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Negotiating for survival: Balancing mission and money

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  • Henderson, Elisa
  • Lambert, Vicky

Abstract

The impetus for prioritising money over mission in charities is increasingly pertinent as public sector austerity progresses in the UK. Mid size charities – who are heavily reliant on grant funding - have experienced proportionately greater challenges to austerity than larger entities. A substantial part of accountability efforts in mid size charities are directed towards funders, where funder imposed frameworks and measures may direct charity attention away from social mission towards funder needs, causing mission drift. Four charity case studies and grant funder interviews were conducted to investigate how charities can pursue social mission in a challenging funding environment. This paper shows that charities can protect social mission despite high dependence on grant funding, but also provides evidence of susceptibility to mission drift in cases where the balance between money and mission changes. Charity accounting systems display notable funder influence. A resource dependence perspective is utilised to highlight the complexity in assessing dependence of charities in a challenging environment and demonstrates the extent of funder influence in accounting and performance systems in these charities. However, charities employ strategies to cope with external requirements, enabling them to retain mission focus.

Suggested Citation

  • Henderson, Elisa & Lambert, Vicky, 2018. "Negotiating for survival: Balancing mission and money," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 185-198.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:bracre:v:50:y:2018:i:2:p:185-198
    DOI: 10.1016/j.bar.2017.12.001
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    2. Elka Johansson & Peter Carey & George Tanewski & Iliyas Yusoff, 2022. "The effect of members on charities’ annual reporting: evidence from companies limited by guarantee in Australia," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(S1), pages 1851-1886, April.
    3. Best, Bernadette & Miller, Kristel & McAdam, Rodney & Maalaoui, Adnane, 2022. "Business model innovation within SPOs: Exploring the antecedents and mechanisms facilitating multi-level value co-creation within a value-network," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 475-494.
    4. Hyndman, Noel & McKillop, Donal, 2018. "Public services and charities: Accounting, accountability and governance at a time of change," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 143-148.
    5. Oto Potluka & Lenka Svecova, 2019. "The Effects of External Financial Support on the Capacities of Educational Nonprofit Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-13, August.
    6. Daff, Lyn & Parker, Lee D., 2021. "A conceptual model of accountants' communication inside not-for-profit organisations," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(3).
    7. Lu Jiao & Graeme Harrison & Jinhua Chen, 2023. "Revenue growth in not‐for‐profit organisations: The effects of interactive and diagnostic controls and organisational culture," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 2273-2294, June.

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