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The Nonprofit Starvation Cycle

1 January 1970
Academic / Journal Article
Publisher : Stanford Social Innovation Review

19832

This article critically examines the "nonprofit starvation cycle," a systemic issue where funders’ pressure to minimize administrative expenses leads to chronic underfunding of nonprofit overhead costs. It describes how this pressure compels nonprofits to underreport their true operational costs, which in turn severely limits their capacity to build essential infrastructure, invest in talent, and innovate. The cycle ultimately hinders their ability to sustain and scale their impact, advocating for funders to adopt more realistic and flexible funding practices to foster long-term organizational health and effectiveness.

Author(s) :

Gregory, A. G., & Howard, D

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Key topics

Social Justice, Philanthropy and Human Rights

Also found in

Financial Stewardship, Sustainability, & Accountability Strategic Fundraising, Donor Engagement and Resource Mobilisation

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