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Donor relationship management practices in the South African non-profit sector

Wiggill, MN LU (2014) In Public Relations Review 40(2). p.278-285
Abstract
The importance of non-profit organisations (NPOs) in the South African development sector is undisputed, especially after the economic recession that negatively affected government’s delivery of social services. Despite its important role, NPOs experience great difficulties, obtaining sustained funding. This paper assumes that NPOs should manage donor relationships as informed by the principles of two-way communication, with the aim of building strong and mutually beneficial relationships. However, because of NPO’s lack of funding, they mostly cannot afford to appoint trained communication and relationship practitioners to manage NPO–donor relationships in order to ensure sustained funding. The purpose of the research was to determine how... (More)
The importance of non-profit organisations (NPOs) in the South African development sector is undisputed, especially after the economic recession that negatively affected government’s delivery of social services. Despite its important role, NPOs experience great difficulties, obtaining sustained funding. This paper assumes that NPOs should manage donor relationships as informed by the principles of two-way communication, with the aim of building strong and mutually beneficial relationships. However, because of NPO’s lack of funding, they mostly cannot afford to appoint trained communication and relationship practitioners to manage NPO–donor relationships in order to ensure sustained funding. The purpose of the research was to determine how NPOs practice donor relationship management within their unique context and whether these NPOs’ donor relationship practices correspond with theory? It was found that NPOs intuitively practice donor relationship management according to most of the theoretical principles of relationship, management. It is recommended that NPOs stay committed to their mission, and not deviate from it only to obtain funding. Furthermore, focusing on donors’ need for self-actualisation seems to be important for continued donor support. (Less)
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author
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
non-profit organisations, Non-profit organizations, Strategic Communication, donors, relationship management
in
Public Relations Review
volume
40
issue
2
pages
8 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:84899930080
ISSN
0363-8111
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
b3a8f03c-2be2-41f8-99a0-e1d19e244b77
date added to LUP
2019-07-03 09:02:25
date last changed
2022-04-02 20:21:03
@article{b3a8f03c-2be2-41f8-99a0-e1d19e244b77,
  abstract     = {{The importance of non-profit organisations (NPOs) in the South African development sector is undisputed, especially after the economic recession that negatively affected government’s delivery of social services. Despite its important role, NPOs experience great difficulties, obtaining sustained funding. This paper assumes that NPOs should manage donor relationships as informed by the principles of two-way communication, with the aim of building strong and mutually beneficial relationships. However, because of NPO’s lack of funding, they mostly cannot afford to appoint trained communication and relationship practitioners to manage NPO–donor relationships in order to ensure sustained funding. The purpose of the research was to determine how NPOs practice donor relationship management within their unique context and whether these NPOs’ donor relationship practices correspond with theory? It was found that NPOs intuitively practice donor relationship management according to most of the theoretical principles of relationship, management. It is recommended that NPOs stay committed to their mission, and not deviate from it only to obtain funding. Furthermore, focusing on donors’ need for self-actualisation seems to be important for continued donor support.}},
  author       = {{Wiggill, MN}},
  issn         = {{0363-8111}},
  keywords     = {{non-profit organisations; Non-profit organizations; Strategic Communication; donors; relationship management}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{278--285}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Public Relations Review}},
  title        = {{Donor relationship management practices in the South African non-profit sector}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/67104160/DonorRelationshipManagementNPO_PRR.pdf}},
  volume       = {{40}},
  year         = {{2014}},
}