The objective of nonprofit environmental groups : are they maximizing services or their budgets?

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to determine the objective of prominent nonprofit environmental groups. Two possible objectives have received considerable attention in the nonprofit literature: service maximization and budget maximization. Accordingly, this study examines whether environmental organizations attempt to maximize the services they provide or maximize the budgets they control? A linear model using procedures to handle pooled data was used in the estimation. The results imply that the environmental groups tested tend to maximize their own budget rather than the services they provide, but the results are not entirely conclusive. There is some evidence that these organizations have mixed motivation. Future studies would be aided by additional data, including both more years and organizations.