Abstract
Ph.D.
Non-profit organisations, which are increasingly stepping into socioeconomic and social service arenas worldwide, need professionalism, capacity and resources to remain true to their respective mandates, while upholding good governance as they more regularly work with donor funding from corporates and individuals.
In South Africa, animal welfare has been relegated to the bottom of the list of national regulatory initiatives, and government and corporate funding support. The companion animal welfare sector, comprised of numerous non-profit entities in various shapes and forms, is struggling to survive, improve and reach sustainability. As such, the purpose of this study was to gather information on current governance practices in shelters, and to propose a governance model which is ‘fit for purpose’ in this unique and marginalised context. The development of a suitable governance model will provide a foundation for integrating, cohering and developing the shelter network in this country. Furthermore, as a basis for measuring shelter performance, such a model has implications for protecting donor investment, expanding donor trust and eliciting increased corporate and individual giving within the sector.
The population of this study comprised a stratum of individuals involved in companion animal shelter operations – both at the board/committee and operational levels. Across three consecutive phases of fieldwork, 26 shelters were included in the study, specifically 14 SPCAs (public shelters) and 12 private shelters. A total of 102 individuals responded through the focus group, interview and survey phases. The study was conducted by means of a mixed-methods research design which deployed a mixed, exploratory and sequential approach.
The findings identified the central constructs or practices of a governance model which is suitable for the companion animal welfare sector. Furthermore, the findings revealed support for the measurement of shelter performance and the release of performance statistics to donors, to facilitate better-informed donor-giving decisions. The findings also provided a concrete recommendation regarding the value of a ratings and development agency to support the sector...