Suchergebnisse

"Nonprofit Organizations and Civil Society in the United States provides a basic introduction to the U.S. nonprofit and civil society sector and examines the social, political, and economic impact of these organizations in America. The book is divided into four parts. First, it examines the legal foundations, history and evolution of the U.S. nonprofit sector, along with theories that explain the existence of a nonprofit sector. Next, it explores the impact that nonprofits have on American social life through the creation of social capital, providing opportunities to associate, creating outlets for the expression of group interests, and promoting a civil society. The book then takes up an exploration of the roles that nonprofits play in the American political landscape. Finally, the authors examine nonprofits' economic impacts both in terms of their share of the U.S. labor force, as well as nonprofit production of goods and services that are sold in the American marketplace. "--

The 1993 National Voter Registration Act authorizes nonprofit social service organizations to conduct nonpartisan voter registration drives, with the aim of making the process more accessible for low‐income citizens and segments of the population historically underrepresented in the political process. Although more than 15 years have elapsed since this important reform was enacted, very little is known about the extent to which nonprofits have embraced this practice, and what factors explain their decision to do so. Drawing upon institutional theory, this article examines the propensity of nonprofit social service organizations to carry out nonpartisan voter registration and voter mobilization campaigns in a national election year. A series of hypotheses are tested using data from a random sample of several hundred nonprofit service organizations in the United States that were surveyed prior to the 2008 election. Findings suggest that institutional factors, especially state laws, are highly influential in shaping the decision of local level nonprofits to register voters. The article concludes with a discussion of policy implications of this study.

Nonprofit social service organizations face unique challenges in attending to the needs of their various stakeholders. This article uses data from a sample of nonprofit organizations in Michigan to examine how well nonprofits manage multiple stakeholder demands. Findings indicate that nonprofits generally balance organizational time and attention to the needs of both clients and funding agencies. However, a small percentage of nonprofits devote disproportionate time to funding agencies at the expense of client-related activities. Factors that increase this likelihood include financial dependence on for-profit corporations, a racial mismatch between the board and agency clientele, and board dominance by economic elites.

Nonprofits represent a substantial group of third‐party agents that deliver public services, yet little is known about the extent to which these organizations embrace participatory governance practices. Using survey data from nonprofit social service agencies in Michigan, the author examines how these organizations provide opportunities for client participation and identifies factors that contribute to these practices. Four methods of securing client involvement are examined: participation in agency work groups, client feedback surveys, advisory boards and committees, and client service on the agency board of directors. The results indicate that government funding plays a systematic role in promoting these activities within nonprofits. These findings carry important implications for the government–nonprofit contract relationship by demonstrating that government funding shapes the practices of nonprofits in ways that promote democratic governance.