Non-Profit Response To Catastrophic Disasters

Purpose - This article aims to examine the role of non-profit organizations in response to catastrophic disasters. Design/methodology/approach - The study uses the context of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City to study the emergence of public non-profit networks in response to an actual event. The case study utilizes the data from content analyses from news reports in The New York Times; situation reports from the FEMA; interviews with public and non-profit managers; and archival documents. Findings - The findings of the study emphasize the importance of well-coordinated collaboration between the public and non-profit sector organizations in effective disaster response operations. This type of networks constitutes a field of substantial interest to democratic societies that are seeking to manage problems of public service delivery with innovative means at reasonable cost. Originality/value - Its theoretical framework draws upon the literature in interorganizational networks and social capital. The research applies this framework to study the relationships that emerged among public and non-profit organizations following the World Trade Center disaster on September 11, 2001 in New York City. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited