Negotiating for survival: Balancing mission and money

Elisa Henderson, V. Lambert

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

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 pertinent 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.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 2017
EventConference on Public Services and Charities: Accounting, Accountability and Governance at a time of Change - UK, Belfast, United Kingdom
Duration: 18 Jan 201719 Jan 2017

Conference

ConferenceConference on Public Services and Charities: Accounting, Accountability and Governance at a time of Change
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityBelfast
Period18/01/1719/01/17

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • grant funders
  • charities
  • mission drift
  • Resource Dependence Perspective
  • UK

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