Scaling-up not-for-profit organizations while maintaining financial sustainability : exploring the case of Empowerment Through Integration organization in Lebanon -

Abstract

Many not-for-profit organizations attempt to scale-up but face problems of financial sustainability. In developing countries, not-for-profit organizations encounter additional legal, economic, and social restrictions that influences their ability to finance their activities given the urgent need for their services. This project was written to guide not-for-profit organizations towards actions they should consider to scale-up yet enhance their financial sustainability. Following a review of the literature, a framework is presented to achieve both objectives and is applied to the case of Empowerment Through Integration, a U.S. based organization operating its first branch in Lebanon. To write the case, I participate in a six months participatory observation where data such as attending meetings with different stakeholders, conducting interviews with the CEO, and collecting company files to name a few were collected. The result was a teaching case that describes the background of the organization along with the Lebanese social, economic, and political context that influences the activities of the organization. The project concludes with a general application of the literature to the case.