The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector

by Ott, J. Steven

• ISBN13: 9780813367859
• ISBN10: 0813367859
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-10-22
• Publisher: Westview Pr

Summary

The Non-Profit Sector: An Overview is a collection of the most insightful and accessible writings about the nonprofit sector in the U.S. and its organizations. The book discusses everything from Andrew Carnegie's turn-of-the-century philosophy of philanthropy, to the most recent writings by current scholars and practitioners. Accordingly, the book contains previously published articles, chapters, and encyclopedia entries that present the most influential theories, concepts, and issues associated with the nonprofit sector.Furthermore, each chapter opens with a framing essay that identifies the central themes and issues presented within the chapter and provides an overview of sometimes competing points of view. Each framing essay also briefly summarizes the significance of the contribution of each writing to the development of knowledge in the field.

Author Biography

Steven J. Ott is a professor of political science and the Director of Public Administration Education at the University of Utah. He is the immediate past-president of the Nonprofit Management Education Section of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. He has also authored and edited numerous books and articles regarding nonprofit organizations, administrative theory, organization theory, organizational behavior, and organizational culture.

Table of Contents

Foreword	viii
Kirsten A. Gronbjerg
Preface	xi
Part 1 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector	1	(46)
Overview: The State of the Independent Sector	9	(14)
Virginia Ann Hodgkinson
Murray S. Weitzman
Scope and Structure: The Anatomy of America's Nonprofit Sector	23	(17)
Lester M. Salamon
Voluntary Sector	40	(7)
Jacquelyn Thayer Scott
Part 2 The Nonprofit Sector's Distinctive Values and Contributions to Society	47	(42)
Voluntarism	57	(7)
Jeffrey L. Brudney
The Gospel of Wealth	64	(6)
Andrew Carnegie
The Filer Commission Report---Giving in America: Toward a Stronger Voluntary Sector	70	(9)
John H. Filer
The Impact of the Voluntary Sector on Society	79	(10)
David Horton Smith
Part 3 Historical Evolution of the Nonprofit Sector	89	(54)
A History of the Discipline	97	(15)
Stephen R. Block
Inventing the Nonprofit Sector: 1950-1990	112	(14)
Peter Dobkin Hall
A Brief History of Tax Policy Changes Affecting Charitable Organizations	126	(17)
Gary N. Scrivner
Part 4 The Rationale for Tax Exemption	143	(14)
Tax-Exempt Organization	148	(4)
Christopher Hoyt
Nonprofit Organization	152	(5)
Stephen R. Block
Part 5 Overview Theories of the Nonprofit Sector	157	(22)
What Is the Nonprofit Sector and Why Do We Have It?	162	(5)
Lester M. Salamon
A New Approach: The Theory of the Commons	167	(12)
Roger A. Lohmann
Part 6 Economic and Political Theories of the Nonprofit Sector	179	(54)
Government Failure Theory	190	(3)
Dennis R. Young
Contract Failure Theory	193	(4)
Dennis R. Young
And Lettuce Is Nonanimal: Toward a Positive Economics of Voluntary Action	197	(8)
Roger A. Lohmann
Political Theories of Nonprofit Organizations	205	(12)
James Douglas
Markets, Politics, and Charity: Nonprofits in the Political Economy	217	(16)
Kirsten A. Gronbjerg
Part 7 Social and Community Theories of the Nonprofit Sector	233	(34)
To Empower People: The Role of Mediating Structures in Public Policy	240	(11)
Peter L. Berger
Richard John Neuhaus
Nonprofit Organizations and Community	251	(7)
Steven Rathgeb Smith
Michael Lipsky
On the Edge or In Between: Niche Position, Niche Overlap, and the Duration of Voluntary Association Memberships	258	(9)
Pamela A. Popielarz
J. Miller McPherson
Part 8 Organization Theories of the Nonprofit Sector	267	(44)
The Sociology of Nonprofit Organizations and Sectors	274	(14)
Paul J. DiMaggio
Helmut K. Anheier
Perspectives on Organizational Governance: Some Effects on Government-Nonprofit Relations	288	(9)
J. Steven Ott
Nonprofit Organizations in an Age of Uncertainty	297	(14)
Joseph Galaskiewicz
Wolfgang Bielefeld
Part 9 Giving Theories of the Nonprofit Sector	311	(44)
What Is Altruism?	320	(11)
Alan Wolfe
Why Donors Give	331	(7)
Joan Mount
The Founding Fathers of Modern Philanthropy	338	(5)
Milton Goldin
The Call of Service: Satisfactions	343	(12)
Robert Coles
Part 10 The Blending and Blurring of the Sectors	355	(56)
Third Party Government	365	(4)
Dennis R. Young
Voluntary Agencies and the Contract Culture: ``Dream or Nightmare''?	369	(11)
Ralph M. Kramer
Resource Interdependence: The Relationship Between State Agencies and Nonprofit Organizations	380	(11)
Judith R. Saidel
The Double-Edged Sword of Social Service Contracting: Public Accountability Versus Nonprofit Autonomy	391	(8)
James M. Ferris
The Future of the Nonprofit Sector: Its Entwining with Private Enterprise and Government	399	(12)
Burton A. Weisbrod
Part 11 Challenges Facing the Nonprofit Sector	411	(22)
Nonprofits at the Brink: Lean Budgets, Growing Needs, and the Fate of Nonprofits	416	(4)
Patrick J. McCormack
The Current Crisis	420	(13)
Lester M. Salamon
Credits	433