No advocacy without representation? Nonprofit representational mix and nonprofit advocacy

Abstract

Nonprofit representation as a multidimensional notion is inherently interrelated with nonprofit advocacy. This multidimensional nature of representation, however, was largely overlooked in prior empirical literature that predominantly focused on the independent effect of individual representational dimensions on advocacy. This article addresses this limitation by identifying the “representational mixes”—combinations of multiple representational dimensions—that bring about specific outcomes of nonprofit advocacy. Drawing on data from nonprofit organizations in three provinces of China and applying a corresponding configurational approach of fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis, the findings confirm three propositions, namely the conjunctural, equifinal, and asymmetric causation underneath the complex relationship between nonprofit representation and nonprofit advocacy. This study thus contributes a fresh configurational perspective to understanding nonprofit representation in relation to nonprofit advocacy.

Advocating with a commercial mindset: The impact of commercial income on nonprofit advocacy engagement

“…In the past several decades, the Chinese nonprofit sector has experienced a significant growth. The sector is now an active player in policymaking and service delivery across a variety of fields, such as child welfare, poverty reduction, education, and health care, promoting a responsive government and a participatory policy process (Li et al, 2017; Zhang & Guo, 2021). Government leaders are open to policy input from nonprofits, especially government‐connected ones, in a constructive way and take advantage of their community knowledge and service expertise (Teets, 2013).…”

“…Over the past few decades, the Chinese nonprofit sector has experienced remarkable growth in its size under a restrictive political context 2 . The sector is now an active player in a variety of policy fields, engaging citizens in shaping public policy and promoting a participatory policy process (Li et al, 2017; Song & Yin, 2019; Zhang & Guo, 2021). However, in recent years, Chinese nonprofits' increasing attention to commercial activities has led scholars to debate how commercialization affects nonprofits' social missions (Lai & Spires, 2021; Yu & Chen, 2018).…”

Business-Like and Still Serving Society? Investigating the Relationship Between NPOs Being Business-Like and Their Societal Roles

“…Commercial revenues may increase the autonomy of nonprofits, thus supporting advocacy by reducing dependency on other funders (Lu, 2018b, p. 189S [ sic ]). Recently, Zhang and Guo (2021) revealed specific configurations that enable nonprofits to continue active political advocacy despite commercialization (Zhang & Guo, 2021). They also argue that the financial autonomy gained by commercial revenues alone does not translate into efforts in political advocacy.…”

“…They also argue that the financial autonomy gained by commercial revenues alone does not translate into efforts in political advocacy. Rich resources play no role in the causal pathways, and in specific configurations, political advocacy is endangered (Zhang & Guo, 2021, 938).…”

The color of nonprofit leadership: Nonprofits with a CEO of color

“…Recently, there have been growing concerns and criticisms that the sector's leadership does not reflect the demographics of the population served (Lee, 2021; Zhang & Guo, 2021). Scholars emphasize that philanthropy fails to leverage its most vital resource—the lived experiences of nonprofit leaders of color who have a first‐hand understanding of the problems that nonprofits are created to tackle (Bernstein & Bilimoria, 2013; Nickels & Leach, 2021).…”