Assessing the role of beneficiaries and boards on nonprofit decisions to collaborate during COVID-19

Authors:

• Erica Ceka, Asst. Professor, Department of Public & Nonprofit Administration
• Douglas Ihrke, Executive Director, Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management
  
• Bryce Lord, Associate Director, Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management
  

Summary: This study analyzes conditions that facilitate nonprofit decisions to collaborate with local governments and nonprofits during the COVID-19 crisis. The study results demonstrate that nonprofits are more likely to collaborate with other nonprofits when they can fund the payroll, are highly concerned about the inability to reach vulnerable groups, and when demands for services offered to vulnerable groups are increasing. The findings also show that decisions to initiate collaborations with local governments are more likely to be implemented when nonprofits report higher demands for their services and are more concerned about their inability to pay rent or mortgage. Further, the findings reveal that the involvement of board members has a significant effect on nonprofit decisions to initiate collaborations with nonprofits and local governments.