Theoretical Perspectives on Legitimacy in Non-Profit Organisations
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-orglgernsustpbltrst-02
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About the Article
Legitimacy is a central yet often under-theorised determinant of non-profit effectiveness and resilience. This article synthesises multiple theoretical perspectives to clarify legitimacy’s pragmatic, moral, and cognitive dimensions, drawing on institutional theory, resource-dependence theory, and critical scholarship. It argues that legitimacy is both a socially conferred perception and a strategic resource—granted by stakeholders but also actively shaped through communication, ethics, and organisational culture. The discussion highlights that legitimacy, when pursued superficially, can reproduce inequality or erode trust, while genuine legitimacy depends on ethical alignment, transparency, and authenticity. By integrating conceptual frameworks and applied insights, the article provides scholars with a foundation for advancing legitimacy research and offers practitioners guidance on sustaining trust through balanced institutional and ethical engagement.
Key Topics
- Theoretical foundations of non-profit legitimacy
- Pragmatic, moral, and cognitive legitimacy
- Institutional and resource-dependence theories
- Symbolic compliance and performative legitimacy
- Ethical integrity and public trust
- Critical and contextual approaches to NGO legitimacy
Suggested Citation
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Theoretical Perspectives on Legitimacy in Non-Profit Organisations. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies. Neya Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-orglgernsustpbltrst-02
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