Teaching Paper: Glossary of Key Governance and Civil Society Terms – Conceptual Tools for Strengthening Non-Profit Practice
Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia
Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Article | NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies
Year: 2025
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5669-1676
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-fncimpc-cv-sc-tp-03
About the Article
Clarity of terminology is essential for both scholarly analysis and effective governance in the non-profit sector. This Teaching Paper offers a comprehensive glossary of key governance and civil society terms, merging authoritative academic definitions with practical application notes. Covering foundational concepts such as accountability, advocacy, legitimacy, and leadership, as well as complex governance theories like agency, stewardship, and stakeholder theory, it also addresses emerging challenges such as founder’s syndrome, shrinking civic space, and mission drift. Each entry bridges theory and practice, enabling leaders, educators, and researchers to apply conceptual clarity to organizational strategy and decision-making. The glossary functions as both an academic reference and a governance training tool, strengthening conceptual understanding, ethical reflection, and institutional capacity in civil society practice.
Key Topics
- Non-profit governance and accountability
- Civil society theory and practice
- Leadership and fiduciary duty
- Institutional theory and isomorphism
- Mission drift and legitimacy
- Conceptual frameworks for governance
Suggested Citation
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Teaching Paper: Glossary of Key Governance and Civil Society Terms – Conceptual Tools for Strengthening Non-Profit Practice. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies. NEYA Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-cvscunprrsenv-tp-03
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