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Nonprofit Organizations’ Involvement in Participatory Processes: The Need for Democratic Accountability

Abstract Participatory processes – defined as formal efforts to involve constituents in government decision-making – are an increasingly common tool adopted by public agencies and other elite decision making bodies in many developed nations. Unfortunately, although conceptualized as a way to incorporate lay citizens as stakeholders, participation in such processes takes time and expertise that many citizens do not have. As a result, nonprofit leaders are often invited to participate as a logistical shortcut for citizen involvement. This representation, albeit nonelected and unaccountable, is an increasingly important way vulnerable groups are represented and a key aspect of many nonprofit organizations’ advocacy involvement. It is important to ask, then, how well nonprofits do when attempting to represent specific claimed constituents. It is likely their success varies greatly. While many organizations work to engage constituents in democratic ways – including ongoing outreach and communication strategies, establishing participatory mechanisms within their own organizations, and soliciting resident feedback – other nonprofits do not. Based on the authors’ collaborative research, his brief identifies four specific policy proposals that may help facilitate the inclusionary goals of participatory processes, promote democratic accountability among nonprofit representatives, and make sure the needs of vulnerable citizens are met.