Search

The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the phenomenon of professionalization that is observable in organizations from the nonprofit sector. Empirical research was conducted among Hungarian nonprofit organizations, and the data were collected within the framework of a country-wide survey. Through the analysis of the research results, the paper provides deeper insights into knowledge about professionalization trends in the nonprofit sector. It proves that organizational development positively impacts nonprofit organizations’ improvement of their professionalization level and the members of these organizations.

International research results underpin that turbulent, continuously changing environment makes everyday operations for nonprofit (nongovernmental, voluntary) sector organizations harder. It also can be observed that in this situation, nonprofit organizations acquire knowledge from business sector organizations which enables them to improve their structures and processes. They implement methods of the business sector as means of ensuring long term existence, better performance and sustainable success. In recent years, this process has generated new dilemmas for those who are concerned with the future of this sector: if and how the strengthening focus on knowledge processes such as learning and development of individuals working for nonprofit organizations impact organizational knowledge and organizational development and, how important professionalization is for them.The goal of this paper is, to give an overview of special issues of learning and growing professionalization of non profit organizations, and to contribute to the research of these processes. Empirical evidence is provided on the base of a large sample survey that involves approximately 1.000 Hungarian foundations or associations. With the help of the research findings the paper shall expand our general knowledge about professionalization trends in the sector, and also provide deeper insight in details of the relationship between participation in organizational development programs and becoming more professional in everyday operations and services. This work is licensed under aCreative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.