Small Nonprofit Collaboration

A growing and current body of literature discuss collaborative best practices, pitfalls, funder pressures, and present case studies. Missing from this literature is the representative voices of small nonprofits and their views regarding collaborative activities designed to reduce fixed costs, reach more clients, maximize fundraising, and manage external environments. Small nonprofits have been encouraged to consider collaboration to leverage their resources and viability. Many rural nonprofit organizations can be classified as small nonprofits. These organizations respond to local needs with people deeply invested in their communities. In this study, representatives of small nonprofit organizations were surveyed to learn whether collaboration differs in small nonprofit organizations from findings in the literature about nonprofit organizations of all sizes. The information gained from this research can be used by leaders of rural nonprofit programs to guide their understanding of successful collaboration and barriers for small nonprofits