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theses

Fueled in part by fiscal challenges and structural shifts at the state and federal level, nonprofit organizations are increasingly relying on cross sector community partnerships to address wicked policy problems in areas such as community development, neighborhood revitalization, and health and human services. Cross sector community partnerships (CSCPs) blur sectoral boundaries by integrating the activities and modus operandi of organizations from the public, private, and civil society sectors. The literature on cross sector community partnerships has analyzed factors contributing to partnership success or failure, partnership growth, and more normatively, how crossing sectoral boundaries are an effective tool in addressing wicked community problems. Notwithstanding increased practical and empirical attention, cross sector community partnerships remain poorly understood and under-theorized (Googins & Rochloin, 2000; Selsky & Parker, 2005), particularly at the local level. Through a comparative case study of two New Jersey cities, this dissertation explores how local social, economic, and political institutional arrangements influence the formation and structure of cross sector community partnerships. Interviews, content analysis of media reports and partnership agreements, urban histories, and organizational documents are the primary data collection methods. Neighborhood and redevelopment plans provide additional data to develop the partnership narrative. I argue that variation in local institutional arrangements create community specific cross sector community partnership structures in response to demands from government and foundation funders. Several findings emerged from the study. First, the role of business remains muted and transactional. Second, nonprofits generally have an ad hoc internal vetting process to determine the viability of a partnership strategy. Third, although local government actors are present in cross sector community partnerships, their participation is largely symbolic. Finally, the role of nonprofit intermediaries is particularly salient, as they dominate partnership formation processes and structure. Understanding the formation and structure of CSCPs at a more local level assists in identifying what structures need to be in place in order to implement more democratic forms of community partnerships.

ETD_7545

Ph.D.

Includes bibliographical references

by Kirk Leach

doi:10.7282/T3WS8WJ2

ETD doctoral

The author owns the copyright to this work.