la dignidad humana, pero millones de personas aún carecen de estos servicios esenciales (National Geographic Society, 2025). En 2024, UNICEF estimó que aproximadamente tres cuartas partes de la población mundial tienen acceso a servicios de agua potable "gestionados de forma segura", dejando a unas 2,100 millones de personas sin agua potable confiable(UNICEF, 2025). La cobertura de saneamiento está aún más rezagada, ya que aproximadamente 3,400 millones de personas carecen de servicios de saneamiento gestionados de forma segura y 1,700 millones …

Nonprofit Spotlight: Humanculture, Erica Jensen

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Access To Water And Sanitation - Joni Full Issue December 2025, Erica Jensen, Angie Holzer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

No abstract provided.

Exploring Themes In Leadership Transition At A Rural Nonprofit Community Theatre: An Accidental Research Project, Elise Lael Kieffer

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Leadership transitions in nonprofit organizations present both challenges and opportunities, particularly in rural community-based theatres where organizational identity is often deeply connected to individual leaders. This study employs narrative inquiry, guided by the lens of Feminist Pragmatism, to explore leadership change at Playhouse in the Park, a long-standing rural community theatre in Murray, Kentucky. Through interviews, reflections, and observations, the study identifies five emergent themes shaping directors’ experiences: expectations, programming content, personality, relational expectations, and the balance between cautiousness and freedom. Findings suggest that the tensions inherent in rural nonprofit leadership transitions—rather than serving as obstacles—function as necessary forces that …

Innovative Philanthropy And Community-Based Approaches: Bridging Access To Sustainable Solutions In Low-Infrastructure Settings, Stephanie Zabriskie

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Nonprofits operating in remote or low-infrastructure environments often encounter structural barriers that undermine social impact, especially for women and girls. These barriers are frequently attributed to funding shortages or lack of innovation. However, evidence from practice suggests that many social problems in these contexts persist not because solutions do not exist, but because they do not reach the communities who need them. This thought paper examines the role of nonprofit organizations as bridging agents that connect existing solutions to underserved communities, using women’s health access in East Africa as a case example. The analysis highlights the limitations of episodic philanthropic …