A Description of Nonprofit Executive Leaders' Perceptions of Human Resource Capacity Building within their Organizations

Researchers have predicted that within the next 5 to 15 years the nonprofit sector will undergo a dramatic loss in leadership due to baby boomers entering retirement, job transitions, and underdeveloped talent within nonprofit organizations. Effective leaders are critical in keeping these organizations running so that they can serve and provide much needed services, thus investing in their organizations is the key to keeping NPOs relevant in the future. Investing in training and development, intellectual capital, and succession planning are just a few of the human resource capacity building efforts that have been credited for helping to alleviate some of the pressures that are going to arise as a result of the increased growth of the nonprofit sector. The benefit of this study resides in its research potential to look further into predictive leadership characteristics that would assist nonprofit organizations in their selection of leaders. The following research questions were developed for further study of this issue: 1. To what extent is human resource capacity present in capacity building initiatives of nonprofit organizations and their community partners? 2. To what extent is training and development results actually used or desired by nonprofit organizations and their community partners? 3. What is the perception of the importance of human resource development based on the organizational strategies of nonprofit organizations and their community partners? Answering these questions provides a starting point for human resource development professionals, NPO leaders, and researchers to enhance opportunities for addressing potential leadership shortages in the nonprofit sector. This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council. Dissertation Committee Chair: _________________________________ Dr. Claretha Hughes Dissertation Committee: _________________________________ Dr. Kimberly Stauss _________________________________ Dr. Dale Thompson DISSERTATION DUPLICATION RELEASE I hereby authorize the University of Arkansas Libraries to duplicate this dissertation when needed for research and/or scholarship. Agreed ________________________________ Synetra D. Gilmer Refused ________________________________ Synetra D. Gilmer ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people have made this journey possible through their constant support, assistance, and encouragement. First of all I would like to thank God from whom all blessings flow and without him none of this would be possible. Next I would like to thank my dissertation committee, with very special thanks and gratitude to Dr. Claretha Hughes, committee chair. You began this journey with me as my Academic Advisor and I am proud to end this chapter of the journey with you as a new mentor and colleague. I thank you the many tokens of academic, career, and family advice that you have shared with me over the past few years. I am indebted to the leaders of the organizations that participated, who took time out of their busy schedules to complete surveys while continuing to do their very important work in the community programs they lead. I would like to thank my Gilmer and Monts families for always believing in me and encouraging me in my educational and professional pursuit. I would also like to thank my very dedicated friends who have been there every step of the way in this process. You may not know it but you helped keep me focused on the task at hand and you kept me motivated to be a member of the 1st ever Fall Graduation Class at the University of Arkansas. Lastly, I must thank those that paved the way for me and inspired me to pursue my doctoral degree. The journey was incredible and I am elated that you were there to share it with me. Synetra D. Gilmer DEDICATION I dedicate this Doctoral Dissertation to my great grandmother Annie L. Harris. To the woman who taught me so much about life, giving back, and helping others, I thank God for you and the love and support that you gave me growing up as a young woman. I am proud to say that I inherited my spirit and passion for serving others from you and through watching you always give so unselfishly to those around you. Thus, the focus of this dissertation was to help those nonprofit organizations that do so much to serve the communities, in which they operate.