Welcome!

My name is Jesse Katz-Klug, and I am a graduate student in the Master of Nonprofit Leadership Program at Seattle University. This spring, I am doing a research project focused on nonprofit organizational life cycles. I chose to study growth and transition because as a nonprofit administrator and aspiring leader, I believe that understanding the mechanisms of organizational development is the key to navigating them gracefully.

What is the purpose of the study?

Organizational transition is both uncomfortable and inevitable. By mapping out both the characteristics of the stages – as well as the transitions between and within the stages – nonprofit consultants and field staff can glean a more accurate picture of where they stand in the process, and what potential interventions make the most sense for their circumstances.

Through interviews with nonprofit consultants, I hope to identify patterns in modern life cycle transitions, particularly when moving from an adolescent/growing organization into a mature/sustainable one. (See visuals below.)

The purpose of the project is test whether current practitioners think the Nonprofit Life Cycle a) is accurate/valid in practice, b) resonates with current nonprofit professionals, and c) if/how practitioners have found the model helpful (or unhelpful).

Who am I interviewing?

For this study, I aim to interview 8-12 nonprofit consultants with significant experience working:

with organizations through growth and transition (especially from Stage 3 to Stage 4);
with organizations of varying ages and sizes.

What is the format of the interviews?

I am inviting you to participate in a virtual 45-60 minute interview. All interviews will take place remotely via Zoom, and you will have the choice whether to use video or to call in by phone.

If you wish, please feel free to review my primary questions before our conversation:

The purpose of this interview is to hear about your experiences, knowledge, and lessons learned through your career. There are no right or wrong answers, so I would like you to feel comfortable sharing what you really think and how you really feel.

How do I sign up?

You can sign up for an interview using this link. I look forward to our conversation!

How will I ensure privacy during the study?

All of the information you provide will be kept confidential. Your name and any identifying information will not be used in any public dissemination of the data I collect.

This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Seattle University, and is guided by the principles outlined by the IRB for the protection of human subjects.

You can read more information and access the informed consent form here.

What will I do with the information I gather?

I will be writing up the results of the study and presenting the results at the MNPL Capstone Festival on Saturday, June 6. I believe that this research will provide greater understanding of organizational change, and the factors that allow nonprofits to navigate those transitions successfully and sustainably. In addition to identifying patterns, I seek to develop a life cycle model that is driven by the metaphor of ecological succession, rather than human development.

I will certainly share the results of our research with you and the other participants; my hope is that the information is useful to you in your future work.

For more information:

I can be reached by email at jklug@seattleu.edu. If you would like more information about the MNPL capstone projects, you can also contact Professor Feit at feitm@seattleu.edu.

Thank you!

I know that your time is valuable and I am grateful for your willingness to share your experiences and insights with me.