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Keywords

nonprofit sustainability, NGO sustainability, resource diversification, nonprofit funding, philanthropic giving, institutional funding, civil society, nonprofit resilience, volunteerism, social capital, knowledge resources, network resources, nonprofit strategy, funding models, nonprofit innovation, resource mobilization, nonprofit management, global philanthropy

Abstract

This thought paper examines the growing instability of traditional funding streams in the global nonprofit sector and argues for a fundamental shift in how sustainability is conceptualized. Moving beyond a narrow focus on financial capital, the paper introduces a practical framework of five interconnected resource types—financial, material, human, knowledge, and network resources—supported by a sixth foundational element, relational capital, or trust. Drawing on examples and applied models, the authors demonstrate how nonprofits can strengthen resilience and long-term impact by intentionally leveraging diverse and often underutilized forms of support. The paper also highlights the evolving role of board members, emphasizing the need for boards to move beyond purely financial oversight toward actively contributing across multiple resource areas while fostering trust, collaboration, and strategic alignment with staff. Ultimately, the paper reframes sustainability as the effective orchestration of resources, anchored in trust, rather than reliance on funding alone.

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