Date of Conferral

9-4-2025

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Meridith Wentz

Abstract

Nonprofit organization leaders face numerous challenges in sustaining donations and memberships. Faith-based organizations in particular have experienced declining membership over the past seventy years, which negatively impacts their ability to provide community services. This problem is important to nonprofit and faith-based leaders because financial stability and membership engagement are essential to maintaining operations and fulfilling organizational missions. Grounded in the Baldrige Excellence Framework, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to identify and explore effective strategies nonprofit faith-based leaders use to increase and sustain membership and donations. Participants were four senior business leaders with experience in business operations and organizational processes. Data were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of organizational documents. Through thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (a) increasing membership, (b) strengthening relationships with current donors, (c) identifying new donors, and (d) building multilevel revenue streams to maintain operations. A key recommendation is for business leaders to design, test, and implement performance management systems with key performance indicator metrics as a well-rounded approach as part of their strategic plan. The implications for positive social change include the potential for faith-based leaders to reduce food insecurity in their communities and enhance access to disaster relief by strengthening partnerships with local, state, and federal aid organizations.

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