Exploring individual predictors of variation in public awareness of expressive and instrumental nonprofit brands

Abstract

Expressive and instrumental functions provide a way to classify activities that take place in the nonprofit sector. These functions also provide a way to better understand individual's philanthropic involvement with certain types of nonprofit organizations. Despite the usefulness of these classifications, only a few studies have explored demographic, social, and ideological differences in individuals' philanthropic involvement along expressive and instrumental dimensions; and, no studies have explored differences in public awareness of nonprofits along these dimensions. Such awareness, though, could likely be an important precursor to an individual's philanthropic involvement. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore whether variables known to be associated with variation in philanthropic involvement are also associated with variation in awareness of, what we categorize as, expressive and instrumental nonprofit brands. Using data from a survey of public awareness of, and attitudes toward, nonprofit organizations in San Diego County (n = 1002), our findings show that individuals are more aware of instrumental nonprofit brands than they are of expressive nonprofit brands. However, there are important individual differences to consider. We discuss the theoretical relevance of our findings and offer several practical recommendations for nonprofit administrators. | INTRODUCTIONAlthough nonprofit organizations differ from for-profit organizations and government agencies in many ways, one way in particular that nonprofits are unique is in their ability to perform both expressive and instrumental functions (Frumkin, 2009;Mason, 1996). First introduced by Gordon and Babchuk (1959) in their study of voluntary associations, expressive and instrumental functions provide a way to classify activities that take place in the nonprofit sector. Expressive functions refer to the value-oriented and resource-consuming dimensions of nonprofit organizations that allow members an opportunity to express their values and beliefs (e.g., through arts and cultural programming, religious activities, and/or associational membership).Instrumental functions refer to the resource-seeking activities that take place outside of the organization intended to bring about desired societal change (e.g., by providing services to those in need).The classification of nonprofit functions into these expressive and instrumental dimensions can be useful, especially when attempting to better understand philanthropic involvement. Indeed, studies have shown that not only are social and demographic predictors associated with giving and volunteering behaviors (Bekkers & Wiepking, 2011;J. Wilson, 2000), but at times an individual's participation in these behaviors can fall along expressive and instrumental divides