Search Results (71)

This study investigates participation patterns in publicly accessible educational events organized by a college policy and research center. These programs, which addressed topics related to energy and sustainability, were conducted both online and in person and featured expert speakers from government, business, and nonprofit sectors. By analyzing registration data from over 1400 participants across multiple events, the study identifies key trends in attendance, including sector affiliation, repeat attendance, and the impact of regional relevance on program popularity. The findings indicate that most participants were private citizens or affiliated with the business sector, with lower attendance rates from academia, government, and nonprofit sectors. Furthermore, the study underscores the popularity of regionally pertinent topics and the challenges in attracting participants to more specialized topics. The research highlights the importance of providing low-barrier, accessible adult environmental education (AEE) opportunities. It suggests that colleges and universities, with organizational capabilities and access to expert speakers, are uniquely positioned to offer these programs. This study contributes to the limited quantitative research on AEE, addressing a gap in understanding participation patterns and engagement within the field. Full article

This study examines how Generation Z’s values align with entrepreneurial orientation in the Fourth Sector (FS), which merges public, private, and non-profit dynamics to balance financial sustainability with socio-environmental impact. Using Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS), we analyze the influence of economic–financial, biospheric, and altruistic values of the university students’ inclination toward entrepreneurship in the FS. The study draws on a convenience sample of 139 undergraduate students from the School of Economics and Business Sciences at the University of Extremadura, located in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura, Spain. Our findings reveal that economic–financial values are the strongest predictor, underscoring the enduring importance of financial viability in shaping entrepreneurial intent. Biospheric values also play a significant role, highlighting sustainability and environmental awareness as key motivators. While altruistic values exhibit a positive relationship with FS entrepreneurship, this effect is not statistically significant, indicating that Generation Z prioritizes economic and environmental considerations over pure altruism when engaging in this sector. These insights contribute to the understanding of how a group of university students from Generation Z approaches sustainable business models and provide strategic guidance for fostering entrepreneurship that effectively integrates financial sustainability with environmental responsibility. Specifically, Generation Z is expected to be particularly receptive to entrepreneurship initiatives focused on biodiversity conservation. Full article

Microplastics are found in Earth’s atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere, and ecosphere. While there is a growing interest and need to solve this grand challenge in both the academic and policy realms, few have engaged with academics, policymakers, and community partners to co-identify the problem, co-design research, and co-produce knowledge in tackling this issue. Using a convergence research framework, we investigated the perception of microplastic pollution among different end users, delivered educational materials to K-12 teachers and practitioners, and identified key sampling points for assessing environmental microplastic concentrations in the Columbia River Basin, United States. Three community partner workshops identified regional issues and concerns associated with microplastic pollution and explored potential policy intervention strategies. The stakeholder survey, co-designed with community partners, identified varying perceptions around microplastic pollution across educators, government employees, non-profit employees, and industry practitioners. Pre- and post-test results of teacher workshops show increases in participants’ knowledge after taking a four-week summer class with the knowledge being translated to their students. Community partners also helped develop a unique passive sampling plan for atmospheric deposition of microplastics using synoptic moss samples and provided freshwater samples for microplastic quantification across the basin. Our study drew three major lessons for successfully conducting convergence environmental research—(1) communication and trust building, supported by the use of key-informants to expand networks; (2) co-creation through collaboration, where partners and students shaped research and education to enhance impact; and (3) change-making, as project insights were translated into policy discussions, community outreach, and classrooms. Full article

The past decade has witnessed the bourgeoning development of sustainable entrepreneurship organizations (SEOs) that are engaging in advancing sustainable development in China. Revenue diversification is often considered by policymakers, scholars, and practitioners to be a desirable strategy for improving the financial health and organizational sustainability of SEOs and other types of hybrid organizations. However, previous studies on the benefits of revenue diversification for hybrid organizations have not reached a definitive conclusion, and the empirical literature has devoted little attention to the financial outcomes of revenue diversification in the SEO context. To address these knowledge gaps, this study uses fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to investigate how revenue diversification and organizational conditions interact to conjunctively affect the multidimensional financial health of SEOs in the Chinese context. This study identifies divergent configurations for high and low levels of financial health in four dimensions and across different types of SEOs. The results show that revenue diversification generates benefits primarily for large, established for-profit SEOs in terms of enhancing their financial flexibility but produces no observed improvements in financial flexibility, efficiency, profitability, or growth among nonprofit SEOs. These findings contribute to the sustainable entrepreneurship and sustainability literature in diverse ways, with valuable practical implications for SEO practitioners and major stakeholders. Full article

