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Managing Multi-Site Nonprofits

Multi-site nonprofit systems are organized in a variety of ways ranging from central control to local control. Regardless of where a system falls along this organizational continuum, inevitable tensions emerge in the relationship between the headquarters and the local organization. The purpose of this paper is to understand the causes of these tensions and offer management action that, regardless of the organizational structure, leads to greater system cohesion. Our exploration was facilitated by intense field research at five multi-site systems: Outward Bound, Planned Parenthood, Habitat for Humanity, SOS Kinderdorf, and The Nature Conservancy. Our investigation suggests that multi-site system behavior may be mapped on two dimensions—one that exerts forces towards unit autonomy and the other influencing the degree of organizational affiliation. These forces are associated with a host of organizational functions that are the traditional domains of management to influence and shape, and thereby enable a multi-site nonprofit to simultaneously optimize the benefits of organizational affiliation and unit autonomy.