Catalysts for collaboration: Antecedents and potential benefits of non-profits working together
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11157/anzswj-vol37iss2id1190Keywords:
non-profit, philanthropy, community organizations, collaboration, leadership, challengesAbstract
INTRODUCTION: The non-profit sector in Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa), primarily comprising smaller organisations (1–20 employees), faces unique challenges exacerbated by colonial and neoliberal funding models. The scope of this article does not allow for a critique of the neoliberal context but instead focuses on networking pragmatically within a neoliberal, competitive funding system. Scholarly literature often emphasises larger non-profits in contexts like the USA, limiting its applicability to Aotearoa’s smaller entities. While a large proportion of the scholarly literature presents advice to advance the work of non-profit organisations generally, evidence on smaller non-profits is scarce, especially concerning what it means to broach collaboration effectively in such contexts. In this article, inter-organisational collaboration is proposed as a potential solution for smaller non-profits.
METHODS: Driven out of a small, exploratory graduate study, this article presents a strong platform for future research. The findings are based on a literature review supported by semi-structured interviews with six sector leaders in Aotearoa to explore their perspectives on the benefits of inter-organisational collaboration amongst small non-profits.
FINDINGS: Findings suggest that collaboration among small non-profits can advance peer support resource sharing, enable mutual accountability, and even encourage critical examination of colonial legacies to make progress on their journey as Te Tiriti o Waitangi partners. However, the authors argue that a collaborative and efficient non-profit sector will not emerge under current funding models in Aotearoa.
CONCLUSIONS: Sector leaders and funders are urged to recognise the significance of relationships and use these findings to prioritise collaborative practices in their work.
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