The rapid proliferation of donor advised funds (DAFs) and the rising prominence of their sponsoring organizations are among the most disruptive innovations in philanthropy in recent years. To examine DAFs’ implications for major gift fundraising and nonprofit administration, we interview professional fundraisers from across the US (n = 46). We analyze their comments following a six-stage thematic process. We present a modified fundraising model called the “DAF Donor Relationship Management Cycle.” This new model makes a theoretical contribution to nonprofit studies by highlighting challenges and opportunities for fundraisers in working with DAFs. Among other adjustments, the new model includes gift processing as a critical component and specifies two forms of donor identification—reactive and proactive. Six challenges and four opportunities associated with the stages of the cycle are also delineated. This new model documents how DAFs disrupt fundraising methods and systems, clarifies fundraising cycle assumptions and inferences, and offers important practical insights from fundraisers for other fundraisers. Ultimately, integrated organizational-level strategies are needed to guide DAF adaptation and DAF donor engagement and to inform training and coordination of gift processing and frontline fundraising efforts. Full article

The use of social media for disseminating health information to adolescents and young adults has garnered significant ttention, showing promising results. Younger audiences increasingly prefer social media and mobile aggregators for their informative needs, considering these platforms reliable sources, particularly for sexual health and general health topics. This paper discusses the findings of a two-year project conducted in Italy—in collaboration with a group of non-profit organizations—funded by The Ministry of Health, intending to explore social media-based health communication strategies aimed at prevention for individuals aged 18 to 25. The objective was to leverage Instagram to engage young people, enhancing awareness about the risks of STIs and HIV/AIDS and promoting preventive behaviors. By analyzing two contrasting perspectives on health communication methods and the results in terms of engagement metrics and user feedback in the chosen profile, the study provides insights into social approaches for health communication and social representations of sexuality in the digital age, demonstrating risks and advantages of the use of platforms to influence health knowledge among young audiences. Full article

Our study examined and compared the type, process, conditions, and consequences of radical and incremental innovations in community sport organizations (CSOs), which are a type of nonprofit membership association. Interviews were conducted with the president (or representative) of 14 CSOs engaged with both radical and incremental innovations. Radical innovations were reported to be mostly technical (but also administrative), undertaken with the goal of club growth and enhancing club management, adopted and further adapted from outside the organization, influenced by the culture and expertise of the board and the culture and capacity of the CSO at large, and informed by market opportunity and best practices. The radical innovations were reported to be successful in reaching their intended goals, and a wide variety of unanticipated (positive) consequences was also realized. The findings have implications for the management of radical (and incremental) innovation in the focal nonprofit context and contribute to theorizing about the radicalness of organizational innovation. Full article

In the United States, small and beginning (SB) farmers depend on institutional and elite customers to increase their farm income, whereas food-insecure communities lack alternatives for accessing and utilizing healthy local foods. This study examined two middle-of-the-chain organizations attempting to break the demand- and supply-related barriers faced by food-insecure consumers and SB farmers, respectively. The study suggests that deep engagement on both sides can facilitate the creation of a viable local food pathway. One organization serves as an aggregator for SB farmers while preventing the unrealistic expectations of institutional customers. A second organization activates food-insecure consumers’ agencies to conceptualize and transform locally sourced food into acceptable forms. It provides the necessary support to ensure the utilization of healthy, nutritious foods. When the two organizations’ missions are aligned, they can use an emergent, flexible, and adaptable approach with a continuous improvement mindset to increase SB farmer livelihoods and reduce food insecurity. Middle-of-the-chain organizations collectively should have more than one way to make local foods available, accessible, and utilizable by food-insecure consumers. A nonprofit social enterprise model of organizations in the middle seems central to the viability of the community-based food system. The system is still in its early stages. Further research is needed to examine its sustained viability. Full article

In 2022, the federal government initiated two grant programs geared to enhance education specifically for Afghan and Ukrainian populations: the Afghan Refugee School Impact and Support to Schools supplements, both part of the Refugee School Impact (RSI) program. In Missouri, the context of our research, RSI funding has been coordinated by a non-profit organization, the Missouri Office for Refugee Administration (MO-ORA). In partnership with MO-ORA, we designed a qualitative study and used content analysis to examine 39 RSI grant applications to MO-ORA from 35 different districts. We explored two key research questions: (1) what did K-12 schools in Missouri identify as priorities to support refugee students in their RSI grant applications? and (2) how did districts plan to allocate resources to meet refugee students’ and families’ perceived needs? Analyses identified that districts’ biggest priorities were to support: (1) family engagement activities, (2) English Learners’ education, and (3) student English language proficiency. Meanwhile, districts’ top three areas of funding allocation went to the pre-named categories of Student Services for Els, Professional Development for Staff, and Facilitating Partnerships. Full article

Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, dark tourism was developed in the Tohoku Region of Japan. Notably, two government-built tsunami memorial parks in Ishinomaki and Rikuzentakata have obtained attention for their profound disaster narratives, iconic disaster sites, and expansive layouts. This study is the first to compare the projected destination image presented by destination management organizations with the perceived destination image held by visitors in these parks, and in dark tourism. Using online text data from both supply and demand sides of dark tourism and text mining analyses such as word frequency analysis, co-occurrence network analysis, and affection tendency examination, we revealed similarities and disparities between these two perspectives. Furthermore, this study concluded dimensions specific to dark tourism sites within the cognitive and affective destination image. Based on the findings, the study provides advice for destination managers to improve these sites, including developing non-dark tourism products and improving infrastructures. Additionally, it proposes placing greater emphasis on themes of revitalization and future development, while fostering visitor engagement in local non-profit and citizen activities to strengthen connections with residents. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of text mining in comparing projected and perceived destination images in the context of dark tourism sites. Full article

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) have been widely hailed as an innovative approach to engage students in college coursework through exposure to authentic research, leading to improved persistence and more equitable access to research opportunities. This article presents an analysis of the impact of implementing a novel type of CURE across the biology curriculum at one public historically black university, introducing a community focus through a partnership with a local nonprofit organization working to restore a polluted local river. The analysis incorporates survey research on student science identity and sense of belonging with administrative records on persistence to graduation and limited data on graduates’ further education and careers. We find that more of the students who completed these novel CUREs graduated on time with a biology degree than those who did not complete CUREs, and that most biology graduates do go on to use their degrees in further education and/or careers in science or healthcare. We discuss the limitations of our analysis, including the relatively short timeframe covered by our data, the almost incalculable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the retrospective nature of our assessment. Full article

Gentrification and displacement of low-income and minority families is a frequently discussed phenomenon when it comes to community planning. To best address and redistribute resources for these neighborhoods, needs assessments are often conducted to identify the problem areas, such as crime, poverty, and abandoned infrastructure. Although needs assessments are a great starting point, they often neglect the hand of valuable community assets that should be preserved when engaging with gentrifying neighborhoods. To engage in these neighborhoods, researchers, governments, non-profits, and redevelopment corporations are more often turning to an asset-based community development approach (ABCD) pioneered by Kretzmann and McKnight (1993). This ABCD approach utilizes an asset mapping technique to identify and better understand the present strengths of a community. This was an approach taken by researchers to assist in the Salt Lake City’s (SLC) initiatives to document the city’s transformation and potentially preserve assets for their plan, called “Thriving in Place: A SLC Anti-displacement Strategy”. Asset mapping includes surveying and plotting resources both physical and non-physical, such as sustainable food sources, churches, schools, relationships, social networks, and individuals. The product of the asset map was an ArcGIS StoryMap—which is a GIS-based map that can be used for storytelling. Full article

While musculoskeletal pain (MSP) stands as the most prevalent health condition among Veterans, timely and high-quality care is often hindered due to access barriers. Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a healthier lifestyle among Veterans, aimed to assess innovative approaches to veteran care. This is a single-arm pilot study investigating the feasibility, clinical outcomes, engagement, and satisfaction of a remote multimodal digital care program among Veterans with MSP. The impact of deployment experience on outcomes was explored as a secondary aim. From 75 eligible Veterans, 61 started the program, reporting baseline pain frequently comorbid with mental distress. Program acceptance was suggested by the high completion rate (82%) and engagement levels, alongside high satisfaction (9.5/10, SD 1.0). Significant improvements were reported in all clinical outcomes: pain (1.98 points, 95%CI 0.13; 3.84, p = 0.036); mental distress, with those reporting at least moderate baseline depression ending the program with mild symptoms (8.50 points, 95%CI: 6.49; 10.51, p = 0.012); daily activity impairment (13.33 points, 95%CI 1.31; 25.34, p = 0.030). Deployed Veterans recovered similarly to their counterparts. Overall, the above results underscore the potential of a remote digital intervention to expand Veterans’ access to timely MSP care. Full article

This study probes the notable gap between the theoretical endorsement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDGs 7, 12, and 13, and their tangible implementation in higher education curricula. We hypothesize that entrenched unsustainable practices in key academic disciplines, such as engineering and business, persist despite the global shift towards sustainability. The study engages a diverse cohort of participants from academia, public, private, and nonprofit sectors, chosen for their distinct roles and insights in integrating SDGs into educational and industrial frameworks. Our research design integrates an extensive qualitative literature review and critical analyses with quantitative surveys using specially designed instruments. The study was conducted with a sample of 48 participants, representing various sectors, using specially designed survey instruments to gauge expert opinions on the barriers and opportunities in advancing sustainable education. Our findings identify economic and administrative hurdles as primary impediments to academia’s shift towards sustainability. The data underscore the urgent need for targeted strategies in transitioning to a net-zero educational paradigm. The study concludes with a call to reshape academic initiatives, highlighting the critical role of education in preparing future leaders. It emphasizes bridging the gap between theoretical support for SDGs and their practical application in academia, proposing actionable strategies for this alignment. Full article