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Innovation in Rural Nonprofits: Which Organizational Capacities Matter Most?

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT This research note draws on theory and empirical research from the broader fields of management, organizational capacity, and innovation to examine how specific organizational capacities relate to innovation in a sample of 107 rural nonprofit organizations in a Southeastern U.S. state. While six capacities – human resources, financial management, revenue development, planning and development, collaboration and stakeholder engagement, and adaptive capacity – were positively correlated with innovation, only adaptive capacity and collaboration/stakeholder engagement emerged as significant predictors in a multivariate model. These findings highlight the potential relevance of internal and external capacities to innovation in resource‐constrained rural settings. The note concludes with implications for practice and outlines limitations and directions for future research.

Source: Nonprofit Management and Leadership

DOI: 10.1002/nml.70027

Authors: Kristina Jaskyte, Ashley Hunter, Lina Danusevičienė

Institutions: University of Georgia, University of Georgia, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Partnerships for the goals, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,460