Revenue Embeddedness and Competing Institutional Logics: How Nonprofit Leaders Connect Earned Revenue to Mission and Organizational Identity

The increasing reliance on earned revenue displayed by nonprofits in the US has raised mission-related organizational identity concerns. However, the effect of a market-driven activity on mission-driven service may vary based on revenue embeddedness: the activity’s connection to the organization’s mission. This study draws on the competing logics of isomorphism and resource dependence to examine how the pursuit of earned revenue affects the organization’s perception of its mission and projection of identity. The authors examine how leaders use language to connect market to mission, presents additional dimensions of embeddedness, and offers propositions for future research

Small Nonprofits Solving Big Problems

There are over 1.5 million nonprofits in the United States. Of those, three-quarters (almost 1.2 million) have annual budgets under $1 million, and most are even smaller. These "small" organizations respond to localized needs and are staffed by people with deep knowledge and caring for the communities where they live and work. They are small in budget size only; their impact and community engagement are crucial to building just and vibrant neighborhoods and cities. They provide after-school programs, community centers, creative outlets, job training, food pantries, and much more.As a result of the 2008 recession and the ensuing economic fallout, increasing numbers of Americans have suffered serious financial woes. As unemployment rose, so did the number of people living in poverty and the need for social services. At the same time, credit became harder to obtain, and funding began to decline, especially from government sources. These conditions have persisted and are now particularly challenging for small "safety net" social service organizations that rely on government funding. These organizations, which always run lean, are now stretched even further and in danger of reducing services or even closing their doors.The following report draws on Nonprofit Finance Fund's experience working with 22 nonprofits through the Capital and Capacity for Economic Recovery (CCER) program in Greater Philadelphia, as well as our 30 years of work with small social service organizations nationwide. It highlights these nonprofits' common financial challenges and offers suggestions for how they and their supporters can enact financially stabilizing practices in response. We draw on real-life lessons from nonprofits that used small capacity grants and financial training opportunities to create positive programmatic and infrastructure shifts for the benefit of their clients

Getting Local: How Nonprofit News Ventures Seek Sustainability

Examines eight nonprofit news ventures' mission, audience, reach, and social impact; revenue generation and diversification; and organizational adaptability, innovation, and resource allocation as critical elements of long-term sustainability

A Report on the Chicago Region's Health and Human Services Sector

Looks at how major demographic shifts, policy changes, and funding trends are affecting the performance of individual agencies and Chicago's health and human services sector as a whole, and makes recommendations for improving the sector

NFF Capital Partners 2010 Portfolio Performance Report

Reviews 2006-10 investments in Nonprofit Finance Fund-supported philanthropic equity campaigns, program delivery and business model revenue growth, and revenue leverage ratios, with campaign profiles. Explains strategy, progress, and need for standards

Administrative Management Capacity in Out-of-School Time Organizations: An Exploratory Study

Based on interviews with sixteen high-quality out-of-school time (OST) program providers, identifies the managerial and administrative needs of OST nonprofits such as financial and human resources management and information technology. Suggests solutions

Four Pillars of Growth for Youth Serving Nonprofits

Based on interviews, outlines how fast-growing youth-serving nonprofits prepare systematically for growth, demonstrate clear programmatic results, market to specific funders, and actively engage board members' time, talent, and financial resources

Profiting From Purpose: Profiles of Success and Challenge in Eight Social Purpose Businesses

Offers an in-depth analysis of eight community-based human service and youth-serving nonprofit organizations that received assistance from Seedco's Nonprofit Venture Network to develop their capacity to launch social purpose businesses