Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, and Public Policy: Separate, Subset, or Intersectional Domains of Inquiry?¹

1 The terms nonprofit management and nonprofit studies are used interchangeably and largely have common referents in teaching and scholarship, with some preferring the nonprofit studies moniker (e.g., Mendel, 2014) and others nonprofit management (e.g., Mirabella & Young, 2012; Worth, 2019).

Abstract

We view public administration, public policy, and nonprofit management as intersectional domains of inquiry and argue that advances in each of these domains requires us to bring knowledge from other domains. Contemporary observers also recognize that many nonprofit organizations go beyond a mere service delivery role and play a central role in policy development, funding, and program administration. Through this special issue, we bring together scholars who are working at the intersection of public administration, public policy and nonprofit management, defining this intersection in a broad and inclusive manner. In addition to encouraging explicit connections across public policy, public administration, and nonprofit management, we highlight understudied aspects of work at this intersection. We believe that conducting research across disciplines and combining the “firepower” of an intersectional perspective is essential for addressing big questions. The special issue contributors have engaged these intersectional themes with verve and imagination. After providing an overview of the relationship between nonprofit management, public administration, and public policy drawing upon the conference hosted at The George Washington University, we briefly characterize individual contributions to the special issue.

Keywords:

• Nonprofit management
• public administration
• public policy
• public management
• intersectional

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Kathy Newcomer and the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at The George Washington University (GWU) for generously supporting the conference that produced the papers included in this special issue. We are also grateful to Kaifeng Yang, Editor of Public Performance and Management Review for commissioning this special issue and supporting it in numerous ways. We thank the special issue contributors for their insight, hard work, and sangfroid in the face of tight timelines, and demanding reviewers and editors. This special issue would not have been possible without the support of numerous other colleagues from GWU and across the nation, including editors of other journals, reviewers, discussants, and other conference participants. Our gratitude to all who worked with us in advancing an intersectional perspective on nonprofit management, public administration, and public policy.

Notes

Notes

1 The terms nonprofit management and nonprofit studies are used interchangeably and largely have common referents in teaching and scholarship, with some preferring the nonprofit studies moniker (e.g., Mendel, 2014) and others nonprofit management (e.g., Mirabella & Young, 2012; Worth, 2019).

2 Others have advocated a similar approach (e.g., Weible & Carter, 2017).

3 Although we use the term intersectional in a different context than the influential concept of intersectionality (see Breslin, Pandey, & Riccucci, 2017; Crenshaw, 1989), we use the term to invoke one of the more powerful contributions of this way of thinking. Put simply, our intersectional perspective makes two interrelated claims. First, our understanding is richer if we draw upon multiple perspectives, and as a corollary the failure to account for and use these multiple perspectives leads to an impoverished understanding.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sanjay K. Pandey

Sanjay K. Pandey ([email protected] or [email protected]) is Shapiro professor of public policy and public administration at the Trachtenberg School, The George Washington University. He is a recipient of the NASPAA/ASPA Distinguished Research Award and an elected fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.

Jasmine McGinnis Johnson

Jasmine McGinnis Johnson is an Assistant Professor in Public Administration and Public Policy at George Washington University. Jasmine’s research interests include governance of philanthropic institutions, giving networks, and the changing nature of work and organizations. Prior to pursing her Ph.D., Jasmine worked in the nonprofit sector for several years as a development and evaluation senior manager.