Sustainability in Non-Profit Projects: Strategic Alignment, Stakeholder Engagement, and the Development of Context-Specific Methodologies

Overview

Nonprofit organisations (NPOs) manage projects worth trillions of pounds worldwide, addressing global social, economic, and environmental challenges (Kang’ethe & Chivanga, 2015; Miković et al., 2020). NPO project managers however face significant challenges including managing diverse stakeholder involvement, inconsistent funding, and the difficulty of measuring intangible outcomes (Brajer-Marczak et al., 2021; Golini & Landoni, 2014; Awad, 2021) which tend to be overlooked by existing project management tools and research (Oyekunle & Anibaloye, 2024).

The disconnect between nonprofit project needs and available project management tools
could be due to the rigidity of existing project management frameworks, including PMBOK and PRINCE2, causing them to be poorly suited for the unpredictable funding cycles and diverse stakeholder needs of nonprofits (Ebrahim, 2005; Oyekunle & Anibaloye, 2024; Rosenberg et al., 2008).

NPOs also face other inefficiencies in project management resulting from inconsistent management and leadership structures, which inevitably leads to resource misallocation and project delays (Ford-Byrd, 2021; Mols, 2021; Schizer, 2020). As a result, studies (Angulo et al., 2024; Asad & Kay, 2014; Golini et al., 2018) highlight the need to adapt project management practices to better fit the complexities of nonprofit projects.

Proposals should address these gaps by developing a hybrid project management framework specifically designed for nonprofits or social impact projects, tailored to their unique, often volatile, nonprofit environment. The framework could focus on real-time adaptability, stakeholder alignment, and or impact assessment for the following reasons.

-According to Awad (2021), real-time adaptability tools could support nonprofits in responding swiftly to funding or resource changes, addressing the uncertainty that often complicates long-term planning.
-Stakeholder alignment mechanisms can help manage the diverse needs of donors, beneficiaries, and partners, improving communication and engagement (Brajer-Marczak et al., 2021).  
-Impact and sustainability metrics can enable nonprofits to demonstrate their social value effectively, crucial for securing ongoing support (Golini & Landoni, 2014; Keleckaite & Meiliene, 2015).
The hybrid framework would aim to bridge the gap between traditional project management methodologies and nonprofit needs, promoting efficiency, reducing resource wastage, and ultimately increasing social impact.

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Reference List
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Awad, A. (2021) Analyzing the adoption of project management methodologies and tools in the Turkish non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Syria humanitarian response. Master of Science Thesis. İstanbul Kültür University.
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