caa a22 4500 606152296 CHVBK 20210128100548.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20150801xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s11266-014-9475-9 doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s11266-014-9475-9 Do the Right Thing: The Impact of INGO Legitimacy Standards on Stakeholder Input [Elektronische Daten] [Christopher Pallas, David Gethings, Max Harris] International nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) are frequently criticized for failing to adequately represent or engage with grassroots stakeholders. Yet most explanations of this shortcoming have focused on factors external to the organizations, e.g., economic pressures that privilege donor interests. What has been largely lacking is an examination of the role of internal INGO characteristics. We address this by examining INGOs' legitimacy standards: how INGOs understand themselves to be doing the right thing and seek to convey that righteousness to others. Drawing on the literature from business ethics and organizational behavior, we show that organizations' self-selected standards of legitimacy are key drivers of behavior. Using an analysis of 57 American INGO websites, we identify 11 legitimacy types and examine their usage. We find that while most INGOs make a series of technical legitimacy claims that seem designed to attract donors, they simultaneously employ additional legitimacy standards that do not seem to be externally dictated. These additional standards generally prioritize adherence to a cause rather than stakeholder input. The findings suggest that challenges to INGO representivity or responsiveness result not only from external pressures, but also from INGOs' own choice of values. International Society for Third-Sector Research and The Johns Hopkins University, 2014 Nongovernmental organizations nationallicence Legitimacy nationallicence Representation nationallicence Stakeholders nationallicence Donors nationallicence Development nationallicence Pallas Christopher Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Rd, MD 2205, 30144, Kennesaw, GA, USA aut Gethings David Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Rd, MD 2205, 30144, Kennesaw, GA, USA aut Harris Max Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Rd, MD 2205, 30144, Kennesaw, GA, USA aut VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 26/4(2015-08-01), 1261-1287 0957-8765 26:4<1261 2015 26 11266 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-014-9475-9 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-014-9475-9 text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Pallas Christopher Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Rd, MD 2205, 30144, Kennesaw, GA, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Gethings David Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Rd, MD 2205, 30144, Kennesaw, GA, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Harris Max Kennesaw State University, 1000 Chastain Rd, MD 2205, 30144, Kennesaw, GA, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com 26/4(2015-08-01), 1261-1287 0957-8765 26:4<1261 2015 26 11266