Social Equity in Nonprofit Organizations: An Exploratory Study of Practitioners and Scholars’ Perspectives

Bok Gyo Jeong; Jung Ah (Claire) Yun; Sung-Ju Kim; Deborah Mohammed-Spigner; Sarah A. Mack

doi:10.64423/arpa.v33i2.75

Authors

Bok Gyo Jeong Kean University Author
Jung Ah (Claire) Yun Kean University Author
Sung-Ju Kim North Carolina State University Author
Deborah Mohammed-Spigner Institute of Social Equity and Sustainability Author
Sarah A. Mack Kean University Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64423/arpa.v33i2.75

Keywords:

accountability, key stakeholder, nonprofit, perception, social equity

Abstract

Social equity is a fundamental pillar in defining the main contributions of nonprofit organizations to civil society. Through a survey and focus group interviews, this study examines how nonprofit scholars and practitioners perceive social equity by focusing on nonprofits’ governance, policies, and program operations. By surveying and interviewing both practitioners and scholars, this study observes the importance of social equity in the nonprofit field in terms of its practical implications and program activities. Results show that nonprofits incorporate social equity values into their practices in varying degrees regarding policies; scholars associated more with accountability related criteria while practitioners placed more emphasis on practical management and action-oriented elements in their perceptions of social equity. This study contributes to the increasing significance placed on social equity in the nonprofit sector by recognizing and comprehending various approaches in scholarly research and practice management.

Author Biographies

Bok Gyo Jeong, Kean University

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8802-6330
Dr. Bok Jeong is an Associate Professor of Public Administration at Kean University in New Jersey in the United States and a former Research Fellow at the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development. His research interests include comparative public administration, nonprofit management, nonprofit higher education, social entrepreneurship and international development. He published his research in leading journals including Public Administration Review, Asian Survey, Social Enterprise Journal, Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, VOLUNTAS, Nonprofit Policy Forum, and Journal of International Development.
Jung Ah (Claire) Yun, Kean University

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5253-5088
Jung Ah (Claire) Yun, Ph.D., is an Associate Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Public Affairs in the College of Business and Public Management at Kean University. She earned her Ph.D. from Rutgers University–Newark. Her research and teaching focuses on public and nonprofit management, including collaborative governance, human resource management, and gender equity. Her research has been published in multiple scholarly outlets including Public Administration Review, Public Personnel Management, and Journal of Public Affairs Education.
Sung-Ju Kim, North Carolina State University

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3122-6542
Sung-Ju Kim is an Associate Professor at the North Carolina State University School of Social Work and an Affiliated Faculty Member with the School of Public and International Affairs. His research focuses on nonprofit management, philanthropy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), with extensive comparative studies on nonprofit education and civil society across Eastern and Western contexts. Dr. Kim has published widely in leading journals and has received multiple national and international awards recognizing his scholarship and service in the nonprofit and social work fields.
Deborah Mohammed-Spigner, Institute of Social Equity and Sustainability

Dr. Deborah Mohammed-Spigner is a DEI and strategic planning consultant with over 25 years of experience across academia, public, and nonprofit sectors. She holds a Doctorate in Public Administration from Rutgers University and is recognized for advancing social equity, sustainability, and inclusive practices through research, leadership, and mentorship.
Sarah A. Mack, Kean University

Sarah A. Mack, MPA, is an Adjunct Faculty member at Kean University with extensive experience in nonprofit leadership. While at Kean, she has developed curricula focused on civic engagement and policy advocacy. Her prior academic research has been published on sustainability initiatives, including the conversion of wastewater through advanced technologies into biofuel and bioenergy. Sarah brings a practice-informed perspective to the classroom, bridging public service, environmental sustainability, and community-based engagement.

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