Oto Potluka

Place leadership theory explains how collaborative leadership among local actors shapes the development of places and the well-being of local populations. Prior research has concentrated primarily on the role of public authorities in places. However, other stakeholders, such as non-profit organizations, also contribute to fulfilling the needs of local populations. This research examines local foundations, a distinct subgroup within the non-profit sector, which are committed to enhancing the quality of life in their operational areas. We build on the theoretical assumption that non-profit organizations provide services when markets and governments fail. Based on interviews with three foundations in the cross-border region of the Upper Rhine (France, Germany, and Switzerland), we investigate the role of foundations in increasing the quality of life in places. To triangulate our findings, we also interview stakeholders from the public and private sectors, target groups, and civil society organizations. Our findings show that foundations exercise place leadership through informal power, knowledge sharing, and flexible networks that foster dialogue and coordination among local stakeholders, including strong ties to public-sector actors. Their endowment-based resources enable independent project implementation and position foundations as genuine place leaders that create public value by filling those gaps left by market and government failures.

Background: Service quality is closely connected to capacity building and professionalisation in non-profit organisations (NPOs). Self-regulatory systems should ensure the provision of high-quality services. According to social origins theory, civil societies differ. Thus, we ask the research question whether this theory explains variances in self-regulation systems. Data and methods: We reviewed 15 regulation systems from 36 systems found in Czechia, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. We applied the four dimensions of strategy, transparency, personnel and financial resources, consisting of 46 sub-criteria. Additionally, we conducted eight interviews with NPO researchers and practitioners. Results: The findings confirm the relevance of social origins theory to framing NPO self-regulating systems. There is low acceptance of self-regulation systems in the statist group of countries, as there is low trust in any NPO certification. Of the surveyed groups, the liberal group of countries applies the most rigorous criteria.

In this research, we aim to identify the factors that have the most significant influence on shaping individuals’ perceptions of their community’s resilience. We assume that different factors are not equally important in people’s subjective perceptions of resilience. Through a qualitative survey conducted across European regions, with 586 responses, we aim to uncover how resilience is perceived and what factors can strengthen communities’ views on their ability to respond to crises. The results show that the availability of green spaces and environmental quality are among the most important factors in determining perceived resilience in local communities, closely followed by the social dimension, composed of a cohesive society, actual interaction with other people, and a perceived sense of safety. At the same time, the economic situation (economic variety and stability) has a lesser effect on perceived resilience. Moreover, our research does not prove that collaboration across the public, business, and nonprofit sectors increases perceived resilience.

Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) promote themes closely relating to corporate social responsibility (CSR). However, only a few companies implement CSR. Hence, the internal and external factors that influence companies to implement CSR are worth exploring. Using a sample of 951 mid‐ and large‐sized Czech companies, we examine the internal and external factors that drive CSR implementation. By applying a partial least‐squares structural equation model, we test the role of perceived awareness about CSR, knowledge and skills, and willingness to implement CSR and the interactions between companies and NPOs. Results indicate that willingness, awareness, and skills increase the intensity of CSR implementation, while skills and knowledge are the most influential factors. The relationships between companies and NPOs underline the independence of companies and the limited impact of NPOs on Czech companies' CSR decisions.

In Central Europe, people trust each other less than in Western European countries. According to the common approach to volunteering, this should also mean fewer volunteers available. Our research examines whether two forms of volunteering—formal and informal—compete for engaged individuals in Central Europe. On a sample of 2,034 respondents from Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia, we analyzed by structural equation model on how social capital and human capital influence wealth and time availability in relation to formal and informal volunteering. Our findings show that the two forms of volunteering do not compete but rather complement each other. Additionally, income has a stronger influence on both formal and informal volunteering than time availability. Furthermore, formal volunteering appears to be more sensitive to fluctuations in the availability of financial resources and time among potential volunteers, confirming resource theory.

The middle class is considered the most relevant group for formal volunteering. However, the middle class is shrinking, raising the question of the consequences for volunteering in general. Based on four samples of the Swiss Volunteering Survey from 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2019 containing over 5′000 individual responses, we test whether the intensity of middle-class volunteering changes over time. Our results show that the middle class is an essential source for formal volunteering compared to other parts of society, especially those with lower income. The relationship between the middle class and volunteering is positive, though non-significant in our samples. We found no significant changes over time in the volunteering development of the middle class.