Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Human Services

Advisor

Kelly Chermack

Abstract

Failure of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) causes negative impacts to community service users and the NPO workforce. Although the impact of NPO failure has been researched, a comprehensive understanding of business and organizational challenges from the NPO leaders’ perspective was not well documented. Learning more about these challenges may assist with understanding how to best support and solve them. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the business and management-related barriers and challenges NPO leaders encounter when delivering services and fulfilling organizational missions in the Greater Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area in Texas. The conceptual model included the ecological systems theory and the resource dependence theory. This is the first study that has used both theories to study NPOs. Twelve NPO leaders were interviewed to understand the business administration challenges they encountered in fulfilling organizational missions. The results of this study yielded four themes: skill set gaps in communication, financial, and human resource management; workforce challenges in hiring, retaining, and developing employees; stress related to funding; and a need for new or expanded strategies. COVID-19 impacts and other organizational insights emerged as other findings unrelated to the research question. Findings may provide input to community plans for improvement leading to positive social change. The structure of this study could serve as a model for other studies of this nature.

Download

Share

 
COinS