Nonprofits functions in old and new democracies: An integrative framework and empirical evidence for Austria and the Czech Republic

• Authors: NEUMAYER Michaela; SCHNEIDER Ulrike; MEYER Michael; LEITNER Johannes; ŠKARABELOVÁ Simona; TRÁVNÍČKOVÁ Dana; POSPÍŠIL Miroslav
• Year of publication: 2007
• MU Faculty or unit: Faculty of Economics and Administration
• Description: By analyzing the multifarious concepts of non profit organizations (NPOs) in literature and the definitions of different functions NPOs fulfill in society, the paper frames an overarching theoretical concept of NPOs functions. The framework delivered displays a triangle with the three main functions of NPOs service delivery, advocacy, and community building in its corners, which is empirically grounded by findings from a comparative qualitative study in the Czech Republic and Austria. Data from both countries, which represent examples for a new and an established democracy, identifies different types of NPOs according to their functions, like single-target NPOs or hybrid organizations.