THE ROLE OF DIFFERENT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND HYBRIDS IN THE ECOSYSTEM: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ITALIAN AND AMERICAN CASE

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is the investigation of the role of non-profit and hybrid organizations in the ecosystem. The third sector is an essential contributor to the betterment of the wellbeing of society. It is composed of a wide variety of entities which have been classified in the analysis as either “pure” non-profits or hybrids. The core difference between these two categories is the role of revenues which are highly instrumental for hybrid organizations because they use them as tools to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their benevolent actions. During the analysis, the most diffused organizational types have been investigated in order to provide detailed information about their social, economic, and political involvement in the improvement of general welfare. Associations, foundations, and faith-based organizations are the focus of the “pure” non-profit category while the hybridization phenomenon has been studied primarily from the social enterprise perspective. Each organizational form, due to its intrinsic characteristics, has a particular bond with the rest of the market and people who decide to participate in social initiatives for many different reasons (both altruistic and selfish under an economic and social prestige point of view). Thanks to its diverse and multi-faceted nature, the third sector contributes to the enhancement and enlargement of the social offering. The state and the market do not fully satisfy people’s requests and demands, a situation which makes the intervention of the third sector essential to create a healthier and more balanced ecosystem. It is important to point out that the dynamics unfolding in the system are very complex and are shaped by many factors like the welfare system, legal regime, history, and culture of the country of origin. To understand the impact of these elements, I have decided to adopt a comparative line of research by studying simultaneously the Italian and American case. Very interesting considerations emerge about the role of the different historical evolutions, social movements, and normative changes play in the transformation and diffusion of particular forms of support.